US08108429B2
A data management system or “DMS” provides a wide range of data services to data sources associated with a set of application host servers. The data management system typically comprises one or more regions, with each region having one or more clusters. A given cluster has one or more nodes that share storage. To facilitate the data service, a host driver embedded in an application server connects an application and its data to a cluster. The host driver provides a method and apparatus for capturing real-time data transactions in the form of an event journal that is provided to the data management system. The driver functions to translate traditional file/database/block I/O into a continuous, application-aware, output data stream. Using the streams generated in this manner, the DMS offers a wide range of data services that include, by way of example only: data protection (and recovery), disaster recovery (data distribution and data replication), data copy, and data query and access.
US08108422B2
The present invention relates to compliance rules analytics systems and methods for facilitating compliance, such as the compliance of an investment portfolio or a set of investment portfolios, with a rule or a set of rules.
US08108421B2
A computer determines whether an original query expressed in an initial query language includes clauses unsupported by a target query language. If so, the computer separates the original query into a client-side query and one or more server-side queries. The computer then determines whether the client-side query is efficient. If so, the computer translates the one or more server-side queries into one or more supplemental queries expressed in the target query language and receives server-side result sets for the supplemental queries. The computer generates a client-side result set by querying the server-side result sets using the client-side query. The computer returns the client-side result set as a result set of the original query. If the client-side query is not efficient, the computer returns an error message. Thus, by identifying inefficient queries, the computer effectively controls (i.e., throttles) the amount of work performed by the computer to process queries.
US08108415B2
A mechanism is provided for transforming an original database query into a supported database query that can be fully computed by a target database. The original database query comprising a select list including a plurality of expressions, the plurality of expressions having a control break. The plurality of expressions includes an expression that cannot be directly computed by the target database. The mechanism constructs a derived table from the unsupported database query comprising constructing a new select list of the derived table, traversing the plurality of expressions of the select list of the unsupported database query, and adding a GROUP BY expression to the derived table based on the new select list of the derived table. The mechanism constructs the supported database query using the unsupported database query and the derived table.
US08108414B2
A method and system for establishing a location based social networking is provided. A client application is provided on a communications device of a user seeking to establish the location based social network. The user creates a personal profile and a preference profile using the client application. The preference profile refers to characteristics the user seeks in potential members of the location based social network. The user transfers the personal and preference profiles to the social networking server which registers a location and range selected by the user. The social networking server identifies potential members within the registered location and range by matching the personal profile of each of the potential members with the preference and personal profiles of the user. The social networking server provides communications link between the user and the identified potential members upon mutual confirmation between the user and the identified potential members.
US08108412B2
An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are identified that predict the presence of other phrases in documents. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases. Related phrases and phrase extensions are also identified. Phrases in a query are identified and used to retrieve and rank documents. Phrases are also used to cluster documents in the search results, create document descriptions, and eliminate duplicate documents from the search results, and from the index.
US08108411B2
Systems and methods for merging data sets are provided. Data sets are merged based upon a process which begins by sorting data sets. Data sets each include at least one data set key column storing at least one data set key column record. The key column record subsets include at least one data set key column record. Based upon the identification of the first and second key column record subsets, a working data set is assembled. The working data set includes at least the first and second key column record subset, a first and second last record indicator corresponding to the last record of the first and second key column record subset respectively, and a first and second position indicator associating the data set key column records with the data sets respectively. The working data set is sorted in accordance with a selected one or more key column record subsets.
US08108405B2
In one embodiment, a search space of a corpus is searched to yield results. The corpus comprises documents associated with keywords, where each document is associated with at least one keyword indicating at least one theme of the document. One or more keywords are determined to be irrelevant keywords. The search space is refined according to the irrelevant keywords.
US08108401B2
A novel method is described for applying various hash methods used in conjunction with a query with a Group By clause. A plurality of drawers are identified, wherein each of the drawers is made up of a collection of cells from a single partition of a Group By column and each of the drawers being defined for a specific query. A separate hash table is independently computed for each of the drawers and a hashing scheme (picked from among a plurality of hashing schemes) is independently applied for each of the drawers.
US08108397B2
A system and method for processing message threads is provided. A plurality of messages, each comprising a message body, is grouped by conversation thread. The message bodies of the messages are compared. Each message recursively contained in at least one other message is identified as a near duplicate message. An attachment sequence is generated for at least part of each attachment associated with one or more of the messages. The attachment sequences associated with the near duplicate messages are compared. Each near duplicate message having an attachment sequence not matching the attachment sequence of any other near duplicate message is identified as a unique message.
US08108391B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying non-compositional compounds. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving a collection of phrases, each phrase including two or more words; for each phrase, determining if the phrase is a non-compositional compound, a non-compositional compound being a phrase of two or more words where the words composing the phrase have different meanings in a compound than their conventional meanings individual, the determining including: identifying a similar term for a term of the phrase, substituting the similar term for the term of the phrase to generate a substitute phrase, calculating a similarity between the phrase and the substitute phrase, and identifying the phrase as a non-compositional compound when the calculated similarity is less than a specified threshold value.
US08108389B2
Techniques for identifying knowledge use an graphical user interface for inputting one or more terms to be explored for additional knowledge. Then a search is conducted across one or more sources of information to identify resources containing information about or information associated with said terms. The resources are decomposed into elemental units of information and stored in a data structures called nodes. A group of nodes are stored in a node pool and, from the node pool, correlations of nodes are constructed that represent knowledge.
US08108373B2
A content management system (CMS) includes metadata for each element in the repository. When an element has missing content that needs to be created, the repository is queried to identify elements which most closely match the metadata of the missing content. The metadata for these identified elements is analyzed to determine the authors for these elements which most closely match the element that needs to be authored. The authors are then ranked according to an author selection policy that may specify any suitable criteria for ranking authors, including author selection criteria, author ranking criteria, author filtering criteria, and author backup criteria. The result is a ranked list of one or more authors that are deemed the best choices of authors to author the missing content. The user may then request one of the authors in the ranked list to create the missing content.
US08108366B2
The present invention is generally directed to a system, method and article of manufacture for modifying data represented abstractly through an abstraction model. In one embodiment, a data repository abstraction layer provides a logical view of an underlying data repository that is independent of the particular manner of data representation. A query abstraction layer is also provided and is based on the data repository abstraction layer. A runtime component performs transformation of an abstract query into a form that can be used against a particular physical data representation. The transformation includes ordering physical modification operations according to a physical entity relationships specification to ensure that the physical modification operations are executed in an appropriate order.
US08108364B2
A plurality of data units with associated timestamps is stored in a time based file system, wherein a timestamp corresponds to a time indicated by a system clock. A time indicated by the system clock is changed while the plurality of data units is being stored. A plurality of epochs is stored in a data structure, wherein an epoch is a period of time between a starting and an ending timestamp selected from the timestamps, and wherein successive epochs have overlapping time periods. The time based file system is reverted to an earlier point in time based on the plurality of epochs stored in the data structure.
US08108357B2
A computerized process receives at a processor a request to restore a file to memory. One or more media types and one or more media residencies that are associated with a plurality of backups of the file are identified. Each of the media types and media residencies has a restore factor associated with it. A calculated restore factor is determined for each combination of media type and media residency using the restore factor of each media type and each media residency. A media type and a media residency are selected as a function of the calculated restore factor. The file is restored to memory using the selected media type and the selected media residency.
US08108353B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for determining sizing of chunk portions in data de-duplication. The method chunks input data into segments where each segment has a first size, assigns an identifier to each of the data segments, assigns an index to each of the identifiers, creates a suffix structure and a longest common prefix structure from the indexes, detects repeated sequences of indexes and non-repeated indexes from the suffix structure and the longest common prefix structure, determines a second size based on said detected repeated sequences and non-repeated indexes, and chunks the input data into a second plurality of data segments each having the second size.
US08108351B2
A file management apparatus for managing registered files selects multiple files from the registered files, and integrates date stored in the selected files and stores the integrated date in a single file. Then, the file management apparatus calculates a hash value of the file, obtains a time stamp generated based on the hash value, and adds the time stamp to the file.
US08108346B1
A computer-implemented method for maintaining settings for multiple applications. The method may include identifying a request to retrieve a parameter of a setting of a first application. The request may identify a first location of the parameter. The method may also include retrieving the parameter from a second location and providing the parameter to the first application in response to the request. Other methods may include identifying a change to a first parameter of a setting of a first application. The method may reformat the first parameter, creating a second parameter formatted for a second application. The second parameter may be stored in a second location associated with the setting of the second application. A second application may request and access the second parameter. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08108343B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to multi-log based replication. In aspects, database fragments are associated with different logs. Each change to a duplicated database record may be recorded in multiple logs. A history data structure is used to determine when duplication schemas are valid. A duplication schema indicates what database fragments duplicate one or more database records. For a particular time range, the duplication schema history is used to determine whether currently available logs include all changes. If multiple logs include the same change, one log may be selected to provide the change. Non-duplicative changes may be placed into a single data stream usable to update a remote database.
US08108342B2
This invention relates to computer implemented methods and systems for content mobilization, and in particular, methods and systems for mobilization of video, music, photos and other media, including processes for mobile search, mobile messaging, building a mobile content library, and combinations thereof. Content mobilization may be initiated by entry of search parameters or keywords and followed by retrieval of search results (e.g. videos, images, audio files) from online source(s). Upon selection of a content item by user, the process dynamically retrieves the media from online source. Further, the media file may be dynamically edited and then dynamically transcoded and sent to a mobile device.
US08108335B2
Techniques for integrating disparate data access mechanisms are provided. A user attempts data access against an infocube and its data access mechanism. Transparently, that access attempt is translated into a format recognized and processed by a relational database access mechanism to produce results. The results are then translated from a relational database format back to an infocube format and presented to the user within the infocube's data access mechanism.
US08108334B2
The present invention relates to a search circuit in a decoding unit of low-density parity-check codes, which used for searching a minimum value and a next minimum value from r input values, where r is an integer greater than 3. The search circuit includes a first search circuit and a second search circuit. The search method includes performing operations on each pair of input values Vi, Vj of the r input values, respectively. The second search circuit, which is coupled to the first search circuit, performs operations on every two sets of compared values Wm, Lm, and Wn, Ln of the s compared values, where s is a positive integer smaller than r, the smaller value Wm is smaller than the greater value Lm, and the smaller value Wn is smaller than the greater value Ln. The second search circuit performs operations according to the smaller value Wo and the greater value Lo to produce the minimum value and the next minimum value. Thereby, the search of the minimum value, the next minimum value, and the address of the minimum value can be performed at the same time without the need of waiting completion of search for the minimum value then the next minimum value can be searched.
US08108330B2
An approach is provided in which atomic trust scores are computed using a atomic trust factors that are applied to a plurality of metadata. A first set of composite trust scores are computed using some of the atomic trust scores. The composite trust scores are computed using a first set of algorithms. Some of the algorithms use a factor weighting value as input to the algorithm. A second plurality of composite trust scores is computed using some of the composite trust scores that were included in the first set of scores as input. A fact and one of the second set of composite trust scores are presented to a user. The presented composite trust score provides a trustworthiness value that corresponds to the presented fact.
US08108312B2
A duplication/delivery center DDS records contents C11 and C12 on a recording medium M in accordance with requests from content providing apparatuses CP11 and CP12, duplicates the recording medium M, and delivers the recording medium M to users. When doing so, parts of the contents are encrypted. The content providing apparatuses CP11 and CP12 request a content control apparatus CC1 to control the contents on the recording media M. At the side of contents users, when a user sets a recording medium M in a video game console GM and tries to use a content that has been encrypted, the video game console GM requests, via a mobile packet communication network MPN, the content control apparatus CC1 to transmit a decryption key. The content control apparatus CC1 decides whether or not to transmit the decryption key based on the content of the request received from the content providing apparatus.
US08108305B2
A sending receiving method for data, such as musical data, in which plural data stored in a first storage unit are retrieved based on the request information sent from a host side device. The retrieved data is sent to a terminal side device. The sent data is checked to see as to whether or not the sent data is data newly stored in the first storage unit. If the results of check indicate that the sent data is data newly stored in the first storage unit, the sent data is stored in a second storage unit of the terminal side device.
US08108304B2
A cash rebate award system with increased payout options is presented, wherein a consumer using a financial alternative to currency is rewarded based on the purchases made by the consumer within a given time frame, and is allowed to electronically transfer the award into any number of banking or investment accounts. A standard electronic currency transfer system, such as the ABA routing number system, or the ACH routing system, can be used so as not to limit the accounts into which the consumer can transfer their award. Consumers can also choose to transfer their award to multiple accounts, or accounts belonging to others, such as family or charities. Account information can also be saved for more efficient subsequent transfers, and automated transfers can also be set up by the consumer.
US08108298B2
A computer implemented data processing system and method for administering a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase for a relevant life. The annuity contract has a payment base value, a contract value, and a step-up provision. Administration of the product determines whether a step-up of the payment base value is applicable. If applicable, the product determines a step-up, wherein the step-up is guaranteed at a predetermined percentage. The investments of the deferred variable annuity contract are not limited to a specific asset allocation in order to qualify for the step-up provision.
US08108290B2
A method and system for determining and displaying market sentiment information is disclosed. The method may include obtaining customer opening option activity information from an order routing system database, excluding spread transactions from the customer opening option activity information, calculating a sum of buy call trades and sell put trades from the customer opening option activity information, calculating a total number of customer trades from the customer opening option activity information and dividing the sum of buy call trades and sell put trades by the total number of customer trades to calculate an indicator value. The indicator value may be recalculated every N period until an end of a trading day using all trades through the N period in the trading day.
US08108285B2
The present disclosure is directed towards apparatuses, systems and methods to facilitate the pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity fuel to a Customer. In one embodiment, the disclosure teaches a Fuel Offer Generator that facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers can buy these fuel offers such that they may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels (e.g., they may be set to strike prices). The Fuel Offer Generator also can establish a Premium Price that will be part of the fuel offer. The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. Ultimately, a customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator employs a redemption condition based on a retail fuel pump price metric to establish the pricing of fuel offerings.
US08108277B2
A networked sales method is disclosed that includes presenting price choices to a user for an item on a sales screen via a network. Available supply and sales activity level information about actions by other users for the item for which the price choices are presented can be converted into a feedback indication, and this indication can be conveyed to the user on the sales screen. A variable price schedule for the item can also be communicated to the user, and a reminder command associated with an entry in the schedule can be received from the user, with the reminder command including a price selection for the item. The user can then be notified when the entry in the schedule is reached.
US08108269B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing a product return. The systems and methods may capture a disposition decision for the product return in a first management system and trigger, in response to the captured disposition decision, at least one process in a second management system. In one embodiment, the first management system comprises a warehouse management system and the second management system comprises a customer relationship management system.
US08108263B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for grouping orders. One or more original orders are received. The one or more original orders are grouped using grouping rules to form a set of grouped orders. Upon determining that the set of grouped orders cannot be completely filled, at least one short order is created. The at least one short order is grouped with the set of grouped orders using grouping rules to form a set of consolidated orders.
US08108259B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing personalized delivery services by a carrier providing a package delivery service. Typically, the consignee indicates a delivery preference to be applied to delivery of a package, such as indicating a specific location where the package is to be left upon delivery, if the consignee is not present to accept the package. In one embodiment, the consignee may be notified by the carrier of the scheduled delivery of the package, and may be linked to the carrier's web site to indicate a delivery preference. Alternatively, the delivery preference may be indicated by the consignee proactively accessing the web site. After conveying a delivery preference, the carrier's systems communicate the delivery preference at the appropriate time to a portable computing device which informs the delivery personnel of the consignee's delivery preference. Other embodiments allow the consignor to indicate delivery preferences.
US08108246B2
A system, method, and program product is described that is constructed to establish a database of market information, relating to a target product and its competitors in the market. The database is processed to allow the user to establish a price for the target process based on customer perceived value and to display the processed information in several useful charts and tables for product value comparison, appraisal, and pricing.
US08108244B2
Methods and computer systems for forecasting demand and availability of resources of a geographic region are provided. Physical, operational, traffic and construction data for a geographic region for a specified time period is utilized to compare the operational needs for at least one resource for a geographic region to the available resources to forecast demands and availability of the at least one resource for the geographic region over the specified time period and determine whether the demand for the at least one resource exceeds the availability of the at least one resource. The forecasted demand and availability of the at least one resource for the geographic region for the specified time period is stored and presented.
US08108239B2
A system and method for matching candidates and placement providers through trusted recommenders without the need for the recommenders' direct engagement. The method includes receiving input from a provider regarding a recommender of candidates and from a candidate regarding a recommendation for that candidate by the recommender. A first trust score for the recommender is calculated, in accordance with a number of providers having a trust relationship with the recommender. A second trust score is calculated for the candidate with respect to a given provider, in accordance with the first trust score for the recommender, a trust relationship between the provider and the recommender, and a trust relationship between the candidate and the recommender. An ordered list of candidates is generated for the provider, in accordance with the second trust score.
US08108229B2
The computer implemented method and system disclosed herein automates business processes of a health plan organization using a plurality of portals. The portals comprise a sales portal, a member portal, an employer portal, an administration portal, and a provider portal. Health plans are listed using the sales portal. A sales agent proposes at least one of the health plans to a consumer using the sales portal. The administration portal generates insurance quotes for the proposed health plans. The consumer enrolls for the proposed health plans using one of the member portal and the employer portal. The consumer is billed for the enrolled health plans based on the insurance quotes using the administration portal. The consumer pays a premium amount online for the enrolled health plans using the member portal or the employer portal. The administration portal then generates commissions for the sales agent for the enrolled health plans.
US08108219B2
In one embodiment, at least one channel in a frame of the audio signal is subdivided into a plurality of blocks such that at least two of the blocks having different lengths, and information indicating the subdivision of the channel into the blocks is generated.
US08108211B2
A fast accurate multi-channel frequency dependent scheme for analyzing noise in a signal processing system is described herein. Noise is decomposed within each channel into frequency bands and sub-band noise is propagated. To avoid the computational complexity of a convolution, traditional methods either assume the noise to be white, at any point in the signal processing pipeline, or they just ignore spatial operations. By assuming the noise to be white within each frequency band, it is possible to propagate any type of noise (white, colored, Gaussian, non-Gaussian and others) across a spatial transformation in a very fast and accurate manner. To demonstrate the efficacy of this technique, noise propagation is considered across various spatial operations in an image processing pipeline. Furthermore, the computational complexity is a very small fraction of the computational cost of propagating an image through a signal processing system.
US08108199B2
According to a method of simulation processing, an instrumented simulation executable model of a design is built by compiling one or more hardware description language (HDL) files specifying one or more design entities within the design and one or more instrumentation entities and instantiating instances of the one or more instrumentation entities within instances of the one or more design entities. Operation of the design is then simulated utilizing the instrumented simulation executable model. Simulating operation includes each of multiple instantiations of the one or more instrumentation entities generating a respective external phase signal representing an occurrence of a particular phase of operation and instrumentation combining logic generating from external phase signals of the multiple instantiations of the one or more instrumentation entities an aggregate phase signal representing an occurrence of the particular phase.
US08108197B2
A coherency algorithm for a multi processor environment to run on a single processor model is verified by: generating a reference model reflecting a private cache hierarchy of a single processor within the multi processor environment, stimulating the private cache hierarchy with simulated requests and/or cross invalidations from a core side and/or from a nest side, and augmenting all data available in the private cache hierarchy with two construction dates and two expiration dates, which are set based on interface events. Multi processor coherency is not observed if the cache hierarchy ever returns data to the processor with an expiration date that is older than the latest construction date of all data used before. Further, a single processor model and a computer program product can be employed to execute the method.
US08108186B2
Flight management systems can behave erratically when the distance measurements on which they are based are subject to value jumps because they liken these value jumps to movements of the aircraft performed at speeds exceeding the performance levels of the aircraft for which they were designed. To avoid this, the proposed flight management system uses a filter to spread the distance value jumps in time, over periods of the order of those needed for the aircraft to come through the distance differences that they represent. This filter replaces a value jump with a ramp making up the difference and corresponding to a movement that remains within the performance scope of the aircraft.
US08108175B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, a method for determining a self-heating free drain current in a transistor corresponding to a channel temperature not affected by a drain DC current includes measuring at least three unique drain currents of a transistor corresponding to at least three unique ambient temperatures. The method further includes determining at least three unique channel temperatures of the transistor corresponding to the at least three unique drain currents, thereby establishing a current-temperature relationship for the transistor. The method further includes determining the self-heating free drain current of the transistor utilizing the current-temperature relationship.
US08108165B2
A system and method for acquiring phasors outside of the frequency tracking range for power protective relays. As the frequency of a power system varies from the rated frequency, phasors calculated from such samples include errors. A frequency tracking range is used to sample the signal waveform at a rate corresponding to the frequency when the frequency is within the frequency tracking range. When the frequency is outside of the frequency tracking range, the signal waveform is sampled at a rate corresponding with the maximum or minimum of the frequency tracking range depending on whether the frequency exceeds or falls below the frequency tracking range. The difference between the frequency and the minimum or maximum of the frequency tracking range is used to correct the measured phasors to result in accurate phasors.
US08108158B2
A joint simulator is provided having a housing with a chamber, a piston, slidable within the chamber, and a shaft rotatable within the housing, the shaft having (i) an end configured to engage a power tool to be tested, and (ii) a threaded end engaged with the piston, whereby rotating the shaft causes the piston to slide within the chamber. Hydraulic fluid fills a section of the chamber formed by a side of the piston and the housing, and computer software controlled pressure and relief valves are actuated to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid in the chamber, to achieve target pressures. The pressure of the hydraulic fluid creates resistance to rotation of the shaft, thereby increasing the torque relative to the angular increase on the shaft and/or relative to time. The joint simulator is provided with means to determine the angular displacement and torque applied to the shaft.
US08108154B2
A NOx estimation system includes an operating mode determination module that determines an operating mode of an engine, and an emission prediction module. The emission prediction module estimates NOx emission based on the operating mode, a plurality of sensed parameters, and a map. The map correlates the plurality of sensed parameters to the NOx emission based on the operating mode.
US08108145B2
A wireless terminal displays its location and navigation information (map segment) on its display. The wireless terminal accesses a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver of the wireless terminal to determine its location coordinates. The wireless terminal determines a maximum data size for navigation information to be downloaded. The wireless terminal sends a navigation information download request to a map server via a supporting wireless network infrastructure that includes the location coordinates and the maximum data size. The wireless terminal receives navigation information that has a data size no greater than the maximum data size and displays the navigation information on the display. The wireless terminal may display a map segment and an icon representing the wireless terminal at a location corresponding to the location coordinates of the wireless terminal with respect to the map segment. The wireless terminal may download a premises map from a premises map server.
US08108143B1
A method of enabling navigation from a headset is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a first signal transmitted by a device to the headset through a wireless personal area network, the first signal carrying assist data transmitted by an Assisted Global Positioning System server, (B) receiving a plurality of navigation signals transmitted by a navigation system to the headset and (C) calculating a current position of the headset at a first time using the assist data to lock onto the navigation signals.
US08108135B2
When an average vehicle speed corresponding to a congested road section exists and at the same time, speed limit data corresponding to the congested road section is contained in map data, a degree of traffic congestion is determined based on the difference between the average vehicle speed and the speed limit. When an average vehicle speed corresponding to a congested road section exists but speed limit data corresponding to the congested road section is not contained in map data, a degree of traffic congestion is determined based on the average vehicle speed. When there is not information indicating an average vehicle speed corresponding to a congested road section, a degree of traffic congestion indicated in externally received traffic information is directly taken as the result of determination of a degree of traffic congestion.
US08108133B2
Vehicle position keeping systems and methods. The system reduces vehicle congestion by maintaining a position of a first vehicle relative to a second vehicle, determining guidance corrections based on a track state referenced to the second vehicle that take into account a tracking position error indicative of the error in the position of the first vehicle. The guidance corrections maintain desired spacing between the first vehicle and at least the second vehicle.
US08108131B2
The method comprises operating an engine and collecting a real-time accelerometer signal from an accelerometer sensor. The real-time accelerometer signal is digitized and filtered to isolate data in a frequency range associated with combustion to produce a filtered signal data set. The filtered signal data set is integrated to produce an integrated signal data set, and misfire is detected by comparing the integrated signal data set with a predetermined reference data set associated with the same operating point. The apparatus is a control system for an engine that comprises an accelerometer sensor mounted to the engine; a look-up table in which is stored predetermined reference data sets, in association with predetermined operating conditions; and an electronic controller programmed to carry out the foregoing method.
US08108118B2
An air brake monitoring system for monitoring a pressure of the system and providing various alarms and/or warnings to a user. The air brake monitoring system configurable to function with the existing wiring of the vehicle and including an air brake monitoring device to be positioned in the vicinity of a brake valve. The air brake monitoring system is further provided to monitor the electrical stoplight power transmitted to the ABS brakes as well as the vehicle static/dynamic condition.
US08108117B2
The invention relates to a method for measuring and estimating a brake factor in a vehicle brake system, said vehicle including a towing vehicle and a trailer having a plurality of wheel axles, wherein said method includes: initiating a controlled braking manoeuvre involving at least a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle; and obtaining values representing said brake factor for said wheel first wheel axle and said second wheel axle by a control unit which is provided with a brake adaptation function to obtain a brake balance between said towing vehicle and said trailer. The method furthermore includes: braking, in a forced manner, said first wheel axle when retardation of said vehicle is requested; estimating the brake factor for said first wheel axle by determining the brake pressure and braking torque for said first wheel axle; providing a transition phase after which said second wheel axle is braked, in a forced manner, and estimating the brake factor for said second wheel axle by determining the brake pressure and braking torque for said second wheel axle. An arrangement for measuring and estimating the brake factor in a vehicle brake system is also disclosed.
US08108104B2
A rollover stability control system for a vehicle may include an object information device. An active suspension or an active steering system may be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The rollover system may include a lateral support system. A controller determines that an obstacle is an imminent tripping obstacle and raises or steers the wheel, to prevent the wheel from colliding with the obstacle, or deploys the lateral support system in response to a rollover notification signal and the determination. A rollover stability control system for a vehicle may include a chassis and a driving surface wheel. A wheel assembly is coupled to the chassis inward from the driving surface wheel relative to a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The wheel assembly contacts the driving surface when a roll angle of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined level.
US08108102B2
A sprung mass velocity estimating apparatus used in a four-wheeled vehicle to estimate a sprung mass velocity of a point of a vehicle body corresponding to each wheel of the vehicle, includes a state quantity detecting unit which detects a state quantity of the vehicle, a base value calculating unit which calculates a sprung mass velocity base value for each of the four vehicle body points based on a detection result of the state quantity detecting unit by using a prescribed oscillation model, and a sprung mass velocity calculating unit which calculates the sprung mass velocity for each vehicle body point by mutually adjusting the sprung mass velocity base values for the four vehicle body points such that the four vehicle body points are located on a common flat plane.
US08108100B2
When it is determined that a head light is turned on, the sunset time is calculated. Thus, the frequency of calculating the sunset time is significantly decreased as compared with that of continuously calculating the sunset time, thereby reducing the processing load. Further, as compared with the case where the sunset time is calculated regardless of the time of lighting on, the calculated sunset time can evaluate the time of lighting on appropriately.
US08108098B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer code product for a data processing system provide feedback to an operator of a vehicle indicating the appropriateness of an attempted actuation of a vehicle control. A current operating state of the vehicle is first identified. Responsive to identifying the current operating state, preferred control actions corresponding to the current operating state are identified. Responsive to receiving a notification of an attempted actuation of the vehicle control, the attempted actuation is compared to the preferred control actions. If the attempted actuation is one of the preferred control actions, an indicator is illuminated with a first color. If the attempted actuation is not one of the preferred control actions, the indicator is illuminated with a second color.
US08108085B2
A system for controlling flight of an aircraft has sensors, a receiver, and a digital control system, all of which are carried aboard the aircraft. The sensors determine the position of the aircraft relative to the earth and the inertial movement of the aircraft. The receiver receives transmitted data communicating the position and movement of a reference vehicle relative to the earth. The control system calculates the position and velocity of the aircraft relative to the reference vehicle using the data from the sensors and the receiver and then commands flight control devices on the aircraft for maneuvering the aircraft in a manner that maintains a selected position and/or velocity relative to the reference vehicle. The system allows use of a graphical or tactile user interfaces.
US08108083B2
In a system for providing vehicular hospitality information, biological characteristic information about a user using a vehicle is acquired. Then, in accordance with a predetermined correlation between the biological characteristic information and stored hospitality information, hospitality information matching the acquired biological characteristic information is retrieved and outputted. Accordingly, in accordance with a character, mental condition, or physical condition of each user, appropriate information can be provided timely and sensitively.
US08108072B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a method for a robotic system is disclosed to track one or more robotic instruments. The method includes generating kinematics information for the robotic instrument within a field of view of a camera; capturing image information in the field of view of the camera; and adaptively fusing the kinematics information and the image information together to determine pose information of the robotic instrument. Additionally disclosed is a robotic medical system with a tool tracking sub-system. The tool tracking sub-system receives raw kinematics information and video image information of the robotic instrument to generate corrected kinematics information for the robotic instrument by adaptively fusing the raw kinematics information and the video image information together.
US08108071B2
A method for coordinating cooperative robots is provided. The method includes following steps. An abnormal event is detected by a sensor disposed in an environment or in a robot. The abnormal event is broadcasted to the cooperative robots. Each robot determines whether the priority of the abnormal event is higher than that of its currently executing task. If the answer is “yes,” whether function attributes of the robot meet attributes of the abnormal event is then determined. If the function attributes of the cooperative robot do not meet the attributes of the abnormal event, the robot broadcasts to acquire help from other robots, thereby constituting an instantly designated task team. The instantly designated task team goes to where the abnormal event takes place to process the abnormal event. After the abnormal event has been eliminated, the instantly designated task team is dismissed and these robots resume their original tasks.
US08108070B2
The present invention provides a technique that makes a robot continue a stabilized walk, even when an actual movement state of the robot deviates greatly from a target movement state of the robot. The robot includes a trunk, a pair of leg links coupled with the trunk in a swingable manner, an actuator group that swings each of the leg links independently to the trunk, and a controller that controls the actuator group. The controller is programmed to control the actuator group and realize a given trajectory of the center of gravity and the trajectory of the toe of the leg link. The controller performs, in a period from the robot grounding the one leg link to grounding the other leg link swung out thereafter: updating the trajectory of the center of gravity of the robot after grounding the other leg link, determining a predetermined position for grounding the other leg link, on the basis of an updated trajectory of the center of gravity, and updating the trajectory of the toe of the other leg link till grounding the other leg link, on the basis of a determined predetermined position for grounding.
US08108067B2
A document discarding apparatus includes: a metal detector that detects presence or absence of a metal embedded in a document; a code reader that reads a code; an instruction accept portion that accepts an instruction to discard the document; a document discarding portion that discards the document; a first determining unit that, according to the presence or absence of the metal, determines whether the document may be discarded in the document discarding portion; a second determining unit that, according to the code, determines whether the document may be discarded in the document discarding portion; and a document discarding control unit that, when the instruction accept portion accepts an instruction to discard the document, on condition that the first determining unit and the second determining unit both determine that the document can be discarded in the document discarding portion, controls the document discarding portion to discard the document.
US08108064B2
A system for on-line property prediction for hot rolled coils in a hot strip mill of a steel plant, including a unit for capturing the chemistry from the steel making stage and providing the data on rolling schedule. Field devices are provided at the instrumentation level for measuring process parameters during hot rolling. A programmable logic controller is used for acquiring data of measured parameters from the field devices and feeding the data to a processor. Means is provided for conversion of the measured data from time domain to space domain using segment tracking. A computation module processes the converted space domain data for predicting mechanical properties along the length and through the thickness of the strip being rolled. A display unit displays the predicted properties. The data obtained can be stored in a data warehouse for future use. A unit provided in the system can collect the predicted properties and feed the same to the scheduling unit.
US08108062B2
A method of generating embroidery data for controlling stitching out by an embroidery machine. The method comprises simulating a position of a needle on an embroidery workspace and updating the needle position in response to an input control signal. A series of stitch time points is generated and embroidery data defining a stitch is generated. The data defining a stitch being dependent upon the needle position at a corresponding stitch time point and at a preceding stitch time point.
US08108049B2
A medical device measures an impedance associated with one or more electrodes, e.g., the impedance presented to the medical device by a total electrical circuit that includes the one or more electrodes, the conductors associated with the electrodes, and tissue proximate to the electrodes. The medical device stores at least one patient-specific relationship between impedance and a stimulation parameter, and adjusts the value of the stimulation parameter based on the measured impedance according to the relationship. The medical device may store multiple relationships, and select one the relationships based on, for example, an activity level of the patient, posture of the patient, or a current stimulation program or electrode combination used to deliver stimulation. By adjusting a stimulation parameter, such as amplitude, according to such a relationship, the stimulation intensity as perceived by the patient may be kept substantially constant.
US08108035B1
Techniques are described for detecting changes in posture; detecting cardiac ischemia while accounting for changes in posture; and delivering therapy or warning signals in response thereto using the implantable medical device. In one example, the device detects variations in the electrical cardiac signals indicative of a possible episode of cardiac ischemia. Changes in patient posture are detected as well using an accelerometer or similar device. Then, an episode of cardiac ischemia is detected based on the variations in the cardiac signals while distinguishing variations due to changes in posture. In another example, the device instead detects changes in posture based on transient changes in morphological features of electrical cardiac signals.
US08108030B2
Provided herein are systems, methods, and compositions for the thermal imaging of cells with nanoparticles.
US08108026B2
A sandwich structure which attenuates the PET radiation minimally, is used as a support tube for the transmit antenna. In at least one embodiment, it includes a thin strong inner wall, a likewise thin and strong outer wall and an interior of the support tube which is of the honeycomb type or is made of foam material.
US08108025B2
A system can be used to determine a position of a structure in physical space. The system can include a flexible member, such as a drape, cloth, sheet, etc. that can include one or more trackable devices associated therewith. The trackable devices can be incorporated into the weave of a woven cloth or the matrix of a polymer member. The trackable devices can be used within a tracking system to determine the location of the trackable devices.
US08108016B2
A portable communication device includes a base assembly, a flip assembly and an intermediate assembly operatively coupled to the base assembly and the flip assembly by a dual sliding flip hinge assembly. The dual sliding flip hinge assembly is configured to facilitate sliding motion of the intermediate assembly along a first direction and along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The dual sliding flip hinge assembly further facilitates rotation of the intermediate assembly upon sliding along the second direction. The base assembly, flip assembly and intermediate assembly may be configured to include respective displays and/or touch-input devices to provide a portable communication device with increased display area and/or control area with a smaller footprint often associated with conventional clamshell or slider portable communication devices.
US08108013B2
Methods and systems are provided for managing electrical power consumption in a mobile phone or other portable communications device having a battery and a display. A series of views forming a flow are retrieved from a memory or other digital storage device for presentation on the display. For each of the views in the flow, performance information relating to the portable communications device is determined while the view is displayed, and this information is stored in the digital storage medium. Upon subsequent retrieval of each view from the digital storage medium, configuring the operation of the portable communications device in response to the stored performance information to thereby manage the electrical power consumption of the portable communications device.
US08108008B2
An electronic apparatus includes a display screen, a physical button, a touch pad separated from the display screen, and a processor. The touch pad is segmented into a first touch area, a second touch area and a third touch area. The processor judges an action of the physical button to select one of functions of the electronic apparatus and controls the display screen to show a selected function, the processor judges a track from the first touch area and through the second touch area and to the third touch area to operate the selected function and controls the display screen to show an operating result. Therefore, the operation method of the physical button and the touch pad is the same as a larger touch screen.
US08107994B2
A multimode communication apparatus capable of varying a function of a signal processing portion without external resource control is provided. The multimode communication apparatus includes a radio portion 103 for conducting a radio communication, a plurality of signal processing devices 105, 106 whose function can be varied by resource control, and a storing portion 109 for storing data defining a resource controlling function that is executable on a plurality of signal processing devices 105, 106. Since the resource controlling function is furnished into any of the signal processing devices 105, 106, the function of the signal processing devices 105, 106 can be varied not to provide a resource controlling portion to the outside of the signal processing device.
US08107990B2
A transmission power control system can establish synchronization by matching adjustment start timings while repeating adjustment periods even when start timings of transmission power balance adjustment are different due to fluctuation of transmission delay of control message from the control station to base station, and can increase circuit capacity by establishing balance of transmission powers between the base stations. In the transmission power control system the base station comprises control means for controlling initiation of a balance adjustment period for performing the balance adjustment from a frame number determined on the basis of frame number of the balance adjustment period.
US08107984B2
According to the present invention, Bluetooth master device offset information is determined and distributed among the master devices within a Bluetooth network. The system either provides an offset to each master device or determines master device offsets and distributes this information to master devices within the system to allow or efficient hand-offs of a slave between master devices.
US08107983B2
A method for determining antenna weights for use in transmitting data from a plurality of base stations to a user device is disclosed. The antenna weights are determined using an input covariance matrix (S), and the input covariance matrix is determined subject to a predetermined power constraint and a predetermined, non-zero interference constraint.
US08107972B2
A method for providing triggered location information of a target terminal is provided. The method includes transmitting by a previous H-SLP a report message informing that a target terminal is in a roaming state during the triggered location service to an H-SLP of the target terminal or the target terminal. The H-SLP of the target terminal selects a new V-SLP based on a location identifier (LID) received from the target terminal, and the H-SLP provides the V-SLP with an ID of the target terminal, a positioning method of the target terminal (SET CAPABILITY), and the LID as the information on the network in which the target terminal currently exists. The newly selected V-SLP determines the positioning method and protocol used for the positioning with the target terminal by using the SET CAPABILITY, the newly selected V-SLP transmits its own IP address and the newly determined positioning method and protocol (POSMETHOD) to the H-SLP. The H-SLP transmits the IP address of the newly selected H-SLP and the new POSMETHOD to the target terminal, the target terminal transmits a positioning inducing message to the new V-SLP and calculates a location value by using the determined POSMETHOD, in such a manner that the triggered location service is maintained even though the target terminal is in a roaming state during the service by performing the step of selecting the H-SLP for calculating the location value of the target terminal without interruption.
US08107971B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for using a location aware device to determine a current location, recording a location bookmark for the current location using the location aware device, storing the location bookmark, detecting at some later time that a location of the location aware device is within a specified proximity to the bookmark location and that a user-defined condition is satisfied by the bookmark content, and automatically notifying a user of the location aware device of the location bookmark. A location bookmark includes a bookmark location and bookmark content, the bookmark location being the current location and the bookmark content including data associated with the current location.
US08107970B2
Systems and methods for providing services for stations supported by a residential gateway are provided. The residential gateway can support one or more fixed-line station and/one or more mobile stations. The mobile stations can be supported by a wireless macro network and/or the residential gateway. Services such as simultaneous ringing, distinctive ringing, call transfer, extension functionality, and the like can be provided for the mobile station and the fixed-line station.
US08107969B2
A method and system of channel negotiation between neighbor BSs are provided. The method includes: a first BS obtaining channel information of all second BSs which neighboring to the first BS in response to starting of the first BS; selecting a channel in the network as a first working channel of the first BS, and requesting all third BSs which are the second BSs occupying the first working channel to switch channel; and determining another channel for each of the third BSs excluding the first working channel as the target channel of the third BS, and switching the working channel of the third BS to the target channel, then occupying the first working channel. The method and system of channel negotiation between neighbor BSs adjust channels between neighbor BSs by negotiation automatically, and resource distribution for the whole network is optimized.
US08107967B2
Provided is a relay station capable of reducing control information required for allocating a relay transmission channel in a mobile communication system. The relay station (100) includes: a demodulation unit (103) and a decoding unit (104) for demodulating and decoding a signal from a mobile station and channel allocation information from a base station; an extraction unit (105) for extracting a signal from the mobile station from signals inputted from the decoding unit (104) so as to output it to a coding unit (107) and extracting channel allocation information from the base station so as to output it to a channel setting unit (106); the channel setting unit (106) for setting a channel transmission channel according to a channel allocation rule shared by the relay station (100) and the base station; the coding unit (107) and a modulation unit (108) for encoding and modulating the signal from the mobile station; and a channel allocation unit (109) for allocating the modulated signal to one of the relay transmission channels.
US08107964B2
In a radio access network (24) a femto radio base station (28f) comprises a resident receiver (54) which acquires system information broadcast in a radio access network (24). At least part of the system information is used for building, at the femto radio base station (28f), a neighbor data structure (59) comprising information for neighboring cells. The neighbor data structure (59) is then used for building a neighbor list. The neighbor list is subsequently transmitted from the femto radio base station (28f) to a user equipment unit (30) served by the femto radio base station (28f). In some example embodiments and modes, the femto radio base station (28f) reports the neighbor data structure to a network node (26, 100) other than the femto radio base station. The other node (26, 100) uses the neighbor data structure for building the neighbor list at the other node. In some example embodiments and modes, acquisition of the system information comprises scanning a surrounding macro coverage area of the femto radio base station for obtaining cell identity information for detected cells. In other example embodiments and modes, the acquisition of the system information can additionally comprise camping on a macro cell and using/consulting at least one system information block in the camped-on macro cell is consulted/used for obtaining information about at least one neighboring cell.
US08107961B1
A method and system is disclosed for optimizing handoff of access terminals. In particular, when (i) a given access terminal must switch from a first channel band in a first coverage area to a second channel band in order to hand off to a second coverage area, and (ii) there are no available identifiers to assign to the given access terminal to facilitate making the switch from the first channel band to the second channel band in the first coverage area prior to handing off to the second coverage area, an appropriate identifier is advantageously reassigned from another access terminal to the given access terminal. With the reassigned identifier, the given access terminal may then switch to the second channel band in the first coverage area prior to handing off to the second coverage area.
US08107959B2
When a base station receives a report of signal power of a common pilot channel of each cell received at a mobile station, the base station converts the received signal power in the report on the basis of the transmission power of the common pilot channel of each of the cells. A base station controller determines the cell to which the mobile station is to be connected on the basis of the received signal power of the common pilot channel in each cell.
US08107958B2
A method of updating channel information in a mobile Internet system, and a mobile communication terminal and mobile Internet system using the same are disclosed. According to an embodiment, the method of updating channel information in a mobile Internet system includes receiving, by a mobile communication terminal, a handover related message including channel information of at least one handover base station from a serving base station; and selectively updating the channel information of the at least one handover base station in the mobile communication terminal by using the received handover related message. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize mismatching of channel information of a target base station when performing a handover.
US08107952B2
A mobile device identifier (such as an MSISDN) that typically accompanies a mobile device request is replaced with an “enriched” identifier that exposes the mobile device user's home operator but obfuscates the mobile device's (and, thus, the device user's) identity. In one embodiment, the identifier comprises a first part, and a second part. The first part comprises a data string that identifies (either directly or through a database lookup) the mobile device user's home operator. The second part, however, is an opaque data string, such as a one-time-use unique identifier (UID) or a value that is otherwise derived as a function of the MSISDN (or the like). The opaque data string encodes the mobile device's identity in a manner that preferably can be recovered only by the user's home operator (or an entity authorized thereby). When the mobile device user roams into a foreign network, that network receives the enriched identifier in lieu of an MSISDN. The foreign network uses the first part to identify the mobile device user's home network, e.g., to determine whether to permit the requested access (or to provide some other value-added service). The foreign network, however, cannot decode the second part; thus, the mobile device's identity (as well as the identity of the mobile device user) remains obscured. This ensures that the user's privacy is maintained, while preventing third parties from building a profile of the device based on the requests that include the MSISDN or similar identifier.
US08107948B2
A SIP server 200 according to a present invention includes: a judgment unit 205 configured to specify an application executed by a mobile station transmitting INVITE (halfway participation) on the basis of INVITE (halfway participation) received from the mobile station, and to judge whether an application which is being executed in the group call (active application) matches the application executed by the mobile station transmitting INVITE (halfway participation); and a SIP information transmitter 206 configured to notify the mobile station transmitting INVITE (halfway participation) of the active application when judged that the active application is different from the application executed by the mobile station transmitting INVITE (halfway participation).
US08107943B2
The invention relates to a method for providing device IDs in a mobile radio device (10; 30; 60) which identify said mobile radio device (10; 30; 60) in a mobile radio network (50). Said method comprises the following steps: several device IDs (21-1, 21-2, 21-3) are managed with the aid of a management and allocation system (20); a first device ID is selected among said several device IDs (21-1, 21-2, 21-3) in the management and allocation system; the first device ID is transmitted from the management and allocation system to a radio module (14) in the mobile radio device (10; 30; 60); and the first device ID is stored in the radio module (14) such that the first device ID is made available for identifying the mobile radio device (10; 30; 60) in the mobile radio network (50).
US08107939B2
A computing device with a software defined radio. The software defined radio has an architecture with separate components to provide control functions and data processing functions. The control components configure the data processing components so that the software defined radio provides desired operating characteristics. To facilitate programming the software defined radio to communicate according to one or more wireless technologies, the computing device may include a library of wireless technology specifications. By accessing a technology specification in the library, the control components can determine an appropriate configuration of the data processing components for a selected wireless technology. The data processing components may be hardware or software and, if hardware and software components are available to perform a data processing function, the control components may select between the hardware and software components depending on throughput, processor loading or other criteria.
US08107938B2
A method of communication is disclosed and includes attempting to establish a connection with a destination wireless device. The method also includes determining that the destination wireless device does not include required software. Additionally, the method includes transmitting an indication to the destination wireless device that required software is necessary to establish the connection. Further, the method includes transmitting an indication to the destination wireless device that the originating wireless device is authorized with respect to a one-time download of the required software. The method also includes transmitting a request to a download server to download the required software to the destination wireless device.
US08107935B2
Systems and methods for contacting associated parties in the event of an emergency communication is described. When an emergency request is made, such as a “911” call, the system determines if other contacts are associated with the requestor or the requesting device. The system then sends a communication to the associated contacts. The system may bridge the contacts onto an emergency call, provide them with information regarding the emergency, or provide them with the means to obtain more information, such as a link or a telephone number. The system may detect an incoming call and determine if the caller is associated with an ongoing emergency situation, connecting the caller with the relevant authorities if necessary.
US08107926B2
A communication device includes a base unit and a handset. The base unit includes a first communication unit, an authentication data storing unit, and an authentication data transmitting unit. The first communication unit is configured to communicate with an external device by using a communication service subject to setting authentication data into the communication service. The authentication data storing unit stores the authentication data. The authentication data transmitting unit transmits the authentication data to the handset. The handset include a second communication unit, an authentication data receiving unit, and a setting unit. The second communication unit is configured to communicate with the external device by using the communication service subject to setting authentication data into the communication service. The authentication data receiving unit receives the authentication data transmitted from the authentication data transmitting unit. The setting unit sets the authentication data received by the authentication data receiving unit into the communication service when the second communication unit attempts to communicate with the external device by using the communication service.
US08107922B2
A mobile portable terminal includes a function suppressing section having a suppression request receiving means for receiving a suppression request for a function provided to the mobile portable terminal, an intention transmitting means for transmitting acceptance or rejection of the suppression request in response to a user operation, and a function suppressing means for executing suppression of the function in response to the suppression request in the case of acceptance; and a function suppression canceling section having a suppression cancellation command receiving means for receiving a suppression cancellation command and a function suppression canceling means for canceling the suppression of the function suppressed by the function suppressing means upon receipt of the suppression cancellation command.
US08107921B2
Systems and methods for operating a mobile virtual network are disclosed. A mobile virtual network operator is disclosed as an entity that provides a mobile networking service to a user, the mobile networking service being provided using a physical mobile network provided by a third party. The mobile virtual network operator may provide content distribution services, data access services, or messaging services to a user of a mobile device.
US08107914B2
Radio-frequency (RF) circuits, methods and systems are implemented according to a variety of embodiments. According to one such embodiment, a radio-frequency (RF) receiver circuit is implemented with an adjustable RF filter circuit in a receive path of the RF receiver circuit. A local oscillator (LO) generates a LO signal and an RX_LO signal from the LO signal. A mixing circuit mixes a signal received from the adjustable RF filter circuit and the RX_LO signal. An intermediate-frequency (IF) circuit generates an IF_cal signal at the receiver circuit. A calibration circuit implements both a calibration mode and a receive mode. In the calibration mode, a calibration signal is injected into the receive path. A setting of the adjustable RF filter circuit is determined. In the receive mode, the calibration circuit disables the injection of the calibration signal into the receive path of the RF receiver circuit.
US08107912B2
A transceiver suitable for larger scale of integration employs direct conversion reception for reducing the number of filters. Also, the number of VCOs is reduced by utilizing dividers to supply a receiver and a transmitter with locally oscillated signals at an RF band. Dividers each having a fixed division ratio are used for generating locally oscillated signals for the receiver, while a divider having a switchable division ratio are used for generating the locally oscillated signal for the transmitter. In addition, a variable gain amplifier for baseband signal is provided with a DC offset voltage detector and a DC offset canceling circuit for supporting high speed data communications to accomplish fast cancellation of a DC offset by eliminating intervention of a filter within a feedback loop for offset cancellation.
US08107910B2
In an exemplary embodiment, a circuit is disclosed comprising a plurality of inputs, each input to receive a radio frequency waveform from a plurality of differential input waveforms having different phases; and an inverter circuit to invert a waveform from the plurality of differential inputs waveforms to a substantially same phase as a non-inverted input waveform. The circuit further comprises a combiner node to combine the inverted and the non-inverted input waveforms into an output waveform.
US08107904B2
An apparatus and a method for an Envelope Elimination and Restoration (EER) power transmitter are provided. The apparatus includes a signal separator for splitting a transmit signal to an amplitude component and a phase component, an orthogonal modulator for modulating the phase component into a Radio Frequency (RF) signal, a bias modulator for linearly amplifying the amplitude component, for determining a bias voltage according to a magnitude of the amplitude component, and for providing a current generated using the determined bias voltage to a high-efficiency power amplifier and the high-efficiency power amplifier for amplifying the RF signal using the linearly amplified amplitude component as a drain bias voltage and using the generated current as a drain bias current.
US08107898B2
A transmitter circuit of the present invention includes: a signal generator 101 that generates an amplitude signal and a phase signal based on an input signal; a signal processor 103 that divides the phase signal into a real component and an imaginary component, and performs a signal process on each of the real component and the imaginary component; BEFs 104, 105 that attenuate unnecessary frequency bands of a real component signal and an imaginary component signal, respectively, which are obtained as a result of the signal process performed by the signal processor; a coordinate system converter 106 that converts an orthogonal coordinate system, which is represented by the real component signal and the imaginary component signal of which the unnecessary frequency bands have been attenuated by the BEFs, to a polar coordinate system, which is represented by an amplitude component signal and a phase component signal; an adder 102 that adds the amplitude component signal provided by the coordinate system converter, to the amplitude signal generated by the signal generator; an angle modulator 107 that angle-modulates the phase component signal provided by the coordinate system converter; and an amplitude modulator 108 that amplitude-modulates the phase component signal which has been angle-modulated by the angle modulator, based on the amplitude signal which has the amplitude component signal added thereto and which is provided by the adder.
US08107896B2
This invention provides a mobile communication system which expanded the operation limitation of the heretofore adopted mobile communication systems and improved the spectrum efficiency greatly. A data transmission method for use in the mobile communication system of the present invention includes means for channel pluralizing by which to expand the Shannon limit and means for interference reduction by which to expand the interference limit. More specifically, a transmitting module comprises M units of modulators and L units of transmitting antennas, generates L units of signals by multiplying M units of modulated signals by a complex matrix consisting of M×L units of elements, and transmits the L units of signals from the L units of transmitting antennas.
US08107895B2
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a multi-input multi-output transceiver system that includes a plurality of RF transceivers. Each RF transceiver includes an RF transmitter that transmits a transmit signal at a selected transmit power, based on a transmit power control signal and a corresponding RF receiver for receiving a corresponding one of a plurality of received signals from an external device and for generating a signal strength indication corresponding to each of the plurality of received signals. A processing module generates the transmit power control signal for each RF transmitter based on the signal strength indication of the corresponding RF receiver, and that generates a power mode signal for adjusting a power consumption parameter of each RF transmitter in accordance with the selected transmit power for each RF transmitter.
US08107889B2
A transceiver device and a power saving method thereof are provided. The transceiver device includes an attenuation estimation module, a transmitter, and a control module. The attenuation estimation module is coupled to a transmission path for estimating an attenuation value caused when a signal passes through the transmission path. The transmitter is coupled to the transmission path, for outputting a transmission signal. The control module is coupled to the attenuation estimation module and the transmitter. When the attenuation value is smaller than a default value, the output power of the transmitter is adjusted to be lower. Thereby, the power consumption of the transceiver device is decreased.
US08107888B2
A method for communication operating mode selection is presented. In the method, each of a plurality of communication signals is transmitted by way of a separate one of a first plurality of antennas according to a first operating mode. The transmitted communication signals are received by way of a second plurality of antennas. A multi-path power metric of the received communication signals is generated. Based on the multi-path power metric, each of the plurality of communication signals is transmitted by way of the first plurality of antennas according to a second operating mode instead of the first operating mode.
US08107886B2
The present invention provides for monitoring quality of service on a receiver unit in a wireless communication system by configuring one or more monitors on the receiver unit according to a configuration file and using the monitors to collect event data relating to the activities of the receiver unit using the monitors. The method further includes filtering the event data according to the configuration file, transmitting the filtered event data to the control function unit and packaging the filtered event data to be transmitted to a collector unit. The method further includes transmitting the filtered event data to the collector unit during the active communication session, processing and transmitting the filtered event data to a target unit and generating a result summary of the filtered event data. In another embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for monitoring quality of service on a receiver unit in a wireless communication system.
US08107873B2
One embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus in which registration rollers are arranged immediately before an electrostatic latent bearing member and, after a carried paper is caused to temporarily stop by the registration rollers, carrying of the paper recommences with a timing enabling a leading edge of image information visualized on the electrostatic latent bearing member and a leading edge of the paper that has been stopped by the registration rollers to correspond, wherein, at a time of successive printing of multiple sheets, a carrying recommencement timing of an immediately subsequent paper is determined using information of a carrying recommencement timing of an immediately preceding carried paper.
US08107869B2
The fixing device is provided with: a fixing member that includes a metal layer; a pressure member that forms a pressure portion between the pressure member and the fixing member, and that is driven to rotate; an electromagnetic induction heating member that causes the metal layer of the fixing member to generate heat; and a heater that is disposed so as to face the electromagnetic induction heating member through the fixing member and so as to be in contact with an inner side of the fixing member, and that is caused to generate heat by a magnetic field. A heat transfer lubricant is provided between the fixing member and the heater disposed on the inner side of the fixing member.
US08107862B2
An image forming apparatus includes a developer containing casing, a developer transport body, transport electrodes, and a developer vibrating section. The developer containing casing is a box-like member in which a developer is contained. The developer transport body has a developer transport surface, and is disposed within the developer containing casing. The plurality of transport electrodes are provided along the developer transport surface. These transport electrodes are configured such that they can transport the developer in a predetermined developer transport direction on the developer transport surface upon application of traveling-wave voltages. The developer vibrating section is configured to be able to vibrate the developer which is to be transported on the developer transport surface.
US08107851B2
An image forming apparatus has a wide first main body, a narrow second main body below the first main body, and a cover on at least on one side of the second main body. The cover includes first and second walls. The first wall connects a side edge of the first main body and a lower side edge of the second main body. The second wall is a substantially inverted triangle that extends obliquely from the front edge of the first wall.
US08107850B2
A developing device is provided. The developing device includes a housing, a developing agent carrier, and a developing agent leakage prevention member. The developing agent leakage prevention member has a first layer that is configured to contact an outer circumferential surface of a longitudinal end of the developing agent carrier; a second layer that is superimposed on the first layer and is configured to contact a portion of the housing; and an adhesive layer that is interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the adhesive layer partially bonding a first opposing surface of the first layer opposing the second layer to a second opposing surface of the second layer opposing the first layer such that an unbonded area where the first opposing surface and the second opposing surface are not bonded together is produced.
US08107840B2
A supplying roller supplies toner to a developing roller which develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductive drum. The controller controls a power supply to output a first voltage to the developing roller and a second voltage to the supplying roller. A detector generates a detection signal indicative of the remaining amount of toner. The voltage controller performs voltage correction according to the detection signal either in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the first voltage has a smaller value when the detection signal falls below a reference value than when the detection signal is above the reference value. In the second mode, the first voltage has a smaller value when the detection signal falls below the reference value than when the detection signal is above the reference value (as in the first mode), and also the difference between the first and second voltages has a larger value when the detection signal falls below the reference value than when the detection signal is above the reference value.
US08107838B2
In a method or system for processing a measurement signal for detecting a property of a toner mark, the toner mark is produced and detected. A measurement signal is output, a signal curve of the measurement signal being determined. A temporal measurement window is provided for detecting a property of the toner mark, the temporal measurement window having a beginning and an end. A plausibility check is carried out of the determined signal curve wherein a maximum value and a minimum value of the signal curve are determined, a first difference value between a maximum value and the minimum value is determined, a first temporal distance is determined between an occurrence of the maximum value and an occurrence of the minimum value, a second temporal distance is determined between at least one of the beginning and end of the measurement window and the occurrence of at least one of the maximum value and the minimum value, and a second difference value is determined between a first distance of the maximum value from a reference value and a second distance of the minimum value from the reference value, and the second determined difference value is compared to at least one of a defined minimum difference value and a defined maximum difference value.
US08107829B2
An image forming apparatus includes: at least one retaining member configured to temporarily retain remaining developer remaining on a photosensitive member; a belt arranged opposite to a plurality of photosensitive members; a cleaning device collecting developer on the belt; a remaining developer collecting unit configured to cause the remaining developer retained by the retaining member to be transferred onto the belt via the photosensitive member and thereafter collected by the cleaning device; a circulation mechanism configured to circulate developer between the development chamber and the developer storage chamber; a detector detecting the amount of developer in the developer storage chamber; a determination unit configured to determine if the amount of developer in the developer storage chamber is less than a predetermined amount; and a notifying unit notifying to replace a developer receptacle when the amount of developer stored in the developer storage chamber becomes less than the predetermined amount.
US08107820B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for integrated framing functionality; optical layer operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P); forward error correction (FEC); data encapsulation; and performance enhancement support in SFP optical transceiver modules. An SFP pluggable transceiver is configured to frame a client signal and to provide OAM&P functionality, such as with G.709 framing. The SFP pluggable transceiver operates within existing multi-source agreement (MSA) specifications for SFP. Accordingly, the pluggable transceiver can operate in any customer device compliant to the MSA specifications.
US08107814B2
Upstream data handling in a digital Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) passive optical network (DPON). Embodiments include receiving at a headend, in an upstream path over an optical network, a plurality of digitized and serialized DPON upstream packets respectively distributed in a time division multiplexed fashion, wherein each DPON upstream packet includes a header, a trailer and a payload, monitoring the optical network for energy in the upstream path, including energy associated with a header and a trailer of respective DPON upstream packets, controlling a bit stuffer that adds bits to the upstream path to (1) stop adding bits to the upstream path when energy is detected in the upstream path and (2) resume adding bits to the upstream path after an end of a trailer of a given DPON upstream packet has been detected, and removing the header and the trailer of the respective DPON upstream packets. The resulting original payload is then digital to analog converted, and the resulting data is passed to, e.g., a cable modem termination system (CMTS).
US08107812B2
An optical keyless entry sensor system and method includes an optical sensor in association with a mirror that reflects light transmitted from the optical sensor, wherein reflected light is detectable by the optical sensor. An attenuation filter can be located between the mirror and the optical sensor, wherein the attenuation filter is configured to simulate a contamination of the optical sensor in order to determine an exact level of attenuation representative of contamination that causes a performance failure of the optical sensor, thereby providing data which is indicative of a dynamic range of the optical sensor, such that the dynamic range is utilized to enhance the performance of the optical keyless entry sensor system.
US08107808B2
Embodiments are disclosed of an apparatus including a curved reflector having an interior and an open end; a light module positioned around a perimeter of the open end of the reflector, the light module including a first side having one or more interior light sources thereon to direct light toward the interior of the reflector and a second side having one or more exterior light sources thereon to direct light away from the reflector; and a light pipe coupled to the light module and aligned so that light from the one or more exterior light sources is launched into the light pipe. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08107806B2
A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to capture an object image input via a focus lens to output image data, a focus adjustment unit configured to perform focus adjustment by controlling a position of the focus lens based on the image data, a motion detection unit configured to detect a motion of the object image based on the image data, and a control unit configured to control the focus adjustment unit to perform a first focus adjustment operation if motion of the object image is not detected by the motion detection unit, and to control the focus adjustment unit to perform a second focus adjustment operation different from the first focus adjustment operation if motion of the object image is detected by the motion detection unit.
US08107800B2
An article supports a workpiece during thermal processing. At least three elongated support members, e.g., support pins, extend upwardly from an element such as support arms for supporting the workpiece. Each of the support members includes a first portion adjacent to the workpiece. A second portion extends downwardly from the first portion. The first portion can have a thermal response faster than the thermal response of the workpiece and the second portion can have a slower thermal response. A removable element may be mounted to the support member for adjusting the thermal response of the support member. With removable elements, the support members can be adjusted to cause no net transfer of heat to or from the workpiece.
US08107799B2
An evaporator device for ammonia to be used in mobile exhaust gas systems includes a basic body encompassing at least one inlet line and at least one outlet line. At least one heating element and at least one duct for connecting the inlet line to the outlet line are disposed within the basic body. The at least one heating element is in heat-conducting contact with an evaporation section of the at least one duct, while the at least one duct has a meandering course in the evaporation section. A motor vehicle and a method for producing an evaporator device, are also provided.
US08107796B2
Video data and output data that need to be output in synchronization therewith are synchronized. When an output of video data is later than an output of output data synchronized with the video data, at step S273, a process for one access unit is caused to be skipped. At step S275, it is determined whether the video data are referenced when other video data are decoded according to au_ref_flag of video data of the access unit whose process has been caused to be skipped. When the video data of the access unit whose process has been caused to be skipped are not referenced when the other video data are decoded, at step S277, the access unit whose process has been caused to be skipped is skipped. The present invention can be applied to for example a game device that uses a DVD.
US08107786B2
Systems and methods to modify playout or playback include a first and second approach to respond to a trick mode request (e.g., fast forward, rewind). First, a trick mode request may be responded to by associating primary content to secondary content and playing out the secondary content on a receiving device, the secondary content not being derived from the primary content. Second, a trick mode request may be responded to by associating primary content to secondary content and playing out the secondary content on a receiving device, the secondary content being derived from the primary content but played at a normal speed for the secondary content.
US08107783B2
A stretcher fiber includes a core region, inner trench region, ring region, outer trench region, and outer cladding region. The core region has a radius r1, a refractive index n1, and a positive effective refractive index Δn1 with respect to an outer cladding region having an outer radius r0 and a refractive index n0, where Δn0 is equal to n1−n0. The inner trench region surrounds the core region and has an outer radius r2, a refractive index n2 less than n0, and a negative effective refractive index Δn2 equal to n2−n0. The ring region surrounds the trench region and has an outer radius r3, a refractive index n3 greater than n0, and a positive effective refractive index Δn3 equal to n3−n0. The outer trench region surrounds the ring region and has an outer radius r4, a refractive index n4 less than n0, and a negative effective refractive index Δn4 equal to n4−n0. The outer cladding region surrounds the outer trench region. The values of r0, r1, r2, r3, r4, Δn1, Δn2, Δn3, and Δn4 cause the fiber to have a negative dispersion and to have a relative dispersion slope greater than 0.005 nm− at a specific wavelength within a selected operating wavelength band. Additionally, the stretcher may be used in combination with a second fiber to match the dispersion and RDS of a selected grating compressor.
US08107777B2
Polyimide substrates are bonded to germanium wafers having an epitaxially grown III-V layer and a metal layer. The polyimide substrate and the Ge, wafer are subsequently thinned by grinding and etching to reach a final thickness of 25 μms Ge on 25 μms adhesive layer on 50 μms polyimide substrate. The choice of adhesive is of paramount importance. There are several requirements for the adhesive layer to act as a permanent carrier of the thin fragile multi junction solar cell. The adhesive must remain flexible after curing and have a low CTE. The use of an adhesive that cures without the addition of heat, preferably at room temperature. Furthermore, the adhesive layer has a uniform thickness preferably less than 25 ums (1 mil) and be void-free. A clear adhesive which does not contain any particles in order to obtain a smooth uniform void-free bond line. However, clear adhesives have CTE's that are larger than 80 ppm/°C. and which can be as high as 200 ppm/°C. or more above the glass transition temperature.
US08107774B2
An image data processing method is provided. In this method, a plurality of original pixel values of an image is input. An interpolation position of a target pixel in the image is determined. Whether the interpolation position is in a central region of an object or in a marginal region of an object is determined. A pixel value interpolation with respect to the interpolation position is performed. When the interpolation position is in the central region of an object, the pixel value interpolation is performed in a first calculation mode, and when the interpolation position is in the marginal region of an object, the pixel value interpolation is performed in a second calculation mode, wherein the first calculation mode may be a low pass filtering interpolation mode, and the second calculation mode may be a linear interpolation mode.
US08107765B2
A block-based image restoration system and method is provided. The image restoration system, including: an edge processing unit to perform a color shifting in an edge of an image and process the edge of the image; a restoration parameter extraction unit to segment the image into at least one domain and extract a restoration parameter for each block included in the segmented domain; and an image restoration unit to apply a block-based transform domain filtering according to the restoration parameter and perform an image restoration.
US08107750B2
A digital image processing system and method for removing motion effects from images of a video sequence, and generating corresponding motion compensated images.
US08107748B2
A technique for performing motion estimation using an adaptive motion search range includes calculating motion vectors for blocks of pixels in a target image, using the calculated motion vectors to generate a search range associated with a target block of pixels in the target image, and using the generated search range to estimate motion of the target block of pixels.
US08107747B2
The present invention relates to a real-time wideband compressor for multi-dimensional data. The compressor comprises a plurality of compression engines for simultaneously compressing a plurality of data subsets of a set of input data vectors and providing compressed data thereof using one of SAMVQ or HSOCVQ data compression. Each compression engine comprises an along spectral vectors codevector trainer as well as an across spectral bands codevector trainer. The compression engines are programmable to perform either along spectral vectors codevector training or across spectral bands codevector training in combination with one of the SAMVQ or HSOCVQ techniques without changing hardware. The compressor further comprises a network switch for partitioning the set of input data vectors into the plurality of data subsets, for providing each of the plurality of data subsets to one of the plurality of compression engines, and for transmitting the compressed data. The real-time wideband compressor is highly advantageous in, for example, space applications by programmable enabling performance of different techniques of codevector training as well as different techniques of VQ. Furthermore, after the compression process is started the compression process is performed autonomously without external communication.
US08107731B2
A text input device receives, in its information input circuit, a letter indicating a destination of transmission as information on the destination of transmission. The text input device stores, in its word-finder with learning function, an input text and an output text in a state correlated with the information on the destination of transmission or its attribute. The text input device in its text learning circuit controls a change in storage caused by correlating an input text matched to a text entered with the information on the destination of transmission or its attribute stored and coincident with the information on the destination of transmission or its attribute entered. When a text matched to the text entered is output, the text input device in its text converter takes out and outputs at least one output text stored.
US08107728B2
An image processing apparatus includes a feature point calculating section for extracting two or more connected components from a document image of interest and calculating the feature point from the centroid defined in each of the connected components, a features calculating section for calculating the features of the document image from the distance between the feature points, a voting processing section for voting one of the registered images which is similar to the document image as reviewing the features, and a similarity judging process section for judging the similarity from the result of the voting, wherein the description of the processing to be executed for the output is determined from the result of the similarity judgment.
US08107721B2
A camera acquires a set of coded images and a set of flash images of a semi-specular object. The coded images are acquired while scanning the object with a laser beam pattern, and the flash images are acquired while illuminating the object with a set of light sources at different locations near the camera, there being one flash image for each light source. 3D coordinates of points on the surface of the object are determined from the set of coded images, and 2D silhouettes of the object are determined from shadows cast in the set of flash images. Surface normals are obtained for the 3D points from photometric stereo on the set of flash images. The 3D coordinates, 2D silhouettes and surface normals are compared with a known 3D model of the object to determine the pose of the object.
US08107698B2
An image processing apparatus includes an organ determination unit that determines a type of observation target which appears in a target image among a sequence of observation images, an imaging distance estimation unit that estimates an imaging distance at a time of image pickup of the observation image, an abnormal region detection unit that detects an abnormal region, which is a specific region, from the target image using an abnormality detection parameter, and an image processing control unit that sets as the abnormality detection parameter, a parameter value corresponding to a result of determination by the organ determination unit, and causes the abnormal region detection unit to detect an abnormal region using the abnormality detection parameter.
US08107693B2
The present invention provides a complete artificial intelligence system for the acquisition and analysis of nucleic acid array hybridization information. The system includes a central data processing facility and one or more user facilities, linked by encrypted connections. Each user facility may include an optical scanning system to collect hybridization signals from a nucleic acid array, an image processing system to convert the optical data into a set of hybridization parameters, a connection to a data network, and a user interface to display, manipulate, search, and analyze hybridization information. This system reads data from a nucleic acid microarray, analyzes test results, evaluates patient risk for various ailments, and recommends methods of treatment. The automated artificial intelligence system is a real time, dynamic decision making tool that can be used in conjunction with a clinical analysis system, and with the information obtained in a research and development environment.
US08107691B2
Provided is a computer system and method for mapping a visual path. The method includes receiving one or more images included in a predefined area; receiving one or more parameters associated with the image; and integrating the images and parameters into a map of the predefined area to enable mapping the visual path through the predefined area in response to one or more input path parameters.
US08107688B2
An image input unit, a feature point detection unit configured to extract at least four image feature points including a feature point of a pupil and which do not exist on an identical plane from an input image, a three-dimensional face model storage unit configured to store shape information of a three-dimensional face model and at least coordinates of reference feature points on the three-dimensional face model corresponding to the feature points extracted by the feature point detection unit, a converting unit configured to convert a coordinate of the feature point of the pupil onto surface of the three-dimensional face model on the basis of the correspondence between the extracted feature points and the reference feature points, and a gaze estimating unit configured to estimate the gaze direction from the converted coordinate of the pupil are provided.
US08107681B2
The present invention relates to a setup (100) for constructing a weed map. The setup (100) comprises an image recording unit (110; 110′) having a video camera (112) and a relief-tracking laser camera (114), an image processing and evaluating unit (120), a data storage unit (130) connected to the latter, as well as a weed database (135). The setup (100) also comprises a light source (160), a position detection unit (150) equipped with a location finding element (152) and a location refining element (154) for determining the spatial coordinates supplied by the former more accurately. The image recording unit (110; 110′), the position detection unit (150) and the light source (160) are all in data communication connection with the image processing and evaluating unit (120). Furthermore, the image processing and evaluating unit (120) is provided with one or more controlling outputs (122, 124), wherein one of the outputs (124) is capable of establishing a data communication connection with the control unit (190) of a separate weeding apparatus.
US08107678B2
A method for processing a time-ordered sequence of video frames. The method is implemented by execution of program code on a processor of a computer system. Each frame includes a two-dimensional array of pixels and a frame-dependent color intensity at each pixel. A current frame and at least one frame occurring prior to the current frame in the sequence are analyzed via a background subtraction on the at least one frame to determine a background image and a static region mask associated with a static region. The background subtraction determines an existence of a static object relating to the static region. A status of the static object is determined, the status being either that the static object is an abandoned object or that the static object is a removed object. The determined status is stored in a data storage medium of the computer system.
US08107676B2
A solution for monitoring an area is provided. At least one image of a physical area corresponding to a line is obtained and a set of hypotheses are evaluated based on the image(s). For one or more hypotheses, an estimated length of the line is extracted, and an estimated line length is generated based on the estimated length(s) and the corresponding evaluation(s) of the set of hypotheses. In this manner, a length of a line of people, customers, vehicles, and/or the like, can be estimated. The estimation can be stored for later use, utilized to generate one or more alerts, and/or the like. The invention also provides for the use of a single camera to monitor multiple lines and/or perform other monitoring functions.
US08107671B2
Script detection service techniques are described. In an implementation, a determination is made as to which human writing system is associated with individual text characters in a string of one or more text characters based on values representing the individual text characters in the string. A particular human writing system is designated as associated with the string based on the values associated with the individual text characters in the string.
US08107663B2
A headset has a hollow housing having a front wall with at least one sound hole formed thereon, and a rear wall facing the front wall having a plurality of air holes formed thereon. A loudspeaker unit is disposed in the housing and adjacent to the sound hole. An adjustive component is rotatably mounted to the rear wall of the housing. The adjustive component has an adjustive switch outside the rear wall and a blocking slice against an inner surface of the rear wall and connected with the adjustive switch. The adjustive switch is capable of controlling the blocking slice to swing and halt repetitiously, for altering the number of the covered air holes when the adjustive switch is driven to rotate.
US08107662B2
A ported electroacoustical device uses the action of the port to provide cooling airflow across a heat producing device. The device includes a loudspeaker enclosure including a first acoustic port, and an acoustic driver, mounted in the loudspeaker enclosure. The device also includes a heat producing device. The acoustic driver and the acoustic port are constructed and arranged to coact to provide a cooling, substantially unidirectional airflow across the heat producing device, thereby transferring heat from the heat producing device.
US08107661B1
An assistive listening device cap attaches to a headpiece of a cochlear implant behind-the-ear (BTE) unit, an other BTE unit, an earhook, or an external component unit to supplement or replace components thereof. The cap may receive signals from sources outside the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit. The cap communicates with the BTE unit(s), earhook, and/or external component unit using direct, wired, or wireless technology.
US08107660B2
A hearing aid includes: a sound collection unit configured to collect a surrounding sound; a sound output unit configured to output a sound; and a main body having a shape that can be attached to an ear. The main body includes: a hearing aid processing unit configured to perform hearing aid processing for the surrounding sound collected by the sound collection unit; an attaching determination unit configured to determine whether the main body is attached to the ear based on the surrounding sound; a specific sound generation unit configured to generate a predetermined signal; and a selection unit configured to select one of the sound subjected to the hearing aid processing by the hearing aid processing unit and the sound generated by the specific sound generation unit based on a determination result of the attaching determination unit and to output the selected sound to the sound output unit.
US08107641B2
A communication system has a communication controller for multiplexing and transmitting a power supply voltage and an audio signal to be played back by a plurality of channels, and a plurality of communication adapters which start in response to reception of the multiplexed/transmitted power supply voltage, and play back the audio signal using a playback device. The communication controller includes an audio data modulation circuit configured to modulate audio data by shifting, based on a first modulation ratio, a modulation carrier clock for modulating the audio data and a data transmission rate for transmitting the audio data in order to set a command transmission frequency bandwidth, and a command data modulation circuit configured to modulate command data by shifting, based on a second modulation ratio, a modulation carrier clock for modulating the command data and a data transmission rate for transmitting the command data in the command transmission frequency bandwidth.
US08107638B2
A semi-insert hearing protector includes a thin-walled enclosure sized substantially to that of the outer ear of a wearer, the enclosure being made from a rigid or semi-rigid material and secured to the head of said wearer by means of an adjustable headband. A short tube extends from the enclosure for communication with the ear canal, the short tube being made from a rigid or semi-rigid material and including a flexible cuff disposed over the tube made from a resilient material. The enclosure contains sound absorbing material configured to vary the frequency characteristic of sound attenuation by the semi-insert.
US08107634B2
A calibration device for calibrating a dynamic pressure sensor includes a power/control box and a portable calibration head disposed in electrical communication with the power/control box. The portable calibration head may include a calibration head housing having a housing opening and a speaker provided in the calibration head housing and communicating with the housing opening. The power/control box may be configured to induce emission of an acoustic calibration signal from the speaker of the calibration head.
US08107626B2
A method and system for storing a file on a portable device includes a central location 100 generating a seed in response to a unique portable device identifier, a storage device 32 having an interface wherein the storage device 32 stores the seed therein. A portable media player 36 is in communication with the storage device 32 through the interface. The storage device 32 transfers files to the portable media player 36 through the interface in response to the seed.
US08107619B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a method, system and apparatus for controlling a network interface device is disclosed, the network interface device for enabling communication between a communications network and at least one customer device. A condition of the network interface device is determined. In response to the condition of the network interface device qualifying as a reset condition, a trigger is generated. The trigger is released to a power controller, the trigger having an ability to cause the power controller to cycle power to the network interface device.
US08107618B2
A system for providing DC power on local telephone lines, such as telephone lines in a building or office, for powering devices and circuitry associated with communications over those telephone lines, as well as other functions. Desired voltage and power levels are supplied over local telephone lines by separating the DC power component from the central office or private branch exchange with a DC blocking filter while passing all AC telephony signals. A distinct DC power is then imposed over the telephone line for powering both the telephony service as well as other loads. Conventional telephone off-hook detection is simulated for compatibility with the central office or private branch exchange. The functions required may be integrated, partially or fully within a telephone outlet.
US08107609B2
The present invention provides flexible call processing. In one embodiment, a first call from a calling party intended for a called party is received at a call processing system. The call processing system places a second call to a telephonic device associated with the called party. The calling party and called party communicate via the first and second calls. A determination is made that the first call has been terminated. A call-back instruction is received from the called party while the second call is still in place. At least partly in response to receiving the call-back instruction, a third call is placed to a terminal associated with the calling party. The calling party and the called party can communicate via the second call and the third call.
US08107602B2
The current invention is a system for providing directory assistance service in which a user sends a request to the system and the system will, based on the request, return advertisements, which may be in a visible or audible form. The advertisements are selected from a databank, which may include any number advertisements categorized within the category associated with the service, according to selection criteria. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual.
US08107590B2
There is provided a portable radiographic imaging apparatus including: an image output unit which detects a radiation which penetrates an object to be imaged and is irradiated on a surface to be irradiated of a casing, and outputs data of a radiographic image which represents a distribution of an amount of irradiated radiation; a first storage unit which stores the data of the radiographic image output from the image output unit; a display unit which displays an image; and a display control unit which allows the display unit to display a previously captured radiographic image which is associated with a current imaging, before the object to be imaged is imaged.
US08107588B2
There is provided a radiation imaging apparatus delivering an output image with a satisfactory image quality irrespective of the dosage of the X-rays incident on the detector. The radiation imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a detection unit for detecting as an image signal an X-ray irradiated from the an X-ray generation apparatus and penetrating through an object; a read out unit for amplifying and reading out the image signal detected by the detection unit; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the X-ray generation apparatus, the detection unit and the read out unit such that the obtained SN ratio of the image signal according to the dosage of the X-rays incident on the detector can be equal to the S/N ratio required for the image signal.
US08107583B2
Sealing means comprising a seal carrier and a seal connected thereto, wherein the seal carrier is removably fixable between two areas insulated from each other, and a transfer device between two chambers, which are separated by a wall, wherein said transfer device comprises a transfer mechanism and at least one sealing means according to the invention which is positioned between the wall and the transfer mechanism.
US08107579B2
Clock compensation for GPS receivers. A receiver in accordance with the present invention comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) portion, and a baseband portion, coupled to the RF portion, wherein the baseband portion comprises a crystal, an oscillator, coupled to the crystal, wherein the oscillator generates a clock signal based on a signal received from the crystal, a counter, coupled to the oscillator via the clock signal, a comparator, coupled to the counter, a controller, at least one logic gate, coupled to the comparator and the controller, and a combiner, coupled to the at least one logic gate, the controller, and the counter and producing an accurate clock signal therefrom.
US08107577B2
The present invention is a noise tolerant communication protocol device and method where a clock signal input triggers an internal delay clock in an integrated circuit. Data is presented to an input pin and sampled prior to the next external clock pulse based on the internal delay clock. A data pulse value is distinguished by input signal voltage level and not by pulse length. Sampling of data bits is deferred until a signal level is most likely stable, thereby avoiding sampling during periods around edges of changing data values. Therefore, error detection and correction circuitry is not required. A time reference pulse, produced by a bus master, is measured by the protocol device to determine a data transmission rate by the master. The timing of sampling of input signaling from the master is determined by the protocol device from measurement of the time reference pulse magnitude.
US08107575B2
A system and process for eliminating a control wire between logic systems that communicate with each other. In one embodiment, a system sends to a receiver a frequency that indicates a first mode. In the first mode a first data type may be sent. When the frequency is changed a second mode is indicated wherein a second data type may be sent. The receiver detects the frequency change and assumes the first or second mode as indicated.
US08107571B2
Filter taps for filters are specified by filter coefficient parameters. The filter taps are greater in number than the coefficient parameters from which the filter taps are calculated. For example, two coefficient parameters are used to specify a four-tap filter. Filter information can be signaled in a bitstream, such as by signaling one or more family parameters for a filter family and, for each filter in a family, signaling one or more filter tap parameters from which filter taps can be derived. Family parameters can include a number of filters parameter, a resolution parameter, a scaling bits parameter, and/or a full integer position filter present parameter that indicates whether or not the filters include an integer position filter. Filter parameters can be signaled and used to determine coefficient parameters from which filter taps are calculated.
US08107563B2
Provided are a receiving apparatus for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system and a method thereof. The receiving apparatus includes a QR decomposing unit for calculating a single (Q) matrix vector and an upper triangle (R) matrix vector for a receiving signal vector; a first symbol estimation unit for estimating predetermined symbols using the calculated Q matrix vector and R matrix vector; a log likelihood ratio (LLR) calculating unit for calculating log likelihood ratios of unit bits for the estimated symbols; an interference removing unit for receiving a decoded signal that is decided using the calculated log likelihood ratios and removing interference from the receiving signal vector; and a second symbol estimation unit for linearly estimating remaining symbols for the interference removed signal.
US08107561B2
A method for performing carrier frequency offset estimation and frame synchronization is disclosed herein. In one approach, the method includes performing a first level frequency discrimination on at least one estimated channel tap to generate a frequency discriminated value; estimating a phase error from the frequency discriminated value; and, determining a predetermined frame synchronization pattern from the estimated phase error. A computer program product having code and a wireless communications apparatus for performing the method are also described herein.
US08107556B2
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal transmission apparatus which transmits OFDM signals by using a plurality of transmission antennas includes a subcarrier setting device which sets signals for subcarriers so as to use some of the subcarriers of the OFDM signals as pilot subcarriers to transmit pilot signals and use the remaining subcarriers as data subcarriers to transmit data signals, the subcarrier setting device changing polarities of signals for the pilot subcarriers for each transmission antenna.
US08107554B2
A system and a method for the transmission of signals representative of an event include a first low frequency clock and a low frequency counter for generating a first delay, and a second high frequency clock and a high frequency counter for generating a second delay. The system further includes a transmitter for transmitting the representative signals after a delay from the event made up by the sum of the first and the second delay. The second delay can be generated also by an analog device including for example a capacitor, and devices for charging the capacitor up to the reaching of a preset voltage at its ends. A wireless transmission system according to the invention is utilized in a checking system with a contact detecting probe, for transmitting a signal representative of contact with the piece to be checked.
US08107552B2
A system and a method of using fast Fourier transform (FFT) based tone interleaver for OFDM are disclosed. One embodiment of the system includes an OFDM transmitter, which includes an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) subsystem. The IFFT subsystem includes a bit-reversal (or quarternary-digit reversal depending on implementation) module followed by a butterfly operator. The bit-reversal (or quarternary-digit reversal) module output is connected to the butterfly operator input. The OFDM transmitter further includes a tone interleaver having an input and an output. The symbol interleaver output is connected to the bit reversal (or quarternary-digit reversal) module input. The tone interleaver is configured to rearrange the input symbol sequence such that the symbol sequence input to the tone interleaver input is the same as the symbol sequence input to the butterfly operator input.
US08107549B2
Techniques for receiving a MIMO transmission are described. A receiver processes received data from multiple receive antennas in multiple stages. A first stage performs front-end filtering/equalization on the received data with a front-end filter to process non on-time signal components in the multiple received signals. A second stage processes the filtered data with one or more combiner matrices to combine on-time signal components for multiple transmitted signals. For a MIMO-CDM transmission, a single front-end filter may be used for all channelization codes, and a different combiner matrix may be used for each channelization code. Partitioning the receiver processing into multiple stages simplifies derivation of the front-end filter and combiner matrices while achieving good performance. The front-end filter and combiner matrices may be updated separately at the same or different rates.
US08107548B2
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a signal processing method thereof that can improve the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter has a randomizer to randomize an input data stream which has null bytes being inserted at a specified position, a multiplexer to output a data stream formed by inserting specified known data into the position of the null bytes of the randomized data stream, an encoder to encode the data stream outputted from the multiplexer, and a modulator/RF-converter to modulate the encoded data, RF-convert the modulated data and transmit the RF-converted data. The receiving performance of the digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system can be improved even in a multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received signal and using the known data in synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver.
US08107542B1
A wireless system may transmit multiple bit streams representing the same information but with the coded bits being transmitted with different repeat transmission factors. The receiver may derive appropriate combining metrics to optimize decoder performance, while eliminating complicated multiplication operations. The receiver may utilize different soft combining metrics for different bit-to-symbols mappings and types of channels, e.g., additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh fading channels.
US08107526B2
Methods and systems for defining a compression and reconstruction scheme of a media stream, for generating and transmitting a base media layer and enhancement data layers and for reconstructing compressed representations of the media stream from the base media layer and the enhancement data layers.
US08107514B2
A receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives a transmitted signal, converts the signal to a predetermined symbol, and estimates channel information including a channel gain of a channel of the transmitted signal. In addition, the receiver generates an intermediate processing value for decoding the signal based on the estimated channel information and the symbol, and normalizes the intermediate processing value to the channel gain to generate a reference value. The generated reference value is used for a soft-decision value for decoding the signal. In addition, when the signal is decoded by using a hard-decision value, a constellation point value that is closest to the reference values is generated and set as the hard-decision value.
US08107508B2
Provided is an external cavity laser light source. The light source includes a substrate, an optical waveguide, and a current blocking layer. The optical waveguide includes a passive waveguide layer, a lower clad layer, an active layer, and an upper clad layer that are sequentially stacked on the substrate and is divided into regions including a linear active waveguide region, a bent active waveguide region, a tapered waveguide region, and a window region. The current blocking layer was formed an outside of the active layer to reduce leakage current. The linear and bent active waveguide regions have a buried heterostructure (BH), and the tapered waveguide region and the window region have a buried ridge stripe (BRS) structure. The passive waveguide layer a width substantially equal to a maximal width of the tapered waveguide region at least in the bent active waveguide region, the tapered waveguide region, and the window region.
US08107504B2
A method and apparatus for synchronising a serial data signal to a reference clock signal, the data signal comprising frames of equal length each comprising a known frame alignment word (FAW) and a payload, the frame alignment word being in a consistent position within each frame, the method comprising: storing the signal in a FIFO wander buffer as it is received in order to compensate for any wander that may occur; outputting the data signal stored in the FIFO wander buffer synchronised to the reference clock signal; searching for at least a portion of the frame alignment word in the data signal as it is received; and when it is determined that the frame alignment word has been found, realigning the data signal within the wander buffer. The step of realigning the data may comprise replacing at least a portion of the data signal in the wander buffer with a locally-held copy of at least a portion of the frame alignment word. The method may be used in any synchronous serial data stream, such as SDH or SONET.
US08107496B2
Systems and methods for roaming between a mobile node and at least one serving node connected to a network are disclosed. The present application provides a method for roaming between. In the system and method, a first communication is established between the mobile node and one of the serving nodes through a control server, when an Ethernet transceiver is used by the mobile node. Ethernet is used for communications between the mobile node and the control server, and a wireless communication technology for communications between the control server and the serving node. The control server also translates communications between Ethernet and the wireless communication technology. In the system and method, a second communication is established between the mobile node and one of the serving nodes with the wireless communication technology, when a wireless communication technology transceiver is used by the mobile node.
US08107481B2
Wireless terminals in a peer to peer system, which desire to communicate traffic signals, acquire a connection identifier associated with traffic transmission request air link resources. The air link resources in the system, in some embodiments, are structured so that each connection identifier has a one to one mapping to a request transmission unit, the request transmission units are arranged into a plurality of groups, and each group occurs in a different symbol time interval for the same traffic slot. A wireless terminal identifies locally available connection identifiers from a set of connection identifiers based on power received on individual connection identification transmission units in a set of connection identification transmission units; determines, for each group having an identified locally available connection identifier, an interference estimate; and selects a connection identifier from the identified locally available connection identifiers belonging to a group having an acceptable determined interference estimate.
US08107470B2
A device, system, and method are directed towards communicating mobile information over a network. A mobile message (MM) is generated by an Internet Protocol (IP) enabled application interface. The MM may include advertising information. The MM is received at a routing server and comprises a destination phone number and/or advertising information. If the MM is determined to be locally processed, the routing server selectively routes the MM to a destination carrier associated with the destination phone number. If the MM is determined to be remotely processed, the MM is recursively forwarded until the MM reaches another routing server associated with the destination phone number. The other routing server is configured to selectively route the MM to the destination carrier. A response MM may be received at a boundary routing server. The response MM may be sent to the API if at least a portion of the response MM matches information associated with the MM.
US08107467B1
Failover is provided from a primary Fiber Channel device to a secondary Fiber Channel device. Source and secondary Fiber Channel devices are coupled to a Fiber Channel fabric having a database that associates Fiber Channel names and Fiber Channel addresses of Fiber Channel ports coupled to it. All data is copied from the primary Fiber Channel device to the secondary Fiber Channel device. In response to a failure, secondary port names and LUN names are replaced with the primary port names and LUN names, and the fabric updates its database so that the database associates the secondary port and LUN addresses with the primary port and LUN names. The secondary Fiber Channel device thereby assumes the primary Fiber Channel device's identity.
US08107462B2
A method of routing telephone calls is disclosed that includes receiving Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packets at an integrated access device (IAD) from a VoIP remote worker feature server. The IAD communicates with a first private branch exchange (PBX) located at a first location. The VoIP packets are related to a VoIP call intended for a telephone number assigned by a second PBX at a second location.
US08107460B1
An IP-telephony system including one or more nodes coupled to a session controller. Each node includes a service gateway coupled to one or more terminals. A first terminal conveys a start page request initiating a page activity between itself and one or more terminating terminals. The session controller receives the start page request and in response, conveys first control signals to one or more service gateways, each first control signal containing information identifying which of the terminals associated with a service gateway is a terminating terminal. In response to the first control signal, each service gateway conveys second control signals to its associated terminating terminals. The first terminal conveys a media packet to the first service gateway during a page activity. The first service gateway forwards the media packet to one or more designated terminating terminals.
US08107438B1
Methods are disclosed for initiating a handoff of a wireless access terminal based on a set of one or more factors including the determined value of the Reverse Activity Bit (RAB). The set of one or more factors may also further include (i) a determined round-trip delay for a bi-directional communications link between the first wireless access node and the wireless access terminal, wherein the bi-directional communications link comprises a forward link from the first wireless access node to the wireless access terminal and a reverse link from the wireless access terminal to the first wireless access node, and/or (ii) a determined forward-link signal-strength indicator for a forward link from the first wireless access node to the wireless access terminal.
US08107436B2
Communication diversity using a plurality of satellites is disclosed. The satellites can support multiple regions corresponding to multiple satellite beams. Each satellite can support all regions in the reverse direction and each satellite can be designated as a primary satellite for one of the multiple regions corresponding to one of the multiple satellite beams. Each satellite can receive from any of the regions reverse link signals broadcast by, for example, a mobile station. Each satellite can communicate the received reverse link signals to, for example, a base station or gateway where the signals can be combined to increase signal quality. A mobile station receives forward link signals from the primary satellite and monitors a signal quality from the primary satellite and from a secondary satellite. If the signal quality from the primary satellite drops below a threshold value, the communication signal is transferred to the secondary satellite.
US08107429B2
System and method for improving the protecting radio channels in transmission, according to which the payload information of the signal to be transmitted is divided into a plurality of data portions of smaller size which are then grouped into packets and the packets are labeled based on a criterion from among a plurality of criteria, said criterion being indicative of a level of priority associated to said packets. The packets are subsequently radio transmitted in accordance with their level of priority indicated by their associated label.
US08107428B2
A mobile communication system uses a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) technology with an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) scheme. At network entry, an initial ranging method selects from multiple ranging signal designs to accomplish the initial ranging process. Three classes of ranging signal designs may be selected for use in generating ranging codes. The information on the ranging signal design to be used, which is selected by the base station based on the cell size of the communication system (i.e., the radio coverage area of the base station), is broadcast from the BS. The ranging signal designs are directly applicable to single-antenna systems, and they are applied to MIMO systems by using appropriate mapping across transmit antennas based on the adopted MIMO ranging transmission scheme. Optimum eigenmode and suboptimum eigenmode transmission schemes provide the best performance at high computational complexity and high power consumption.
US08107424B2
Random accesses are regulated in a radio-assisted local network having at least one access point, a reachable radio station located in the radio coverage area of the at least one access point, at least one remote radio station located outside the radio coverage area of the at least one access point and inside the radio coverage area of the reachable radio station. The at least one access point temporarily allocates radio resources, for sending information, to radio stations inside the radio coverage area. The reachable radio station sends a signal to the at least one remote radio station, containing information on the permissibility of random access by the at least one remote radio station to the radio resources of the at least one access point.
US08107422B2
An apparatus and method for implementing uplink and downlink channel fine time alignments for 3GPP continuous packet data connection (CPC) channels comprising determining if a HS-SCCH radio frame boundary is detected before a UL DPCCH radio frame boundary; aligning a transition of a UE_DTX_DRX_Enabled control signal from FALSE to TRUE to the HS-SCCH radio frame boundary or the UL DPCCH radio frame boundary, tagging a first DRX subframe to be 0, and tagging a first DTX subframe to be 0 depending on the determination; and monitoring configuration signals to determine alignments. In one aspect, the order of the tagging depends on the determination.
US08107417B2
A method and mobile terminal for allocating an Internet protocol (IP) address in a wireless network. A method of allocating an IP address in a wireless network which is applied to a system including a mobile terminal and an access router (AR) storing IP addresses, which are used on a connected link, in an address cache, managing the IP addresses, and performing a duplicate address detection (DAD) based on the IP addresses, the method including confirming whether a notification message, transmitted from the AR, is received, and automatically configuring an IP address and requesting the AR to perform the DAD with respect to the automatically configured IP address, when the notification message is received.
US08107415B2
The present invention discloses a method and system for transferring TDM services in GPON, the method includes the steps of: in the case of performing the GPON ranging process, buffering the uplink TDM service data received by an optical signal transceiver in an Input Buffer, reading out and transferring the uplink TDM service data buffered in an Output Buffer. The present invention eliminates the possible interruption of TDM services during the GPON ranging process by buffering the uplink services at the OLT and ONU/ONT side and relevant processes, and therefore realizes the TDM service transmission without any loss during the GPON system ranging process.
US08107413B2
A method for allocating multiple radio communication periods to an MS supporting co-existence mode is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a co-existence mode request message to a BS by the MS, receiving information about the position of a start frame for the co-existence mode by a co-existence mode response message as a response to the co-existence mode request message from the BS by the MS, and receiving information about an allocated Wi-Fi beacon reception period by an unsolicited co-existence mode response message in the start frame from the BS by the MS. A frame allocation pattern for allocating periods for communications with a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi system using a frequency band adjacent to that of an IEEE 802.16m system can be provided according to an IEEE 802.16m frame structure, and an MS with multiple radio interfaces can communicate with each system reliably, while minimizing interference between systems.
US08107407B2
A system and method for use in a telecommunications network may utilize Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS), specifically, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network may utilize MBMS and eHSPA technology. IP multicast connections directly between the eHSPA Node Bs and an IP address are utilized to reduce the amount of transport bearers that need to be established. Further, the RNC functionality for setting up an MBMS communication is divided between the eHSPA Node Bs and a legacy RNC, utilized as a CRNC. In particular, this arrangement enables the user plane to be effectively established from the enhanced node B, whilst still allowing the second RNC to have control of the control plane decisions. This therefore also allows the resources used in establishing the MBMS communication to be minimized.
US08107403B2
A method and apparatus for unicast and multicast media processing is provided. The method may comprise receiving multicast packets communicating a plurality of media streams from a plurality of communication endpoints. Each communication endpoint may have an associated individual media stream. The method inspects the multicast packets to identify each individual media stream with which the packet is associated and individually processes each individual media stream. At least one individual media stream is unicast from its associated buffer to a unicast communication endpoint of the plurality of communication endpoints. In an example embodiment, the method may identify media capabilities of the unicast communication endpoint. The plurality of media streams may form part of a virtual talk group (VTG) in an audio conference.
US08107402B1
A method and system are disclosed for secure automated conferencing between authorized conference participants. A conference server may schedule a conference between a plurality of authorized conference participants and assign each authorized conference participant a respective unique participant-ID. The conference server may send each participant a conference message containing an actionable link that the party may invoke to join the conference. The link may designate the party's unique participant-ID and the conference bridge number. When the link is invoked, the device of the conference participant may initiate communication with the conference server and provide the unique participant-ID to the conference server. When a given party initiates communication with the conference server, the conference server may verify that the given party is an authorized conference participant. The conference server may verify that the given party is authorized by verifying that the participant-ID provided to the conference server by the given party corresponds to the unique participant-ID assigned to the given party.
US08107399B2
The number of directional antennas and associated radios needed to ensure a nomadic wireless mesh network (NWMN) remains operational in the event of node or link failures, while minimizing delay and other unwanted effects, may be determined using novel methods and devices. Such a determination may reduce the number of antennas and radios a service or network provider normally uses, thus reducing its costs.
US08107398B2
Methods, devices and systems for improved zone merge operations are disclosed. Two connected switches are arbitrated as an initiator and a receiver. The merge operation is initiated only by the initiator on an initiator/receiver inter-switch link. The initiator may initiate a merge request and the receiver may perform the computation of the difference between the old and the new zone. Either the whole configuration or only the differences are communicated between the switches. The merges may be done on a connected switch basis, not on a connected port basis. Only the principle ports in the principle inter-switch-link perform the merge operation. All the remaining ports, i.e. the non-principle ports, adopt the merge result of the principle ports. The zone information may also be cached on each switch such that merge calculations need not be performed again when a merge operation with the same configuration occurs in the future.
US08107394B2
A method for modifying a synchronous non-adaptive retransmission scheme to solve the limitation of the synchronous non-adaptive retransmission scheme is disclosed. A method for indicating not only the new data transmission but also the retransmission using a data scheduling message is disclosed. A method for determining whether there is an error in the ACK signal transmitted from a data reception end using another message to-be received later is disclosed. The retransmission method for a multi-carrier system includes: receiving a grant message including scheduling information for transmitting uplink data wherein a retransmission scheme for the uplink data is predetermined by a first retransmission scheduling, transmitting the uplink data according to the scheduling information and retransmitting the uplink data according to second retransmission scheduling by receiving the second retransmission scheduling information associated with the uplink data with retransmission request.
US08107385B2
A technique is disclosed that evaluates a network path between (i) a first node in a first subnetwork of endpoint nodes, such as IP phones, and (ii) a second node in a second subnetwork. A “ricochet” node in the network path evaluates the path by probing one or both subnetworks, where the ricochet node acts as relay for traffic packets being transmitted between the two subnetworks. A given relay has only to probe a single, representative node within a subnetwork at any given time in order to obtain performance data that is representative of the subnetwork overall. By probing the representative node, the relay is able to acquire an assessment of network conditions that is valid for the path between the relay and any endpoint in the subnetwork. As a result, the disclosed technique reduces the probing overhead when many endpoint nodes on a given subnetwork are simultaneously active and experiencing adverse network conditions.
US08107380B1
A method for operating a communication system is provided. The method includes monitoring traffic within a communication network to determine a traffic volume, and determining a routing table update rate based on the traffic volume. The method also includes receiving a routing table update, and updating a routing table using the routing table update at a time based on the routing table update rate.
US08107377B2
There are disclosed processes and apparatus for reordering packets. The system includes a plurality of source processors that transmit the packets to a destination processor via multiple communication fabrics. The source processors and the destination processor are synchronized together. Time stamp logic at each source processor operates to include a time stamp parameter with each of the packets transmitted from the source processors. The system also includes a plurality of memory queues located at the destination processor. An enqueue processor operates to store a memory pointer and an associated time stamp parameter for each of the packets received at the destination processor in a selected memory queue. A dequeue processor determines a selected memory pointer associated with a selected time stamp parameter and operates to process the selected memory pointer to access a selected packet for output in a reordered packet stream.
US08107359B2
Apparatus for non-disruptive error recovery in a clustered system, comprises a node instance configuration activity quiescing component for quiescing configuration activity at a first virtual node instance; a node instance creation component for creating a second virtual node instance with I/O access blocked; a configuration transfer component for transferring configuration data from the first to the second virtual node instance; a commit component for committing the changeover from the first to the second virtual node instance; a node instance communications blocking component for blocking inbound communications to a first virtual node instance; a node instance communications unblocking component for unblocking I/O access at the second virtual node instance; a communication control component for monitoring outbound communications from the first virtual node instance and signalling completion of all pending outbound communications; and a node instance deletion component for deleting the first virtual node instance.
US08107355B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting and mitigating temporary high-level impairments, in a communications channel, and subsequently, mitigating the deleterious effects of the dynamic impairments. The system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is adapted to transmit at least one set of modulated signals. The receiver is adapted to receive the at least one set of modulated signals and mitigate temporary high-level impairment in the at least one set of modulated signals using at least one error vector received during the temporary high-level impairment.
US08107353B2
A data storage device comprises a storage medium, at least one probe designed for creating indentation marks in the storage medium, a control unit designed for creating a control parameter (CTRL) acting on the probe resulting in the creation of one indentation mark. The control unit is further designed for modifying the control parameter (CTRL), if at least a given number of consecutive indentation marks with a given minimum distance between each other should be created. According to the method the control parameter (CTRL) is modified if at least a given number of consecutive marks with a given minimum distance between each other should be created.
US08107349B2
An optical head device (optical head) for a multi-layered optical recording medium has a focus control mechanism that makes use of astigmatism. The focus control mechanism has a sensor lens that includes a cylindrical lens. The focus control mechanism causes a light beam having passed through the sensor lens to have astigmatism, thereby being focused linearly in the Y direction on a front focal line located closer to the sensor lens and focused linearly in the X direction at a rear focal line located farther therefrom. The optical head also includes a photodetector which is disposed between the front focal line and the rear focal line to detect a focal position from the shape of a light beam. At the position of the front focal line, a shield plate with a window portion is disposed. The window portion has a size so as to allow the focal line to pass therethrough and shield stray light reflected from an unfocused recording layer.
US08107347B2
There is provided an optical disk apparatus causing a hologram device to diffract a reflected light beam and causes each of reflected light beams of primary light in a longitudinal direction to generate received light signals by receiving the reflected light beams through receiving regions of a receiving unit before a preformatted signal being generated by a signal processing unit based on the received light signals. Therefore, the preformatted signal that excludes an influence of a stray light pattern by an interlayer stray light beam from a plurality of recording layers can be generated.
US08107346B2
An optical head device according to the present invention includes a splitting section for splitting a light beam having been reflected from an optical storage medium. The splitting section includes: a first main region transmitting a first interfering portion; a second main region transmitting a second interfering portion; and first and second sub-regions through which the first interfering portion is transmitted with a lower rate than in the first main region and through which the second interfering portion is transmitted with a lower rate than in the second main region. The splitting section splits the reflected light beam into: a first main light beam transmitted through the first main region; a second main light beam transmitted through the second main region; a first sub-light beam transmitted through the first sub-region; and a second sub-light beam transmitted through the second sub-region. The splitting section further includes a swapping section for swapping a portion of the first sub-light beam with a portion of the second sub-light beam.
US08107341B2
An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a judging device (20) for judging whether or not a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100) satisfies a desired reproduction property; a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of the read signal if it is judged that the read signal does not satisfy the desired reproduction property; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected.
US08107340B2
The invention provides an electronic apparatus. In one embodiment, the electronic apparatus comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and an enable device. The analog-to-digital converter converts an analog input signal to a digital output signal with a resolution having a plurality of bits. The enable device dynamically adjusts the resolution of the analog-to-digital converter according to an instruction signal.
US08107337B2
An image processing apparatus and data erasing method make it possible to unrecoverably erase encrypted data recorded in an auxiliary storage device at high speed while reducing the load put on the CPU. Upon reception of a data erase request from a data utilizing process, the data requested to be erased is registered in a predetermined storage unit. The data registered in the storage is unrecoverably erased by overwriting, and an area in the auxiliary storage device in which the erased data was stored is released after the overwriting erasure process.
US08107333B2
Provided are methods and systems of encoding and decoding techniques in an optical storage system having a multi-head detector. In one embodiment, source data may be encoded using error correction coding (e.g., turbo coding) techniques, and the encoded data may be interleaved and distributed to more than one detector head of the multi-head detector. Data recorded in an optical disc may be retrieved by the multi-head detector, and a read data from more than one detector head may be concurrently decoded to retrieve estimates of the original information in the source data. Further, more than one encoder/decoder may be used, and each encoder/decoder may encode or decode data from multiple data heads. Some embodiments also include replicating multiple discs.
US08107330B2
An information recording and reproducing apparatus for increasing a speed of tilt control, including a portion for storing reference data, a portion for storing sample values data, a portion for obtaining positional information, a stilt servo generator, a tilt adjuster.
US08107329B1
A differential phase detector for an optical storage system is set forth. The differential phase detector includes a photodetector circuit arranged to detect light deviations associated with radial errors in the optical storage system. A non-linear equalizer is in communication with the photodetector circuit. The output of the non-linear equalizer is in communication with signal processing circuitry. The signal processing circuitry uses the equalized signals to generate one or more radial error signals.
US08107319B2
A method of determining the volume or height of fluid in a reservoir is provided. A first burst of focused acoustic energy is used to raise temporarily a protuberance on a free surface of the fluid. A second burst of acoustic energy is directed to the free surface of the fluid. Echoes from the second burst of acoustic energy are detected. The detected echoes are employed to compute the height of the fluid.
US08107314B2
A semiconductor storage device comprises a timing control circuit that generates a signal for controlling at least one of a read operation and a write operation; an input-signal pad; a plurality of control-signal pads; and a switch circuit coupled to at least one of the plurality of control-signal pads. The switch circuit generates a first control signal to be supplied to the timing control circuit based on a signal from the input-signal pad in a first mode.
US08107312B2
Example embodiments are directed to a memory chip array including a plurality of cell arrays and at least one predecoder commonly connected to the plurality of cell arrays, wherein the memory chip array promotes an efficient arrangement structure of the memory chip array and is minimized in area.
US08107310B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a bank having a plurality of mats, an address counting unit configured to receive an auto-refresh command consecutively applied at predetermined intervals corresponding to a number of the mats, and sequentially count an internal address in response to the auto-refresh command, and an address transferring unit configured to enable the plurality of mats in response to the auto-refresh command, and transfer the internal address to the plurality of mats at predetermined time intervals.
US08107308B2
A semiconductor memory device is provided. A memory cell array has a plurality of memory cells connected between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit-line pairs. A sense amplifier unit has a plurality of sense amplifiers connected with the bit-line pairs respectively and amplifies data of the bit-line pairs to a sensing voltage level. A command decoder decodes a command applied from the outside and outputs the decoded command. A plurality of input/output (I/O) gates electrically connects the bit-line pairs with corresponding I/O line pairs in response to a voltage level applied through a plurality of corresponding column selection lines. A column decoder decodes a column address and drives at least one of the column selection lines to a plurality of different voltages levels.
US08107304B2
An address strobe latches a first address. A burst cycle increments the address internally with additional address strobes. A new memory address is only required at the beginning of each burst access. Read/Write commands are issued once per burst access eliminating toggling Read/Write control line at cycle frequency. Control line transition terminates access and initializes another burst access. Write cycle times are maximized thereby allowing increases in burst mode operating frequencies. Logic near sense amplifiers control write-data drivers thereby providing maximum write times without crossing current during I/O line equilibration. By gating global write-enable signals with global equilibrate signals locally at sense amps, local write-cycle control signals are provided and valid for essentially the entire cycle time minus an I/O line equilibration period in burst access memory. For nonburst mode, write begins following end of equilibration cycle to provide maximum write time without interfering with subsequent access-cycle address setup time.
US08107303B2
A semiconductor device is provided, which includes a transistor, a memory element, a first control circuit and a second control circuit. A gate of the transistor is electrically connected to the first control circuit through a first word line, one of a source and a drain of the transistor is electrically connected to the second control circuit through a bit line, the other of the source and the drain of the transistor is electrically connected to a first terminal of the memory element, and a second terminal of the memory element is electrically connected to the first control circuit through a second word line.
US08107298B2
In a non-volatile storage system, the time needed to perform a programming operation is reduced by minimizing data transfers between sense modules and a managing circuit. A sense module is associated with each storage element. Based on write data, a data node in the sense module is initialized to “0” for a storage element which is to remain in an erased state, and to “1” for a storage element which is to be programmed to a programmed state, then flipped to “0” when programmed is completed. The managing circuit is relieved of the need to access the write data to determine whether a “0” represents a storage element for which programming is completed. Power consumption can also be reduced by keeping a bit line voltage high between a verify phase of one program-verify iteration and a program phase of a next program-verify iteration.
US08107295B2
An object of the present inventive concept is providing a nonvolatile memory device having improved reliability by compensating a threshold voltage of a flash memory cell.A nonvolatile memory device according to the present inventive concept includes a memory cell array connected to a plurality of word lines; and a voltage generator for supplying a select read voltage to a select word line and an unselect read voltage to an unselect word line among the plurality of word lines when a read operation is performed. The voltage generator generates the unselect read voltage having a different level according to whether the unselect word line is adjacent to the select word line or not.A nonvolatile memory device according to the present inventive concept compensates a threshold voltage increased or decreased due to various causes. According to the present inventive concept, reliability of a nonvolatile memory device is improved.
US08107293B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells connected to a bit line; and a sense amplifier operative to sense the magnitude of cell current flowing via the bit line in a selected memory cell connected to the bit line to determine the value of data stored in the memory cell. The sense amplifier includes a first transistor for precharge operative to supply current in the bit line via a first and a second sense node, a second transistor for charge transfer interposed between the first and second sense nodes, and a third transistor for continuous current supply operative to supply current in the bit line not via the first and second sense nodes.
US08107292B2
In a three dimensional stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to the present invention, a first block has a selected first cell unit including a memory cell to be read and a non-selected second cell unit not including a memory cell to be read. A read potential or a transfer potential higher than the read potential is applied to the word line in the first block in a state that a ground potential is applied to a channel of a memory cell existing nearer to the bit line side than a memory cell in the second cell unit to which the read potential is applied, after which all the memory cells in the second cell unit are cut off from the bit line, the bit line is set to a precharge potential, and read is performed to the a memory cell to be read in the first cell unit.
US08107290B2
A memory cell structure for a memory device includes a read transistor having a floating gate node, a tunnelling capacitor, and a coupling capacitor stack. The tunnelling capacitor is connected to the floating gate node and has a first programming terminal, and the coupling capacitor stack is connected to the floating gate node and has a second programming terminal. The coupling capacitor stack includes at least two coupling capacitors arranged in series between the floating gate node and the second programming terminal, with the coupling capacitor stack having a larger capacitance than the tunnelling capacitor. Such a memory cell structure is efficient in terms of area, and can be manufactured using standard CMOS logic manufacturing processes, thereby avoiding some of the complexities involved in the production of conventional EEPROM and Flash memory devices.
US08107287B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device includes sequentially programming first to (n−1)th logical pages of all the physical pages of a first memory block of the memory blocks in response to a first program command, a step of loading data of the first to (n−1)th logical pages stored in a first physical page of the first memory block and latching the loaded data in first to (n−1)th latches of each of the page buffers, respectively, when receiving a second program command after programming all the first to (n−1)th logical pages, and latching new program data, received along with the second program command, in an nth latch of the corresponding page buffer and programming the data, stored in the first to nth latches of the page buffer, into a first physical page of a second memory block of the memory blocks.
US08107280B2
Systems, circuits and methods for controlling the word line voltage applied to word line transistors in Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM) are disclosed. One embodiment is directed to a STT-MRAM including a bit cell having a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and a word line transistor. The bit cell is coupled to a bit line and a source line. A word line driver is coupled to a gate of the word line transistor. The word line driver is configured to provide a word line voltage greater than a supply voltage below a transition voltage of the supply voltage and to provide a voltage less than the supply voltage for supply voltages above the transition voltage.
US08107278B2
A semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of SRAM cells arranged along a pair of bit lines that extend along a first direction. A read circuit is arranged for each column at one side of the memory cell array and detects a potential of any one of the pair of bit lines. A write circuit is arranged, separately from the read circuit, at the other side of the memory cell array. The write circuit provides written data to the pair of bit lines to write data to the SRAM cells.
US08107274B2
A variable and reversible resistive element includes a transition metal oxide layer, a bottom electrode and at least one conductive plug module. The bottom electrode is disposed under the transition metal oxide layer. The conductive plug module is disposed on the transition metal oxide layer. The conductive plug module includes a metal plug and a barrier layer. The conductive plug is electrically connected with the transition metal oxide layer. The barrier layer surrounds the metal plug, wherein the transition metal oxide layer is made by reacting a portion of a dielectric layer being directly below the metal plug and a portion of the barrier layer contacting the portion of the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is formed on the bottom electrode. Moreover, a non-volatile memory device and methods for operating and manufacturing the same is disclosed in specification.
US08107271B2
A termination circuit is connected to an input buffer receiving a data signal, and includes at least one termination resistor connected to the input buffer for impedance matching. At least one switch controls a connection between the input buffer and a corresponding one of the at least one termination resistors. A control signal generator generates a control signal for selectively enabling the termination circuit by controlling each of the at least one switches. The control signal has an input period less than or equal to an input period of a data signal.
US08107261B2
There is described a powering unit comprising at least one transformer, at least one full bridge circuit via which a primary winding of the transformer is connected to a direct current voltage input, a secondary winding for triggering an output circuit with an output direct current voltage via a bridge-type rectifier circuit as well as an output choke coil and an output capacitor, and a discharge circuit consisting a diode, for a capacitor and of a resistor for reducing the secondary-side peak voltages. The powering unit has another secondary winding, another bridge-type rectifier circuit and another discharge circuit operable to trigger the output circuit with part of the output direct current voltage via the output choke coil and the output capacitor. Thus, there are fewer losses in the resistors and the performance is enhanced.
US08107255B2
Provided is a circuit device that allows a plurality of circuit boards, which are stacked each other and arranged in a case member, to be sealed with a resin effectively, and a method of manufacturing the same. In a hybrid integrated circuit device, a first circuit board is overlaid with the second circuit board and both of the boards are fitted into the case member. A first circuit element is arranged on the upper surface of the first circuit board and a second circuit element is arranged on the upper surface of the second circuit board. Furthermore, an opening is provided in a side wall part of the case member, and an internal space of the case member communicates with the outside through this opening. Accordingly, in the resin sealing step, a sealing resin can be injected into the internal space of the case member from the outside through this opening.
US08107250B2
A display screen with a display area includes a frame and a sensor module. The frame surrounds the display area. The sensor module is mounted on the frame and includes a mount disposed on the frame and a slidable assembly slidably disposed on the mount and including an ambient light sensor and a screen light sensor, wherein the ambient light sensor and the screen light sensor are disposed on two opposite sides of the slidable assembly respectively. When a side of the slidable assembly on which the screen light sensor is disposed faces the display area, the screen light sensor detects brightness of the display area. When the side of the slidable assembly does not face the display area, the ambient light sensor detects brightness of an ambiance.
US08107248B2
A flexible device and a flexible pressure sensor. The present flexible device includes: a first flexible substrate formed of a flexible material to have a flexibility; an active element formed to have a predetermined thickness and a flexibility, and being attached on the first flexible substrate; and a second flexible substrate formed of a flexible material to have a flexibility, and being deposited on the active element. The flexible device and the flexible pressure sensor have a high flexibility, so that they may be applied for a medical treatment such as implantation to a living body, a human body and so forth. In addition, the flexible device has a high flexibility, so that it may be inserted to a curved surface, which contributes to remove the limit of space where the semiconductor package device may be inserted.
US08107247B2
An electronic device includes a base, a button module with a button movably received in the base from a lateral side of the base, a sliding block slidably mounted in the base, and an elastic positioning member. The sliding block defines a first securing slot and a second securing slot. The elastic positioning member is capable of engaging in the first securing slot to restrict the sliding block in a first position where the button module is received in the base, and is capable of engaging in the second securing slot to restrict the sliding block in a second position where the button module extends out of the base.
US08107246B2
The invention relates to a format adapter comprising a storage device having: a front surface provided with electrical contact pads opposite a rear surface defining a lower peripheral border (2a); a body having a cavity (4) for receiving the device and opening on a front and rear side of the body, and; an adhesive film (8a), which is sensitive to pressure, adhered to the rear side of the body and which has at least one adhesive portion inside the cavity in order to hold the storage device. The adhesive film has an inner recess (10) essentially centered on the cavity and has at least one shoulder bordering on the cavity that assures a localized adhesion only on the lower peripheral border (2a) of the storage device. The invention also relates to a method for producing the adapter and to a use of the adapter for manufacturing and packaging the storage device.
US08107243B2
A multiple electronic device power supply, battery charger, and USB docking system has a plurality of power ports for charging/powering electronic devices and a plurality of USB ports for coupling peripheral devices to a computer or large electronic device. Electronic devices which may be charged using the present invention can require current from less than 500 mA to approximately 6 A. Voltage setting resistors in specialized adapters serve to set the voltage needed for individual devices in order to manage current and voltage distribution throughout the present invention, particularly when large and mid-sized electronic devices are connected to the present multiple device charger and docking system. Default settings set the voltage output at 24 volts if not otherwise directed.
US08107242B2
A substrate includes a pair of surfaces opposing to each other in a direction. First electronic components are provided on one surface. Second electronic components lower than a maximum value of the height of the first electronic components in a direction are provided on the other surface. Insulating resin includes a covering part adhering and covering the second electronic components and the other surface, and side surface part extending from the periphery of the substrate to a side of the second electronic components along the direction. A lid covers the first electronic components from an opposite side of the substrate, and is fixed to the side surface part from the opposite side of the substrate.
US08107241B2
In a conventional cooling device, a heat pipe or a circulation-type liquid cooler provided with a pump is used and therefore, a large space is needed for the cooling device. There is provided a cooling device which includes a plurality of cooling modules having cooling units for cooling heat-generating elements by coolant and radiation units for radiating heat from the coolant heated in the cooling units, the plurality of cooling modules being bubble-pump-type ones in which the coolant is circulated between the radiation units and the cooling units by the coolant being boiled in the cooling units, the radiation units being arranged side by side, and a cooling fan for generating wind blowing the radiation units.
US08107237B2
An electronic device includes a first cover, a second cover, and a latching assembly. The first cover includes a first surface and a second surface including a baffle. The latching assembly includes a sliding member mounted on the first surface, a hook member mounted on the second surface and secured to the sliding member, a bracket secured to the hook member, an elastic member resisting the bracket and the baffle, and a latching member protruding from the second cover. The latching member defines a latching hole. The latching member resists the latching block to cause the bracket to move towards the baffle and the elastic member to be contracted. When the bracket moves until the latching block aligns with the latching hole, the elastic member rebounds to push the latching block to be received in the latching hole, thus the second cover is secured to the first cover.
US08107234B2
Disclosed herein is a data center having a plurality of liquid cooled computer systems. The computer systems each include a processor coupled with a cold plate that allows direct liquid cooling of the processor. The cold plate is further arranged to provide adapted flow of coolant to different portions of the processor whereby higher temperature regions receive a larger flow rate of coolant. The flow is variably adjusted to reflect different levels of activity. By maximizing the coolant temperature exiting the computer systems, the system may utilize the free cooling temperature of the ambient air and eliminate the need for a chiller. A data center is further provided that is coupled with a district heating system and heat is extracted from the computer systems is used to offset carbon emissions and reduce the total cost of ownership of the data center.
US08107229B2
A portable communication device includes a base and a top portion that are operatively coupled by a slider hinge assembly that is configured to facilitate sliding motion between the base and the top portion. The slider hinge assembly includes a base hinge member and an upper hinge member, where the base hinge member and/or the upper hinge member are comprised of a printed circuit board material.
US08107228B2
A display assembly attachable to a lap top computer cover, having a front face, longitudinally extending laterally spaced edges, and a laterally extending upper edge, comprising a jacket into which a cover is receivable, the jacket having edges adapted to extend externally adjacent corresponding of the cover edges, and means carried by the jacket for visually displaying an image or images, proximate the front face.
US08107218B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors. A metal oxide mixture may be formed over a first capacitor electrode. The metal oxide mixture may have a continuous concentration gradient of a second component relative to a first component. The continuous concentration gradient may correspond to a decreasing concentration of the second component as a distance from the first capacitor electrode increases. The first component may be selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, hafnium oxide and mixtures thereof; and the second component may be selected from the group consisting of niobium oxide, titanium oxide, strontium oxide and mixtures thereof. A second capacitor electrode may be formed over the first capacitor electrode. Some embodiments include capacitors that contain at least one metal oxide mixture having a continuous concentration gradient of the above-described second component relative to the above-described first component.
US08107214B2
A multilayer capacitor array achieves a high ESR because terminal conductors to which internal electrodes in capacitance sections are connected in parallel are connected in series through internal electrodes in ESR control sections to external electrodes. Since in the multilayer capacitor array the internal electrodes extend as far as a boundary between capacitor element portions, electrostriction occurs in an entire laminate including a region near the boundary between the capacitor element portions, with application of a voltage from the outside. Therefore, concentration of stress due to electrostriction is avoided, so as to suppress occurrence of cracking or the like.
US08107211B2
A system and method for generating a magnetic field in a rotating machine. In one embodiment, a primary winding assembly is configured to generate a rotatable magnetic field. The assembly is connected to receive multiple signals of different phases to effect field rotation. A set of secondary windings is positioned for generation of current based on magnetic coupling during the field rotation. The secondary windings include conductor capable of supporting superconducting current flow. A rotatable machine includes a stator and a rotor winding coupled for rotation with respect to the stator. The secondary windings are formed in a circuit for providing superconducting current through the rotor winding.
US08107208B2
A potted electrical circuit is enclosed within a housing and has a first and second fiberglass layer that is laid upon a top surface of the potted electrical circuit. A lid of the housing seals the electrical circuit there within and an opening formed in a side wall allows circuitry wiring to extend there from out. The first fiberglass layer is a woven layer while the second fiberglass layer is a padding-like layer. Circuitry wiring pushes through the woven first fiberglass layer before extending out through the opening in the housing. The first fiberglass layer is tucked in and around the electrical circuit and adheres to the inside of the housing by attaching to the potting material while it hardens. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical circuit in combination with the insulation material is used within a transient voltage surge suppression device.
US08107206B2
A surge arrester for medium and high voltages includes a length adjustment device and pivot unit.
US08107203B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an electrostatic discharge protection circuit used for a semiconductor device including a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, and an input/output terminal, includes: a thyristor passing a surge current from the input/output terminal to the second power supply terminal; and a bipolar transistor passing a surge current from the first power supply terminal to the input/output terminal.
US08107197B2
A slider for magnetic data recording having a semiconductor based magnetoresistive sensor such as a Lorentz magnetoresistive sensor formed on an air bearing surface of the slider body. The slider is constructed of Si, which advantageously provides a needed physical robustness as well being compatible with the construction of a semiconductor based sensor thereon. A series of transition layers are provided between the surface of the Si slider body and the semiconductor based magnetoresistive sensor in order to provide a necessary grain structure for proper functioning of the sensor. The series of transition layers can be constructed of layers of SiGe each having a unique concentration of Ge.
US08107189B2
A tape mounting apparatus for a magnetic tape data storage device which includes a movable structure movably attached to a base. The movable structure moves partially within the base and is powered by a motor unit. The moveable structure has at least a load position and a transport position. A tape guide device is positioned within the movable structure such that a tape passes over the tape guide device and between a tape reading head and the tape guide device. The base is attached to a body of a magnetic tape data storage drive.
US08107177B2
Impedance compensation features are used along the transmission-line path between a transmitter/driver/source and the receiver/transducer to compensate for the impedance discontinuities or mismatches (for example, those caused by physical interconnection features) and/or to improve the frequency response of the signal transfer along the transmission line. The impedance compensation features are non-uniformities with impedance characteristics selected to compensate for the target impedance discontinuities. The compensation features can be non-uniformities (geometric structures designed to have specific impedance characteristics) in the electrically conductive traces that are integrated in the interconnect transmission line between the transmitter/driver/source and the receiver/transducer. The effective impedance level of the transmission line can be lowered or raised using the compensation features.
US08107176B2
A lens drive device may include a support body, a movable body having a lens, a magnetic drive mechanism having a coil mounted on the movable body and a magnet mounted on the support body for magnetically driving the movable body in a lens optical axis direction, two spring pieces which are connected between the movable body and the support body for supporting the movable body and which is used as a power supply member to the coil, and two binding pins which are provided in the movable body and around which coil ends of winding start and winding end of the coil are wound. Portions of the coil ends which are wound around the binding pins are electrically connected with the spring pieces.
US08107168B2
A beam splitter apparatus comprises a beam splitter and a plurality of prisms disposed about the beam splitter. The beam splitter apparatus is configured to split an incident laser beam into a plurality of beamlets exhibiting substantially equal energy and traversing substantially equal optical path lengths through the beam splitter apparatus.
US08107166B2
A cabinet projection screen with an automatic cover-lifting function is provided, which includes a cabinet body (1). A cover-lifting mechanism (2) is disposed on the cabinet body (1). The cover-lifting mechanism (2) includes a cover plate (21), a transmission rod (22), and a cover-plate drive motor (23). The cover-plate drive motor (23) drives the cover plate (21) to open or close through the transmission rod (22). An elevator screen (3) is disposed inside the cabinet body (1). The elevator screen (3) is aligned with an opening (24) on the cabinet corresponding to the cover plate (21) when the cover plate (21) is opened. The cabinet projection screen can be used as a normal office desk or cabinet when not used for projection, and can also be used as a projection screen when necessary, so that a multi-functional office desk or cabinet is obtained.
US08107164B2
The present invention relates to a light guiding film including a film base and at least one microstructure. The microstructure is disposed on a side of the film base, and comprises a first surface and a second surface. A first inclination angle is between the first surface and a reference plane, the reference plane is perpendicular with the film base, and a second inclination angle is between the second surface and the reference plane. The total energy of the output light beams with the output angles from 85 to 120 degrees is more than 40% of the total energy of the output light beams with the output angles from 0 to 180 degrees. Therefore, the light guiding film can guide the incident light beams into a room near horizontally and avoid glare.
US08107162B2
A catadioptric projection objective for imaging of a pattern, which is arranged on the object plane of the projection objective, on the image plane of the projection objective has a first objective part for imaging of an object field to form a first real intermediate image, a second objective part for production of a second real intermediate image using the radiation coming from the first objective part; and a third objective part for imaging of the second real intermediate image on the image plane. The second objective part is a catadioptric objective part with a concave mirror. A first folding mirror for deflection of the radiation coming from the object plane in the direction of the concave mirror and a second folding mirror for deflection of the radiation coming from the concave mirror in the direction of the image plane are provided. A field lens with a positive refractive power is arranged between the first intermediate image and/or the first folding mirror and the concave mirror, in an area close to the field of the first intermediate image.
US08107161B2
A short-pulse fiber amplifier system (10) is designed so that nonlinear phase shifts and third-order dispersion are purposely introduced that compensate each other. In particular, the nonlinear phase shift accumulated in the amplifier is compensated by the third-order dispersion of the combination of a fiber stretcher (12) and a grating compressor (16). In the presence of third-order dispersion, an optimal nonlinear phase shift reduces the pulse duration, and enhances the peak power and pulse contrast compared to the pulse produced in linear propagation.
US08107159B2
An electronic device includes a first substrate made of thin plastic sheet; a second substrate made of thin plastic sheet opposing the first substrate; a chamber formed between portions of the first and second substrates; and a sealing structure configured to seal the chamber at the interface between the first and second substrates, wherein the sealing structure surrounds the chamber and comprises a recess formed in one of the substrates and a protrusion formed on the other of the substrates, the protrusion engaging the recess.
US08107155B2
Embodiments include systems and methods for reducing visible artifacts such as Moiré, or interference, patterns, in displays. One embodiment includes a display device comprising a plurality of light modulators and a plurality of illumination elements configured to direct light to the light modulators. The directed light of the plurality of illumination elements collectively defines an nonuniformly varying pattern of light.
US08107145B2
A reproducing device for performing reproduction regarding a hologram recording medium where a hologram page is recorded in accordance with signal light, by interference between the signal light where bit data is arrayed with the information of light intensity difference in pixel increments, and reference light, includes: a reference light generating unit to generate reference light irradiated when obtaining a reproduced image; a coherent light generating unit to generate coherent light of which the intensity is greater than the absolute value of the minimum amplitude of the reproduced image, with the same phase as the reference phase within the reproduced image; an image sensor to receive an input image in pixel increments; and an optical system to guide the reference light to the hologram recording medium, and also guide the obtained reproduced image according to the irradiation of the reference light, and the coherent light to the image sensor.
US08107141B2
A method of providing a print representation of a document which, when printed, has at least one region the appearance of which is dependent on viewing conditions. The method comprises generating a representation of the document and then modifying the appearance of the at least one region to thereby simulate the appearance of the document when printed. This is achieved by animating the representation of the at least one region or at least partially combining the at least one region with an image.
US08107139B2
Color adjusting apparatus and method for a light source. A reflector of a required color is added to a light source of a scan module, a plating film of the required color is formed on a lens, or the lens is dyed with the required color. Or alternatively, the color of the light source is directly changed into the required color. As a result, the inconsistent intensities for the light in the primary color, red, green and blue output from the charge-coupled device caused by different brightness of the light source, different wavelength transmission of the lens, and different light sensitivity of the charge-coupled device is improved.
US08107128B2
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is capable of executing printing processes for color images and monochromatic images and comprises a printer section capable of executing processes for color printing and monochromatic printing and a printing task management section for receiving a plurality of printing jobs including color printing jobs and monochromatic printing jobs as input, computationally determining the processing time required for each of the printing processes on the basis of the information indicating color printing or monochromatic printing and the information indicating the number of copies to be printed and outputting the data of the printing jobs of short processing time separately for monochromatic printing and color printing with priority to the printer section.
US08107126B2
A document management apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a notification indicating that an icon for a first document has been drag-and-dropped onto an icon for a second document via a display screen, and an application unit configured to apply a print setting stored in the first document to the second document in response to the receiving unit receiving the notification indicating that the icon for the first document has been drag-and-dropped onto the icon for the second document.
US08107124B2
In an image forming apparatus, an image forming portion forms an image on a rotator. A first designating portion determines a first estimated phase point based on a base time point, and designate, as a designated parameter, a correction parameter corresponding to said first estimated phase point based on change characteristics information stored in a storage portion. A correcting portion corrects an image forming position on the rotator based on the designated parameter. A changing portion changes a value of the designated parameter into an adjusted value intermediate between the designated parameter and a reference parameter that is a correction parameter designated based on the time when the detecting portion detects the detecting phase point.
US08107123B2
The present invention relates to a technique for correcting tones of a digitized image, for use in a mobile terminal or the like. The use of a conventional image tone correction technique to backlight correction imposes a limit on improvement in local contrast in a bright region or a dark region. According to the present invention, a block timing generation part (102) divides one image area into a plurality of blocks, an average luminance calculation part (103) calculates an average luminance level per block specified at the part 102, a correction-amount-per-block calculation part (104) calculates a direction of correction and a correction amount from an average luminance level per block, a correction-amount-per-pixel calculation part (105) interpolates the correction amount per block into the correction amount per pixel in that block, and a tone conversion part (107) reads out a final correction amount from a tone conversion table part (108), using the correction amount per pixel and luminance data of that pixel read out from a memory (106) as an address, to carry out tone conversion.
US08107118B2
Upon printing on a tab, a printer driver presents a screen for setting index information of a tab sheet, and receives designation of a position where an index is to be added and an item to be added to the index. Further, it receives designation of the number of letters, letter size, or the number of lines as a threshold value for determining whether the title information input to be printed on the tab should be converted into an index or not. When the input title information exceeds the threshold value, the printer driver controls such that one or more alphanumeric characters are printed on a tab, instead of the title information, and such that the input title information is printed on an index sheet together with the alphanumeric character(s) of the corresponding tab sheet.
US08107114B2
A method of delivering an electronically transmitted document is provided. The method starts by printing, by a printer, a document on a substrate. The document has printed thereon visible user information and invisible coded tags. The user information includes information indicative of a send instruction. Each tag encodes an identity of the document and a location of the tag on the substrate. A sensing device senses the printed coded tags when the sensing device is moved relative to the document by a user so as to compose a message. The message is electronically captured by the sensing device using the identity of the document and a sequence of the respective locations of tags sensed by the sensing device. Upon sensing coded tags coincident with the send instruction, the message is transmitted to a recipient address for electronically transmitted document delivery.
US08107112B2
An image forming apparatus including a scanner engine and an operation panel is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: a display part for displaying a selection screen for selecting a transfer destination of scanned data from among a plurality of transfer destinations on the operation panel; a scanning process part for causing the scanner engine to scan a document to produce scanned data; and a transfer part for transferring the scanned data to one or more selected transfer destinations.
US08107104B2
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving image information including first user information; a detection unit for detecting the first user information from the image information; an input unit for inputting second user information and a process; a comparison unit for comparing the first user information with the second user information; and a control unit for limiting an input through the input unit when the comparison unit determines that the first user information is different from the second user information.
US08107098B2
An apparatus for controlling printing allows the user to realize the occurrence of an error in real time and reliably notifies the system administrator of details output in an error information page. When the processing is stopped due to an error while print data is being created, the apparatus reads the details of an error definition form, which is defined in advance, creates the error information page, to which instructions to shift to an offline state are add if needed, and adds the error information page to the print data. A printer analyzes the print data. If the instructions are received to shift to the offline state, the printer shifts to the offline state. The user presses an online button so that the printer in the offline state outputs the error information page.
US08107095B2
There is described a controlling program, a controlling apparatus, an image forming apparatus and a print controlling method, each to be employed in the variable-data printing. The controlling apparatus that controls a variable-data printing to create plural sets of print products based on print data provided with a variable field to which variable printing contents are to be applied for the plural sets of the print products, so as to convert the print data to raster image data, includes: a record acquiring section to acquire the plural records to be applied to the variable field; and a specifying section to specify, for each of the plural sets of print products, one kind of paper sheet out of plural kinds of paper sheets, based on correlation information in which the plural records and the plural kinds of paper sheets are correlated with each other.
US08107086B2
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth.
US08107085B2
A method for determining a spatial property of an object includes obtaining a scanning low coherence interference signal from a measurement object that includes two or more interfaces. The scanning low coherence interference signal includes two or more overlapping low coherence interference signals, each of which results from a respective interface. Based on the low coherence interference signal, a spatial property of at least one of the interfaces is determined. In some cases, the determination is based on a subset of the low coherence interference signal rather than on the entirety of the signal. Alternatively, or in addition, the determination can be based on a template, which may be indicative of an instrument response of the interferometer used to obtain the low coherence interference signal.
US08107079B2
A target system for determining positioning error between lithographically produced integrated circuit fields on at least one lithographic level. The target system includes a first target pattern on a lithographic field containing an integrated circuit pattern, with the first target pattern comprising a plurality of sub-patterns symmetric about a first target pattern center and at a same first distance from the first target pattern center. The target system also includes a second target pattern on a different lithographic field, with the second target pattern comprising a plurality of sub-patterns symmetric about a second target pattern center and at a same second distance from the second target pattern center. The second target pattern center is intended to be at the same location as the first target pattern center. The centers of the first and second target patterns may be determined and compared to determine positioning error between the lithographic fields.
US08107065B2
A method and apparatus for detecting defects are provided for detecting harmful defects or foreign matter with high sensitivity on an object to be inspected with a transparent film, such as an oxide film, by reducing noise due to a circuit pattern. The apparatus for detecting defects includes a stage part on which a substrate specimen is put and which is arbitrarily movable in each of the X-Y-Z-θ directions, an illumination system for irradiating the circuit pattern with light from an inclined direction, and an image-forming optical system for forming an image of an irradiated detection area on a detector from the upward and oblique directions. With this arrangement, diffracted light and scattered light caused on the circuit pattern through the illumination by the illumination system is collected. Furthermore, a spatial filter is provided on a Fourier transform surface for blocking the diffracted light from a linear part of the circuit pattern. The scattered and reflected light received by the detector from the specimen is converted into an electrical signal. The converted electrical signal of one chip is compared with that of the other adjacent chip. If these signals are not identical to each other, the foreign matter is determined to exist on the specimen in detection.
US08107061B2
In a schlieren optical system, a laser beam is passed through the jet flow and the ambient around the jet flow, and a high speed sampling is performed using a high speed photo sensor while displacing measurement points. The value obtained by sampling represents a result of the optical path caused curved by a density gradient generated in an arc-shape from the center of the jet flow. The value is subjected to a high speed discrete Fourier transform and decomposed into frequency components which constitute the noise. Thereafter, Abel inversion is performed on data belonging to a particular frequency to obtain a density gradient in the radial direction from the center of the jet flow. The obtained density gradient is visualized in a graph display, so that the position of the sound source and the state of the jet flow can be accurately grasped.
US08107056B1
Methods and systems for a hybrid optical device for high dynamic range high resolution remote sensing of object distance, object motion displacement, object three dimensional structure, object spatial profile, and measurement of liquid levels, and different matter interface positions. The device uses a hybrid digital-analog controlled variable focal length lens system to target both specular and diffuse objects. The spatial processing methods and systems can include time-frequency processing optical distance measurement methods to enable a robust hybrid-technique sensor.
US08107048B2
A liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed, to provide a liquid crystal display device to simplify the process and decrease the fabrication cost, the liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having a color filter and a second substrate having a thin film transistor, wherein the first and second substrates face each other, a first passivation film formed on the thin film transistor, and a first column spacer formed integrally with the first passivation film.
US08107043B2
A liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first substrate includes a plurality of first region-dividing structures; the second substrate includes a plurality of second region-dividing structures. The first substrate, the second substrate and the liquid crystal layer form a plurality of pixel elements, each of the pixel elements is divided into a plurality of regions by the first region-dividing structures and the second region-dividing structures, and the liquid crystal molecules have gradually and continuously changed alignments in at least one of the regions.
US08107042B2
Disclosed herein are an integrated O film for improving a viewing angle of a TN-LCD, and a polarizer plate and TN-LCD including the same. Also disclosed herein are a compensation film which is capable of improving a contrast characteristic at a front side and an inclination angle and minimizing a color variation according to a viewing angle in a dark state, and a polarizer plate and TN-LCD including the same. The integrated O film includes a transversely-stretched negative biaxial (B) film and a positive O film laminated on the transversely-stretched negative B film.
US08107040B2
A transflective LCD panel includes scan lines, data lines, transmissive pixels and reflective pixels. Each transmissive pixel is configured to receive a transmissive pixel voltage transmitted from one of the data lines and displays a first gray level related to the transmissive pixel voltage. Each reflective pixel receives a reflective pixel voltage transmitted from one of the data lines and displays a second gray level related to the reflective pixel voltage. When the transmissive pixel and the reflective pixel are used to display a same gray level, the transmissive pixel voltage and the reflective pixel voltage are predetermined such that corresponding first and second gray levels substantially equal each other.
US08107039B2
A display device including an insulating substrate, a signal line located on the insulating substrate, a dam and a first color filter pattern located on the insulating substrate, and a second color filter pattern located in a pixel region which has a border defined by the dam, wherein the dam and the first color filter pattern are part of the same layer.
US08107038B2
A liquid crystal display device includes gate and data lines defining a pixel region on a first substrate. A first insulating layer covers the gate line and a gate electrode. A thin film transistor, formed at a crossing region of the gate and data lines, has the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. A red, green or blue color filter is formed over the first insulating layer in the pixel region. A drain contact hole exposes the drain electrode. A light-shielding color filter pattern including at least two of red, green and blue resins is formed over the semiconductor layer. A pixel electrode is formed over the color filter in the pixel region and contacts the drain electrode. A common electrode is formed on a second substrate facing the first substrate with a liquid crystal layer interposed between the common and pixel electrodes.
US08107021B2
A liquid crystal projection apparatus having an image synthesizing unit including a color synthesization prism having an upper surface, a lower surface facing the upper surface, and three light incident faces between the upper and lower surfaces; an upper prism pedestal provided on the upper surface of the color synthesization prism; a lower prism pedestal provided on the lower surface of the color synthesization prism; an upper liquid crystal panel holder provided on the upper prism pedestal and having first jointing sections, a lower liquid crystal panel holder provided on the lower prism pedestal and having second jointing sections; three liquid crystal panels; and three liquid crystal panel mounting members securely fixing thereon the three liquid crystal panels, the three mounting members arranged on the respective three incident faces of the color synthesization prism joining the first jointing sections located in association with the respective incident faces to corresponding second jointing sections located in association with the corresponding incident faces.
US08107020B2
The invention pertains to an improved LCOS microdevice that eliminates colored lights required generally in a prior art system. According to one aspect of the present invention, the LCOS structure uses color filters directly in the LCOS chip. Depending on the number of colors being used, the color filters are arranged repeatedly according to a predefined pattern across an entire LCOS chip to coincide with pixels in the microdevice. When a white light is focused onto the LCOS microdevice, it reflects a color image that is then magnified and projected onto a display screen.
US08107017B2
A combination display is provided. The combination display includes a front projector and a direct-view screen having a shared video processing system.
US08107016B2
A display apparatus and a driving method thereof are provided. The display apparatus includes a channel setting storage unit which stores mode selection information about a plurality of channel designation modes each of which designates a way of setting an initial channel to be automatically tuned to upon turning on the display apparatus. The display apparatus also includes a control unit which, upon turning on the display apparatus, determines one of the channel designation modes based on the stored mode selection information, and controls the display apparatus to automatically tune to a channel, designated to be the initial channel by the determined channel designation mode.
US08107006B2
A camera module 1 of the present invention includes a moving magnet type mechanical shutter 2 and a lens unit 3 (lens drive section) for driving a lens by electromagnetic force. A magnetic field for driving the lens is set so that a light path is closed by a shutter fin while a magnetic field leaked from the lens unit 3 is acting on a drive mechanism of the mechanical shutter 2. With the configuration, the leak magnetic field leaked from the lens unit 3 causes the light path to be closed at a faster speed by the shutter fin of the mechanical shutter 2. Accordingly, generation of a smear can be prevented by the camera module including the lens drive section and the moving magnet type mechanical shutter, which are driven by the electromagnetic force.
US08107005B2
Provided is an image sensor module including a lower substrate having a plurality of top pads formed on the top surface thereof; an upper substrate that is installed along the edge of the top surface of the lower substrate and has a plurality of connection grooves formed on the inner side surface thereof, each connection groove having a side pad corresponding to each of the top pads of the lower substrate; an image sensor installed on the top surface of the upper substrate; and a connection element that electrically connects the top pads and the side pads.
US08106988B2
In a solid imaging device, a photoelectric converting section is configured to generate electric charges through photoelectric conversion, and a first charge transfer section is connected with the photoelectric converting section. A first read gate section is provided between the photoelectric converting section and the first charge transfer section, and is configured to transfer the electric charges from the photoelectric converting section to the first charge transfer section. A second charge transfer section operates independently from the first charge transfer section and configured to receive the electric charges transferred from the first charge transfer section.
US08106987B1
A method and apparatus can be arranged with a correlated double sampler circuit (CDS) for processing an output signal from an imaging device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor. The correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit is described that includes an amplifier and a reduced number of capacitors that are dynamically configured using a ping-pong architecture. The described ping-pong architecture has relaxed requirements for sampling points, minimized gain mismatch error, and offset mismatches can be easily managed. The ping-pong architecture is useful in digital imaging applications such as digital scanners, digital copiers, digital cameras, and digital camcorders, to name a few.
US08106984B2
A solid-state image capturing apparatus includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, where each of the pixels includes: a photodiode for obtaining a signal charge by a photoelectric conversion of an incident light; and an amplifying transistor for the signal charge obtained at the photodiode, and where the amplifying transistor is configured in such a manner that a gate area of the amplifying transistor is defined to be larger than a gate area of other transistors that configure the pixel.
US08106983B2
A solid-state imaging device includes pixel cells that are formed on a substrate having a first substrate surface side, on which light is irradiated, and a second substrate surface side, on which elements are formed, and separated by an adjacent cell group and an element separation layer for each of the pixel cells or with plural pixel cells as a unit. Each of the pixel cells has a first conductive well formed on the first substrate surface side and a second conductive well formed on the second substrate surface side. The first conductive well receives light from the first substrate surface side and has a photoelectric conversion function and a charge accumulation function for the received light. A transistor that detects accumulated charges in the first conductive well and has a threshold modulation function is formed in the second conductive well.
US08106980B2
An image sensor includes a data formatter and a transformer. The data formatter divides N-bit data into K-bit units with N and K being natural numbers and with K
US08106969B2
A device and a method for removing grid noises are disclosed. The device for removing grid noises in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention calculates an average value of each line of an inputted Bayer pattern image, calculates an estimate value estimating an average of even number lines placed between the odd number lines of a Bayer pattern image and odd number lines placed between the even number lines of a Bayer pattern image, calculates a difference value between the estimate value and the average value, calculates a correction coefficient by using the difference value, and applies the correction coefficient to the Bayer pattern image and outputs a corrected Bayer pattern image.
US08106968B1
Detecting a pattern in an image by receiving the image of a pattern and storing the image in a memory, where the pattern is composed of shapes that have geometrical properties that are invariant under near projective transforms. In some embodiments the process detects shapes in the image using the geometrical properties of the shapes, determines the alignment of the various shapes, and, corresponds or matches the shapes in the image with the shapes in the pattern. This pattern detection process may be used for calibration or distortion correction in optical devices.
US08106967B2
In this image pickup device, a system controller uses pattern matching to detect regions where patterns match between images based on multiple sets of image data. Subsequently, the system controller conducts alignment based on the regions that are matched by pattern matching with respect to the multiple sets of image data that are generated by multiple imagings in a exposure time shorter than a normal exposure time while the imaging view field changes. Furthermore, the system controller adds the respective sets of image data after alignment, and generates image data corresponding to a view field that is wider than the imaging view field of a CCD. According to this image pickup device, motion blur can be reduced.
US08106966B2
A digital image capture device and a brightness correction method thereof are described. The digital image capture device is adapted to correct the brightness value of a shot object in a digital image through the compensation of a strobe during shooting. The method includes setting a shooting magnification of the digital image capture device to the shot object; capturing a pre-shot image at least including the image of the shot object; triggering a strobe to emit a main flash onto the shot object, so as to shoot a digital image; setting a plurality of light measuring areas in the digital image; calculating a corresponding object distance of the shot object from each of the light measuring areas; establishing a shading table according to each of the object distances; and loading the shading table to adjust the brightness value of each of the light measuring areas in the digital image.
US08106965B2
An image having the image quality desired by a photographer is provided by minimizing overexposure or underexposure, making the dynamic range wide, and specifying an optimum brightness level for a main subject. An image capturing device includes a subject detecting unit which detects a main subject in an image obtained before actual photographing; a subject luminance information acquiring unit which obtains luminance information; a luminance distribution calculating unit which calculates a luminance distribution of each of multiple areas; a target luminance calculating unit which determines a target luminance; a target luminance correcting unit which corrects the target luminance; and an exposure condition determining unit which determines an exposure condition for the actual photographing, in which the target luminance correcting unit includes a criterial range determining unit which determines the criterial range; and a correction amount determining unit which determines a correction amount by using the difference between the target luminance and the luminance of the main subject.
US08106964B2
An object of this invention is to simplify an operation of reproducing, on a single window, pieces of image information of different image capturing apparatuses or pieces of image information captured at different times. A display apparatus manages a camera apparatus (1) serving as the image capturing source of image information to be reproduced in each image region in association with a plurality of image regions on a single window. The display apparatus manages whether the image information to be reproduced in each image region is recorded image information or image information which is currently being captured. On the basis of the pieces of management information, the display apparatus acquires image information from a desired one of camera apparatuses and recording apparatuses and reproduces the pieces of acquired image information on the plurality of image regions.
US08106954B2
An imaging apparatus estimates a distance based on a reflectance value of a subject estimated with improved precision. An illumination unit illuminates a subject with illumination light. An imaging unit captures a plurality of images each under a different condition of the illumination unit. An illumination light element obtaining unit obtains an image formed with an element of the illumination light from the plurality of images. A reflectance estimation unit eliminates illumination variations from one of the plurality of images or from the image formed with the illumination light element, and estimates a reflectance of the subject corresponding to each pixel. A distance information estimation unit estimates a distance to the subject corresponding to each pixel based on the image formed with the illumination light element and the reflectance of the subject.
US08106934B2
The present invention provides an image processing method which includes at least any one of an image recording step and an image erasing step, wherein a light irradiation intensity I1 at a center position of the laser beam irradiated in the image recording step and a light irradiation intensity I2 on an 80% light energy bordering surface to the total light energy of the irradiated laser beam satisfy the expression, 0.40≦I1/I2≦2.00, and in the image recording step, at an overlap portion where a first image line among a plurality of image lines constituting an image is overlapped with a second image line, any one of the first image line and the second image line is not to be recorded.
US08106933B2
An image forming apparatus includes a frame that has a first side frame and a second side frame facing each other, a platen which is rotatably supported by the first side frame and the second side frame, a head to move in first or second directions to press against or separate from the platen, a head supporting member connected to the head to support the head, and an adjusting member to pivotally support opposite ends of the head supporting member, wherein one of the two ends is fixed to the first side frame, and the other of the two ends is movably coupled to the second side frame so as to be able to move relative to the fixed end in the first and second directions.
US08106931B2
A semiconductor device, a print head comprising the semiconductor device and an image forming apparatus comprising the print head are supplied which are able to reduce cost through miniaturizing element size and minishing chip area. The semiconductor device comprises a plurality of light emitting elements; and a shift register circuit that has output terminals respectively corresponding to the plurality of light emitting elements and stores emitting-light instruction data of the light emitting elements, wherein each light emitting element has a first electrode and a second electrode to that lightening electricity of the light emitting element flows, and a third electrode for controlling the light emitting element whether to emit light, the output terminals of the shift register circuit are respectively connected with the third electrodes of the corresponding light emitting element.
US08106908B2
To solve the problem that when a space with a set width is inserted after each character to regularize the spaces between characters the overall character spacing is widened, making text less easy to read, there are provided a character control code storage unit (5) for storing, for each character display position, a character control code (CTD) including a character code (CC) and character width data (CW), and a positional control unit (4) for reading the character control code (CTD) for the present character display position from the character control code storage unit (5), and controlling the occurrence interval of the present character display position according to the character width data (CW) in the character control code (5) that was read and the previous character display position.
US08106901B2
A power circuit includes a PWM circuit for generating a pulse wave, a first control signal and a second control signal, a switching mode voltage stabilizer circuit, a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The PWM circuit includes a pulse wave pin, a first control pin and a second control pin. The switching mode voltage stabilizer circuit receives the pulse wave via the pulse wave output pin, and converts an external input voltage into a first direct voltage under control of the pulse wave. The first control circuit receives the first control signal via the first control pin. The second control circuit receives the second control signal via the second control pin and the first direct voltage, and converts the first direct voltage into a second direct voltage.
US08106898B2
A system for compensating for skew in a color video signal transmitted by a cable having multiple conductors is described. A test pulse signal (e.g. a 2 MHz signal) is inserted into the color components (e.g. RGB) of the video signal during time periods in each frame when the RGB video signals are inactive, such as within 300 μs after the V sync signal. After transmission over the cable, the RGB components with the inserted test signal are delayed relative to each other using a delay line in cooperation with a control circuit. The delay line generates detect signals by detecting relative delays of the test signal pulses inserted in the RGB components. The control circuit controls the amount of delay in the delay line based on the detect signals, so that the RGB components in the video signal outputted by the delay line are synchronized.
US08106897B2
In a system including a color liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal display drive control device for driving the panel, and a microprocessor, the display drive control device of the invention lightens the burden imposed on a microprocessor as well as reduces the power consumption of the system. In the liquid crystal display drive control device that incorporates a memory for storing image data displayed on a color liquid crystal panel, reads out the image data sequentially from the memory, generates image signals of the three primary colors for each pixels of the color liquid crystal panel, and outputs the image signals from external output terminals, the display drive control device includes a transparency arithmetic circuit that applies a calculation processing to two image data read out from the built-in memory and generates data for a transparent display, supplies display data generated by the transparency arithmetic circuit to a driver, and makes the driver generate and output drive signals to the liquid crystal panel.
US08106889B2
A touch-screen display device includes a display panel, a touch panel, and an adhesive member. The display panel has a peripheral area surrounding an effective area. The touch panel is separated from and faces the display panel. The adhesive member has an adhesive part disposed along the peripheral area and an airing portion disposed along a portion of the peripheral area. The adhesive part adheres the touch panel and the display panel together. The airing portion blocks a particle from entering into a space between the touch panel and the display panel, and inflows and outflows air from the exterior to the space. Therefore, the touch panel and the display panel are coupled by the adhesive member having an airing portion formed thereon, so that a display error may be prevented.
US08106886B2
A mouse includes a body, and a scanner. The body includes a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a recess defined in the second surface. The scanner received in the recess includes a housing defining a scanning window, an optical scanning unit received in the housing and an imaging sensor package. The optical scanning unit includes a light source for emitting light through the scanning window towards an object to be scanned, a reflector for reflecting light from the object, and a lens module for focusing the reflected light from the object. The imaging sensor package is received in the housing and is configured for receiving the focused light and generating image data associated with the object.
US08106884B2
A pointing input device and method, a pointer control device and method, and an image pattern generation device and method which move a mouse pointer displayed in a display region according to the movement of a location pointed at by the pointing input device. The pointing input device includes an image reception unit capturing an image pattern, which is displayed in a display region of a perceived size and based on which the scope of the display region is sensed, and sensing the scope of the image pattern; a coordinate extraction unit extracting coordinates of a location pointed at in the display region based on a center of the sensed scope of the image pattern; and a transmission unit transmitting the extracted coordinates to a pointer control device which controls a mouse pointer displayed in the display region.
US08106883B2
A mobile terminal and method for moving a cursor and executing a menu function in respons to operations of a navigation key by the user are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes an optical sensor navigation key installed in the mobile terminal, wherein the navigation key senses a direction of movement and speed of movement of an object that contacts the navigation key and outputs signals based on the sensed speed and direction, and a controller configured to control an operation of the mobile terminal in response to the signals from the optical sensor navigation key. The optical sensor navigation key, which is a new type of user interface, is provided so that the user can operate the mobile terminal simply, conveniently and precisely.
US08106882B2
A Hand-Worn Ambidextrous Interface Device for use with interfacing with a computer or similar device includes in some preferred embodiments a Housing, an Angled Face, a plurality of Switches and a Removable Three-Axis Joystick. In some preferred embodiments the Removable Three-Axis Joystick may control the cursor on the monitor or screen of the computer or related device to which it is communicating.
US08106873B2
The present invention relates to a gate pulse modulation (GPM) circuit and the application of same in a liquid crystal display for improving the display performance thereof. The gate pulse modulation circuit is configured to modulate multi-phase clock pulse signals so as to correspondingly generate odd gate pulse waveforms and even gate pulse waveforms that are different from one another.
US08106872B2
An image display system includes a white-light source, a green-light source and a plurality of pixels. The white-light source generates white light during a frame time, and the green-light source generates green light during the frame time. Each pixel has a red sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel and a white sub-pixel.
US08106863B2
A common voltage generating circuit includes a square wave generating unit, a diode, a NOT gate, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a third capacitor, a first resistor, a second resistor, and an output terminal. The square wave generating unit includes an output terminal, which is coupled to the output terminal of the common voltage generating circuit via the first resistor, a positive terminal of the diode, a negative terminal of the diode, and the second resistor in series. The output terminal of the square wave generating unit is coupled to the negative terminal of the diode via the NOT gate and the first capacitor. The positive terminal of the diode is grounded via the second capacitor, and the output terminal of the common voltage generating circuit is grounded via the third capacitor. A duty ratio of the output square wave generating unit is capable of being modulated.
US08106855B2
A driving apparatus of a plasma display panel (PDP) operates stably and reliably. The driving apparatus to drive the PDP includes a pulse application unit which applies a pulse to the PDP; and an energy recovery unit which comprises an inductor which generates LC resonance with a panel capacitor element of the PDP, an energy recovery determiner which determines the accumulation of energy during the LC resonance or emission of the accumulated energy to the PDP, and an energy storage unit which stores the accumulated energy, wherein the energy recovery determiner comprises a first falling switching device which determines the accumulation of the energy; and a second falling switching device which is connected between the first falling switching device and the energy storage unit, in order for the second falling switching device to form a current path toward the energy storage unit.
US08106846B2
According to one embodiment, an antenna comprises a plurality of elongated side radiating elements having longitudinal axes oriented at angles of between about 10 and about 80 degrees from a line perpendicular to an imaginary base plane extending across ends of the side radiating elements. In another embodiment, an antenna comprises a plurality of elongated side radiating elements each lying along a unique side plane and having longitudinal axes oriented at angles of between about 10 and about 80 degrees from a line perpendicular to an imaginary base plane extending across ends of the side radiating elements and a plurality of top radiating elements each electrically coupled to an associated one of the side radiating elements and lying along a top plane. Of course, many other systems and antennas according to other embodiments are included in the invention.
US08106836B2
A portable electronic device is provided that has a hybrid antenna. The hybrid antenna may include a slot antenna structure and an inverted-F antenna structure. The slot antenna portion of the hybrid antenna may be used to provide antenna coverage in a first communications band and the inverted-F antenna portion of the hybrid antenna may be used to provide antenna coverage in a second communications band. The second communications band need not be harmonically related to the first communications band. The electronic device may be formed from two portions. One portion may contain conductive structures that define the shape of the antenna slot. One or more dielectric-filled gaps in the slot may be bridged using conductive structures on another portion of the electronic device. A conductive trim member may be inserted into an antenna slot to trim the resonant frequency of the slot antenna portion of the hybrid antenna.
US08106834B2
A switchable patch antenna includes a ground plane, a metal patch, at least two feed lines and a switch. The metal patch is positioned adjacent, but not in contact with, the ground plane. Each feed line is electrically connected to the metal patch. Each feed line is substantially orthogonal to at least one other feed line. The switch is electrically connected to the at least two feed lines. The switch is operable to sequentially select between the at least two feed lines for exciting the switchable patch antenna.
US08106825B1
A distributed receiver in signal communication with an active antenna array is described. The distributed receiver may include an exciter, a plurality of transmit/receive (“T/R”) modules, and a frequency source operable to provide a frequency reference signal to the T/R modules.
US08106817B2
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a positioning result corresponding to the state of a receiver in less time. A positioning server 10 comprises a reception state information acquisition component 12 that acquires reception state information indicating the reception state of a radio wave at a cellular terminal 20, a base station positioning calculator 13 that estimates the approximate position of the cellular terminal 20 on the basis of reception state information and computes the precision of the approximate position, an end decision component 14 that decides whether or not to end the estimation of position on the basis of the precision of the approximate position, and, if it is decided to end the estimation, estimates the position of the cellular terminal 20 as the approximate position and ends the estimation of the position, an indoor/outdoor determination component 15 that determines whether the cellular terminal 20 is indoors or outdoors on the basis of the reception state information, and a positioning controller 16 that controls the execution of the GPS positioning of the cellular terminal 20 on the basis of the result of decision by the end decision component 14 and the result of determination by the indoor/outdoor determination component 15.
US08106812B2
The invention relates to a method for detection of motion of the surface of an object by means of a detection device, the object being stationary during a detection process, and situated in a space on the opposite side of a wall in relation to the detection device, and having a relative dielectric constant εr greater than 1.1. The method comprises steps of transmitting radar signals and receiving radar signals reflected by the object, and if a motion has been detected, in addition visualising the motion in a three-dimensional combined radar model and data model. The invention also relates to a detection device for carrying out the method.
US08106808B1
A successive time-to-digital converter (STDC) method is provided for supplying a digital word representing the ratio between a phase-locked loop PLL frequency synthesizer signal and a reference clock. The number of frequency synthesizer clock cycles per reference clock cycle is counted. A first difference is measured between a reference clock period and a corresponding frequency synthesizer clock period. In response to the first measurement, a second difference is measured between a delayed reference clock period and the corresponding frequency synthesizer clock period, where the second difference is less than the first difference. A third difference is measured as a time duration between the delayed reference clock period and the corresponding delayed frequency synthesizer clock period. The first and third difference measurements and the count of the number of frequency synthesizer clock cycles per reference clock cycle are used to calculate a digital error signal supplied to the frequency synthesizer.
US08106799B1
The present disclosure includes apparatus, systems and techniques relating to pipelined processing. In some implementations, a method performed by a data processing device includes storing data in a memory module. The method includes processing the stored data in accordance with a compression algorithm to produce processed data. Processing the stored data includes pipelined processing of a defined number of symbols of the stored data in parallel, and discarding results of the pipelined processing that are rendered invalid by other results of the pipelined processing. Additionally, the method includes outputting the processed data.
US08106792B2
A method of controlling a wireless communication device that is installed in a moving vehicle. The method comprises receiving roadway topology information and vehicle traffic pattern information, receiving vehicle and wireless communication device performance information from a plurality of other moving vehicles, determining current position information for the moving vehicle; determining a first set of metrics for a performance of the wireless communication device installed in the moving vehicle, estimating at least one second metric related to the performance of the wireless communication device or an ad-hoc network which includes each wireless communication device and changing an operation or routing parameter for the wireless communication device based upon the estimation. The second metric is based upon at least a sub-set of the first set of metrics, the received information and the determined current position information for the moving vehicle.
US08106790B2
Measuring device (1) for the electromagnetic field emitted by an apparatus being tested (11, 14), including a support (3) being mobile in relation to the apparatus being tested, at least one electromagnetic sensor (8) fixed to the support and driving elements (5,6) capable of rotating the support around the apparatus being tested, characterized in that it includes at least one light source (9) adjacent to the electromagnetic sensor and capable of emitting light according to the electromagnetic field measured by the electromagnetic sensor.
US08106789B2
An electronic apparatus with an active posture control function includes a body assembly, an accelerometer, a driving device and a controller. The body assembly includes a first body and a second body pivotally connected to the first body. The accelerometer mounted on the body assembly senses acceleration of the body assembly to output an acceleration signal. The driving device mounted on the body assembly drives at least one of the first body and the second body. The controller, mounted on the body assembly and electrically connected to the accelerometer and the driving device, receives the acceleration signal, judges whether the acceleration signal is higher than a predetermined level, and controls the driving device to adjust an included angle between the first body and the second body when the acceleration signal is higher than the predetermined level.
US08106788B2
A sensor for obtaining data is described, including at least one sensitive module for quantitatively detecting a parameter to be determined, at least one data transmitting unit for transmitting the obtained data, and at least one signal path between the sensitive module and the data transmitting unit, also including a control logic unit which defines at least one transmission parameter of the signal path and/or of the data transmitting unit, as a function of at least one output variable of the sensitive module, and an associated method.
US08106786B2
Disclosed herein is a method of notifying the selection of an item using a plurality of light emitting devices provided in a terminal, including: selecting an item of at least one item displayed on a display included in the terminal, and notifying the selection of the item using the plurality of light emitting devices. Disclosed herein is also a method of notifying the occurrence of an event using a plurality of light emitting devices provided in a terminal, including: notifying the occurrence of the event using the light emitting devices according to the detection of the occurrence of the event.
US08106773B2
A system and method of identifying objects packaged in electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection packaging is disclosed. The system includes an ESD protection package and a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is affixed to the object prior to being inserted into the ESD protection packaging. A RFID interrogation device having a transmitter, an antenna and a receiver is used to interrogate the RFID tag and output the identification data to a display or to a computer. The method includes affixing an RFID tag to an object prior to placement in the ESD protection packaging, providing a RFID interrogation device including an antenna in proximity to the packaged object, and reading the data stored by the RFID tag for identifying the object.
US08106772B2
Methods, systems and other embodiments associated with protecting merchandise items are presented. A method of protecting merchandise items includes displaying merchandise items at a consumer display so that the merchandise items can be handled by a consumer. A detection is made if one merchandise items has been moved beyond a predetermined authorized distance from the consumer display. The method determines if an authorized key is detected within a predetermined key distance from the consumer display. An alarm is then generated when one of merchandise items has been moved beyond a predetermined authorized distance and an authorized key is not detected within a predetermined key distance.
US08106770B2
A method for detecting a target in a soil, including the step of generating a transmit signal, the transmit signal including at least three different frequency components, a relatively high frequency component, a relatively medium frequency component and a relatively low frequency component; and processing a receive signal, the processing including selecting coefficients for, in effect, linearly combining the relatively high frequency components, the relatively low frequency components and the relatively medium frequency components of the receive signal to produce an indicator output signal, the indicator output signal including a signal indicative of the presence of the target in the soil, and wherein the coefficients are selected such that the indicator output signal is approximately independent of log-linear frequency-dependent resistive signal components and log-uniform resistive signal components from the soil.
US08106762B2
An electrical apparatus with an alarm includes an electrical device and an alarm system, the electrical device and the alarm system being both connected to an external power supply. The alarm system includes a wireless communication circuit and a control module. The control module is connected between the external power supply and the wireless communication circuit. The control module controls the wireless communication circuit to send an alarm notification when the electrical device is disconnected from the external power supply.
US08106746B2
A carrier structure has a plurality of cells. A corresponding plurality of objects having data carriers, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, is placed in each cell. Each cell has an indicator associated therewith and is defined by walls that substantially prevent waves (such as RF waves) from propagating between cells. A control module is coupled to the carrier structure and is operative to selectively activate individual ones of the indicators. An automatic data collection device (such as an RFID reader) interrogates the data carriers of the objects placed in the cells, and the data carriers can provide response signals to the data collection device. The control module also monitors the response signals using an antenna present in each cell. If the data collection device selects a particular one of the responsive data carriers, the data collection device provides a notification signal to the control module to notify the control module of the selection. The control module then identifies and selects the cell of an object of interest having the selected data carrier affixed thereon, and initiates activation of the indicator associated with the selected cell, thereby identifying the location of the object of interest.
US08106745B2
A system for using a watermark embedded in an audio signal to remotely control a device. Various devices such as toys, computers, and appliances, equipped with an appropriate detector, detect the hidden signals, which can trigger an action, or change a state of the device. The watermarks can be used with a “time gate” device, where detection of the watermark opens a time interval within which a user is allowed to perform an action, such as pressing a button, typing in an answer, turning a key in a lock, etc.
US08106739B2
A magnetic induction device (MID) is disclosed. The MID includes a core, and at least one first winding including at least one conductive strip deposited on the core and including at least two turns which are substantially simultaneously shaped. Related apparatus and methods are also disclosed.
US08106733B2
A switch has a detection portion that contains a magnetic-field-sensing element and an attraction member. The attraction member generates a magnetically attracting force. The detection portion generates a switching signal based on an output of the magnetic-field-sensing element.
US08106729B2
This invention discloses a complementary-conducting-strip transmission line (CCS TL) structure. The CCS TL structure includes a substrate, at least one first mesh ground plane, m second mesh ground planes having m first inter-media-dielectric (IMD) layers interlaced with and stacked among each other and the first mesh ground plane to form a stack structure on the substrate, a second IMD layer being on the stack structure, and a signal transmission line being on the second IMD layer. Wherein, each first IMD layer has a plurality of vias to correspondingly connect the first and the m second mesh ground planes, therein, m≧2 and m is a natural number, and the m second mesh ground planes under the signal transmission line have at least one slit structure.
US08106701B1
A level shifter circuit suitable for high voltage applications with shoot-through current isolation is presented. The level shifter receives a first enable signal and receives an input voltage at a first node and supplies an output voltage at a second node. The circuit provides the output voltage from the input voltage in response to the first enable signal being asserted and sets the output node to a low voltage value when the first enable signal is de-asserted. The level shifting circuit includes a depletion type NMOS transistor, having a gate connected to the output node, and a PMOS transistor, having a gate connected to the first enable signal. It also includes a first resistive element that is distinct from the NMOS and PMOS transistors. The NMOS transistor, the PMOS transistor and the first resistive elements are connected in series between the first and second nodes, with the NMOS transistor being connected to the first node. The level shifter further includes a discharge circuit connected to the second node and to receive a second enable signal. The second enable signal is asserted when the first enable signal is de-asserted and is asserted when the first enable signal is de-asserted, and the discharge circuit connects the second node to the low voltage value when the second enable signal is asserted and isolates the second node from ground when the second enable signal is de-asserted.
US08106700B2
In embodiments of the present invention, the problems of poor low-frequency response, slow speed, high cost and high power consumption in conventional voltage translators are addressed by processing high frequency and low frequency components of an input signal separately in two parallel stages without the use of large passive components or slow devices. At the output, the processed high frequency and low frequency components are seamlessly merged at a combining stage that maintains the integrity of the frequency response over the complete translator bandwidth.
US08106696B2
A duty ratio correction circuit includes a clock input buffer that receives a first clock signal, a clock duty adjuster that adjusts a duty ratio of a second clock signal output from the clock input buffer based on a correction signal and generates a third clock signal, a data input buffer that receives a first data signal, a data duty adjuster that adjusts a duty ratio of a second data signal output from the data input buffer based on the correction signal and generates a third data signal, and a duty comparator that generates the correction signal based on the third clock signal.
US08106693B2
A delay locked loop circuit includes a delay replica model unit for reflecting a delay time of an actual output path to a source clock and outputting the reflected source clock as a delay replica clock, a detector for detecting a remaining time after subtracting a time corresponding to a multiple of a clock cycle of the source clock from a time corresponding to a phase difference between the delay replica clock and the source clock, and a delay locking unit for delaying the source clock for a delay time to synchronize a clock generated by delaying the source clock for the detected remaining time of the detector with a phase of the source clock.
US08106690B2
To generate a highly accurate SSC while reducing the circuit area of a clock generation circuit that generates a normal clock and an SSC. A clock signal output from a voltage controlled oscillator is frequency-divided by a frequency divider, and is output as a first frequency-divided clock to a selector. The frequency divider outputs a plurality of second frequency-divided clocks each shifted in phase by 1/m of a period based on a control signal of a control circuit. The selector selects two frequency-divided clocks having the closest phase shift from among the first and second frequency-divided clocks. Based on a weighting data signal output from the control circuit, a phase interpolation circuit phase-shifts the frequency-divided clock by a phase shift obtained by dividing the phase difference between the two frequency-divided clocks, and outputs the resultant clock as an output clock.
US08106677B2
A signal transmitting circuit includes a circuit block having a driving circuit and an intra-block transmission line for transmitting a signal from the driving circuit, a circuit block having a receiving circuit and an intra-block transmission line for transmitting the signal to said receiving circuit, and a main interblock transmission line for propagating a signal between the driving and receiving circuit blocks. The inter-block transmission line is terminated by a resistor having substantially the same impedance as the interblock transmission line. The intra-block transmission lines are provided with a resistance element having a resistance substantially equal to a value derived by subtracting half of an impedance of the inter-block transmission line from an impedance of the intra-block transmission line, to lower signal amplitude and suppress reflections of a signal at branch points along the main interblock transmission line, thereby enabling a high-speed signal transfer.
US08106671B2
A socketless integrated circuit (IC) contact connector is provided with an electrically conductive support post. An electrically conductive spring has a first end connected to the post, and a second end. An electrically conductive first wire has a first end connected to the spring second end, and a second end. An electrically conductive loop with a loop neck is connected to the first wire second end. Typically, the loop is formed in the first wire second end. The spring and loop work in cooperation to engage an IC contact.
US08106668B2
A proximity detector detects the approach of an object based on a stray capacitance. A differential electrode has an apparent stray capacitance that varies in response to an approaching object. An individual capacitance detector detects an individual stray capacitance of the differential electrode based on a stray capacitance of the differential electrode obtained by repeatedly charging and discharging the differential electrode in opposite phases and based on a stray capacitance of the differential electrode obtained by repeatedly charging and discharging the differential electrode in the same phase. A proximity calculator detects the approach of the object based on the detected individual stray capacitance.
US08106664B2
An apparatus for a user to conduct an accelerated soft error test (ASER) on a semiconductor sample is provided. The apparatus comprises a first component for holding the radiation source, where the radiation source may be either an alpha-particle or neutron-particle source. The apparatus comprises a second component for holding the semiconductor sample, where the semiconductor sample may be either a silicon wafer or semiconductor chip. The apparatus comprises a connecting assembly for placing the first component and the second component relative to each other at a plurality of positions that subject the semiconductor sample to a radiation stress from the radiation source at a plurality of stress efficiencies. Among the benefits provided are improved repeatability and credibility of ASER tests and reduced radiation exposures to operators of ASER tests.
US08106661B2
Lower order control devices control plural battery cells configuring plural battery modules. An input terminal of the low order control device in the highest potential, an output terminal of the low order control device in the lowest potential, and a high order control device are connected by isolating units, photocouplers. Diodes which prevent a discharge current of the battery cells in the battery modules are disposed between the output terminal of the low order control device and the battery cells in the battery module on the low potential side. Terminals related to input/output of a signal are electrically connected without isolating among the plural low order control devices.
US08106650B2
A position-sensing system includes a first component (e.g., a cylinder) and a second component (e.g., a piston rod) movably coupled to the first component for movement with respect thereto. A magnetically hard layer on the second component provides a recording medium. Regions of the magnetically hard layer are magnetized as magnetized rings around the second component. Magnetic-field sensors are coupled to the first component in proximity of the magnetically hard layer on the second component to sense the rings of magnetized regions. Each of the magnetic field sensors senses flux from each of the rings of magnetized regions as the second component is moving with respect to the first component and, in response to sensing the rings of magnetized regions, generates signals used to determine position of the second component.
US08106648B2
There is provided a non-contact rotational detecting sensor comprising a ring-shaped permanent magnet which rotates integrally with a detection object of a rotational angle and of which a magnetic pole changes along the circumferential direction, a ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke for surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped permanent magnet in a constant gap, a ring-shaped outside magnetic flux collecting yoke for surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke in a constant gap, and a hole IC arranged in a gap formed in the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke, wherein an axial height of the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke is changed along a circumferential direction of the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke.
US08106644B2
A reference generator circuit generates a reference signal for use by a regulator in generating operational power for circuits and devices. A start-up circuit includes a self-biased voltage reference and a differential amplifier configured to generate a start-up signal to induce current flow in response to a voltage independent reference signal during a start-up phase of the circuit and cease inducing the current flow following the start-up phase of the circuit. The reference signal is generated by receiving a supply voltage and inducing current flow into a node of a bandgap reference circuit during a start-up phase of the bandgap reference circuit and ceasing inducing the current flow following the start-up phase of the bandgap reference circuit.
US08106632B2
The batteries of at least one battery subset are partially and preferably simultaneously charged; during this partial charging, electrical parameters representative of a coup de fouet effect on charging are measured to enable the extent of discharge of each of the batteries of the subset to be analyzed; the batteries are then charged sequentially with an order of priority that depends on the extent of discharge of the different batteries; priority is preferably given to charging the most extensively discharged batteries.
US08106630B2
Improved techniques to manage operation of a portable electronic device having a substantially depleted battery when power is available from an external, power-limited source are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the substantially depleted battery can be initially charged while a power-intensive operation is delayed. Once the battery has adequate charge to assist the external, power-limited source in powering the portable electronic device, the power-intensive operation can be performed. In this manner, power consumption of a portable electronic device can be managed so that reliable operation is achieved without exceeding limits on power being drawn from an external, power-limited source.
US08106624B2
A charging device which enables the charged state and remaining capacity of the battery pack to be accurately grasped. In the charging device on which a battery pack including a nonvolatile memory and a secondary battery cell is mounted, a charge control microcomputer measures a charging current supplied to and a charging voltage applied to the battery pack. Charged state data indicative of the charged state of the battery pack is determined based on at least one of the measured charging current and the measured charging voltage. The charge control microcomputer writes the determined charged state data in the memory of the battery pack.
US08106614B2
An electric motor circuit for controlling an electric motor of a mirror adjustment mechanism includes a switch-off circuit that is provided with a current sensor for measuring the electrical supply current and, depending thereon, generating a voltage. In an embodiment, a current branch is configured to be rendered conductive in response to the generated voltage; an electronic switch is configured to interrupt the supply current as a result of the current branch being rendered conductive. The current branch may be configured to form a first branch of a current mirror which is out of balance and is dimensioned such that the first branch does not carry current under normal operating conditions of the motor, and a second branch is conductive. In an embodiment, upon the occurrence of a supply current that is greater than a predetermined critical level, the first branch is also rendered conductive.
US08106611B2
A switching regulation circuit for a dual-winding motor apparatus is provided. The switching regulation circuit comprises a gate-controlled device and a driving circuit. When one of the two windings generates an induced voltage signal greater than a threshold value, the driving circuit generates an output signal for turning on the gate-controlled transistor. Thereby, a parasitic diode of the gate-controlled device will not be turned on and damage the entire circuit.
US08106606B2
The present invention discloses a control apparatus, which not only accepts multiple dimming control signals, but also combines the signals in analog manner. By means of this, an inevitable analog to digital converter in a conventional voltage multiple dimming control apparatus can be saved without hurting the performance of generation of pulse width modulation signals. Compared with the conventional arts, the present invention further exhibits reduction in view of chip size and power consumption.
US08106599B2
A switched light element array includes first, second and third light emitting elements, and first and second switches. The first light emitting element includes first and second terminals, and the second light emitting element includes a first terminal, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first light emitting element. The third light emitting element includes a first terminal coupled to the first terminal of the first light emitting element and a second terminal. The first switch includes a first terminal coupled to each of the first terminals of the first and third light emitting elements and a second terminal coupled to the first terminal of the second light emitting element. The second switch includes a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the third light emitting element, and a second terminal coupled to each of the second terminals of the first and second light emitting elements.
US08106593B2
A hybrid lighting device is described. The hybrid lighting device comprises a solar panel arranged to generate electric power; a wind turbine arranged to generate electric power; an energy storage device electrically connected with the power controller and arranged to store electric power; a power controller electrically connected with the energy storage device and the solar panel and the wind turbine and arranged to transfer electric power; and an induction-based light source electrically connected with the power controller.
US08106586B1
An AC or DC PDP containing a fluorescent conversion material (FCM) that produces IR when excited by a gas discharge. In one embodiment, the fluorescent conversion material is rare earth doped chalcogenide. The PDP may comprise a multiplicity of plasma-sells or plasma-tubes on a substrate, each plasma-shell or plasma-tube containing FCM.
US08106584B2
A light emitting device includes a base on which a wiring conductor is formed from the top surface to the bottom surface or the side face; a light emitting chip mounted on the top surface of the base and electrically connected with the wiring conductor; a first light transmitting member which covers the light emitting chip; a second light transmitting member provided above the first light transmitting member to cover the first light transmitting member, the second light transmitting member being formed of a light transmitting material containing fluorescent materials for converting in wavelength the light emitted from the light emitting chip; and a third light transmitting member provided between the first and second light transmitting members, wherein the refractive index n1 of the first light transmitting member, the refractive index n2 of the second light transmitting member and the refractive index n3 of the third light transmitting member satisfy the relation: n3
US08106583B2
Provided is an organic light emitting display apparatus in which process efficiency and contrast are increased. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, a display unit that is formed on the substrate and includes an organic light emitting device, an encapsulation layer that is formed on the display unit so as to encapsulate the display unit, a color filter layer that is formed on the encapsulation layer, a protection layer that is formed on the color filter layer, and a black matrix that is formed on the protection layer. The black matrix is aligned not to overlap the color filter layer.
US08106577B2
An organic EL device includes light-reflective electrodes; light-transmissive electrodes; organic EL layers that are respectively provided between the light-reflective electrodes and the light-transmissive electrodes to emit a plurality of color light components, the organic EL layer emitting a different color light component in each pixel; and transflective layers that are selectively provide in predetermined color pixels to reflect or transmit light emitted from the organic EL layers, respectively, each transflective layer being opposite to the light-reflective electrode with the organic EL layer interposed therebetween.
US08106572B2
A spark plug in which an ignition portion of a ground electrode formed through joining of a noble metal chip to the ground electrode has high durability, and a method of manufacturing the spark plug.
US08106571B2
A capped lamp/reflector unit (1) comprising a lamp vessel (2) arranged inside a reflector (3) and a lamp cap (4) fixed to the reflector. Electrical contacts (17) are provided substantially opposite to each other on an outer surface (24) of the lamp cap. The lamp cap comprises a first (25) and a second mating and engaging part (26), preferably identical to each other. The mating parts, when assembled, cannot move relative to each other and preferably are held together by the electrical contacts (17), which for this purpose are formed as spring clamps (39). The reflector is provided with a metal sheet cladding (22) on an outer surface (23) of the reflector. Furthermore, a transparent plate (34) is provided to close the light emission window (21) of the reflector. Thus, an easily replaceable, simple and safe capped lamp/reflector unit is obtained.
US08106569B2
Methods and devices are provided for an improved light source. In one exemplary embodiment a light source includes a heat sink, a LED die, and a phosphor dome. A conductive material can be disposed in the heat sink, the LED die can be mounted to a top portion of the conductive material such that the LED die is in electrical contact with the heat sink, and the phosphor dome can be coupled to a top face of the heat sink. In another embodiment, a light source includes a heat sink, a sleeve, a LED package, and an optic. A conductive material can be disposed in the heat sink, the sleeve can be disposed around at least a portion of the heat sink and the conductive material, the LED package can be mounted above the conductive material, and the optic can be located above the LED package and coupled to the sleeve. The light sources disclosed herein can be used to replace existing miniature bulbs in a number of different devices, including medical devices such as otoscopes.
US08106558B2
A plurality of permanent magnets are provided at a rotor at equal angular intervals. A plurality of magneto coils are provided at a stator at unequal angular intervals. The number of the plurality of magneto coils is not a multiple of three. The plurality of magneto coils include U-phase magneto coils, V-phase magneto coils and W-phase magneto coils. The U-phase magneto coils are arranged and connected such that phases of currents passing through the U-phase magneto coils are equal. The V-phase magneto coils are arranged and connected such that phases of currents passing through the V-phase magneto coils are equal. The W-phase magneto coils are arranged and connected such that phases of currents passing through the W-phase magneto coils are equal.
US08106555B2
An apparatus for inhibiting oil leakage is disclosed by which the oil leakage can be effectively inhibited with a simple structure, where the apparatus is extensively formed along an outer periphery of a rotation shaft at a position higher than at least an upper end of a bearing and is formed with an oil barrier that restrains oil rise.
US08106554B2
Disclosed herein is a blower motor assembly for a vehicle. The blower motor assembly comprises an armature assembly, a motor body, a magnet, an upper case, and a lower case. The armature assembly comprises a rotatable armature shaft with an armature. The motor body is an open cylinder that houses the armature assembly. The magnet is installed between the motor body and the armature assembly. The upper case has a through-hole which permits the armature shaft to projects outward through. The lower case is coupled to the upper case. The motor body is installed in an internal space defined by the coupled upper and lower cases. The motor body is fixed in a correspondingly-shaped hollow portion defined by a wall of a motor body fixing portion formed in the lower case. The magnet is fixed to a magnet fixing portion formed in the lower case.
US08106544B2
The device described herein is an Electro-magnet based Telescoping Artificial Muscle Actuator. This device uses a centrally located electromagnet which acts on permanent magnets and ferrous components housed within telescoping sections of this device. This device is intended to be linked into chains with other identical devices, with those chains then linked into bundles. This arrangement allows devices of this type to simulate the action and control mechanisms of natural muscles. This device is intended for use in prosthetic, robotic, and implantable applications.
US08106539B2
Described herein are improved configurations for a refrigerator with wireless power transfer that includes an enclosure member comprising a non-metallic material, a source comprising at least one high-Q source magnetic resonator coupled to a power source and generating an oscillating magnetic field, wherein the source is integrated into the enclosure member of the refrigerator.
US08106535B2
A reliable power conditioner comprises: a power converting circuit for converting direct-current power obtained from a direct-current power source to alternating-current power of a commercial power system; a charger/discharger circuit for charging the direct-current power obtained from the direct-current power source to an accumulator or discharging the direct-current power stored in the accumulator; a control circuit for controlling the power converting circuit and the charger/discharger circuit; and a power source selecting circuit for selecting at least one of first, second, and third power source circuits and supplying power to the control circuit.
US08106533B1
A power system is designed for providing reliable electrical power to a telecommunications facility and/or associated devices. The system includes a DC bus adapted to receive electrical power from a primary energy source. A switch is provided for switching from the primary energy source to a secondary energy source. Additionally, the system includes one or more capacitors electrically connected into the DC bus. The one or more capacitors hold a charge so that power is maintained to the DC bus as a switch is made from the primary energy source to the secondary energy source.
US08106532B2
This invention relates to an illumination device of gradual dimming after power interruption in which a built-in power storage unit and a gradual-dimming light intensity drive control unit are provided within the lamp body, the light emitting source of the illumination device being normally lightened by city power, the built-in power storage unit being charged by the city power simultaneously. When city power is interrupted, the power is switched to be supplied with the power coming from the built-in power storage unit and the gradual-dimming light intensity drive control unit is activated to control the gradual dimming of light intensity of the light emitting source. In this manner, the effect of energy saving and extension of illumination time can be obtained such that eyes of people can adapt to the light intensity change. In addition, the illumination device is safe and is convenient in use without any indoor wiring change or additional member added.
US08106529B2
A farm implement towed or pushed by a vehicle includes at least one electrically actuated device mounted for operation and a high capacitance capacitor connected in circuit with the device and with a source of electricity on the vehicle. Electric power is supplied from the vehicle to the implement at a nominal rate to charge the capacitor and/or operate the device. The capacitor is selectively discharged to either supplement the electric power supplied by the vehicle to the device or to completely power the device such that the device is provided with electric power for operation at a peak rate exceeding the nominal rate electric power is supplied from the vehicle to the capacitor and/or the device.
US08106524B2
In a capacitor-compensation-type generator having a rotor wound with a field winding, a stator wound with an output winding adapted to cross flux generated by the field winding to output AC power, and an internal combustion engine that drives the rotor to rotate relative to the stator, there are equipped with an actuator that changes the engine speed and an actuator controller that controls operation of the actuator in accordance with a constant voltage operation mode in which the engine speed is controlled to a desired speed such that a detected output voltage becomes a desired voltage, or a constant frequency operation mode in which the detected engine speed is controlled to a predetermined speed such that frequency of AC power outputted from the output winding becomes a desired frequency, thereby enabling to output AC power at constant voltage or frequency.
US08106520B2
Some embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods having a base, a first die, a second arranged in a stacked with the first die and the base, and a structure located in the stack and outside at least one of the first and second dice and configured to transfer signals between the base and at least one of the first and second dice.
US08106510B2
A semiconductor structure having: an electrically and thermally conductive layer disposed on one surface of the semiconductor structure; an electrically and thermally conductive heat sink; a electrically and thermally conductive carrier layer; a plurality of electrically and thermally nano-tubes, a first portion of the plurality of nano-tubes having proximal ends disposed on a first surface of the carrier layer and a second portion of the plurality of nano-tubes having proximal ends disposed on an opposite surface of the carrier layer; and a plurality of electrically and thermally conductive heat conductive tips disposed on distal ends of the plurality of nano-tubes, the plurality of heat conductive tips on the first portion of the plurality of nano-tubes being attached to the conductive layer, the plurality of heat conductive tips on the second portion of the plurality of nano-tubes being attached to the heat sink.
US08106506B2
An electronic component has an element body, and a plurality of external electrodes formed on one principal face of the element body. Each external electrode has a first electrode layer joined to the one principal face of the element body, and a second electrode layer joined as laid on an inside region inside an edge of the first electrode layer. An apical surface of the second electrode layer is planar. A joint portion in the second electrode layer to the first electrode layer is rounded.
US08106503B2
According to one embodiment, a high frequency semiconductor device is provided, which includes: a distribution/input matching circuit board that mounts thereon a distribution/input matching circuit and an input transmission line pattern; an input capacitor board that is arranged adjacent to the distribution/input matching circuit board, and mounts a plurality of input capacitor cells thereon; a semiconductor board that is arranged adjacent to the input capacitor board, and mounts a plurality of field effect transistor cells thereon; an output capacitor board that is arranged adjacent to the semiconductor board, and mounts a plurality of output capacitor cells thereon; and a synthesis/output matching circuit board that is arranged adjacent to the output capacitor board, and mounts thereon an output transmission line pattern and a synthesis/output matching circuit, wherein the number of active field effect transistor cells is changed by connecting and disconnecting a plurality of field effect transistor cells to one another in response to a desired output power value, whereby a total gate electrode length is substantially changed, and an output power value is adjusted.
US08106495B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a first wiring substrate, a second wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip, an adhesive layer and a molding resin. The second wiring substrate is stacked and connected on the first wiring substrate through a bump electrode. The semiconductor chip is mounted on the first wiring substrate by flip chip bonding and received between the first wiring substrate and the second wiring substrate. An upper surface of the semiconductor chip is subject to a mirror treatment. The adhesive layer is formed on the upper surface of the semiconductor chip. The molding resin is filled in a gap between the first wiring substrate and the second wiring substrate.
US08106494B2
A leadframe employed by a leadless package comprises a plurality of package units and an adhesive tape. Each of the package units has a die pad with a plurality of openings and a plurality of pins disposed in the plurality of openings. The adhesive tape is adhered to the surfaces of the plurality of package units and fixes the die pad and the plurality of pins.
US08106490B2
A semiconductor chip package comprises a lead frame having a chip carrier having a first surface and an opposite second surface. A first semiconductor chip is mounted on the first surface, having a plurality of bonding pads thereon, wherein the first semiconductor chip has an area larger that that of the chip carrier. A package substrate has a central region attached to the second surface of the chip carrier, having an area larger than that of the first semiconductor chip, wherein the package substrate comprises a plurality of fingers on a top surface thereof in a marginal region of the package substrate, which are arranged in an array with a row of inner fingers adjacent to the first semiconductor chip and a row of outer fingers adjacent to an edge of the package substrate, wherein the inner and outer fingers are electrically connected to the bonding pads of the first semiconductor chip and the lead frame respectively.
US08106485B2
A structure and method for removing damages of a dual damascene structure after plasma etching. The method includes the use of sublimation processes to deposit reactive material onto the damaged regions and conditions to achieve a controlled removal of the damaged region. Furthermore a semiconductor structure includes a dual damascene structure that has been treated by the method.
US08106484B2
In a silicon substrate for a package, a through electrode is provided with which a through hole passing through from a bottom surface of a cavity for accommodating a chip of an electronic device to a back surface of the substrate is filled. An end part of the through electrode in the bottom surface side of the cavity has a connection part to a wiring that forms an electric circuit including the chip of the electronic device. The silicon substrate for a package is characterized in that (1) a thin film wiring is included as the wiring and the connection part is reinforced by a conductor connected to the thin film wiring and/or (2) a wire bonding part is included as the wiring and the connection part is formed by wire bonding the end part of the through electrode in the bottom surface side of the cavity.
US08106475B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate formed with a plurality of first element isolation trenches having respective first opening widths and a plurality of second element isolation trenches having larger opening widths than the first opening widths, element isolation insulating films buried in the first element isolation trenches so that upper parts of the trenches have partial openings, respectively and buried in the second element isolation trenches respectively, and coating type oxide films formed so as to fill the openings of the first element isolation trenches, respectively. The coating-type oxide films are not buried in the second element isolation insulating trenches.
US08106474B2
A wiring electrically connected to a terminal to which a high power supply potential is applied and a wiring electrically connected to a terminal to which a low power supply potential is applied are formed adjacent to each other and are formed so as to surround the integrated circuit. Thus, wiring resistance can be added between the terminals and the integrated circuit and capacitance can be added between the two wirings. Even if overvoltage is applied to the terminals due to ESD or the like, the energy of the overvoltage is consumed by the wiring resistance and the added capacitor, so that damage of the integrated circuit can be suppressed.
US08106471B2
A semiconductor dynamic quantity sensor includes a sensor part and a cap connected to the sensor part. Dynamic quantity is detected based on a capacitance of a capacitor defined between a movable electrode and a fixed electrode of the sensor part. A float portion of the sensor part is separated from a support board of the sensor part to define a predetermined interval. At least one of the cap and the support board has a displacing portion displacing the float portion in a direction perpendicular to the support board so as to change the predetermined interval. The movable electrode has a displacement in accordance with the displaced float portion.
US08106463B2
A ROM memory cell has significantly less total area than previously known ROM memory cells. Instead of using only one layer in the manufacturing process to program the memory cells, at least two layers are used to program the memory cells. This flexibility allows the memory cell to be reduced in area, which in turn produces a ROM that is more area efficient and consequently lower in cost. As the bitline length and capacitance are reduced, the speed and power consumption are also improved.
US08106461B2
An apparatus comprises a circuit for measuring a gate leakage current of a plurality of transistors. A circuit is provided to apply heat to gates of the plurality of transistors. A circuit is provided to apply a single stress bias voltage to the plurality of transistors for a stress period t. The stress bias voltage is sufficient to cause a 10% degradation in a drive current of the transistor within the stress period t. A processor is provided for estimating a negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) lifetime τ of the transistor based on a relationship between the gate leakage current and one or more of the group consisting of gate voltage, gate length, gate temperature, and gate width of the plurality of transistors. The relationship is determined from data observed while applying the single stress bias voltage.
US08106458B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices for reducing the threshold voltage difference between an n-type field effect transistor (n-FET) and a p-type field effect transistor (p-FET) in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuit located on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. Specifically, a substrate bias voltage is applied to the CMOS circuit for differentially adjusting the threshold voltages of the n-FET and the p-FET. For example, a positive substrate bias voltage can be used to reduce the threshold voltage of the n-FET but increase that of the p-FET, while a negative substrate bias voltage can be used to increase the threshold voltage of the n-FET but reduce that of the p-FET. Further, two or more substrate bias voltages of different magnitudes and/or directions can be used for differentially adjusting the n-FET and p-FET threshold voltages in two or more different CMOS circuits or groups of CMOS circuits.
US08106438B2
The present teachings relate to a method of forming a container capacitor structure on a substrate. In one embodiment, the method comprises etching a recess in the substrate, depositing a first conductive layer on the substrate so as to overlie the substrate and the recess, depositing a filler layer so as to overlie the first conductive layer and fill the recess, and etching the first and second conductive layers so as to define a lower electrode within the recess. The method further comprises forming a cap layer on the lower electrode so as to overlie the first conductive layer and the filler layer and etching at least a portion of the substrate away from the lower electrode to thereby at least partially isolate the lower electrode. Subsequently, the remainder of the capacitor structure may be formed by depositing a dielectric layer on the lower electrode and depositing a second conductive layer on the dielectric layer so as to form an upper electrode.
US08106427B2
An image sensor includes a pixel array having photoactive pixels and dark reference pixels. The photoactive pixels can be configured in a sub-array within the pixel array. Well contacts are only placed along opposing sides or edges of the sub-array of photoactive pixels or along opposing sides or edges of the pixel array.
US08106419B2
A group-III nitride compound semiconductor light-emitting device, a method of manufacturing the group-III nitride compound semiconductor light-emitting device, and a lamp. The method includes the steps of: forming an intermediate layer (12) made of a group-III nitride compound on a substrate (11) by activating and reacting gas including a group-V element with a metal material in plasma; and sequentially forming an n-type semiconductor layer (14), a light-emitting layer (15), and a p-type semiconductor layer (16) each made of a group-III nitride compound semiconductor on the intermediate layer (12). Nitrogen is used as the group-V element, and the thickness of the intermediate layer (12) is in the range of 20 to 80 nm.
US08106415B2
Embodiments provide a semiconductor light emitting device which comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer on the active layer, and a semiconductor layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer, and comprising a plurality of a semiconductor structures apart from each other and microfacets.
US08106405B2
The light-emitting device of the present invention has a first cladding layer; an active layer formed above the first cladding layer; and a second cladding layer formed above the active layer, wherein the active layer has a first side surface, and a second side surface parallel to the first side surface; at least a portion of the active layer constitutes a gain region; the gain region has a first end surface disposed on the first side surface side and a second end surface disposed on the second side surface side, and extends from the first end surface to the second end surface in the direction inclined to the normal to the first side surface as viewed from above; the second end face is orthogonal to the direction in which the gain region extends as viewed from above; a reflecting part is disposed on the second end face; and a part of the light generated in the gain region is reflected in the reflecting part disposed on the second end face and is emitted from the first end surface.
US08106393B2
The present invention provides an article of manufacture formed from a substrate and a benzazoloporphyrazine bound to the substrate. The article may take a variety of different forms and may be for example an electrochromic display, a molecular capacitor, a battery, a solar cell, or a molecular memory device. Methods of making such articles, along with compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making such benzazoloporphyrazines, are also described.
US08106389B2
A thin film transistor is provided. The thin film transistor includes a substrate, a gate, a source/drain, an insulating layer, and a semiconductor active layer. The gate and the source/drain are respectively deposited on the substrate and are separated by the insulating layer on the substrate. The semiconductor active layer connects the source and the drain. The material of the semiconductor active layer is a semiconductor precursor which produces semiconductor property after being irradiated by a light source. A liquid crystal display which includes the above thin film transistor is also provided.
US08106386B2
A composition, comprising a solid mixture of organic semiconductor molecules and plasticizer molecules.
US08106379B2
Photodetectors and integrated circuits including photodetectors are disclosed. A photodetector in accordance with the present invention comprises a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure resident on a first substrate, the SOI structure comprising a passive waveguide, and a III-V structure bonded to the SOI structure, the III-V structure comprising a quantum well region, a hybrid waveguide, coupled to the quantum well region and the SOI structure adjacent to the passive waveguide, and a mesa, coupled to the quantum well region, wherein when light passes through the hybrid waveguide, the quantum well region detects the light and generates current based on the light detected.
US08106378B2
A p-type semiconductor barrier layer is provided in the vicinity of undoped quantum dots, and holes in the p-type semiconductor barrier layer are injected in advance in the ground level of the valence band of the quantum dots. Lowering the threshold electron density of conduction electrons in the ground level of the conduction band of quantum dots in this way accelerates the relaxation process of electrons from an excited level to the ground level in the conduction band.
US08106373B2
An apparatus (10) for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates with an input unit, (12) for inputting a plurality of cassettes (14, 28, 32) which can be stacked one behind the other in a direction of stacking (S) within the input unit (12), has an oblong accommodation well (30) for accommodating one of the cassettes (32), the accommodation well (30) being adjacent to the input unit (12), a moving device (50) for horizontally moving the cassette (32) accommodated by the accommodation well (30) along a path of movement, and a deflection element (64, 66) for deflecting a next cassette located within the input unit (12) which is adjacent to the cassette (32) accommodated by the accommodation well (30) and projects at least partially into the path of movement, the deflection element (64, 66) being positioned and designed such that with horizontal movement of the cassette (32) located within the accommodation well (30), due to contact between the cassette (32) located within the accommodation well (30) and the next cassette (28) located within the input unit (12) a force is exerted upon the latter in the direction of stacking (S) and thus moves out of the path of movement.
US08106369B2
The present disclosure includes an electron beam emitter, a roller for a web, circumferential radiation shielding, a reaction chamber, movement between open and closes positions, a depositor, baffles, inert gas dispenser, and other features. One example in the present disclosure is a web carrying roller for electron beam irradiation of the web on one side of that roller within a baffle-containing shielded area, while another side of that roller is outside of the shielded area, and near the two ends of the roller are arcuate tongue and groove barriers to x-radiation leakage from the shielded area. The baffle-containing shielded area has a series of voids separated by walls, rather than having the shielded area positioned close to the circumference of the cylinder along its length.
US08106364B2
An X-ray detecting panel includes a thin film transistor; first and second photosensors connected to the thin film transistor; and a scintillator which changes X-rays that are external and incident thereto into visible light rays.
US08106359B2
A radiation imaging apparatus includes a radiation detector that captures an image of a subject by detecting radiation transmitted through the subject and converting the radiation into an image signal; an electrical component processes the image signal; an interior housing accommodates the radiation detector and the electrical component therein; an exterior member surrounds the interior housing; an air circulating unit is disposed in the interior housing so as to circulate air inside the interior housing; and a cooling unit is disposed inside of the exterior member and outside of the interior housing so as to cool the interior housing.
US08106352B2
Various embodiments of a multi-dimensional ion mobility analyzer are disclosed that have more than one drift chamber and can acquire multi-dimensional ion mobility profiles of substances. The drift chambers of this device can, for example, be operated under independent operational conditions to separate charged particles based on their distinguishable chemical/physical properties. The first dimension drift chamber of this device can be used either as a storage device, a reaction chamber, and/or a drift chamber according to the operational mode of the analyzer. Also presented are various methods of operating an ion mobility spectrometer including, but not limited to, a continuous first dimension ionization methods that can enable ionization of all chemical components in the sample regardless their charge affinity.
US08106348B2
The present invention is based on the principle of depth of penetration of electromagnetic rays. In the case of semiconductor mono-crystalline materials, such as silicon, the depth of penetration of a light ray is proportional to its wavelength. Using this phenomenon, the present invention consists of a pixel having three electrodes that can discriminate between the colors red, green, and blue, and thereby reconstruct a color image.
US08106342B2
A solid-state image capturing device includes a multilayer wiring layer to open regions above a plurality of respective light receiving sections for performing photoelectric conversion on incident light to generate a signal charge; a color filter of each color provided above the multilayer wiring layer in a corresponding manner to each light receiving section; and a microlens provided on the color filter of each color, for focusing the incident light at each light receiving section, wherein a wiring layer within one layer among the multilayer wiring layer limits an area of a light receiving region for incident light that enters the light receiving section, equally among the light receiving sections.
US08106336B2
A non-curling flexible food warmer with evenly heated surface for use in table-top banquet style settings with an integrated temperature control and with transversely oriented heating elements such that it may be readily rolled up for storage without damage to the heating elements. In one embodiment the body of the food warmer also has transversely oriented channels that permit the warmer to be folded accordion style without damage to the heating elements.
US08106335B2
A processing apparatus has a placement stage that prevents generation of a crack due to heating of an embedded heater. The placement stage (32A) on which a wafer (W) is placed has a plurality of areas (32Aa, 32Ab) so that one of the plurality of heaters is embedded independently in each of the plurality of areas. The heater (35Aa) embedded in one area (32Aa) of adjacent areas has a part (35Aa2) extending in the other area (32Ab) of the adjacent areas, and the heater (35Ab) embedded in the other area (32Ab) of the adjacent areas has a part (35Ab2) extending in the one area (32Aa).
US08106328B2
A method for quick temperature compensation for an electric soldering iron is provided. The electric soldering iron includes a static temperature control circuit and a dynamic temperature control circuit. Amount of the static temperature control mainly depends on a temperature setting signal, a real-time temperature detecting signal and a temperature additional signal, while the dynamic temperature control is made on the basis of Kalman digital filter principle. During the dynamic temperature control, a differentially amplified temperature regulation and control signal is identified by a heat transfer function of the soldering iron head, and an temperature additional compensation amount is calculated and output, only when the heat transfer function of the soldering iron head is conformed.
US08106327B2
The present invention relates to a welding torch that includes an electrode (3) that has a longitudinal groove (9) formed therein which guides a welding wire (4) which is fed form a laterally spaced-apart location. The electrode (3) is open and the wire (4) is supported on one side only. In the region of the welding tip, the electrode (3) is elongate and the cross-sectional area is smaller than the area at a position further from the tip. Regions between an outer housing (11) and a main support body (2) define two shielding gas conduits positioned on opposite sides of the body (2), through which gas flows and then combines to form a unitary stream. The body (2) contains cooled regions which are supplied with cooling fluid by a conduit (7) and removed by conduit (8), parts of which are positioned between the shielding gas conduits close to the welding electrode (3).
US08106324B2
A touch panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a third conductive layer, and a number of spacers is provided. The first substrate has an upper surface and a bottom surface opposite to the upper surface. The second substrate is parallel to the first substrate. The first conductive layer is disposed on the upper surface of the first substrate, while the second conductive layer is disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate. The third conductive layer is disposed on the second substrate and interposed between the second substrate and the second conductive layer. The spacers are interposed between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer. The touch panel has functions of multi-touch, contact-touch and non-contact touch, and the touch panel can be operated by conductive objects or dielectric objects.
US08106322B2
A flexible amperage flag that indicates an amperage rating of a trip unit in a circuit breaker. The flag is molded with a housing of the trip unit so that it remains with the trip unit even when installed into a different circuit breaker. The flag includes an attachment member secured to a wall of the trip unit and a flexible leg integral with the attachment member. A top surface member indicates the amperage rating and protrudes through an auxiliary cover of the circuit breaker so as to be visible through the panelboard into which the circuit breaker is installed and is connected to the top surface member. During a circuit interruption, the pressure created by the exploding gas forces the auxiliary cover away from the trip unit, creating stress on the flag. The flexible leg permits the flag to move with the auxiliary cover and return to its original form without breaking. The flag can also include a second leg that prevents movement of a hammer of the trip unit out of its pre-assembled position during assembly of the circuit breaker.
US08106319B2
An LCD counter assembly including a housing that houses an LCD display at a first end and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly at a second end opposite the first end. A diffuser is intermediate the PCB assembly and the LCD display, the LCD display and the PCB assembly in electrical contact with a connector that provides electrical signals from the PCB assembly to the LCD. The first end of the housing includes an aperture through which the LCD display is readily visible to an observer. The PCB assembly may include a backlight to improve the visibility of the LCD display. The PCB assembly further includes a PCB having a printed circuit and a plurality of pads, a single piece, double beam, activation and trigger switch combination assembled to the board, the board configured to receive the double beam activation and trigger switch combination and a removable tab to separate the activation switch in the double beam combination from one of the plurality of pads.
US08106315B2
Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed. An article (900) is received from an intake transport (1200), and gripped in a weighing station (1310), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (1316), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system (1252, 1250) alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (1212, 1282). A second precision servo system (1260,1330) applies a constant force, via a tension arm (1320), urging the pinch roller (1316) against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Fourier analysis can conveniently be applied for analyzing the acquired current data and comparing to stored calibration data to determine weight. Weight is determined without regard to the actual speed of the moving article.
US08106310B2
A multi-layer printed circuit board having interlayer resin insulating layers on both sides of a core substrate, respectively, through holes provided to penetrate the core substrate and filled with resin filler, the interlayer resin insulating layers and conductor circuits provided. The resin filler contains an epoxy resin, a curing agent and 10 to 50% of inorganic particles.
US08106297B1
By providing a grounding conductor assembly affixed to a conduit bushing in a manner which enables the grounding conductor assembly to extend inwardly from the bushing, effectively being positioned coaxially with the inside diameter of the rigid metal conduit, conduit bushing is realized which enables all grounding wires to be quickly and easily mounted to the grounding conductor assembly. The conduit bushing of the present invention includes a generally circular shaped cover or cap member mounted to the terminating end of the conduit and incorporating an enlarged aperture which overlies the elongated passageway formed in the conduit. In this way, the electrical power carrying wires are able to extend outwardly from the rigid metal conduit into the desired outlet box, junction box with the grounding wire being quickly affixed to the receiving zone of the grounding connector assembly.
US08106291B2
When forming an electrode by printing several times, the cross section area of the electrode is increased and the resistance is reduced while more electrode material is required, which leads to a cost up and waste of resources. There is provided a solar cell manufacturing method for forming an electrode of a predetermined pattern by repeating printing on a substrate surface by a predetermined number of times. A mask pattern for printing the entire predetermined pattern is used at least once among the predetermined number of printings while mask patterns, each for printing a part of the predetermined pattern, are used in the other printings, thereby forming the electrode of the predetermined pattern.
US08106288B2
The invention provides systems and methods of for displaying on a second instrument finger positions that were played on a first instrument. A teacher, for example, can play notes and/or chords on a first stringed instrument having a sensor. A processing having a decoder and a message generator can receive signals from the sensor and generate messages that are communicated to a light-system in the second instrument. The light-system displays the finger positions on the second instrument, each finger position corresponding to a finger position played on the first instrument. The processor can receive sensor information from the second information that can be used to determine whether a displayed finger position was correctly played on the second instrument.
US08106286B2
In a synthesizer 10, when a function of a tone generation module 312 provided by an external tone generation server 310 is usable, a tone generator control module 102 assigns a necessary number of sound generation channels among sound generation channels of an internal tone generation unit 17 and sound generation channels of the external tone generation module 312, for sound generation corresponding to MIDI data. When assigning the sound generation channel of the tone generation module 312, the tone generator control module 102 transmits, to the tone generation server 310, the MIDI data with identification information of the assigned sound generation channel, thereby causing the sound generation channel indicated by the identification information in the tone generation module 312 to generate waveform data according to the transmitted MIDI data.
US08106282B2
There is provided a music accompaniment apparatus that is connected to at least one external device to reproduce an audio or video signal, the music accompaniment apparatus including: an audio input section for inputting an external audio signal; an audio signal processing section for processing an audio signal including an accompaniment signal internally provided and an external audio signal input through the audio input section, and externally outputting the processed audio signal; a video signal processing section for processing a video signal including a caption signal, and externally outputting the processed video signal; a time delay calculating section for calculating the difference between a transmission time of a check signal to the at least one external device and a reception time of the check signal from the at least one external device to compute a time delay representing a delay of the audio or video signal for the at least one external device; and a control section for controlling the whole operation of the music accompaniment apparatus including generation and transmission/reception of the check signal, and controlling the transmission time of the video or audio signal in correspondence to the time delay. The present invention guarantees an efficient use of a digital device having a time delay as connected to the music accompaniment apparatus.
US08106281B2
CPU 11 reads from RAM 13 pitch information of each of musical notes composing the music, fingering information for playing the musical notes, and time information of the musical notes, thereby calculating a difficulty level of music. CPU 11 calculates a fingering difficulty level concerning fingering of playing adjacent musical notes based on the pitch information and fingering information, a rhythm difficulty level concerning musical-note duration and timing of key playing based on the time information, and a key difficulty level concerning a key of music based on the pitch information. Further, CPU 11 calculates the whole difficulty level of music based on the fingering difficulty level, rhythm difficulty level and key difficulty level.
US08106264B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7828080 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7828080, to the plants of soybean 7828080, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7828080 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7828080 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7828080, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7828080 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7828080 with another soybean cultivar.
US08106263B2
A lettuce cultivar, designated 41-0601032-B, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar 41-0601032-B, to the plants of lettuce cultivar 41-0601032-B and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar 41-0601032-B with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar 41-0601032-B, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar 41-0601032-B and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 41-0601032-B with another lettuce cultivar.
US08106262B2
A novel leaf lettuce cultivar, designated DIP 6992, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar DIP 6992, to the plants of lettuce cultivar DIP 6992 and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing lettuce cultivar DIP 6992 with itself or another lettuce line. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other lettuce lines derived from the cultivar DIP 6992.
US08106260B2
Disclosed is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including a first domain from a first isoprenoid synthase joined to a second domain from a second, heterologous isoprenoid synthase, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced in the absence of the second domain of the second, heterologous isoprenoid synthase. Also disclosed is a chimeric isoprenoid synthase polypeptide including an asymmetrically positioned homologous domain, whereby the chimeric isoprenoid synthase is capable of catalyzing the production of isoprenoid reaction products that are not produced when the domain is positioned at its naturally-occurring site in the isoprenoid synthase polypeptide.
US08106246B2
Process for the manufacture of dichloropropanol in which glycerol is reacted with a chlorinating agent comprising hydrochloric acid in a liquid medium in equilibrium with a vapor phase and in which the condensation of a fraction exhibiting the composition of the vapor phase is prevented.
US08106245B2
Process for preparing a chlorohydrin, wherein a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon whose total metal content, expressed in elemental form, is greater than or equal to 0.1 μg/kg and less than or equal to 1000 mg/kg is reacted with a chlorinating agent.
US08106237B2
The present invention provides a process for producing methionine, which comprises steps of: hydrolyzing 5-[2-(methylthio)ethyl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione in the presence of a basic potassium compound in a non-stirred continuous first reaction tank, and heat-treating the reaction solution after hydrolysis in a second reaction tank. According to the process of the present invention, a methionine crystal with a higher bulk density can be produced.
US08106228B2
Microprotein-inactivating ultrafine metal particles comprising ultrafine metal particles having a bond between an organic acid component and a metal, having an infrared absorption peak ascribable to the bond between the organic acid and the metal near 1518 cm−1, and capable of efficiently inactivating microproteins without impairing properties of the resin or formability thereof. When used in the form of a resin composition or a coating agent, the microprotein-inactivating ultrafine metal particles are capable of exhibiting an effect for inactivating microproteins.
US08106226B2
The present invention relates to methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, in recombinant cells such as yeast or plant cells. Also provided are recombinant cells or plants which produce long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a group of new enzymes which possess desaturase or elongase activity that can be used in methods of synthesizing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
US08106225B2
The present invention relates to novel chemistries which allow for heretofore unobtainable substituted tetracycline compounds which exhibit significant activity in tetracycline responsive states. The methods disclosed herein utilize reactive tetracycline-based precursor compounds, reactive organic substituent precursors and transition metal catalysts under conditions such that a tetracycline compound substituted with the desired organic substituent is formed. In one embodiment of the invention, a substituted tetracycline compound may be prepared by combining a reactive tetracycline-based precursor compound such as an arene tetracycline diazonium salt, and a reactive organic substituent precursor, e.g., alkenes, substituted alkenes, vinyl monomers, aromatics and heteroaromatics, in the presence of a transition metal catalyst, such as palladium chloride, under conditions such that a tetracycline compound substituted with the organic substituent is formed. Such compounds may optionally act as intermediates for making other compounds, e.g., hydrogenation of unsaturated groups on the substituent.
US08106223B2
The invention discloses novel processes for production, enrichment and/or isolation of alpha-tocotrienol from source material comprising at least one non-alpha-tocotrienol, such as natural extracts comprising mixed tocotrienols.
US08106219B2
A kind of organic compound and organic dye used in dye-sensitized solar cell thereof. In the present invention, we synthesize a series of novel organic compounds with the structure of donor-conjugated chain-acceptor (D-π-A). The electron donor and acceptor groups, for example, are arylamine and cyanoacrylic acid, respectively. These novel organic compounds can be applied to the material of dye layer in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).
US08106218B2
Tricyclic pyrazole derivatives of the following formula (I) having affinity for the cannabinoidergic CB1 and/or CB2 receptors: wherein: A represents a group selected from one of the following: (CH2)t—, —(CH2)—S(O)z—, or —S(O)z—(CH2)—, B is a heteroaryl, optionally substituted; R is a group selected from the following: alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl or arylalkenyl, not substituted or having from one to four substituents, equal to or different from each other; R′ is a group selected from the following: an ether group of formula —(CH2)—O—(CH2)v—R″, a ketonic group of formula —C(O)—Z′, wherein Z′ is as defined below; a substituent having an hydroxyl function of formula —CH(OH)—Z′; an amide substituent of formula —C(O)—NH-T′.
US08106213B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I wherein A1, A2, R1, R2, R3, X and n are as defined in the claims, which are valuable pharmaceutically active compounds for the therapy and prophylaxis of diseases, for example of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, angina pectoris, cardiac insufficiency, thromboses or atherosclerosis. The compounds of the formula I are capable of modulating the body's production of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and are generally suitable for the therapy and prophylaxis of diseases which are associated with a disturbed cGMP balance. The invention furthermore relates to processes for preparing compounds of the formula I, to their use for the therapy and prophylaxis of the abovementioned diseases and for preparing pharmaceuticals for this purpose, and to pharmaceutical preparations which comprise compounds of the formula I.
US08106205B2
A series of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides having N-(α-mercaptoacetyl) p amino benzoic acid derivatives. are provided, where Q is CO2H, or a salt or ester thereof, or a C(O) N-linked amino acid. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections.
US08106203B2
Methods for generating chemiluminescence rapidly by reaction of at least one compound comprising a C—C double bond substituted at one carbon with two sulfur atom-containing groups with a peroxidase enzyme and a peroxide are disclosed. The chemiluminescence thus produced can be used as a detectable signal in assays for peroxidase enzymes or peroxide-producing enzymes and in assays employing enzyme-labeled specific binding pairs. Use of the methods provides rapid signal generation, achieving a plateau intensity in under one minute. The substrate can be provided in a composition which demonstrates unexpectedly long storage stability.
US08106195B2
There are disclosed urethane acrylates of Formula 1: where R1a, R1b and R1c each independently represent C2-15hydrocarbylene, preferably linear C3-12alkylene (such as, C4-8alkylene; e.g. hexylene); a isophorone unit and/or a tolyl unit. R2a, R2b and R2c each independently represent: a divalent moiety of (Formula 2) where X and Y independently represent C2-10hydrocarbylene, preferably C2-8alkylene; and k is from 0 to 30; l is from 0 to 30; and ‘k+l’ is from 1 to 30; and/or a divalent moiety of Formula 3 where V and W independently represent C2-10hydrocarbylene, preferably C2-8alkylene; and i is from 0 to 30; j is from 0 to 30; and ‘i+j’ is from 1 to 30; p is from 1 to 10; and r is from 1 to 10; and R3a R3b and R3c each independently represent H or methyl (i.e. R3 forms respectively part of an acrylate or a methacrylate group); with the provisos that at least one of R2a, R2b and R2c is a moiety of Formula 2; at least one of R2a, R2b and R2c is a moiety of Formula 3; and when R2 represents a divalent moiety of Formula 3, the sub moiety within Formula 3, is attached directly to the amide group in Formula 1. The UAs of Formula 1 are of non crystalline and of low viscosity and are suitable for preparing polymeric flexibilizers suitable for tenting applications. A process for preparing these urethane acrylate is also described.
US08106191B2
New compounds are disclosed for multimerizing immunophilins and proteins containing immunophilin or immunophilin-related domains. The compounds are of the formula M-L-Q where M is a synthetic ligand for an FKBP protein.
US08106190B2
To provide a novel and excellent agent for treating or preventing nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, cancer pain, headache, bladder function disorder and the like, based on the inhibitory action on the capsaicin receptor VR1 activation.The present invention was accomplished by confirming that a benzamide derivative characterized by the possession of a benzene ring in which a single ring is condensed on the nitrogen atom of amido group and possession of a lower alkylamino or an amino group substituted with a ring group at the neighboring position of said amido group has a strong inhibitory action on VR1 activation and excellent pharmacological actions based on this and by finding that it can become an excellent agent for treating or preventing VR1-involved diseases such as nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, cancer pain, headache, bladder function disorder and the like.
US08106187B2
The present invention relates to a new process for the preparation of macrocyclic HCV protease inhibitor compounds of the formula wherein R1 is an amino protecting group and X is halogen by way of a ring closing metathesis approach.
US08106182B2
The invention relates to antisense oligonucleotidic sequences (ODN) against Smad7 suitably modified, and their uses in medical field as therapeutic biological agents, in particular in the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
US08106180B2
The invention relates to microRNAs, methods of producing microRNAs and methods for using microRNAs.
US08106175B2
This invention pertains to methods for cloning microRNA (miRNA) and other small ribonucleic acid (RNA) species from relevant cell sources.
US08106167B2
This invention provides antibodies that interact with or bind to human nerve growth factor (NGF) and neutralize the function of NGF thereby. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions of these antibodies and methods for neutralizing NGF function, and particularly for treating NGF-related disorders (e.g., chronic pain) by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of anti-NGF antibodies. Methods of detecting the amount of NGF in a sample using anti-NGF antibodies are also provided.
US08106162B2
A fibronectin type III (Fn3) polypeptide monobody, a nucleic acid molecule encoding said monobody, and a variegated nucleic acid library encoding said monobody, are provided by the invention. Also provided are methods of preparing a Fn3 polypeptide monobody, and kits to perform said methods. Further provided is a method of identifying the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide molecule capable of binding to a specific binding partner (SBP) so as to form a polypeptide:SSP complex, and a method of identifying the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide molecule capable of catalyzing a chemical reaction with a catalyzed rate constant, kcat, and an uncatalyzed rate constant, kuncat, such that the ratio of kcat/kuncat is greater than 10.
US08106160B2
A method of reducing formation of non-natural disulfide bonds in a mature IFN-α by adding one or more amino acid residues to its N-terminus cystein. Also disclosed herein is the IFN-α thus modified.
US08106158B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for fusion protein separation utilizing a peptide linker comprising a novel thrombin cleavage site.
US08106149B2
To provide an amino group-containing water-soluble copolymer having a high chelating performance and clay dispersancy and a method of producing the amino-group containing water-soluble copolymer efficiently and with high productivity. A water-soluble polymer containing an amino group-containing monomer unit, wherein the water-soluble polymer has a molecular weight distribution of 12 or less, and a method of producing the water-soluble polymer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises a step of polymerizing an amino group-containing allyl monomer using an initiator containing a heavy metal ion and sulfurous acid (sulfite), hydrogensulfite or hydrogen peroxide.
US08106147B2
The present invention discloses a polyimide membrane synthesized by one or more emeraldine amine-capped aniline trimer oligomers, one or more dianhydrides, and an optional diamine, whereby the weight-average molecular weight of the polyimide membrane ranges from 50,000 to 200,000, and the Young's Modulus of the polyimide membrane is equal to or more than 3 GPa.
US08106146B2
The invention describes poly(ortho ester) polymers that include at least one therapeutic compound in the polymer backbone. The therapeutic compound includes at least one phenol residue and an aliphatic alcohol residue or two or more phenolic residues.
US08106145B2
A melt phase process for making a polyester polymer melt phase product by adding an antimony containing catalyst to the melt phase, polycondensing the melt containing said catalyst in the melt phase until the It.V. of the melt reaches at least 0.75 dL/g. Polyester polymer melt phase pellets containing antimony residues and having an It.V. of at least 0.75 dL/g are obtained without solid state polymerization. The polyester polymer pellets containing antimony residues and having an It.V. of at least 0.70 dL/g obtained without increasing the molecular weight of the melt phase product by solid state polymerization are fed to an extruder, melted to produce a molten polyester polymer, and extruded through a die to form shaped articles. The melt phase products and articles made thereby have low b* color and/or high L* brightness, and the reaction time to make the melt phase products is short.
US08106144B2
A process is described for producing polycarbonate and utilizing at least some of the process waste water by concentrating the sodium chloride-containing waste water phases for the electrolysis using osmotic membrane distillation, if appropriate with simultaneous dilution of the sodium hydroxide solution obtained from the electrolysis for the polycarbonate production process.
US08106140B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing low-viscosity reaction products of polyisocyanates containing activated, ethylenically unsaturated groups which react, with polymerization, on exposure to actinic radiation.
US08106128B2
Preformed compositions in shaped form comprising polymer blends, and the use of these preformed compositions in shaped form to seal apertures are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the preformed compositions are electrically conductive and are capable of shielding EMI/RFI radiation. The polymer blend includes a polysulfide component and a polythioether component.
US08106125B2
The invention provides a golf ball material composed of an ionomeric resin composition obtained by melt-blending under applied heat one or more compounds selected from among UV/EB-curable materials with, in the presence of a peroxide, a non-ionomeric thermoplastic resin and an ionomeric resin; or of an ionomeric resin composition obtained by using, instead of the ionomeric resin, an acid-containing polymer base of the ionomeric resin and subjecting the acid-containing polymer composition similarly prepared by melt-blending under applied heat to an acid-neutralizing reaction with a metal ionic species. Methods for preparing such a material, and golf balls which include as a component therein a molding made of the golf ball material are also provided. The golf ball material has a good thermal stability, flow and processability, and can thus be used to obtain high-performance golf balls endowed with an excellent abrasion resistance, scuff resistance, durability and flexibility without a loss of rebound.
US08106117B2
A method for reducing the cold flow of a polymeric composition of matter by introducing polymer with the combination or reaction product of (i) an acetal or ketal of an alditol and (ii) (a) a hydrocarbylated boric acid, (b) an organoaluminum compound, or (c) both a hydrocarbylated boric acid and an organoaluminum compound.
US08106111B2
A cycloaliphatic diol antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of 1,1-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,2-cyclohexanedimethanol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol was found to provide antimicrobial activity in coating compositions and latexes, and was found to enhance the effectiveness of other antimicrobial agents commonly used in coatings and dispersions. Alone or as part of a preservative system, this cycloaliphatic diol antimicrobial agent in water can provide an easy-to-handle liquid that allows coatings producers to achieve improved microbial control, or achieve equivalent control while using less antimicrobial agents in their formulations. Consequently, the shelf life of the products can be maintained while reducing the use of the traditional preservative, or the shelf-life can be enhanced with addition of this cycloaliphatic diol antimicrobial agent to an existing antimicrobial system.
US08106105B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing high strength composites. In one embodiment, a polymer matrix and a naturally-occurring inorganic material are melt processed to produce a high strength composite. In a preferred embodiment, the naturally-occurring inorganic material is volcanic ash. High strength composites of this invention have particular utility as building materials and automotive components.
US08106101B2
This invention relates to methods of making single phase nanocrystalline titanium dioxide. It is hereby provided a method for preparing single-phase anatase type titanium dioxide photocatalyst having a particle size of nano level at near room temperatures without the need for a sintering process at high temperatures.
US08106093B2
A method for treating glycogen storage disease by administering an effective amount of a composition that includes ketogenic odd carbon fatty acids that ameliorate the symptoms of these diseases.
US08106090B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; wherein A is (II); X is selected from CH, CF and N, R8 is selected from H, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C1-C6 alkylaryl, C1-C6 alkylheteroaryl, C2-C6 alkyl-O—C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 haloalkyl, hydroxy C2-C6 alkyl, —C(O)R9 and —SO2R9, or R7 and R8 combine to form (III), (IV); W is selected from CR1O and CR15, R1O is selected from H, halo, —C(O)NR13R14, C1-C6 alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C1-C6 alkylaryl, C1-C6 alkylheteroaryl, C1-C6 alkyl-O—C1-C6 alkyl and hydroxy C1-C6 alkyl; Het is a N-linked 5-membered heteroaryl ring optionally substituted with 1-3 substituents selected from methoxy, Cl, F, CH3, CF3, aryl, heteroaryl, C1-C4 alkylaryl or C1-C4 alkylheteroaryl, for use as inhibitors of the DPP-IV enzyme in the treatment or prevention of conditions including Type II diabetes.
US08106089B2
The invention relates to a compound represented by general formula (I) wherein Z represents N, O or S, and A represents a CH group, a nitrogen atom or an NL+ group wherein L represents a straight-chained or branched C1-C12 alkyl group. The invention also relates to a method for the preparation thereof and the use thereof as an antimitotic.
US08106087B2
This invention is directed to spiro-oxindole compounds of formula (I): wherein k, j, Q, R1, R2a, R2b, R2c, R2d, R3a, R3b, R3c, and R3d are as defined herein, as a stereoisomer, enantiomer, tautomer thereof or mixtures thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof, which are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of sodium channel-mediated diseases or conditions, such as pain. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of preparing and using the compounds are also disclosed.
US08106086B2
A compound represented by the general formula (I-a): [wherein R1a and R2a each means hydrogen, lower cycloalkyl, lower alkyl, etc.; R3a means hydrogen, lower cycloalkyl, lower alkyl, etc.; R4a and R5a each means lower alkyl, lower cycloalkyl, etc. or R4a and R5a are bonded to each other to form lower cycloalkylidene; and R6a means lower alkyl, lower haloalkyl, etc.]. This compound functions as an LCE inhibitor and is useful as a therapeutic agent for various circulatory diseases, nervous diseases, metabolic diseases, reproductive diseases, digestive tract diseases, neoplasm, infectious diseases, etc.
US08106085B2
The present invention relates to indoline-substituted pyrazoline compounds of formula (I), methods for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds as well as their use for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US08106082B2
The invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, r, R3, Z, X, and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08106079B2
A compound having the following formula (III) wherein R2 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic, and X is oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen, and a method for preparing said compound.
US08106066B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of ligands for nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nACh receptors), activation of nACh receptors, and the treatment of disease conditions associated with defective or malfunctioning nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, especially of the brain. Further, this invention relates to novel compounds (e.g., indazoles and benzothiazoles), which act as ligands for the α7 nACh receptor subtype, methods of preparing such compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and methods of use thereof.
US08106063B2
A compound of formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof for the treatment of asthma, allergic rhinitis, COPD, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis or cancer.
US08106062B1
The present invention is directed in part towards methods of modulating the function of calcium channels with dihydropyrimidine, dihydropyrimidone, dihydropyrimidinethione, and dihydropyridine compounds. In addition, the invention describes methods of preventing and treating protein kinase-related abnormal conditions in organisms with a compound identified by the invention. Furthermore, the invention pertains to T-channel agonists that have a slow onset of activity and long duration of activity.
US08106058B2
Described herein are 4-methyl-piperazine-1-carbothioic acid amide derivatives and analogs, as well as compositions containing the same, for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections and diseases associated therewith, particularly those viral infections and associated diseases caused by hemorrhagic fever viruses, such as Arenaviruses.
US08106057B2
This invention provides methods for treating cancer, particularly hematopoietic tumors of lymphoid or myeloid lineage, prostate cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, breast cancer and melanoma, which comprise administering to the mammal a compound, salt, hydrate, tautomer or N-oxide according to formula (I): and in particular, those of subgenus VIIa These compounds inhibit or modulate the activity of the heat shock protein Hsp90.
US08106052B2
The present invention provides methods, compositions, substrates, and kits useful for analyzing the metabolic activity in cells, tissue, and animals and for screening test compounds for their effect on cytochrome P450 activity. In particular, a one-step and two-step methods using luminogenic molecules, e.g. luciferin or coelenterazines, that are cytochrome P450 substrates and that are also bioluminescent enzyme, e.g., luciferase, pro-substrates are provided. Upon addition of the luciferin derivative or other luminogenic molecule into a P450 reaction, the P450 enzyme metabolizes the molecule into a bioluminescent enzyme substrate, e.g., luciferin and/or luciferin derivative metabolite, in a P450 reaction. The resulting metabolite(s) serves as a substrate of the bioluminescent enzyme, e.g., luciferase, in a second light-generating reaction. Luminescent cytochrome P450 assays with low background signals and high sensitivity are disclosed and isoform selectivity is demonstrated. The present invention also provides an improved method for performing luciferase reactions which employs added pyrophosphatase to remove inorganic pyrophosphate, a luciferase inhibitor which may be present in the reaction mixture as a contaminant or may be generated during the reaction. The present method further provides a method for stabilizing and prolonging the luminescent signal in a luciferase-based assay using luciferase stabilizing agents such as reversible luciferase inhibitors.
US08106030B2
A hemostatic powder comprises a chitosan salt together with at least one inert material. The disclosure also relates to hemostatic powders into which fluid penetrability is 0.5 cm or more within 1 minute. At least one medical surfactant may optionally be included. The hemostatic powders may be incorporated into wound dressings.
US08106024B2
The present invention uses an RPN2 gene expression inhibitor as a cancer cell growth inhibitor, which further includes a drug showing an anti-cancer action if desired, and is administered in combination with atelocollagen if desired. In addition, the present invention is an anti-cancer agent including such cancer cell growth inhibitor.
US08106019B2
The present invention relates to the discovery of a composition including a seven-amino acid peptide that promotes neuronal survival, inhibits inflammation, and is a potent inhibitor of sPL2A, and uses thereof.
US08106016B2
The invention relates to pharmaceutical compounds and compositions comprised of a chemical moiety attached to an opioid such as oxycodone in a manner that substantially decreases the potential of the opioid to cause overdose. When delivered at the proper dosage the pharmaceutical composition provides therapeutic activity similar to that of the parent active agent. Further the compounds and compositions of the invention are useful in preventing addiction and susceptibility to addiction.
US08106008B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for facilitating fusion of bones in a joint. The present invention provides compositions and methods for promoting fusion of bones in arthrodetic procedures. In one embodiment, a method of performing an arthrodetic procedure comprises providing a composition comprising PDGF disposed in a biocompatible matrix and applying the composition to a site of desired bone fusion in a joint.
US08105986B2
A sand slurry composition and a method for making sand slurries are disclosed. The sand slurry composition is comprised of sand, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the surface sand of hydrophobic. The method is comprised of rendering sand surface hydrophobic during or before making the slurry. This method and composition can find many applications in different industries, especially in various oil field applications.
US08105980B1
The invention relates to a method of increasing the flavonoid content of plants by treating the plants with the growth-regulating acylcyclohexadiones according to formula (I).
US08105979B2
The present invention relates to novel active compound combinations comprising at least one known compound from the class of the tetronic or tetramic acids and at least one further known active compound of the formula (I) in which R is as defined in the description. Combinations of the present invention are highly suitable for controlling animal pests such as insects and unwanted acarids.
US08105963B2
The invention relates to a composition for the protection of a shaped article against corrosion, said composition comprising (a) a polyisobutene having a glass transition temperature of less than −20° C. and surface tension of less than 40 mM/m at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of said polyisobutene, (b) a filler material and (c) an anti-oxidant composition. The anti-oxidant composition comprises a primary and/or a secondary anti-oxidant, the primary anti-oxidant being selected from the group consisting of sterically hindered phenol compounds. The invention further relates to a wrapping tape comprising said composition for the protection of a shaped article, a process for the manufacture of said wrapping tape and a process for covering a shaped article with said wrapping tape.
US08105959B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a SiO2 layer on a silicon substrate; forming on the SiO2 layer an SiN film having a N/Si composition ratio smaller than the stoichiometric composition ratio of SiN by using the ALD technique; and performing a plasma-nitriding process on the SiN layer at a substrate temperature of 550 degrees C. or below.
US08105956B2
A method of forming silicon oxide includes depositing a silicon nitride-comprising material over a substrate. The silicon nitride-comprising material has an elevationally outermost silicon nitride-comprising surface. Such surface is treated with a fluid that is at least 99.5% H2O by volume. A polysilazane-comprising spin-on dielectric material is formed onto the H2O-treated silicon nitride-comprising surface. The polysilazane-comprising spin-on dielectric material is oxidized to form silicon oxide. Other implementations are contemplated.
US08105949B2
A substrate processing method that forms an opening, which has a size that fills the need for downsizing a semiconductor device and is to be transferred to an amorphous carbon film, in a photoresist film of a substrate to be processed. Deposit is accumulated on a side wall surface of the opening in the photoresist film using plasma produced from a deposition gas having a gas attachment coefficient S of 0.1 to 1.0 so as to reduce the opening width of the opening.
US08105944B2
A semiconductor device includes a capacitor including a lower electrode and a upper electrode, and a capacitive film formed therebetween; a first via group including one or more first vias which is electrically connected to the lower electrode; and a second via group including one or more second vias which is electrically connected to the upper electrode and formed simultaneously with the first via group. The semiconductor device is designed by a method including a step of setting the number of the first vias and the second vias so that a value obtained by dividing a capacitance value of the capacitor by the total number of the first vias and the second vias included in the first via group and the second via group is set to be equal to or less than a predetermined value.
US08105934B2
A semiconductor device employing the bump structure includes a plurality of bump structures arrayed along a substrate in a first direction. Each bump structure has a width in the first direction greater than a pitch gap between successively arrayed bump structures, and at least one bump structure has a sidewall facing in the first direction that is non-conductive.
US08105922B2
A method of thin film epitaxial growth using atomic layer deposition is provided by introducing a first deposition precursor and a second deposition precursor into a chamber after a vent valve connected between the chamber and a vacuum pump is closed. The chamber is maintained in a thermal equilibrium state and a constant pressure as a result of keeping the first deposition precursor and the second deposition precursor inside the chamber thereby reducing deposition precursors consumption and achieving thin film epitaxial growth on the substrate.
US08105910B2
A silicide forming method for a semiconductor device. A silicide forming method may include forming a gate electrode by depositing a gate oxide film and/or polysilicon over a silicon substrate and patterning. A silicide forming method may include forming a nitride film spacer over sidewalls of a gate electrode and simultaneously performing source/drain implant and amophization implant over a silicon substrate. A silicide forming method may include depositing an insulating film after performing source/drain and amophization implants. A silicide forming method may include partially and/or entirely exposing a source/drain and/or gate electrode disposed under an insulating film by etching an insulating film. A silicide forming method may include applying a metal film over a silicon substrate and forming silicide over regions etched by performing heat treatment over a source/drain and/or gate electrode.
US08105909B2
A method of fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes: forming a tunnel insulation layer pattern and a floating gate electrode layer pattern over a semiconductor substrate; forming an isolation trench by etching an exposed portion of the semiconductor substrate so that the isolation trench is aligned with the tunnel insulation layer pattern and the floating gate electrode layer pattern; forming an isolation layer by filling the isolation trench with a filling insulation layer; forming a hafnium-rich hafnium silicon oxide layer over the isolation layer and the floating gate electrode layer pattern; forming a hafnium-rich hafnium silicon oxynitride layer by carrying out a first nitridation on the hafnium-rich hafnium silicon oxide layer; forming a silicon-rich hafnium silicon oxide layer over the hafnium-rich hafnium silicon oxynitride layer; forming a silicon-rich hafnium silicon oxynitride layer by carrying out a second nitridation on the silicon-rich hafnium silicon oxide layer; and forming a control gate electrode layer over the silicon-rich hafnium silicon oxynitride layer.
US08105906B2
A method for fabricating a microelectronic device with one or plural asymmetric double-gate transistors, including: a) forming one or plural structures on a substrate including at least a first semiconducting block configured to form a first gate of a double-gate transistor, and at least a second semiconducting block configured to form a second gate of the double-gate transistor, the first block and the second block being located on opposite sides of at least one semiconducting zone and separated from the semiconducting zone by a first gate dielectric zone and a second gate dielectric zone respectively, and b) doping at least one or plural semiconducting zones in the second block of at least one given structure among the structures, using at least one implantation selective relative to the first block.
US08105905B2
A novel integration scheme for forming power MOSFET, particularly forming salicides for both gate and mesa contact regions, as well as using multiple energy contact implants through the salicided layer to form conductive body contacts which short to the source region by the salicides.
US08105896B2
A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a conductive first capacitor electrode material comprising TiN over a substrate. TiN of the TiN-comprising material is oxidized effective to form conductive TiOxNy having resistivity no greater than 1 ohm·cm over the TiN-comprising material where x is greater than 0 and y is from 0 to 1.4. A capacitor dielectric is formed over the conductive TiOxNy. Conductive second capacitor electrode material is formed over the capacitor dielectric. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated, including capacitors independent of method of fabrication.
US08105894B2
A formation method of an element isolation film according to which a high-voltage transistor with an excellent characteristic can be formed is provided. On a substrate, a gate oxide film is previously formed. A CMP stopper film is formed thereon, and thereafter, a gate oxide film and a CMP stopper film are etched. The semiconductor substrate is etched to form a trench. Further, before the trench is filled with a field insulating film, an liner insulating film is formed at a trench interior wall, and a concave portion at the side surface of the gate oxide film under the CMP stopper film is filled with the liner insulating film. In this manner, formation of void in the element isolation film laterally positioned with respect to the gate oxide film can be prevented.
US08105892B2
A method is provided that includes providing a semiconductor substrate including at least a thin gate oxide pFET device region and a thick gate oxide pFET device region and forming a thin gate oxide pFET within the thin gate oxide pFET device region and a thick gate oxide pFET within the thick gate oxide pFET device region. The thin gate oxide pFET that is formed includes a layer of SiGe on an upper surface of the thin gate oxide pFET device region, a high k gate dielectric located on an upper surface of the layer of SiGe, a pFET threshold voltage adjusting layer located on an upper surface of the high k gate dielectric, and a gate conductor material atop the pFET threshold voltage adjusting layer. The thick gate oxide pFET that is formed includes a thermal oxide located on an upper surface of the thick gate oxide pFET device region, a silicon layer located on an upper surface of the thermal oxide and a gate conductor material located atop the silicon layer.
US08105891B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first trench and a second trench on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first metal layer in the first and second trenches. The first metal layer is then removed, at least partially, from within the first trench but not the second trench. A second metal layer and a third metal layer are formed in the first and second trenches. A thermal process is used to reflow the second metal layer and the third metal layer.
US08105886B2
A fuse link is formed between first and second terminals. The first and second terminals and fuse link have a polysilicon layer and a layer formed on the polysilicon layer and containing a metal element. At least a portion of the fuse link is an amorphous silicon layer.
US08105882B2
A chip multiprocessor die supports optional stacking of additional dies. The chip multiprocessor includes a plurality of processor cores, a memory controller, and stacked cache interface circuitry. The stacked cache interface circuitry is configured to attempt to retrieve data from a stacked cache die if the stacked cache die is present but not if the stacked cache die is absent. In one implementation, the chip multiprocessor die includes a first set of connection pads for electrically connecting to a die package and a second set of connection pads for communicatively connecting to the stacked cache die if the stacked cache die is present. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08105881B2
A method of fabricating a chip package structure includes the steps of providing a lead frame having a die pad, plural leads and at least one structure enhancement element. A chip is then disposed on the die pad and plural bonding wires are formed to electrically connect the chip to the leads. Then, an upper encapsulant and a first lower encapsulant are formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the lead frame, respectively. The first lower encapsulant has plural concaves to expose the structure enhancement element. Finally, the structure enhancement element is etched with use of the first lower encapsulant as an etching mask until the die pad and one of the leads connected by the structure enhancement element, or two of the adjacent leads connected thereby are electrically insulated.
