US08117341B2
A location and mapping application takes device information and produces location information for display on a communication-enabled computing device (e.g., a personal digital assistant or wireless phone). A current location of a wireless device may be provided with an announcement of an incoming call or message and may be in the form of a street address or a map. Location information for a wired (or fixed-location) device may be provided in the form of a map. Location information for nearby wireless and wired devices may also be provided. Location information may be updated for wireless devices that are moving.
US08117335B2
A smart router is used to analyze messages and apply programmable policies to messages based on various diagnostics. Policies can be set by applications or other appropriate entities, such as a service layer. The smart router is able to delegate specific tasks, such as various transport (e.g., firewall, network bandwidth/congestion monitoring), service (e.g., charging, determine quality of service, identify session, filter service level content), and processing (e.g. codec transformation) tasks. Based on the result of the processing, the router can bounce, re-direct, route, or otherwise handle the network traffic.
US08117333B1
A network device includes at least one input interface, at least one processing path and at least one output interface. The at least one input interface receives data blocks from a plurality of streams in a first order. The at least one processing path processes each of the data blocks, the processing including performing one or more route look-ups for each of the data blocks. The at least one output interface re-orders the data blocks based on a number of the one or more route look-ups associated with each of the data blocks.
US08117327B2
In one embodiment, a system is provided for executing bulk data transfers between persistent data stores. Programmatic source interfaces are each associated with a source store, defined according to a source interface specification, and exposed during a transfer to enable extraction from its source store of data entities for loading into any selected target stores during the transfer. Programmatic target interfaces are each associated with a target store, defined according to a common target interface specification, and exposed during a transfer to enable loading into its target store of data entities extracted from any selected source stores during the transfer. Each programmatic interface: (1) provides to its store an abstraction of transfer operations such that custom code need not be developed in connection with its store to enable transfers between its store and any other particular stores; and (2) isolates specific details associated with its store such that custom code need not be developed in connection with the transfer operations to enable transfers between its store and any other particular stores.
US08117326B2
In one embodiment, a system is provided for executing bulk data transfers between persistent data stores. A data integration server is coupled to persistent data stores. Programmatic source interfaces are each associated with a source store, defined according to a source interface specification, and exposed within the server during a transfer to enable the server to extract from its source store data entities for loading into any selected target data stores during the transfer. Programmatic target interfaces are each associated with a target store, defined according to a target interface specification, and exposed within the server during a transfer to enable the server to load into its target store data entities extracted from any selected source data stores during the transfer. Each programmatic interface: (1) provides to its store an abstraction of transfer operations within the server such that custom code need not be developed in connection with its store to enable transfers between its store and any other particular stores; and (2) isolates from the server specific details associated with its store such that custom code need not be developed in connection with the server to enable transfers between its store and any other particular stores.
US08117322B1
Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium for latency reduction on Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) servers using User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are disclosed. In situations where a client needs to establish a new TCP connection to submit an HTTP request to a server, the client sends the HTTP request in a UDP datagram to the server while the TCP connection establishment is in progress. The server starts anticipatory construction of a response upon receipt of the HTTP request in the UDP datagram. After the TCP connection is established, the client sends and the server receives the same HTTP request in one or more data packets through the newly established TCP connection. In response to the receipt of the HTTP request through the newly established TCP connection, the server sends the pre-constructed response to the client through the TCP connection. HTTP response time can be reduced up to one round-trip time.
US08117303B2
Systems, methods, devices and computer program products are provided for: receiving an indication that an electronic device is to be communicatively disconnected from a network; downloading information from the network in response to the received indication, but before the electronic device is disconnected from the network; and storing the downloaded information in the electronic device so that the information is available for offline browsing. For example, a user may instruct an electronic device to disconnect from a network. The user may also specify an amount of time before the device must disconnect from the network. The device may then begin pre-caching network content until the specified amount of time expires. When the specified amount of time expires, the device may disconnect from the network, but the user can continue to browse network content offline by browsing the pre-cached network content stored in a local memory.
US08117297B2
A method of registering a central container application executing on a mobile device with one of one or more mediator services executing on one or more remote servers is provided. Configuration information is received at the mobile device identifying a mediator service of the one or more mediator services the central container application is to register with. The central container application is notified that the configuration information is available. The central container application is registered with the identified first mediator service. The configuration information is retrieved and communication is established with the mediator service identified in the configuration information. Information regarding the current state of the central container application is send to the identified mediator service. Administrative information is then received from the mediator service.
US08117295B2
In an environment such as the Internet where a wide variety of electronic apparatuses should be managed and which includes many electronic apparatuses, connection must be modified smoothly according to a status change. An apparatus status collection unit collects apparatus status such as types, loads and positions of electronic apparatuses. A communication status collection unit collects communication status such as a type, path and load of communication. A connection rule retention unit retains beforehand a connection rule indicating a communication connection method being relevant to certain apparatus status, communication status and terminal status. A connection method decision unit compares apparatus status, communication status and terminal status with connection rules to extract a connection rule indicating an appropriate connection method. Then, the connection method decision unit causes an apparatus driver unit, the protocol conversion unit and a network communication unit to set the units to the decided connection method.
US08117293B1
A method for the efficient persistent storage of Device Management (DM) information on a mobile device is provided. More specifically, the present design provides methods for applications to access and update this information consistent with the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) DM standard by extending the OMA SyncML DM standard and providing a physical implementation of a tree management data structure. This implementation enables device management parameters, originating from server applications to be received, stored and accessed by a client mobile device. The present design incorporates centralized access and security rights management for securing DM information such that only permitted applications may access and update this information. In addition, the present design provides a method for retrieving firmware update packages, saving the package as specified by the OMA Firmware Update Management Object standard, and triggering the update process to apply the package by an update agent.
US08117281B2
A system and method that uses internet content and/or content metadata as a means to establish social networks. Examples include linking internet users, searchers, viewers and/or listeners of the same and/or similar internet content to each other via a platform that enables any of the following in n-dimensional environments: social networking, communications, sharing, e-commerce, advertising, search, hosting and registry services, push and pull applications, anonymous communications, and rich presence.
US08117280B2
An apparatus provides computing sources of functionality, each computing source of functionality presents a service and exists in any computing environment of the apparatus. The apparatus associates a semantic service description (SSD) with the service. The SSD has a semantic description of the service, including a semantic description of a parameter of the service, according to a computer interpretable language, and, as a service grounding, a mapping between the computer interpretable language expressing the SSD and an interface, including an interface parameter, of the service. The apparatus dynamically discovers SSDs as available services through discovery mechanisms, filters the services based upon the semantic description in each SSD associated with each service, generates a user interface to dynamically compose a task based upon selecting the services and the filtering the services to continuously present possible tasks, and generates an executable semantic service workflow description of the composed task.
US08117279B2
A system and method permits a network management agent executing on a customer premise equipment (CPE) component to determine whether a router is coupled between the CPE component and the cable modem through which the CPE component communicates with a data-over-cable network. The network management agent executing on the CPE component encapsulates the MAC address of the CPE component in a network management message that is sent to a server at the head end of the data-over-cable network. The head end compares the encapsulated MAC address with the MAC address of the device coupled to the cable modem that sent the network management message. If the MAC addresses are not the same, the server at the head end sets a router status element in the network management message response and sends it to the agent executing on the CPE component. The agent may then interrogate the router status element and determine whether a router is coupled between the CPE component on which it is executing and the cable modem through which it is coupled to the data-over-cable network.
US08117274B2
Protocol is provided for safe transfer of files from between nodes of a communication system. The protocol includes a handshake operation between a source (local or initiating) node sending one or more files and a remote (responding) node receiving the files to ensure that control of the file remains with the source node until the file is successfully transferred. The protocol is provided by a file transfer manager that controls the transfer process through a series of file moves that include moving the file into a directory associated with the file transfer manager, from which the file is sent and moving the file out of that directory after the remote node acknowledges a safe copy operation of the file. Files are maintained in the sending directory and under control of the source node at least for a configurable amount of time until the file is safely transferred. Files can be retrieved by the remote node after they have been transmitted for a configurable amount of time, after which they will be deleted from the local node.
US08117261B2
A device of and method for collecting and disseminating information over at least one computer network is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one database for storing digital information associated with at least a first user and a second user, at least one links module for the first user to link to at least a portion of said digital information associated with said second user and for the second user to link to at least a portion of said digital information associated with said first user, at least one manipulations module for manipulating said digital information stored in said at least one database, and at least one display device associated with each of the at least first user and second user for respectively displaying at least said linked digital information to each of said at least first user and second user, wherein said linked digital information associated with said first user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said second user when that information is manipulated, and wherein said linked digital information associated with said second user is automatically updated on at least said display device of said first user when that information is manipulated.
US08117239B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for aggregating schema data from two or more schemas are provided. Embodiments of the present invention include receiving schema definitions for two or more schemas. An aggregated property description for an individual property that is common to the two or more schemas may be created. The aggregated property description includes property attribute values that are the same for the property description in both schemas. Where the attribute values are different, rules may be applied to determine which attribute value to include in the aggregated property description. In one embodiment, the less capable of the two different attribute values is included in the aggregated property description.
US08117238B2
A method of preparing a document for delivery to an electronic device including building a graph structure, include hyperlink nodes and bookmark nodes, representing a map of the document, and traversing and paginating the graph structure into successive pages each having a page index value. For each hyperlink node, the method includes storing in association with therewith a bookmark page index value that is the page index value of the page that includes the bookmark node having the bookmark that is the destination of the hyperlink of the hyperlink node. The pages may be selectively delivered to the electronic device. When a hyperlink in one of the pages is activated, the bookmark page index value that is stored in association with the corresponding hyperlink node may be identified, and the page that corresponds to the identified bookmark page index value may be transmitted to the electronic device.
US08117237B2
Optimized method and system making it possible to manage named entities or proper names that are presented in a different graphical or syntactic form and contained in a database (3), characterized in that it comprises, in combination, the implementation of the Levenshtein method by using a measurement of similarity from the Levenshtein method and of the n-grams method in order to find a canonic entity that can replace a set of named entities in a database.
US08117233B2
A method for modeling a web service operation, includes: defining an input message pattern that describes input requirements of a web service operation, wherein the input message pattern includes a set of variables representing data elements that must be contained in a message input to the web service operation, and a graph pattern that semantically describes the data elements that must be contained in the message input to the web service operation; and defining an output message pattern that describes an output message of the web service operation, wherein the output message pattern includes a set of variables and exemplars that represent data elements contained in the output message, and a graph pattern that semantically describes the data elements contained in the output message.
US08117232B2
Aspects are introduced for indexing contents of a shell namespace extension. A plurality of files are indexed, and it is encountered that one of the files contains at least one file reference. The file is then accessed as a shell namespace extension so that the file reference can be indexed.
US08117231B2
Articles of manufacture and methods are described. Specifically, the methods include constructing category structures within a database, classifying a data item within a database, and facilitating location of a data item within a database are described. A first method includes defining, in a database, a first structure of categories and an alternative second structure of categories to provide an alternative classification of a data item. A second method includes classifying a data item in a first hierarchy of categories and a second alternative hierarchy of categories. A third method includes locating a data item responsive to identifying of a link between a first hierarchy of categories and a second alternative hierarchy of categories.
US08117230B2
A system and method for managing group policy objects in a network, including interfaces that allow access by programs or a user interface component to functions of a group policy management console that performs management tasks on group policy objects and other related objects. The interfaces abstract the underlying data storage and retrieval, thereby facilitating searching for objects, and providing the ability to delegate, view, change and permissions on those objects, and check and save those permissions. Modeling and other test simulations are facilitated by other interfaces. Other interfaces provide dynamic and interactive features, such as to convey progress and rich status messages, and allow canceling of an ongoing operation. Still other interfaces provide methods for operating on group policy related data, including group policy object backup, restore, import, copy and create methods, and methods for linking group policy objects to scope of management objects.
US08117226B2
A system and method for virtual folder sharing, including utilization of static and dynamic lists. Static and dynamic lists may be created as types of virtual folders. Virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. A static list consists of a folder of items that are in a specific order, while a dynamic list gathers a set of items based on a scope and a set of criteria. When a list is shared, the actual list is left in place on the sharer's machine or server, while permission is granted to the sharee to remotely access the list and the referenced items. If the list is changed by adding or removing items, these items are also automatically re-permissioned to allow or disallow the sharee to have access to the items.
US08117221B2
A system and method for obfuscating a database's schema while preserving its functionality by modifying the original table names, column names, table order, column order, and/or data character set such that the standard order of the original characters is maintained.
US08117216B1
A computer-implemented process for reducing category overlap obtains a set of source items and an initial set of item categories associated with the source items. An assessment of the overlap between different item categories in the initial set of item categories is used to selectively eliminate one or more item categories prior to presentation of the source items and associated categories to the user, thereby resulting in reduced overlap between the item categories presented. The resulting set of categories improves the ability of the user to efficiently and effectively access source items of interest, such as recommended items generated by a recommendation engine.
US08117212B2
Herein disclosed an information processing apparatus for providing a service of introducing, from a predetermined item which is to make a reference, associated items associated with the reference item to one or more different information processing apparatus, including: an association degree collection section configured to collect association degrees applied between items by users of the different information processing apparatus and indicative of weights of a relationship between the items; and an introduction section configured to determine the associated items from the reference item based on a result of the collection by the association degree collection section and introduce the determined associated items to any of the different information processing apparatus.
US08117205B2
A method and system for enhancing the quality of a bookmark or a set of bookmarks that have been organized by topic and contain information related to that topic. The method and system analyzes documents accessible by the bookmark or set of bookmarks and performs a search using key terms from that analysis in a vector called a latent similarity metric. The terms that result from this search are preferably ranked in a hierarchy or the like and utilized in a subsequent search to locate and rank additional related documents.
US08117201B2
A contacts list for a subscriber is pre-populated based on information received from various data stores, data mining of applications associated with the subscriber, and administrator defined contacts. The list may be further maintained dynamically based on changes to contact information and/or subscriber attributes.
US08117187B2
A method for controlling a relational database system by executing a database query in a relational database which contains, as an associated data structure, a plurality of data tables interconnected through relations, by using a database language, with a table of the relations being provided. A processable database statement without relation-related operations is created by indicating the data tables to which the processing functions are to be applied and by indicating the order of the selected data tables according to which the processing is to be carried out, and an access path, which concretely states the order of access to the database, is determined by first computing a partial access path, via the table of relations, between each two subsequent, selected data tables on the basis of the relations which exist between the subsequent data tables, and then assembling the access path from all computed partial access paths.
US08117180B2
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for automated creation of a mashup is provided, the method comprising: receiving data needs of a user; identifying sources of data to satisfy the data needs by comparing the data needs to available data sources; retrieving metadata relating to the identified sources of data from a source metadata store; identifying services to satisfy the data needs by comparing the retrieved metadata to available services; retrieving metadata related to the identified services from a service metadata store; and generating a plan for supplying data from the identified sources of data to the identified services based on the retrieved metadata from the source metadata source and the retrieved metadata from the service metadata source.
US08117176B2
A food nutrition management system provides a portable electronic device to a user for inputting a personal data and special codes. The personal data and the special codes are received by a register and management unit for further registering at a database. The database is searched for a food nutrition component table corresponding to a special code. The food nutrition component table searched is transmitted for displaying on a display unit, stored in the database when a store instruction is input through the portable device, and analyzed and compared with a suggestion of daily ingestion amounts per person for a variety of nutrition when an inquiry instruction is input. The portable electronic device displays current and past ingestion amounts for the variety of nutrition and notices the user of which nutrition is insufficient or surplus and of the possible diseases and symptoms.
US08117175B1
A method and apparatus for querying multiple streams of data traffic are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method specifies interfaces or data sources in accordance with their properties. In turn, the method then accepts a query for querying multiple data streams and automatically constructs a set of queries in accordance with at least one specified property, where the set of queries is to be applied over the multiple data streams.
US08117169B2
Provided are a system and article of manufacture for performing scheduled backups of a backup node associated with a plurality of agent nodes. Backup data sets on at least one machine in a network are associated with a backup node and a plurality of agent nodes in the network are associated with the backup node. The agent nodes are associated with machines in the network capable of backing up the backup data sets associated with the backup node. A schedule indicating a scheduled backup to backup scheduled data sets associated with the backup node is processed. At least one of the agent nodes is contacted to request the at least one agent node to perform the scheduled backup and backup the scheduled data sets, wherein the at least one contacted agent node performs the scheduled backup to backup the scheduled backup sets.
US08117167B2
There is provided a technique capable of executing a predetermined processing while continuing a database processing. Firstly, the database to be operated is switched from the main database to a duplicate database. The predetermined processing is executed to the main database which becomes the non-operation mode by the switching. Next, a database access request is distributed to the duplicate database which becomes the operation mode by the switching, thereby performing the database processing. Update information indicating the content of the update processing performed to the duplicate database is output. The output update information is reflected on the main data base for which the predetermined processing has been executed. After this, the database to be operated is switched from the duplicate database to the main database.
US08117164B2
The creation and utilization of network restore points is provided by a schema associated with a structured data set that can be conveniently backed up by periodically taking snapshots of the structured data to establish a series of restore points that can be used in the event that the primary structured data becomes lost or corrupted. In general, the snapshots are only taken after the structured data set has undergone a change in content, although they may be taken at other times as well. The snapshot may be taken by a network restore point engine that can be accessed by a user over the Internet. In addition, the snapshot may be stored on an Internet-based storage medium or it may be pushed to or pulled by the client so that the snapshot resides on a client-resident storage medium.
US08117161B2
A storage system including: a storage device for storing a file; a plurality of file systems for managing the file; and a plurality of NAS servers that control access from a client to the file systems via a global namespace formed by grouping local namespaces for the one or more file systems; wherein, each NAS server includes a memory to store global namespace management information including global paths of the file systems; one NAS server of the NAS servers accepts a request to obtain snapshots of the file systems from external of the storage system; the one NAS server instructs itself and the other NAS servers to obtain snapshots of the file systems; the one NAS server and the other NAS servers obtain the snapshots of the file systems, and inform the one NAS server of snapshot identifiers and of local paths of the snapshots; the one NAS server makes snapshot management information including global paths of the snapshots based on each of the snapshot identifiers received from the other NAS servers and each of the global paths of file systems corresponding to the snapshots, included in the namespace management information so that both the global paths of the file systems and the global paths of the snapshots are configured on the same global namespace simultaneously, with a directory configuration of the snapshots being same in configuration layout as a directory configuration of the file systems; and the one NAS server informs the other NAS servers of the snapshot management information.
US08117157B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for managing data. The technique includes defining a secondary data set in a primary data set, linking the secondary data set to state information of the primary data set, transmitting the secondary data set to an external entity, receiving a modified secondary data set from the external entity and linking the modified secondary data set to a version of the primary data set stored with reference to state the information. The state information defines the state of the primary data set at the time the secondary data set is defined. The link between the modified secondary data set and the primary data set allows access by a user of a modified primary data set if the primary data set has changed with reference to the state information.
US08117155B2
Collection-based object replication for a system that includes a client computing device (client) connected to a server and multiple data storage nodes. In certain cases, a data storage node generates a replica of multiple replicas of a collection. The collection is a unit of data placement, access, replication, and repair. Other data storage nodes are also configured with a respective replica of the multiple replicas. The data storage node verifies whether an object received directly from the client for storage in the collection has been fully replicated by the other data storage nodes in respective replicas.
US08117149B1
A method for prediction weights determination for use in compression (particularly image compression) and forecasting applications. Prediction weights determining significance of different predictions when calculating generalized prediction are calculated using specific context-based procedure. Information about already known best predictions in close neighborhood of the position being processed is used to form prediction context. Number of times each particular prediction was the best prediction in past in current prediction context is treated as a prediction weight.
US08117147B1
A method for reaching conclusions from stratified knowledge statements (SKSs) comprising: storing a list of SKSs in at least one memory store on a computer, wherein the list of SKSs is composed of cases, generalizations, and analogs, wherein cases are the most valid, and analogs are the least valid of the SKSs; creating a new generalization based on one of the SKSs; redefining a user-validated generalization as a new case; moving the validated new generalization to the logical head of the case list; expunging the new generalization from the list if the new generalization contradicts an existing case creating with the computer a new analog based on three of the SKSs; redefining a user-validated analog as a new case; moving the new case to the logical head of the case list; and expunging the new analog from the list if the new analog contradicts an existing case, or generalization.
US08117144B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating risk scores for specific risk cohorts. Digital sensor data associated with a specific risk cohort is received from a set of multimodal sensors. The specific risk cohort includes a set of identified cohort members. The digital sensor data includes metadata describing attributes associated with at least one cohort member in the set of identified cohort members. Description data for each cohort member in the set of identified cohort members is retrieved to form a set of cohort description data. The description data for each cohort member comprises data describing a previous history of the cohort member or a current status of the cohort member. The cohort member is a person, animal, plant, thing, or location. A specific risk score is generated for the specific risk cohort based on selected risk factors, the attributes associated with the at least one identified member, and the set of cohort description data. A response action is initiated in response to a determination that the specific risk score exceeds a risk threshold.
US08117139B2
Methods and systems for interactive evolutionary computing may include generating a set of candidate molecules based on an evolutionary scheme in which an objective function is a priori mathematically unexpressed, presenting data based on the set of candidate molecules to one or more users, receiving at least one input from the user(s), the input(s) based on the user(s)'s evaluation of the presented set of candidate molecules, and, based on the input(s), using at least the evolutionary scheme and the input(s) to generate an updated set of candidate molecules, and repeating the presenting and receiving.
US08117136B2
A system and a method are disclosed for implementing managing relationships between data on a mobile computing based on user creation and definition of the relationships. A mobile computing device user generates asymmetric relationships between stored entities, events, tasks and communications. These asymmetric relationships are custom-generated by the user to reflect the user's classification and evaluation of the relationships. The user also assigns a score to each relationship and stored entity, event, task and communication to represent the user's classification of the relationship, entity, event, task or communication. Hence, the user assigns a value to the relationships between data as well as the stored data to indicate which relationship or stored data is most valuable to the user. The user-defined relationships between data can be automatically displayed when the mobile communication device is used to interact with a stored entity.
US08117132B2
The present invention provides a device to increase the number of members in a dating service developing their profiles by providing a financial incentive. The invention further reduces unwanted communications from other members by allowing member recipients of the unwanted communication to receive a fee, paid by the sender, for receiving the communication. The invention further reduces unwanted communications from other members by allowing a member sending a communication to place on the profile of the member receiving the communication a comment which the receiving member cannot remove unless the received fee is returned, if the fee is not returned the member receiving the communication may post a responding comment. The invention further increases the safety of the members by providing the sender and receiver of a message a code that may be used by each to identify the other.
US08117125B1
Methods and systems for controlling certificate-based open payment transactions involving a merchant and a customer utilizing various types of networks and terminals. Prior to accessing a merchant POS terminal or, for example, a merchant website, a customer obtains a certificate from a service provider (SP), such as a bank, certifying his identification (ID) and his relevant financial information, in a form that is understandable by the SP. The SP is capable of performing multiple functions. For example, the SP is capable of acting as a certificate authority when it issues the customer's certificates, an authenticator when it receives private-key encrypted certificates from the customers to be decrypted using the corresponding public-key, and an authorizing authority when it checks the value available in a customer' chosen payment account against the requested purchase or transfer amount.
US08117117B2
A loan origination system interface module, methods and computer program products. One computer program product for processing loan application data including instructions to extract loan application data including retrieving identification information for a loan application associated the loan application data from a broker device and displaying on the broker device a list of loan applications available to process in an interface that is consistent with a loan origination computer program associated with the broker device. In response to command input from the broker device selecting a loan application from the list of loan applications, the computer program product includes instructions to reformat loan application data for the selected loan application to a format compatible with that required by a lender device and transmit reformatted loan application data to a lender device.
US08117115B2
A system and method for factoring in a trader's trading activity into the margin requirements is disclosed. In the securities arena, day traders are assessed different margins than non-day-traders, however, the specific profile of the trader is analyzed (that is, the same rule applies to all day traders).
US08117112B2
A computer implemented system and method determines price and allocation of equity shares. Information about an offering to accept bids for equity shares is provided to qualified potential purchasers and non-qualified potential purchasers. Bids from potential purchasers for equity shares are received through a communication network. Bids are accepted and offered to be accepted only from qualified potential purchasers. A non-qualified potential purchaser submits a bid through a qualified potential purchaser. A clearing price for the offered shares is determined based on the received bids.
US08117111B2
Techniques are described for securitizing, administrating and trading various index shares securitized by derivative, cash-settled instruments on the underlying index.
US08117105B2
A method for facilitating securities transactions is shown. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying, by a computer system from an OMS comprising a plurality of stored security orders, a subset of orders specifying at least a minimum available quantity; transmitting, by the computer system to an ETM, a non-binding indication corresponding to one order of the subset of orders, the non-binding indication comprising a security identifier and the order type; receiving, by the computer system, an indication that a match exists to the non-binding indication; determining, by the computer system, a total available quantity for the order corresponding to the non-binding indication; and transmitting, by the OMS, a binding order corresponding to the non-binding indication, the binding order comprising the determined total available quantity. Corresponding systems are also described.
US08117090B2
A method in combination with a nationwide alliance of professional car care service providers for remarketing privately owned motor vehicles. Successfully registered sellers present their privately owned motor vehicles at a participating professional car care service provider for processing into the system. The computer-implemented system employs a method based on three-dimensional facial image technology in combination with personal relational identifiers to monitor, identify, isolate, ban, and enforce the express prohibition of used car dealer, used car broker, and curbstoner participation within the system, in any fashion. The service is national in its reach while local in its execution, and provides a national platform for green-marketing the benefits of professional car care versus individual car care alternatives.
US08117088B2
The present invention is a method of selling replacement parts for a product over a computer network including providing a plurality of product manufacturer selection options for a customer to select from, receiving a manufacturer selection of one of the product manufacturers, providing a plurality of product selections for the customer to select from, receiving a product selection of one of the products, providing a schematic illustrating a plurality of component parts of the product with associated reference identifiers, receiving a selection of at least one of the component parts, providing a description of the component part selected, including at least one name for the component part and at least one part number for the component part.
US08117086B1
An order tracking system comprising an interface to an order tracking database for users such as sales agents and sales managers to quickly find orders and track them as they progress. The order tracking system may track merchant orders for payment processing equipment to be installed in one or more business locations and the initiation of related payment processing services using the installed equipment. Trigger events within multiple internal computerized business applications are communicated to the order tracking system where they are stored in the order tracking database. The computerized applications that are used to manage internal business may track many activities and events, some of which are trigger events, that result in updates to the order tracking database. The trigger events from the various internal business applications allow a user of the present invention to obtain a comprehensive view of the status of an order for a payment processing solution.
US08117084B2
A method and apparatus for establishing a phone call between a potential customer viewing information on the internet and a sales agent includes the steps of receiving a message indicating that the customer wishes to be contacted and including contact information for the customer and other information, converting at least some of the information in the message to speech, establishing a phone call to the sales agents, playing the speech to the sales agent, establishing a phone call to the customer using the contact information in the message, and bridging the first call to the second call. In some embodiments, a text message such as email or SMS is sent in addition to the phone call to the sales agent or when the phone call to the sales agent cannot be completed.
US08117072B2
A method, software and apparatus are provided which enable a user to obtain products and services in a manner which counteracts conflicting actions modifying raw ranking data based on merchants interests. For this purpose, an information a user's web browser is provided with modules that modify search results obtained from one or more sources including directly from merchants. When the user enters a set of key words in an entry field in an on-screen form for a web server to obtain a list of items (products and/or services) of interest to the user, the search terms are modified in the users or his agents browser to reflect the interest of the user, his management or his parents. The user or his agent receives ranking information taking the highest ranked products and obtains the product information for the most highly ranked products. The browser then reranks the products using a ranking algorithm preferred by the user that offsets information sources biases in the ranking of the product information. The algorithm adds weighting factors reflecting the modified search terms. The weighting factors are combined with the mentioned ranking mechanisms to the documents to increase the probability that certain items come to the top when the search results are presented to the shopper.
US08117069B2
Systems and methods are provided for dynamically ordering advertisements received from at least one advertisement supplier. In one embodiment, a method includes sending a request to at least a first advertisement supplier; receiving one or more advertisements from the at least first advertisement supplier; identifying a prioritizing parameter associated with each of the one or more advertisements; and dynamically ordering the one or more advertisements from the at least first advertisement supplier into two or more positions of a response based on the prioritizing parameter.
US08117067B2
Various aspects can be implemented for achieving advertising campaign goals. One aspect can be a method that includes receiving an advertising goal for a broadcast advertising campaign, translating the advertising goal into one or more rules, and automatically calculating campaign settings based on the one or more rules. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.
US08117065B2
The invention of the wireless electronic vehicle window display system employs the latest technology in electronic paper and low power consumption wireless networking devices. One contemplated embodiment of the present invention consists of three main components: A vehicle information portal, an electronic vehicle window display system subscriber, and the electronic paper. The invention is intended to provide an effective method of displaying pricing, vehicle specifications, promotions, and warranties on vehicles at the dealer's lot. The invention removes the time-consuming and costly tasks of updating information on the current paper-based window sticker.
US08117063B2
A method for creating a probabilistic product is provided. The method includes creating a set of product identifiers corresponding to a plurality of products offered by a single seller, each of the plurality of product identifiers uniquely corresponding to one of the plurality of products. The method also includes selecting a subset of the product identifiers. Additionally, the method includes generating a plurality of probability values, each probability value uniquely corresponding to one of the product identifiers contained in the subset, and the sum of the probability values being equal to one. The method further includes determining a monetary value, defining a selling price. By paying the selling price to the seller, a buyer subsequently receives a product associated with one of the product identifiers randomly chosen from the subset.
US08117061B2
A method for transforming transactional data into a forecast and confidence interval for controlling a commerce system involves moving goods between members of a commerce system, and recording transaction data related to movement of goods between the members of the commerce system. The transaction data includes price, product, time, and promotion. The model parameters are estimated based on the transactional data using a demand model to generate a forecast of demand for the goods based on a proposed price or promotion. A confidence interval of the certainty associated with the forecast of demand for the goods is determined based on the proposed price or promotion. The forecast of demand for the goods and confidence interval is provided to the commerce system to control the movement of goods based on the forecast of demand for the goods and confidence interval. The forecast and confidence interval can be graphically displayed.
US08117058B2
A method for detecting trends based on outcomes generated by a first process, comprising the steps of: (a) determining all possible outcomes associated with the first process, wherein the first process is associated with a range of possible outcomes; (b) coding the possible outcomes to provide a plurality of separate groups, wherein each possible outcome is systematically allocated to one of the groups; (c) allocating an identifier to each of the groups; (d) monitoring the first process such that actual outcomes generated by the first process are mapped to an identifier in accordance with coding step (b); (e) providing a matrix made up of rows and columns; (f) allocating each identifier generated in step (d) to the matrix, and (g) repeating step (f) until a trend of duplicating identifiers becomes self-evident.
US08117054B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for estimating a number of stress factors related to a worker. During operation, the system records a sequence of work steps of the worker for a predetermined period of time, and extracts a number of temporal patterns (T-patterns) from the sequence of work steps. Based on the extracted T-patterns, the system calculates T-pattern statistics, and applies a classification method on the calculated T-pattern statistics to produce a classification result. The system then estimates one or more of the stress factors based on the classification result.
US08117046B2
Mobile clinicians conduct in-home patient visits utilizing on-site diagnostic and treatment equipment, where service is enhanced by the use of portable computing and communications equipment. Initially, a mobile care entity provides a network of predesignated mobile clinicians, each having the use of a preprogrammed portable computer. Each computer is coupled to a wireless communications device, and includes local storage of patient data. Under a predetermined schedule, each portable computer updates patient data in the local storage utilizing the wireless communications device to download updates from a central storage facility. Whenever the mobile care entity receives requests for medical service at a patient's premises, the entity selects a mobile clinician and dispatches him/her to the patient's premises. The clinician visits the patient's premises accompanied by an assortment of electronic diagnostic and treatment devices, such as a pulse oximiter, x-ray machine, lab analyzer, EKG equipment, etc. To examine the patient, the doctor utilizes various diagnostic devices to prepare machine-readable reports of related aspects of the patient's condition. The clinician directs the portable computer to perform follow-up tasks including: (1) electronically collecting the prepared reports and graphically presenting them in human-readable form, (2) storing a machine-readable medical record including details of the patient's exam, and (3) utilizing the wireless device to transmit the reports and records to the central storage facility.
US08117040B1
A system and method for identifying, reporting, and evaluating a presence of a solid, liquid, gas, or other substance of interest, particularly a dangerous, hazardous, or otherwise threatening chemical, biological, or radioactive substance. The system comprises one or more substantially automated, location self-aware remote sensing units; a control unit; and one or more data processing and storage servers. Data is collected by the remote sensing units and transmitted to the control unit; the control unit generates and uploads a report incorporating the data to the servers; and thereafter the report is available for review by a hierarchy of responsive and evaluative authorities via a wide area network. The evaluative authorities include a group of relevant experts who may be widely or even globally distributed.
US08117039B2
A multi-stage recursive sample rate converter (“SRC”) typically embodied as digital signal processor provides for an efficient structure for converting digital audio samples at one frequency, such as 48 kHz, to another frequency, such as 44.1 kHz. A parameter codebook comprising memory stores parameters used at a plurality of stages by the SRC. For each stage, a controller coordinates the SRC to use the appropriate set of parameters from the codebook, process an input audio sample stream, and store the intermediate results in a buffer. The controller then causes the intermediate results to be processed again as input to the SRC in a subsequent stage of processing using a different set of parameters. The process is repeated until all stages are completed, and the final results are the output digital audio data stream at the desired sampling rate.
US08117027B2
Techniques for introducing information into a data stream first obtains the spectral values of the short-term spectrum of the audio signal. Separately, information to be introduced are combined with a spread sequence obtaining a spread information signal, whereupon a spectral representation of the spread information is generated, then weighted with an established psychoacoustic maskable noise energy to generate a weighted information signal, wherein energy of the introduced information is substantially equal to or below the psychoacoustic masking threshold. The weighted information signal and the spectral values of the short-term spectrum of the audio signal are then summed and afterwards processed again to obtain a processed data stream including audio information and information to be introduced. Because the information to be introduced are introduced without changing to the time domain, the block rastering underlying the short-term spectrum are not touched, thus introducing a watermark will not lead to tandem encoding effects.
US08117022B2
A system for storing knowledge in a speakable, formal class of languages and allowing querying and retrieving of that knowledge is provided. The system further allows the users to input data, instructions, questions, and queries without structure or rules over and above the actual grammar of the class of languages. The system responds in words, phrases or complete sentences as applicable, and its output is bound by the rules of logic, rather than simple correlation or likely meaning.
US08117019B2
A method is disclosed for simulating the formation of sedimentary deposits. In one embodiment, this method involves, (a) solving a two-dimensional time-dependent map view system of equations for at least flow momentum, flow height, suspended sediment concentration, and entrainment of overlying water, (b) calculating net sediment deposition at each map view location using the flow properties, (c) recording the time-variability of the net sediment deposition.
US08117018B2
Cross-component measurements in combination with standard propagation resistivity measurements are processed to estimate the vertical and horizontal resistivities, relative dip and relative azimuth of an anisotropic earth formation.
US08117017B2
A method of constructing a piecewise linear engine performance model, comprises the steps of: (a) providing a non-linear engine performance model which iteratively calculates engine performance variables y from a plurality of sub-models, each sub-model representing the performance of a component of the engine; (b) defining a plurality of engine power conditions, each engine power condition being defined by one or more engine state variables x; (c) for each of the engine power conditions, using the non-linear engine performance model to determine partial derivatives δy of the engine performance variables y with respect to engine control variables u and with respect to the engine state variables x, the values of the partial derivatives δy being determined so that, on integrating the partial derivatives δy, the error between steady state values for the engine performance variables y calculated by the non-linear engine performance model and steady state values for the engine performance variables y calculated from the integrated partial derivatives δy is reduced or eliminated; and (d) constructing a piecewise linearised engine performance model in which calculation of the engine performance variables y involves combining each of the engine control variables u and the engine state variables x with the respective partial derivative δy.
US08117009B1
Disclosed is a data recorder for munitions. The data recorder includes a power source, a processor, and an acceleration sensor. The data recorder further includes a trigger validation feature which is operably coupled to the data recorder to verify the occurrence of a secondary environmental/input event. This envisioned data recorder can contain a digital or analog device as a primary or secondary trigger. Data from an accelerometer is stored in FRAM memory.
US08117008B2
A method and apparatus for predicting junction device temperature of at least a first switching device in a power conversion module that includes the first switching device and at least a second switching device, the method comprising the steps of identifying a cross thermal impedance value indicative of how the temperature of the second switching device effects the first switching device temperature and using the cross thermal impedance value to predict the temperature of the at least a first switching device.
US08117007B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying an interval for performing a maintenance task. The process retrieves scheduled maintenance data and un-scheduled in-service maintenance data for a given apparatus type. The process maps the un-scheduled in-service maintenance data to the scheduled maintenance data for the given apparatus type to form mapped maintenance data. The process performs a statistical analysis on the mapped maintenance data. The process identifies an optimal interval for performing the maintenance task based on a result of the statistical analysis to form a recommended maintenance interval.
US08117005B2
A system for monitoring the lyophilization process of a product in containers (4, 4a, 4b) arranged inside a lyophilization chamber, including a temperature measurement system (6) associated with each container housed inside (10) the lyophilization chamber, capable of surveying local temperature data for each container. The system includes a wireless communication system (8) for the surveyed temperature data and a processing module (16) for said data, located externally to the lyophilization chamber, programmed to determine at least one parameter indicative of the progress of the lyophilization process not measured by the measurement system, through the use of a predetermined representation model of the process, capable of correlating a local temperature value of the container with the parameter.
US08116995B2
Methods and apparatus for media characterization in a self-service terminal are described. The media us characterized in the self-service terminal by passing it by two electrodes and measuring the impedance across those two electrodes. The media is characterized by analyzing the measured impedance. The impedance may be measured by applying a modulated reference signal to one electrode and detecting the current on the second electrode. In an embodiment, the detected current may be converted into a voltage signal and mixed with a phase shifted version of the modulated reference signal.
US08116992B1
The invention relates to a method of determining bed velocity and solids circulation rate in a standpipe experiencing a moving packed bed flow, such as the in the standpipe section of a circulating bed fluidized reactor The method utilizes in-situ measurement of differential pressure over known axial lengths of the standpipe in conjunction with in-situ gas velocity measurement for a novel application of Ergun equations allowing determination of standpipe void fraction and moving packed bed velocity. The method takes advantage of the moving packed bed property of constant void fraction in order to integrate measured parameters into simultaneous solution of Ergun-based equations and conservation of mass equations across multiple sections of the standpipe.
US08116991B2
A device for measuring a flow rate of Ringer's solution includes a key input unit including a number input key through which a user can make an input each time when a drip drips in a drip chamber; a power supply unit for supplying power; an oscillation circuit for oscillating a signal having a preset frequency; a display unit for quantitatively outputting a calculated flow rate of Ringer's solution; and a control unit for calculating an elapsed time when the input is made through the number input key of the key input unit for a preset number of times, calculating the number of drips per an hour using the preset number of times and the calculated elapsed time, acquiring a quantitative flow rate of Ringer's solution by multiplying a preset volume of each drip and the calculated number of drips, and outputting the acquired flow rate to the display unit.
US08116986B2
Basis motifs are determined from an input sequence through an iterative technique that begins by creating small solid motifs and continues to create larger motifs that include “don't care” characters and that can include flexible portions. The small solid motifs, including don't care characters and flexible portions, are concatenated to create larger motifs. During each iteration, motifs are trimmed to remove redundant motifs and other motifs that do not meet certain criteria. The process is continued until no new motifs are determined. At this point, the basis set of motifs has been determined. The basis motifs are used to construct redundant motifs that are formed by determining sets for selected basis motifs. From these sets, unique intersection sets are determined. This process continues, by selecting additional basis motifs, until all basis motifs have been selected. An apparatus for performing the process is also disclosed.
US08116983B2
A device, in particular a sample preparation device for the quantitative analysis of a drug and/or metabolite profile in a biological sample, which includes an insert for such a device being impregnated with at least one internal standard, to the internal standard itself, and to a kit comprising the device. Further, the invention also relates to an apparatus containing the device, and to a method for the quantitative analysis of a drug and/or metabolite profile in a biological sample employing the device.
US08116981B2
Provided are methods and systems for rapidly and effectively characterizing a cell as belonging to a particular genus, species, strain, or having a particular phenotype. The methods and systems utilize mass spectrometry and low-energy negative ionization to detect cell surface markers indicative of a particular cell.
US08116970B2
The invention relates to a method of calculating a path which is offset laterally by a first distance with respect to a reference path, comprising the calculation of a flight plan which is offset with respect to a reference flight plan. The reference flight plan is defined on the basis of waypoints and of segments defining a reference path between the waypoints. Each segment has a start point and an end point making it possible to define a course corresponding to the direction of travel by an aircraft. The laterally offset flight plan is calculated on the basis of waypoints associated with the waypoints of the reference flight plan, called associated points and being situated at the intersection. The laterally offset flight path includes lines, parallel with the segments of the reference flight plan, offset by the first distance from the reference flight plan. It is further defined by the bisectrix of the angle formed by two adjacent segments at a waypoint belonging to the reference path. The method includes detection of the segments of the offset flight plan, whose direction of travel is reversed with respect to that of the corresponding segment belonging to the reference flight plan. The elementary paths are calculated, making it possible to connect the segments of the offset flight plan whose direction of travel is not reversed.
US08116967B2
A control system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. In the control system, an engine state parameter is calculated using a self-organizing map for calculating a predetermined output parameter according to at least one engine operating parameter which indicates an operating condition of said engine. The engine state parameter indicates an engine state which is relevant to the predetermined output parameter.
US08116966B2
A low power remote vehicle stopper with feedback that can disable a moving vehicle with low power microwave interruption signal. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system for disrupting an internal combustion engine is provided. The system includes a receiver for wirelessly receiving an emitted signal from the internal combustion engine, the emitted signal corresponding to an operational parameter of the internal combustion engine, a signal generator for generating an interruption signal in accordance with the emitted signal, and a transmitter for transmitting the interruption signal to disrupt an operation of the internal combustion engine.
US08116960B2
A method for operating a combustion machine, such as an internal combustion engine, has the following steps: provision of a combustion machine for producing thermal energy; operation of the combustion machine, and thereby burning fuel to obtain the thermal energy; detection of the concentration of at least one pollutant, which is produced during the combustion, in the surroundings of the combustion machine; regulation of the operation of the combustion machine, in which a characteristic variable of the combustion machine is set according to the detected concentration in such a way that the emission of the pollutant is reduced.
US08116958B2
The present invention provides a system and method for controlling a driving force of a hybrid electric vehicle which can reduce clutch engagement shock generated during transition from an electric operation mode to an internal combustion engine running mode. For this purpose, the present invention provides a driving force control system of a hybrid electric vehicle including an engine, a motor-generator and a clutch, in which at least one starter-generator directly connected to the engine. The output torques of the engine and the starter-generator are controlled so as to make a difference between the rotational speed of the engine and the rotational speed of the motor-generator reach a predetermined threshold value, and the clutch is engaged when the difference between the rotational speeds reach the value.
US08116951B2
A transmission has an input member and an output member, first and second intermediate shafts having substantially identical gear sets with gears concentric with and selectively connectable for rotation with the first and second intermediate shafts, respectively. Output gears are concentric with and rotatable with the output member and mesh with the substantially identical gear sets. First and second torque-transmitting devices are operable for transmitting torque from the input member to the first and second intermediate shafts, respectively. Torque-transmitting mechanisms are mounted concentric with, rotatable about and selectively engagable with the gears mounted on the intermediate shafts. A controller is operatively connected to the torque-transmitting mechanisms and to at least one of the torque-transmitting devices. The torque-transmitting mechanisms and torque-transmitting devices may be engaged such that torque is carried substantially equally by both intermediate shafts during a speed ratio established between the input member and the output member.
US08116950B2
A machine system includes a compactor having a frame, at least one compacting element coupled with the frame, and a sensing system configured to output signals including electronic data indicative of a varying response of material within a work area to interaction of the compactor therewith. The machine system further includes an electronic control unit coupled with the sensing system and configured to link the electronic data with location data for the work area, and further configured to assign each one of at least two different compaction targets to different regions of the work area responsive to linking the electronic data with the location data. The machine system may further include a computer readable memory storing a compaction interaction planning algorithm, whereby the electronic control unit determines a compactor interaction plan for navigating the compactor within the work area.
US08116949B2
A method for determining an initial float angle for skid detection in rollover sensing of a rollover of a vehicle having at least one sensor system for vehicle-dynamic signals and a control unit for activating a restraining device, which divides the driving state of the vehicle into chronologically consecutive state phases, having the following method steps carried out continuously in the first state phase: calculating a change in the float angle from the vehicle-dynamic signals; comparing the calculated change in the float angle with a predefinable threshold value; and determining the initial float angle on the basis of the calculated change in the float angle as a function of the threshold value for a first range of small changes in the float angle or for a second range of larger values of changes in the float angle and a device therefor.
US08116943B2
A method is provided for limiting a steering angle overlay applied by a steering actuator in a limited by-wire active front steering (AFS) system. The method includes determining a maximum rate limit for the steering angle overlay in order to minimize an undesired disturbance to the driver in the form of a torque and/or angle feedback while maximizing the rate of steering overlay allowed for a given set of vehicle operating conditions. The maximum rate limit is determined by a function of the input steering rate and braking level. A limited AFS system includes both steering and braking input devices, a steering actuator, and a controller having an algorithm. The controller uses the algorithm to calculate the maximum overlay rate limit and limits the steering actuator to the maximum overlay rate limit.
US08116927B2
A vehicle in which propulsion can be distributed between first and second axles includes: a first electric motor coupled to the first axle and a second electric motor coupled to the second axle. An electric control unit (ECU) coupled to the motors causes electrical energy to be generated by the first motor in response to the ECU determining that a wheel speed of at least one wheel associated with the first axle exceeds the vehicle speed and causing electrical energy to be supplied to the second motor in response to electrical energy being generated in the first motor.
US08116926B2
A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a traction battery, and a hybrid electric powertrain including an electric motor powered by the traction battery. A method of controlling the vehicle includes determining a desired motor torque, and calculating a desired total motor power based on the desired motor torque, current motor speed, and a loss map indicating motor losses as a function of motor torque and motor speed. The desired total motor power is limited to system limits based on traction battery charge and discharge power limits. A motor torque command which will achieve the limited total motor power is calculated. The motor is controlled based on the motor torque command.
US08116924B2
A drive control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which has an engine selectively set in one of a normal fuel-consumption operation mode and a low fuel-consumption operation mode for obtaining a lower fuel consumption; a generator selectively used for one of being driven by the engine and assisting driving of the engine; a motor for generating a driving force of the vehicle by electric power supplied by the generator or a battery device; and a clutch between the generator and wheels of the vehicle. The drive control apparatus has a control part for performing a low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode when the engine is set in the low fuel-consumption operation mode. In the low fuel-consumption driving assistance mode, the clutch is connected, and driving of the vehicle is assisted using one of the generator and the motor, which is selected in accordance with an operation state of the vehicle.
US08116922B2
A method for reconciling ground-level discrepancies between the displayed path of a moving body and a terrain model in a graphical simulation, including the steps of (1) examining the individual data points describing a recorded trip by a vehicle, (2) determining which of the data points correspond to points when the vehicle was actually on the ground, (3) determining the altitude difference between the recorded altitude data and the terrain model at each of the determined “on-ground” points, and (4) using the altitude difference to create a correction signal which can be applied either to the recorded altitude data or the terrain model.
US08116918B2
A system, methods, and user-friendly program product to optimize energy recovery for a process or cluster of processes under all possible combinations of given process changes and stream-specific minimum temperature approach values without enumeration, are provided. The systems, methods, and program product can include steps/operations to synthesize multiple heat exchanger network designs according to different process variations schemes, analyze the impact of process variations on each heat exchanger network, and identify which design provides a more optimal heat exchanger network design and which process variation scheme represents a more optimal flexibility index.
US08116916B1
A method, system, and computer program product for selecting a transformer size for an industrial or commercial facility. A plurality of end-use connected load data for the facility is entered via a user interface into a memory of a computing system for determining facility load diversities. A base homogeneity is determined for the end-use connected load data. An initial facility diversity is determined based on the end-use connected loads and initial end-use diversities. A total facility diversity is determined based on the initial facility diversity, the base homogeneity, and a total connected load. An expected energy demand is determined based on the total facility diversity and a total connected load. The end-use diversity is adjusted for at least one end-use and a change in expected energy demand for the facility is allocated to each end-use. The transformer size is determined for a total expected energy demand and a total hours use for each connected load.
US08116911B2
A system and a method are provided for powering up a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and operating a sump heater for a compressor for a first predetermined period of time in response to the HVAC system being powered up. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system and a method for controlling the system are provided. The HVAC system includes a compressor, a sump heater associated with the compressor, and a controller configured to control the compressor and the sump heater so that the sump heater is not operated while the compressor is operated.
US08116909B2
An x-y robotic motion control system includes a controller, a first rail and a second rail spaced from the first rail wherein the first and second rails are substantially parallel to one another. A gantry has a first end movable along the first rail and a second end movable along the second rail. A payload is movable along the gantry and a position sensor is movable along the gantry with the payload. A first encoder is configured to detect the first end of the gantry with respect to the first rail, and a second encoder is configured to detect the second end of the gantry with respect to the second rail. The position sensor and the first and second encoders are coupled to the controller, which calculates a position of the payload as a function of signals from the position sensor and the first and second encoders.
US08116908B2
Multi-modal planning method and system that search a path for the most constrained mode first, and then expands the searches for path in a less constrained mode. By searching the path for the most constrained mode first, less resource are wasted on searching for paths that does not result in a feasible path in the most constrained mode. Multi-modal planning is performed by precomputing feasibility and utility of transition configurations of two adjacent modes. The feasibility is used to exclude non-feasible transition configurations in the most constrained mode from being sampled. The utility is used to bias sampling of the transition configuration so that transition configurations with higher utility are sampled with higher probability. Paths of configurations with higher utility and efficiency are obtained by biasing the sampling of the transition configurations.
US08116902B2
A method of detecting a dynamic path of a five-axis machine tool having a spindle and a turntable and has a preparing step, a correcting step and a detecting step. The preparing step includes mounting a detector on the spindle, mounting a cat-eye reflector on the turntable, emitting a laser light to the cat-eye reflector, reflecting the laser light to the detector and splitting into two light beams. One of the light beams is emitted to a four-quadrant position sensitive detector. The correcting step includes rotating the detector, detecting a signal of the laser light by the four-quadrant position sensitive detector to eliminate an offset between the detecting assembly and the spindle. The detecting step includes detecting the dynamic path of the five-axis machine tool by detecting the positions of at least two of the linear axes and at least one of the rotation axes of the five-axis machine tool.
US08116897B2
A method for manufacturing a multi-piece article, such as a garment, comprises the following steps. First, at least two parts of the article are provided. Then, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is attached to each of the at least two parts of the article. Each of the RFID tags stores data including data identifying the part of the article associated with the RFID tag and manufacturing instructions identifying parts of the article to be connected. Next, the RFID tags including manufacturing instructions identifying matching parts of the article are scanned. Subsequently, the at least two parts of the article are connected together according to the manufacturing instructions obtained prior to the step of connecting the at least two parts so as to form at least a portion of the article.
US08116896B2
A method for creating panels comprises steps of: defining a horizontal axis on a pattern-making window; defining a vertical axis; defining an outward side on the pattern-making window toward an observer; forming the textile coordinate system defined by the horizontal axis and the vertical axis; providing a first panel; providing a plurality of first pattern-making layers associated with the first panel; visualizing the first panel and at least one of the plurality of first pattern-making layers; and storing the plurality of panel points and lines and the plurality of pattern-making points and lines in a pattern-making computer file.
US08116894B2
A chemical mechanical polishing method including a step of forming a plurality of interlayer insulating films so as to coat a plurality of projecting patterns, at least one of the plurality of projecting patterns being formed on each of a plurality of substrates, whereby the plurality of projection patterns have different area ratios R with respect to the corresponding substrates, and performing a flattening process on the interlayer insulating films before linear approximation; a step of obtaining a linear approximation formula R=aT+b expressing a relationship between the area ratio R and a polishing time T, where R1, R2, R3, . . . , Rx represent the area ratio R of each of the projecting patterns with respect to the corresponding substrates, and T1, T2, T3, . . . , Tx represent the polishing time T required for achieving a target film thickness when performing the flattening process by polishing each of the interlayer insulating films coating the projecting patterns; and a step of calculating, with the use of a formula T=(R−b)/a, the polishing time T for the interlayer insulating films coating the projecting patterns having the area ratio R.
US08116893B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dicing apparatus in which: in a case where a control device detects, during an image pickup of a workpiece set onto a second worktable by a first image pickup device and a second image pickup device, that an image of a workpiece set onto a first worktable also needs to be picked up by the first image pickup device and the second image pickup device, the control device determines a priority between an operation performed on the first worktable and an operation performed on the second worktable; and when it is determined that the operation performed on the first worktable has a higher priority, the image pickup of the workpiece set onto the second worktable is interrupted, and the first image pickup device and the second image pickup device are moved to perform an image pickup of the workpiece on the first worktable.
US08116888B2
A parameter setting system for programmable logic controller (PLC) includes a document module, a main program module, a parameter storage module, an interface display module, and a display interface. The document module stores application documents and an extensible markup language (XML) document of PLC. The main program module reads names and scale values of the parameters from the XML document, and outputs a control signal. The parameter storage module stores the names and scale values of the parameters from the main program module. The interface display module receives the control signal from the main program module and reading names and scale values of the parameters from the parameter storage module according to the control signal. The display interface displays the names and scale values of the parameters from the interface display module.
US08116885B2
An implantable system for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart comprises (a) a first catheter configured for insertion into the right atrium of the heart; a first atrial defibrillation electrode carried by the first catheter and positioned to stimulate Bachmann's bundle, or positioned at the atrial septum of the heart (i.e., an atrial septum electrode); (b) a second atrial defibrillation electrode which together with the first atrial defibrillation electrode provides a pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes that are configured for orientation in or about the patient's heart to effect atrial defibrillation, and (c) a pulse generator operatively associated with the pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes for delivering a first atrial defibrillation pulse to the heart of the patient. The second electrode may be configured for positioning through the coronary sinus ostium and in the coronary sinus or a vein on the surface of the left ventricle, such as the great vein. An additional electrode configured for positioning in the superior vena cava, right atrium (including the right atrial appendage, or the right ventricle may also be included, and the pulse generator may be configured or programmed for concurrently delivering a first defibrillation pulse through the additional electrode and the atrial septum electrode, and a second defibrillation pulse through the atrial septum electrode and the second electrode. Electrode assemblies and methods useful for carrying out the invention are also disclosed.
US08116883B2
The present disclosure describes intravascular systems that may be used for a variety of functions. The elements of the disclosed systems include at least one device body implanted within the vasculature. Electrodes on a lead and/or on the device body itself are used to direct electrical energy to neurological targets. These systems may additionally include one or more fluid reservoirs housing drugs or other agents to be delivered to tissue.
US08116874B2
A device including at least one electrode and/or at least one chip configured to stimulate cerebral neurons that have a pathological oscillatory activity with a period duration T, n contact points that are distributed over at least one electrode and/or over at least one chip and are configured to output electrical stimulus signals to the brain, and a controller configured to drive the contact points so that the contact points output a low-frequency succession of sequences of high-frequency pulse trains to the brain, wherein, for each sequence, m contact points of the n contact points are selected, with m≧2 and m
US08116870B2
Multi-chamber pacing may result in capture of one chamber, capture of multiple chambers, fusion, or non-capture. Approaches for detecting various capture conditions during multi-chamber pacing are described. Pacing pulses are delivered to left and right heart chambers during a cardiac cycle. A cardiac electrogram signal is sensed following the delivery of the pacing pulses. Left chamber capture only, right chamber capture only, and bi-chamber capture may be distinguished based on characteristics of the cardiac electrogram signal. Multi-chamber capture detection may be implemented using detection windows having dimensions of time and amplitude. The detection windows are associated with expected features, such as expected signal peaks, under a particular capture condition. The cardiac electrogram signal features are compared to detection windows to determine the capture condition.
US08116864B2
An apparatus and techniques for determining whether a medical electrode, such as a defibrillation electrode coupled to an automated external defibrillator, is in a condition for replacement. The determination can be made as a function of one or more data. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination is a function of one or more measurements of an impedance of a hydrogel bridge in a test module. In another exemplary embodiment, the determination is a function of one or more environmental condition data from one or more environmental sensors.
US08116861B2
One example includes a battery that includes a stack of at least one substantially planar anode and at least one substantially planar cathode, wherein the stack defines a contoured exterior, and a battery housing enclosing the stack, the battery housing defining a battery housing exterior, wherein the contoured exterior of the stack is shaped to conform to a contoured interior of the battery housing that approximately conforms to the battery housing exterior, the battery produced by the process of modeling, using fluid dynamics, an exterior of a biocompatible housing and shaping the battery housing to conform to at least some of the exterior of the biocompatible housing.
US08116857B2
There is provided a non-linear signal separation method using the non-linear state space projection method capable of separating an effective non-linear signal even if the S/N ratio is low by performing the time domain high speed non-linear state space projection when a signal is a multi-channel signal and has a periodicity. In the non-linear signal separation method using the non-linear state space projection method, an original signal having a complex signal which is a multi-channel and cyclic signal measured from one phenomenon is processed by using the time domain high-speed non-linear state space projection method so as to estimate a noise in the original signal and subtract the estimated noise from the original signal, thereby separating the signal to be measured in the original signal as a non-linear signal even when the S/N ratio is low.
US08116856B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for recording ECG signals. The arrangement has at least three electrodes, which can be connected or are connected to an amplification unit via lines, with at least two lines having no or essentially only a minimal distance from one another at least over one part of their length and being embodied as a component of a cable comprising more than two lines.
US08116855B2
The spatial position of a fetus within the womb is determined and monitored through analysis of ECG waveform data received from a set of electrodes that are attached to a maternal abdomen in a predetermined configuration. The waveform is compared with a set of predefined stored templates to determine the position of the fetus. An event logger may determine the number of fetal movements during a period of time.
US08116850B2
An insertion guide device guides an instrument toward a target location in a subject. The insertion guide device includes a base portion securable to the subject and an insertion guide portion defining an insertion axis. The insertion guide portion guides the instrument along the insertion axis, and the insertion guide portion is moveably supported by the base portion for movement of the insertion axis about at least two axes. Moreover, the insertion guide device includes a locking device that selectively fixes the insertion guide portion relative to the base portion. The locking device selectively fixes the insertion axis relative to the at least two axes substantially concurrently.
US08116849B2
A method is disclosed for achieving improved quality of monitoring and diagnosis for heart functions. Specifically, a method is disclosed for continuous temperature measurement and thermal characterization of patient heart tissue based on non-invasive thermal mapping technology. The method includes multi-dimensional cardiac tissue temperature scanning and tissue thermal pattern analysis with high precision, which can greatly improve the efficiency and lower the medical procedure risk for identifying myocardial ischemia (MI) disorders, predicting the MI occurrence, and mapping MI characteristics and impacting MI medical treatment, such as drug delivery and long term cardiac care. A system is also disclosed for use with the method.
US08116820B2
A method for transmitting data in a multi-antenna system includes determining a candidate mode in which a maximum upperbound approximation of an average total data rate is maximized as a transmission mode, selecting a user equipment to receive data by using the transmission mode, and transmitting data to the selected user equipment.
US08116814B2
A mobile communications terminal using a multi-functional socket and a method thereof, the mobile communications device comprising a connector capable of connecting the mobile communications device to at least one external device for establishing an electrical connection between the at least one external device and the mobile communications device; a switching unit; and a controller cooperating with the connector and the switching unit to perform, sending and/or receiving at least one signal with respect to the at least one external device via at least one dedicated path according to at least one identification signal; and generating a control signal to control the at least one signal, wherein the at least one signal comprises at least one of a power signal and data.
US08116813B2
A system of retrieving a product using a print medium with a print media identifier linked to a product. A mobile telecommunications device with a sensor module for determines the print media identifier from the print medium such that the product is retrieved using the mobile telecommunications device and the print media identifier. The print medium is provided with first coded data in a first format and second coded data in a second format. The first coded data encodes first information and the second coded data encodes second information. The first information is indicative of the print media identifier and of size and orientation data of the print medium. The first format is a linear pattern. At least some of the second information is indicative of the print media identifier and a two-dimensional coordinate grid. The second format is a two-dimensional pattern, the first and second coded data each being encoded in a plurality of tags printed on the print medium. Each tag has a structure that includes a target and the first and second coded data. The targets are sensed by the sensor module to determine the presence of the tags.
US08116796B2
A portable radio communications device is for transmitting data and voice communications. The portable radio communications device may include a portable housing, a radio transceiver operating at a frequency in a range of 30 MHz-3000 MHz and being carried by the portable housing for direct communication with a corresponding radio transceiver, and a metropolitan area network (MAN) transceiver carried by the portable housing for indirect communication with a corresponding MAN transceiver via a MAN base station. The portable radio communications device may also include a controller carried by the portable housing for selectively allocating transmission of the data and voice communications between the radio transceiver and the MAN transceiver based upon a received signal characteristic. The controller may preferentially allocate the voice communications and the data communications to the radio transceiver and the MAN transceiver, respectively.
US08116784B2
In a wireless location system, a method for determining frame and slot timing information for use in receiving an uplink signal from a user equipment (UE) device assigned to an uplink Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) includes receiving signals in the uplink DPCCH at a location measurement unit (LMU) of the WLS. The method also includes detecting a predefined bit pattern known to be present in a plurality of predefined slots of the uplink DPCCH. Next, the frame and slot timing information are determined for the uplink DPCCH based on the detected bit pattern. Finally, the frame and slot timing information is used for collecting uplink signals from the UE for use in location processing.
US08116745B2
A method of displaying a caller information in a portable device includes setting up an item of the caller information of each caller, and displaying the caller information based on the set item of the caller information of a caller corresponding to a phone number of the caller when the portable device receives an incoming call. Accordingly, caller information desired by the user of the portable device may be displayed, and thus various and personalized caller information may be displayed.
US08116744B1
An advanced message waiting indication system includes the ability to provide message waiting indicators for a plurality of voice mail (“VM”) systems. When a message is left on a remote VM system, a message waiting notification is passed to a centralized VM system. The centralized VM system can connect to the remote VM system, authenticate as the user, download the messages and accompanying data, and then disconnect from the remote VM system. The message and accompanying data can then be used to determine a message waiting indicator (MWI) that is then passed to an electronic device for display. The MWI can inform a user about many aspects of the waiting messages.
US08116738B2
A method and system for managing information using a gateway (130) is disclosed. The network includes a gateway (130) and at least one wireless device (110, 115). The method includes (304) downloading information from a predefined source to a gateway via a broadband link in response to a real time request received from a wireless device. Further, the method includes (306) storing the information within the gateway. Moreover, the method includes (308) transmitting the stored information from the gateway to the wireless device.
US08116734B2
A managed service may include first logic to receive identification information from a mobile device and send an authorization to a transaction device indicating that the mobile device is identified, the identified mobile device to participate in a transaction with the transaction device. The first logic may receive payment information from the mobile device during the transaction and send payment to the transaction device on behalf of the mobile device during the transaction. The managed service may include second logic to determine whether the identity information is valid by comparing the identity information to stored identity information and generate the authorization when the identity information is valid. The second logic may process the payment information on behalf of the mobile device, allocate a debit or a credit to an account maintained on behalf of the mobile device, and send the payment to the first logic.
US08116731B2
An automated system and method for authenticating entities or individuals engaging in automated or electronic transactions or activities such as financial transactions, accessing computer applications, computer software, data networks or other automated or electronic devices requiring identity verification is provided. A unique Personal Identity Value is computed and stored in an Identity Register for the entity or individual and may be used for a variety of applications including recognizing incidents of identity theft. This Personal Identity Value is based on one or more computer logic resources that incorporate the relationship among a variety of identification information elements and parameters associated with the entity or individual, such as the entity's or individual's wireless device location, the entity's or individual's home location, other associated locations, automated activities engaged in and applications accessed.
US08116727B1
Methods and systems are provided for determining and presenting a current likelihood of a mobile station successfully engaging in a communication session. In an embodiment, the mobile station (or a network entity) records call data that is indicative of successful and unsuccessful attempts by the mobile station to engage in communication sessions over a period of time. The mobile station (or the network entity) determines, based at least in part on the recorded call data, a current likelihood of the mobile station successfully engaging in a communication session. The mobile station presents a forecast indication to a user of the mobile station, the forecast indication reflecting the determined current likelihood.
US08116726B2
A parent mobile station (100) may establish a communication link (106) via a wireless network (104) using any appropriate technology. The parent mobile station (100) may send a control message over the communication link (106) which causes the child mobile station (101) to take various actions including being forced to call back the parent mobile station (100) upon any detected user action on a user interface of the child mobile station (101). For example, the child mobile station (101) may be locked such that no calls may be placed. Other actions of the child mobile station (101) may also be blocked such as, but not limited to, text messaging and Internet access. The command message may be a Short Message Service (SMS) message, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message or any other appropriate message.
US08116718B2
A communication device includes a voice data and RF integrated circuit (IC) that includes a memory module that stores a plurality of applications corresponding to a plurality of uses of the communication device. A processing module executes a selected one of the plurality of applications and selects one of a plurality of power modes based on a current one of the plurality of uses of the communication device corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of applications. The processing module generates a power mode signal based on the selected one of the plurality of power modes. An off-chip power management circuit receives the power mode signal and that generates a plurality of power supply signals to the voice data and RF IC based on the power mode signal.
US08116717B2
A steering and mixing module comprises a double balanced switch quad and a steering quad. The double balanced switch quad comprises a first output pair, and the first output pair is coupled to a first load stage. The steering quad comprises a second output pair, and the second output pair is coupled to a second load stage. The double balanced switch quad and the steering quad share an input pair.
US08116714B2
Communication is provided which includes receiving a transmitted radio signal at a powerline wherein the powerline functions as a receiving antenna for the wirelessly transmitted radio signal. The powerline is coupled to an input of a radio receiver using a coupler to communicate the radio signal to the radio receiver. For calibration purposes a second antenna not coupled to powerline may be used. A method for powerline communication across transformers, open circuit breakers, and other devices is also provided. In addition, a method of monitoring a device connected to a powerline is provided.
US08116712B2
Techniques for controlling a gain state of a wireless receiver involve causing the wireless receiver to enter into a sleep mode; causing the wireless receiver to exit from the sleep mode and enter into a wake-up period; providing, via a multiplexer, a stored gain control state value to the wireless receiver for use during a warm-up period of the wake-up period, the stored gain control state value being previously read from a gain controller during a previous wake-up period of the wireless receiver; and after the warm-up period of the wake up period, providing, via the multiplexer, a current gain control state value from the gain controller to the wireless receiver for use during the wake up period, the current gain control state value being based on a signal level of a currently-received signal in the wireless receiver.
US08116708B2
A wireless receiver that includes a reception unit which, in the case in which the frequency bandwidth of the chunk is Fc, receives a) data to which phase rotation for controlling the maximum delay time between the plurality of transmission antennas is added so that the maximum delay time is set to either a predetermined first value which is smaller than 1/Fc or a predetermined second value which is larger than 1/Fc depending on whether transmission is performed using frequency diversity or transmission is performed using multi-user diversity and b) pilot channels corresponding to the plurality of transmission antennas which are orthogonal to each other; and a demodulating unit which demodulates the data based on transfer functions calculated using the pilot channels.
US08116704B2
Methods and systems for enhancing system efficiency in a power amplification, modulation, and transmission system are provided. Embodiments include determining output power characteristics of a selected modulation scheme to be employed in data transmission, determining a most probable output power point of operation for the selected modulation scheme based on the output power characteristics, and controlling the output stage power supply of the system to operate at substantially optimal efficiency at the most probable output power point of operation.
US08116701B2
A circuit arrangement includes a signal processing unit and a regulation unit. The signal processing unit processes an input signal to form an analog output signal. The regulation unit is coupled to the signal processing unit in order to produce a digital regulation signal as a function of the analog output signal for regulation of the analog output signal.
US08116700B2
In one embodiment, a power amplifier may include an output stage with multiple transformers and corresponding matching capacitances. The capacitances may include a first matching capacitance coupled in parallel with a secondary coil of a first transformer and a second matching capacitance coupled in parallel with a secondary coil of a second transformer, where the secondary coils are coupled in series in an output stack configuration. By accounting for parasitics present in the power amplifier, the first matching capacitance can be designed to have a greater capacitance than the second matching capacitor, even where the first and second transformers are configured to output substantially equal power levels.
US08116699B2
To provide a transmitter wherein even in a case of sharing a detector circuit between or among a plurality of transmitting circuits, a high degree of detection accuracy can be achieved without increasing the signal power supplied to the detector circuit. In a transmitter including a detector circuit 14 shared by transmitting circuits 1 and 2 that deal with signals of different frequency bands, a capacitor C1, which constitutes an RF coupler disposed on an output signal line of the transmitting circuit 1, is directly connected to the input terminal of the detector circuit 14, while series coils L1 and L2 are inserted between a capacitor C2, which makes up an RF coupler disposed on an output signal line of the transmitting circuit 2 which deals with signals of a lower frequency band than the transmitting circuit 1, and the input terminal of the detector circuit 14.
US08116697B2
Systems and methods are provided for reducing multi-modulation radio transmit range. The method comprises determining a data modulation type at which a transmitter is operating, and adjusting a transmitter power according to the data modulation type to control transmit range. Each data modulation type may be determined to operate at a designated transmit power level by determining each data modulation type and arranging in order of a data connection rate corresponding to each data modulation type. For each data modulation type, the difference between a minimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the connection rate and a minimum SNR at the next higher connection rate is calculated. Starting with the lowest data connection rate and at the maximum transmit power, the transmitter power levels are calculated for each data connection rate such that the transmitter range is limited and operation at the highest data connection rate is permitted.
US08116696B2
An rf signal transmitter for transmitting rf signals through a plurality of antennas is described, which comprises: a transmit section adapted to selectively set, with respect to an input signal, the initial phase of an output to at least one of said antennas depending on a time or frequency region used for communication and to provide delay to the output on an antenna-by-antenna basis and on the basis of a transmission timing or a transmission frequency; and a quality information receive section for receiving quality information from destination station, i.e., a wireless terminal unit, said quality information concerning the rf signal transmitted from said transmit section and received at said destination station.
US08116691B2
A method for using a numerical method to design reference signals for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems is described. An input multiple input multiple output signal is determined. A nearest tight frame to one or more given structured vectors is obtained. One or more structured vectors from the nearest tight frame are obtained. The one or more structured vectors are projected onto the space of circulant matrices. One or more classes of matrices associated with reference signals are outputted.
US08116690B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US08116679B2
A near field communication (NFC) device is utilized in a mobile communications device to facilitate sensing the presence of and connecting to a wireless local area network (WLAN). A user can position the mobile communications device in close proximity to a designated location of a WLAN establishment at which an NFC device is situated. Near field communication is then detected and WLAN data can then be communicated by near field communication to the NFC reader in the mobile communications device. The NFC reader is coupled to a controller of the mobile communications device to input data received by the NFC device to the controller for processing. The data are utilized to facilitate connection to the WLAN.
US08116676B2
Aspects of a method and system for inter integrated circuit (IC) communications utilizing a spatial multilink repeater are provided. In this regard, one or more circuits in an integrated circuit may be enabled to receive a signal and repeat the received signal to a plurality of target integrated circuits. The repeated signals may be generated by frequency shifting the received signal and a different frequency shift may be utilized for each of the repeated signals. In this regard, each of the repeated signals may be generated by quadrature down-converting the received signal by mixing it with a first local oscillator pair, up-converting the down-converted signal by mixing it with a second local oscillator pair, and adding or subtracting an in-phase portion of the up-converted signal with a quadrature-phase portion of the up-converted signal.
US08116672B2
The invention provides an image fixing device containing a tubular formed first rotating body rotatable in a circumferential direction, a second rotating body that is arranged so that an outer circumferential surface of the second rotating body is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the first rotating body, a heating unit that heats the first rotating body; and a heating auxiliary member that is arranged to be in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first rotating body, at least a surface of the heating auxiliary member that is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first rotating body being made of a porous metal.
US08116663B2
An image forming apparatus includes a coupling arm that moves, when a release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates a secondary transfer roller from a secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The image forming apparatus includes a pivoting arm having a push-down spatula that moves, when the release handle is pulled up, in association with the movement of the release handle and separates the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member. The coupling arm or the pivoting arm transmits force applied to the release handle to the secondary transfer roller using leverage to thereby separate the secondary transfer roller from the secondary-transfer-roller positioning member and release the secondary transfer roller.
US08116658B2
A printing system includes a housing and a marking engine within the housing for marking print media conveyed on a paper path through the housing. A viewing system, such as a window in the housing, is positioned so as to enable an observer outside the housing to view a print job in progress.
US08116657B2
A seal assembly for inhibiting toner leakage comprises a j-seal received by a developer housing in a toner cartridge. The j-seal has an upper seat portion engagably sealing with a doctor blade seal and a leg for slidably sealing of a developer roll. The upper seat portion has an upper seat inner seal wall and an upper seat outer seal wall spaced apart a preselected distance from said upper seat inner seal wall and defining a gap therebetween. A doctor blade seal engages the upper seat inner and outer seal walls and a doctor blade bracket assembly disposed adjacent the j-seal and the doctor blade seal. The doctor blade seal further has a tongue disposed within the gap for interlocking said j-seal and sealably engaging the doctor blade bracket assembly.
US08116649B2
An apparatus (100) and method (200) that adjusts cleaning station operation in a printing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus can include a charge receptor (110) movable in a process direction P, where the charge receptor can have a main surface (111). The apparatus can include a charger (140) configured to generate a charge on the charge receptor and an image generator (118) configured to generate an image on the charge receptor. The apparatus can include a cleaning station (124) coupled to the charge receptor. The cleaning station can include a cleaning brush (125) coupled to the main surface of the charge receptor. The cleaning station can be configured to clean the main surface of the charge receptor. The apparatus can include a controller (150) coupled to the cleaning station. The controller can be configured to determine a type of image generated on the charge receptor and can be configured to adjust cleaning parameters of operation of the cleaning station based on the type of image generated on the charge receptor.
US08116647B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductive drum; a developing roller carrying toner; a DC voltage application portion outputting a DC voltage to be applied to the developing roller, and receiving a feedback voltage; an AC voltage application portion applying an AC voltage to be applied to the developing roller; a detection portion detecting occurrence of electric discharge; a first resistor portion generating a feedback voltage that is fed to the DC voltage application portion; a second resistor portion connected between the DC voltage application portion and the AC voltage application portion, and having a switching portion with which conducting on and off are switchable; and a control portion controlling the switching portion, at the time of printing, to bring the second resistor portion into a conducting state and, at the time of electric discharge detection, to bring the second resistor portion into a non-conducting state.
US08116645B2
The image forming apparatus includes: an image forming section forming an image on a recording medium; first and second storing containers attachably and detachably provided and storing waste powder discarded from the image forming section; a first discharging part allowed to be shut off and discharging the waste powder to the first storing container; a second discharging part discharging the waste powder to the second storing container; a first transporting section transporting the waste powder to the first discharging part; a second transporting section transporting, toward the second discharging part, the waste powder transported to the first discharging part, when the first discharging part is shut off; and a controller shutting off the first discharging part and stopping the first transporting section or reducing an output of the first transporting section, when the first storing container is removed in a state where the first discharging part is opened.
US08116637B2
An optical transmitter using a chirp managed laser is disclosed. The optical transmitter compares, in advance to the ATC operation, the phases of the signal corresponding to the original output of the LD and the signal corresponding to that reflected by the filter. When the two signals are in phase, the transmitter lowers the target temperature of the ATC loop to shift the emission wavelength of the LD shorter until the two signals are out of phase.
US08116629B2
A reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device includes a light distributor, a light combiner, and first and second sets of add and drop ports. The light distributor is configured to receive an optical signal along a primary input of the reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device and to distribute the received optical signal along a plurality of subtending outputs. The light combiner is configured to receive optical signals along a plurality of subtending inputs, to combine the received optical signals into a combined signal, and to output the combined signal. The add and drop ports in the first set function as add and drop ports, respectively, and the add and drop ports in the second set function as both add and drop ports, respectively, and as express ports connectable to another reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexer core device.
US08116628B2
The present invention relates to a wavelength-division multiplexed passive optical network (WDM-PON) which embodies wavelength-independence of wavelength-locked Fabry Perot-Laser Diode (F-P LD). A WDM-PON of the present invention comprises an optical fiber being used for optical transmission to and from a broadband light source (BLS) with a low noise characteristic; first arrayed waveguide Gratings (AWG) for filtering light transmitted from the BLS which is oscillated in a plural mode into a group of n numbers wherein the first AWG have a bandwidth broader than a bandwidth of one mode of the BLS; n F-P LDs outputting wavelength-locked light by light being injected through the first AWG; a circulator bypassing and outputting wavelength-division multiplexed signals which are inputted through the first AWG and the optical fiber; and second AWG de-multiplexing the WDM signals into a group of n numbers wherein the second AWG have a bandwidth broader than the bandwidth of the BLS to be injected, wherein the number n is either the number of output ports of the first or second AWG or the number of channels of the WDM signals.
US08116619B2
An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: a fixed frame; a zoom lens holding frame; a focus lens holding frame; a focus driving unit and a zoom driving unit; an image pickup device; a base plate that is coupled to the fixed frame and displaceably supports the image pickup device; an X driving unit that drives the image pickup device in an X direction; and a Y driving unit that drives the image pickup device in a Y direction, wherein the focus driving unit is placed in an upper left portion of the fixed frame, the zoom driving unit is placed in a right side portion, and further the Y driving unit is placed in an upper right corner of the base plate and the X driving unit is placed in a lower right corner.
US08116612B2
A centralized Digital Video Recording (DVR) and reproduction system links several reproduction and control units (such as television receivers, etc.) and a centralized server via a home area network. This allows programming to be distributed throughout the premises, and novelly allows live-pause recording and playback to be effected from more than one reproduction and control unit in a seamless manner. For example, during a live-pause episode, a viewer can pause a program from one control and reproduction unit, and resume viewing the program from the same pause point at another control and reproduction unit on the premises. The present invention also allows a viewer to view multiple programs from the server on the same monitor using a multiple picture-in-picture display.
US08116611B2
The present invention is directed to a shared tuner video recorder system architecture. In one embodiment, multiple set-top boxes are networked and configured to share tuners with each other. If a specific set-top box has no tuners available to schedule a show, it attempts to schedule the show on the tuner of another set-top box in the network.
US08116610B2
New movies from content providers are often made available on the Internet before being launched in the cinemas. Pre-released movies like DVD Videos for journalists are the main reason for this situation because some journalists seem to make these movies available to the Internet users. However, this causes significant harm to the content providers. According to the invention, the pre-releases are still DVD Videos or other conventional video formats but the playback of such encoded video signal is not possible using only a conventional DVD player or DVD player software because the playback requires additional hardware. An additional box (CP splitter box) splits the original video signal into two different video signals to be projected using two different beamers (A, B) which both are required for generating the whole video content. The beamers have different locations each with a different angle to the silver screen, and each beamer generates only a part of the video.
US08116603B2
Low-loss waveguide structures may comprise a multimode waveguide supporting a periodic light intensity pattern, and attachments disposed at the waveguide adjacent low-intensity regions of the light intensity pattern.
US08116601B2
A shape sensing system to determine the position and orientation of one link with respect to another link in a kinematic chain. An optical fiber is coupled to two or more links in a kinematic chain. A shape sensing segment is defined to start at a proximal link and to end at a distal link, crossing one or more joints. A reference frame is defined at the start of the shape sensing segment. As the joints move, an interrogator senses strain in the shape sensing segment. The sensed strain is used to output a Cartesian position and orientation of the end of the shape sensing segment with respect to the reference frame defined at the start of the shape sensing segment. The pose of the kinematic chain is determined from the Cartesian positions and orientations of one or more shape sensing segments defined for the kinematic chain and from an a priori model and constraints of the kinematic chain.
US08116599B2
A radiation image signal output control method in which distance information that indicates a distance between a radiation image detection cassette and a receiving unit is obtained by a distance information obtaining means, and wireless signals are controlled by an output control means to be outputted from the radiation image detection cassette if the distance indicated by the distance information obtained by the distance information obtaining means is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and not to be outputted therefrom if the distance is greater than the predetermined value.
US08116591B2
Methods and systems for creating three-dimensional models from two-dimensional images are provided. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of creating a polygon-based three-dimensional (3D) model from a two-dimensional (2D) pixel-based image involves creating an inflatable polygon-based 3D image and extruding the inflatable polygon-based 3D image. The inflatable polygon-based 3D image is created based on a 2D pixel-based input image by representing pixels making up the 2D pixel-based input image as polygons. The inflatable polygon-based 3D image is extruded by generating z-coordinate values for reference points associated with the polygons based upon a biased diffusion process.
US08116589B2
An image processing apparatus includes a partial image memory unit for reading partial image data from an image pickup device and sequentially storing the partial image data, and an image composition unit for generating the composite image data by synthesizing the partial image data from the partial image memory unit. Only when a composition incomplete signal does not exist, the partial image memory unit stores the partial image data and generates a storage completion signal upon completing storage of the partial image data. The image composition unit generates the composition incomplete signal when the composite image data is generated, on condition that the storage completion signal is present. The image composition unit reads at least one of the partial image data from the partial image memory unit and starts the generation of the composite image data using the partial image data when the composite image data is not generated.
US08116579B2
A method and an apparatus for compressing or decompressing two-dimensional electronic data are provided. The method for compressing the two-dimensional electronic data set includes dividing the data set into data arrays, performing a wavelet transformation on each array to provide a plurality of wavelet coefficients, and encoding at least some of the wavelet coefficients using an entropy encoding scheme. Each data array preferably relates to a separate and continuous area of an image.
US08116573B2
When images are classified into categories, which of the categories has important images can be understood easily without a burned on a user. For this purpose, a category weight calculation unit statistically calculates a weight of each of the categories obtained by classification of the images, based on at least one of characteristic quantities comprising the number of images therein found by considering similar images therein, a total photography time thereof, a rate of similar images therein, a rate of human images therein, and an average number of human faces therein.
US08116569B2
As a user writes using a handheld writing device, such as an electronic pen or stylus, handwriting input is received and initially displayed as digital ink. The display of the digital ink is converted to recognized text inline with additional digital ink as the user continues to write. A user may edit a word of recognized text inline with other text by selecting the word. An enlarged version of the word is displayed in a character correction user interface that allows a user to make corrections on an individual character basis and also provides other correction options for the word.
US08116560B2
A method for generating a color processing parameter used in color processing performed on an image captured by an imaging unit includes inputting data of an image captured by the imaging unit, inputting target data corresponding to the data, generating a pair of data and target data based on the data and the target data, and generating a color processing parameter for converting the data to the target data.
US08116559B2
Embodiments of the invention may include a scanning device to scan three dimensional objects. The scanning device may generate a three dimensional model. The scanning device may also generate a texture map for the three dimensional model. Techniques utilized to generate the model or texture map may include tracking scanner position, generating depth maps of the object and generation composite image of the surface of the object.
US08116543B2
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to intelligently directed segmentation analysis for automated microscope systems. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes obtaining an image of at least a portion of a scan region including a biological specimen, partitioning the obtained image into zelles, determining one or more parameters of the zelles, performing a cluster analysis on the one or more parameters of the zelles, differentiating tissue of greater interest from tissue of lesser interest in the obtained image based on the cluster analysis and based on a test being performed for the biological specimen, and storing more information for the tissue of greater interest than information for the tissue of lesser interest. The cluster analysis can be a multivariate statistical cluster analysis, and the zelles can be test-dependent zelles (e.g., having dimensions defined according to the test being performed for the biological specimen).
US08116538B2
A system and method for verifying the face of a user using a light mask are provided. The system includes a facial feature extraction unit for extracting a facial feature vector from a facial image received from a camera. A non-user Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) configuration unit generates a non-user GMM from a facial image stored in a non-user database (DB). A user GMM configuration unit generates a user GMM by applying light masks to a facial image stored in a user DB. A log-likelihood value calculation unit inputs the facial feature vector both to the non-user GMM and to the user GMM, thus calculating log-likelihood values. A user verification unit compares the calculated log-likelihood values with a predetermined threshold, thus verifying whether the received facial image is a facial image of the user.
US08116536B2
A face detection device for detecting the face of a person in an input image may include the following elements: a face detection circuit including a hardware circuit configured to detect a face in an input image; a signal processing circuit configured to perform signal processing based on an input image signal in accordance with a rewritable program including a face detection program for detecting a face in an input image; and a controller configured to allow the face detection circuit and the signal processing circuit to perform face detection on an image of a frame or on respective images of adjacent frames among consecutive frames, and to control face detection by the signal processing circuit on the basis of a face detection result obtained by the face detection circuit.
US08116533B2
Methods and systems for operator intervention in a document processing system are disclosed. One possible method includes capturing images of documents within a document processing system. The method further includes executing computerized analysis of the images to establish an acceptability determination regarding the images. The method further includes manually reviewing the computer analysis of the images to confirm or override the acceptability determination.
US08116531B2
An image processing apparatus includes an edge intensity calculator which calculates an edge intensity of a pixel in an image; and a correlation value calculator which calculates a correlation value between the calculated edge intensity and a bubble model set in advance based on characteristics of a bubble image. The apparatus also includes a bubble area detector which detects a bubble area based on the calculated correlation value.
US08116530B2
Changes in houses and buildings on a two-dimensional map are detected using three-dimensional data obtained from stereo images. A change detection device that detects changes in features that are targets described on a map has a stereo processor, a feature height calculator, and a demolition and/or new building detector. The stereo processor is inputted with a plurality of images taken of predetermined regions from a plurality of different positions, and extracts digital surface model data representing surfaces of the regions in three-dimensional coordinates. The feature height calculator extracts feature heights where an elevation of ground level is subtracted from the digital surface model data extracted by the stereo processor. The demolition and/or new building detector detect changes in the feature that are the targets described on a map by comparing feature height data and map data. An elevation region extractor extracts an elevation region that is a set of points having a height greater than or equal to the predetermined value, compares the elevation region and the map data, and detects changes in the feature constituting the targets.
US08116529B2
Methods and systems for populating fleet maintenance data using 2D feature recognition are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of determining a configuration of a vehicle includes surveying the vehicle using an imaging device to generate 2D imagery of a configuration of the vehicle. The generated 2D imagery of the configuration may be compared to a survey library of 2D images to identify a part in the configuration. Existing data from legacy systems may be extracted for the part. The part may be added to a bill of materials and used to create a 3D model of the vehicle.
US08116526B2
A method for displaying point-of-interest coordinate locations in perspective images and for coordinate-based information transfer between perspective images on different platforms includes providing a shared reference image of a region overlapping the field of view of the perspective view. The perspective view is then correlated with the shared reference image so as to generate a mapping between the two views. This mapping is then used to derive a location of a given coordinate from the shared reference image within the perspective view and the location is indicated in the context of the perspective view on a display.
US08116522B1
Methods for automatic detection of ships in overhead images of bodies of water are disclosed. The image is initially analyzed to determine if land is present, and the portions of the overhead image where land is present are masked and not processed further. The methods include the steps of chipping the unmasked portions of the overhead image into a series of tiles, discriminating and removing clouds from the tiles using two-dimensional Fourier transforms, and characterizing tile background noise from the water's surface. Different ship detection algorithms are used, according to the level of background noise detected. Detected ships are output into a format that is easily interpreted by the user. The formatted output can also include a confidence rating, or a calculation of the certainty that the detected object in an output file is actually a ship.
US08116498B2
A condenser microphone includes a unidirectional microphone unit including a cylindrical metallic unit case having a front audio terminal on a front surface and a rear audio terminal on a side surface; an acoustoelectric converter having a diaphragm and a backplate, disposed in the metallic unit case; and a metal mesh covering a rear audio terminal from an inside of the unit case. A coil spring having an outside diameter larger than an inside diameter of the unit case is disposed in the unit case to thereby press the metal mesh against the inner wall surface of the unit case to contact the metal mesh with the unit case.
US08116493B2
The present invention relates generally to hearing aids and to methods of manufacturing hearing aids. The invention further relates to shells for hearing aids and methods of manufacturing thereof. The invention, more particularly, relates to custom-made BTE hearing aids. A shell comprising a first part, and a second part, wherein said first part is adapted to fit the contour of the cleft between a pinna and the skull of an individual is provided. The shell may be part of a hearing aid (17) that is connected with a tube (9) in a first end and an earplug (20) in a second end. In a third aspect of the invention a method of preparing the shell is disclosed and in a fourth aspect a method of manufacturing a hearing aid is also disclosed.
US08116478B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for beamforming in consideration of characteristics of an actual noise environment. The apparatus includes a microphone array having at least microphone, the microphone array outputting a signal input through the microphone; a coherence function generation unit for calculating coherences for input signals according to each space between microphones, calculating averages of the coherences for the same distance, and filtering the calculated averages of the coherences and outputting the resultant values, when an input signal is input; a spatial filter factor calculation unit for calculating and outputting a spatial filter factor by using the filtered average coherences; and a beamforming execution unit for performing a beamforming for the input signals by using the spatial filter factor, thereby outputting a noise-processed signal.
US08116475B2
An audio generating module is disclosed comprising a transmitting medium, a power unit and a transmitting unit. The power unit is used for providing power. The transmitting unit, situated in the transmitting medium, connects to the power unit for receiving power, and generating an audio in the transmitting medium according to a preset mechanism.
US08116474B2
In order to suppress as much noise as possible in a hands-free device in a motor vehicle, for example, two microphones (M1, M2) are spaced a certain distance apart, the output signals (MS1, MS2) of which are added in an adder (AD) and subtracted in a subtracter (SU). The sum signal (S) of the adder (AD) undergoes a Fourier transform in a first Fourier transformer (F1), and the difference signal (D) of the subtracter (SU) undergoes a Fourier transform in a second Fourier transformer (F2). From the two Fourier transforms R(f) and D(f), a speech pause detector (P) detects speech pauses, during which a third arithmetic unit (R) calculates the transfer function HT of an adaptive transformation filter (TF). The transfer function of a spectral subtraction filter (SF), at the input of which the Fourier transform R(f) of the sum signal (S) is applied, is generated from the spectral power density Srr of the sum signal (S) and from the interference power density Snn generated by the adaptive transformation filter (TF). The output of the spectral subtraction filter (SF) is connected to the input of an inverse Fourier transformer (IF), at the output of which an audio signal (A) can be picked up in the time domain which is essentially free of ambient noise.
US08116471B2
A method of estimating the reverberations in an acoustic signal (y) comprises determining the frequency spectrum (Y) of the signal (y), providing a first parameter (α) indicative of the decay of the reverberations part (r) of the signal over time, and providing a second parameter (β) indicative of the amplitude of the direct part (d) of the signal relative to the reverberations part (r). An estimated frequency spectrum ({circumflex over (R)}) of the reverberations signal (r) is produced using the frequency spectrum (Y) of a previous frame, the first parameter (α), and the second parameter (β). The second parameter (β) is preferably inversely proportional to the early-to-late ratio of the signal (y).
US08116469B2
A surround experience for headphones can be created using various techniques and tools. The described techniques and tools can be applied separately or in combination. For example, a surround experience can be created by splitting input audio channel signals into high-pass and low-pass signals. The low-pass signals can undergo cross-mixing and artificial reverberation. The artificial reverberation can apply different delay profiles to the low-pass audio signals. The high-pass and low-pass audio signals can be combined to generate output audio channel signals. A surround experience can be crated using a system comprising an input module, a crossover module, a channel cross-mixing module, a reverberation module, and an adder module.
US08116468B2
A stereophonic sound reproduction device has a sound amplifying device that amplifies multi channel surround sound signals for respective channels and outputs the multi channel surround sound signals to a plurality of speakers that are located surrounding a listening position, and a rear reverberation creation device, in the rear reverberation creation device, convolution computations are performed on direct sound or initial reflected sound contained in the sound signals of the respective channels of multi channel surround sound signals, and reverberation groups that have flat frequency characteristics and have non-uniform delay time intervals, and that have different delay time intervals for the respective channels while having the same envelope characteristics for the respective channels are created and output for the respective channels.
US08116453B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for user authentication required for conducting online financial institution transactions. The disclosed embodiments leverage the capabilities of platforms other than conventional personal computers and laptops, such as gaming consoles and wireless devices. Unique intrinsic user activities, such as controller motions or activities, built-in hardware signatures or other input data associated with a gaming console are used as the authentication mechanism, so as to provide a higher degree of security in the overall authentication process by lessening the likelihood of password replication or interception during network communication.
US08116451B2
A system and method for validating digital information transmitted by one correspondent to another in a data communication system. The method comprising the steps of generating a public key in accordance with a predetermined, generating a public key in accordance with a predetermined cryptographic scheme having predetermined arithmetic properties and system parameters. The verifying said public key conforms to said arithmetic properties of said scheme, transmitting said verified public key to a recipient.
US08116444B2
A system and method of publishing contact information is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a command to publish a collection of contacts to a plurality of recipients, where the collection of contacts is associated with a network address book of a sender. The method also includes receiving a distribution list that identifies the plurality of recipients. Additionally, the method includes sending a notification to each of the plurality of recipients, where the notification includes an invitation to subscribe to the collection of contacts. The method also includes sending the collection of contacts to at least one of the plurality of recipients who subscribes to the collection of contacts.
US08116443B1
The method of the present invention allows a voice mail recipient to activate an automatic callback to a previous caller whose calling telephone number and recorded voice message have been left in the voice mail recipient's mailbox associated with a voice mail system coupled to an end office switch which serves the voice mail recipient. More particularly, the method of the present invention automatically delivers to the previous caller's busy or idle station caller identifying information (i.e., a directory telephone number (DN) and/or name) related to the voice mail recipient after the voice mail recipient activates the automatic callback to the previous caller by pressing a predetermined digit on a keypad of an apparatus at the voice mail recipient's station, or by saying a predetermined voice command, in response to an audible prompt from the voice mail system while or after listening to a verbal announcement of the previous caller's calling telephone number and recorded voice message left in the voice mail recipient's mailbox.
US08116440B2
When a transmission of image data to a destination has not been completed, retransmission processing in which the image data is repeatedly transmitted to the destination is performed and the number of times the transmission has been performed is counted. When the number is higher than a predetermined value, the sender is informed about the occurrence of transmission error and whether the modification of destination information has been requested is determined. When the modification has been requested, the destination information is modified; when the modification has not been requested, the destination information is deleted and then the deletion of the destination information is informed. When stored destination information including destinations of data is wrong, the use of the destination information is inhibited, which prevents users as recipients from feeling displeasure.
US08116438B2
A system to telephonically access information related with items printed on a physical document. Items marked on the physical document or on any other physical surface is touched with a finger. The system includes a touch foil placed over (or under) the document, for reading the coordinates of selected marked items, a telephone set for receiving the coordinates of the items selected by the user and for dialing to an interactive voice response (IVR) service used for accessing and retrieving selected hyperlinked documents from the web through a documents proxy server, for converting retrieved documents to synthesized speech, and for providing to the user through the telephone network, the selected documents that have been converted into speech.
US08116435B2
An emergency call processing apparatus and method in a private switching system according to certain embodiments is available for some emergency telephone numbers, such as 119 and 911, set for emergency. A private branch exchange has more extension subscribers than office lines, and thus the extension subscribers share the office lines. If an emergency outgoing call is attempted when all of the office lines are busy, priority is given to the emergency outgoing call, and one of the busy lines is forcibly intercepted so that the emergency outgoing call can be processed. In particular, when an extension terminal is set in a locking mode, an emergency call can be processed without inconveniently disabling the locking mode through the input of a password, and thus the emergency can be easily coped with. Then, the emergency outgoing call can be easily processed, even if all of the lines are busy or the subscriber terminal is set in the locking mode.
US08116426B2
A method of computed-tomography and a computed-tomography apparatus where a interpolation kernel width is adaptively determined as a function of the distance from the x-ray source to the reconstruction pixel. The width of the kernel is the projection of the reconstruction pixel on the detector. The method can be implemented in the channel direction. The method can also be implemented in the segment direction, or in the channel and segment directions at the same time. Backprojection is performed using the adaptive kernel width and may by used with helical and circular scanning, and with cone-beam or fan beam x-ray CT.
US08116423B2
The invention relates to light water reactor designs in which thorium is used as fuel and in particular to designs of jacketless fuel assemblies, which make up the cores of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) such as the VVER-1000. Nuclear reactor cores containing seed and blanket subassemblies that make up the fuel assemblies are used to burn thorium fuel together with conventional reactor fuel that includes nonproliferative enriched uranium, as well as weapons-grade and reactor-grade plutonium. In the first alternative, the reactor core is fully “nonproliferative,” since neither the reactor fuel nor the wastes generated can be used to produce nuclear weapons. In the second version of the invention, the reactor core is used to burn large amounts of weapons-grade plutonium together with thorium and provides a suitable means to destroy stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium and convert the energy released to electric power. The cores in both embodiments of the invention are made up of a set of seed-blanket assemblies, which have central seed areas surrounded by annular blanket areas. The seed areas contain uranium or plutonium fuel rods, while the blanket areas contain thorium fuel rods. The volume ratio of moderator to fuel and the relative sizes of the seed area and the blanket area have been optimized so that neither embodiment of the invention generates wastes that can be used to produced nuclear weapons. A new refueling system is also used for the first embodiment of the invention to maximize recycling of the seed fuel; the system also ensures that the spent nuclear fuel cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons.
US08116419B2
In one method, an uplink signal carrying at least one block of transmitted samples is transmitted, and a distorted copy of the uplink signal is received as a downlink signal. A plurality of blocks of received samples are generated based on the received downlink signal, and a time delay and frequency offset between the uplink and downlink signals are determined based on a correlation between the block of transmitted samples and at least one of the plurality of blocks of received samples.
US08116412B1
The present invention employs hierarchical modulation to simultaneously transmit information on different modulation layers using a carrier RF signal. Initially, first data to be transmitted is assigned to a first modulation layer and second data is assigned to a second modulation layer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first and second data are assigned based on reliability criteria. The first and second modulation layers are hierarchical modulation layers of the carrier RF signal. Once assigned, the first data is transmitted using the first modulation layer of the carrier RF signal and the second data is transmitted using the second modulation layer of the carrier RF signal. In one embodiment of the present invention, information may be transmitted to one end user using one modulation layer, and information may be transmitted to a different end user using a different modulation layer.
US08116411B2
A method to detect data transmitted from multiple antennas, said method comprising steps of: selecting a starting data block and calling it as previous data block; defining a set of indices of bits to be checked for possible flip in the previous data block as a check candidate set; applying update rule to obtain updated data block using the previous data block and the check candidate set, wherein the update is made in such a manner that change in likelihood is positive; checking if the updated data block and several consecutive previous data blocks are the same; if yes, declare the updated data block as the detected data block; if no, make updated data block as previous data block and repeat updation of data block.
US08116409B1
Apparatus and methods detect the presence of an isolated pulse in a communications signal, such as a data signal carrying data for a serializer/deserializer (SerDes). An example of an isolated pulse is a “1” pulse preceded and followed by “0” pulses, or a “0” pulse preceded and followed by a “1” pulse. These isolated pulses can exhibit a narrow pulse width, and under severe jitter conditions, may not align with a baud sample point, which can cause the isolated pulse to be missed, resulting in a data decoding error. By detecting the presence of these isolated pulses and determining the most likely baud period to which they belong, jitter tolerance can be improved for many channel conditions. This can improve jitter tolerance of a SerDes receiver for links that suffer from various sources of Deterministic Jitter (DJ) such as Duty Cycle Distortion (DCD) and Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI).
US08116405B2
A method and apparatus for time synchronization (TS) method using GPS information in a communication system synchronizing the time of slave nodes, which do not have a GPS receiver, by using GPS information of a node having a GPS receiver. The method includes the steps of extracting 1PPS, TOD, 1PPS_en, and clocks using GPS signals by a grand master node having a GPS receiver, stabilizing the signals, generating a sync message for TS, and transmitting the sync message to a slave node; receiving the sync message by the slave node and conducting a TS operation using OFCC synchronization technology extracting 1PPS, TOD, and 1PPS_en signals using the modified TOD information by the block and delivering to a stabilization block of the slave node for stabilization; and redelivering to the TS block to update TOD information and generate a sync message for TS of a second slave node.
US08116402B1
Systems and methods for cognitive radio are disclosed herein. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention may provide systems, methods and apparatuses for a cognitive radio which is operable to tailor its operation based on one or more criteria, which may pertain to the operating environment of the radio. In one embodiment, a cognitive radio may be operable to determine criteria associated with potentially interfering signals in the operating environment and determine corresponding transmission properties corresponding to protocol, power level, frequency, coding or timing of transmissions, so that these potentially interfering signals may be avoided or otherwise accounted for by transmitting according to these transmission properties.
US08116391B2
A new vector quantization algorithm for reducing bit rate used for channel state information feedback in a variety of multiple antenna systems on flat and frequency selective channels. The receiver chooses an instantaneous capacity maximizing entry from a small finite set of predefined covariance matrices. The codebook of covariance matrices is constructed based on separate optimization of the channel eigenmodes and power division between them. If, for the given channel realization, one of the predefined covariance matrices provides higher capacity than equal power distribution the indexes of the two codebooks are fed to the transmitter, otherwise, the transmitter uses the open-loop approach. A vector quantization algorithm in which receiver chooses an instantaneous throughput maximizing modulation matrix from a finite set of predefined matrices (code-words). The codebook of modulation matrices is constructed based on joint optimization of the dominant channel eigenmodes of users and separate quantization of power levels.
US08116387B2
Aspects of a system for a digital polar transmitter may include a digital to analog converter circuit (DAC), for which an analog voltage and/or current step size generated in response to a sequence of received binary numbers may be dynamically programmable based on an input control signal. The input control signal may be based on an amplitude modulation (AM) signal. The DAC may receive the sequence of binary numbers, generated based on a phase modulation (PM) signal, from an accumulator circuit. The dynamically programmable-step-size DAC may generate an analog signal, which is amplified by a power amplifier circuit (PA) and transmitted via an antenna. The dynamically programmable-step-size DAC may enable utilization of a linear PA circuit.
US08116377B2
An entropy efficient video coder for wavelet pyramids approaches the entropy-limited coding rate of video wavelet pyramids, is fast in both hardware and software implementations, and has low complexity (no multiplies) for use in ASICs. It uses a modified Z-coder to code the zero/non-zero significance function and Huffman coding for the non-zero coefficients themselves. The encoding unit includes a significance function generator that receives coefficients and outputs a single significance bit. A zero coefficient eliminator receives coefficients in parallel with the significance function generator and outputs coefficients if non-zero. Output from the significance function generator is coded using the modified Z-coder. Output from the zero coefficient eliminator is coded using Huffman coding. Both outputs are combined to form the resulting compressed stream. The modified Z-coder is similar to a standard Z-coder but uses a different technique for the LPS (least probable symbol) case during encoding and decoding that results in a Z-coder that functions appropriately.
US08116365B2
An update algorithm for equalizer coefficients in a communications system using phase correction symbols. Instead of using a traditional all symbols slicer update algorithm, the equalizer is updated during phase correction symbols for optimal performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. In lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions, the equalizer uses a phase correction circuit to compensate for distortion caused by a communication channel when a demodulated data stream contains an unknown phase offsets resulting from a fast dynamic distortion. More specifically, the phase correction circuit uses a phase correction signal to correct for the unknown phase offsets in a demodulated data stream in lower signal-to-noise ratio conditions. The equalizer then corrects for distortion caused by the communication channel based upon the phase corrected demodulated data stream.
US08116363B2
Systematic transmit IQ phase and amplitude imbalances in the transmit chain of a wireless local area network (WLAN) cause a corresponding systematic shift in the roots of a constellation diagram. Additional random phase noise in the transmit chain will cause a further Gaussian distribution of points in the constellation diagram about the systematically shifted roots. This random distribution represents a true error vector magnitude (EVM). By transmitting a known training sequence through the transmit chain, which it is known will be shifted to all of the systematically shifted roots in the constellation diagram, the Gaussian spread around those shifted roots can be analysed to determine the true EVM.
US08116361B2
An alternative approach to coping with the ever increasing demand for faster communications hardware is to design modems that are capable of operating its speeds at a higher data rate than a speed required for a single port of the standard communication rate for that modem. Basically, by utilizing a resource manager, that directs the data in and out of the various portions of the modem in an orderly manner, keeping track of which of the ports is being operated at any given point in time, a standard single port modem can be reconfigured, for example, at an over clocked rate, to manipulate the data input and output of a modem.
US08116346B2
A CO2 gas discharge laser includes a housing enclosing spaced-apart electrodes and a lasing gas. A laser resonator extends between the spaced-apart electrodes. An RF power supply provides RF power for creating a discharge in the lasing gas, causing laser radiation to be delivered by the laser resonator. The power of the output radiation is directly dependent on the RF power provided to the electrodes and inversely dependent of the temperature of the gas discharge. A signal representative of the discharge-temperature is used to adjust the RF power supplied to the electrodes such that the power of the output radiation is about constant.
US08116345B2
A surface emitting laser includes first mirror, a second mirror, and an active layer formed between the first mirror and the second mirror. A third mirror is formed between the first mirror and the active layer. A first cavity is constituted by the first mirror and the second mirror, and a second cavity is constituted by the first mirror and the third mirror.
US08116343B2
An ultrashort pulse/ultra-high power laser diode with a simple structure and configuration. The laser diode can be driven by a pulse current which is 10 or more times higher than a threshold current value. The width of the pulse current is preferably 10 nanoseconds or less, and the value of the pulse current is specifically 0.4 amperes or over.
US08116334B1
A First In First Out (FIFO) communication buffer for receiving data from a source and distributing the data to a first sink and a second sink is disclosed. The FIFO communication buffer includes a FIFO memory and a FIFO control circuit. The FIFO memory includes a first data port, a second data port, and a third data port. The FIFO control circuit provides the first address, the second address and the third address. The FIFO control circuit increments the first address toward the second address and the third address when valid data is received, and increments the second address and the third address when data is read out.
US08116333B2
A method and apparatus for performing connection control in a wireless communication system is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus is used in a wireless communication system for communicating with a wireless network, and the apparatus comprises a host processor, a transceiver, a physical interface coupling the host processor and the transceiver; and a memory accessible by the host processor and the transceiver to exchange information between the host processor and the transceiver. The memory has multiple banks that include: a first bank to store information being transferred from the host processor to the transceiver, and a second bank to store information being transferred from the transceiver to the host processor, the second bank being different than the first bank, to facilitate full-duplex communication of packet data between the host processor and the transceiver.
US08116328B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for adjusting the value of the statistic parameter so as to enable an MGC dynamically adjust the statistic parameter under H.248 framework. The method extends the H.248 protocol. The MGC sends adjustment information to the MG. The MG adjusts the value of the specified statistic parameter in a specified adjustment manner according to the adjustment information. The adjustment manner may be direct value assignment or one adjustment operation executed by the MG combining with a local preset parameter. If the adjustment information can not be recognized or supported by the MG, or the adjustment information is not suitable for the statistic parameter, the MG returns corresponding error information to the MGC. The adjustment to the statistic parameter value by the MGC may be issued to the MG for execution at the same time with other operations such as audit.
US08116326B2
A revenue management system and method for telecommunication network use is disclosed. The revenue management system can be integrated with the internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS). The revenue management system and method can have a hardware and/or software revenue generation module or architecture, revenue capture module or architecture, revenue collection module or architecture, revenue analysis module or architecture, or combinations thereof.
US08116321B2
A router, for routing at least one input signal to at least one output, comprises at least one input module and at least one output module. Each of the input and output modules includes at least one clock selector circuit for selecting from among a first and second clock signal, and an oscillator signal, as a common output clock signal for the at least first router, based in part on whether at least one of the first and second clock signals has toggled. The clock selector circuit provides redundancy as well as distribution of clock signals among elements within each module.
US08116319B2
A method for supporting coexistence in a mobile station for supporting a coexistence mode of WiMAX and secondary wireless communication system while considering subchannel allocation, the method comprises, requesting a band adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) for adjacent subcarrier permutation to a base station by transmitting first coexistence information, after the secondary wireless communication is turned on, and requesting a release of the adjacent subcarrier permutation to the base station by transmitting second coexistence information, if the secondary wireless communication system is turned off. Accordingly, it is possible to provide simultaneity of different wireless communications when a sleep mode is used and improve simultaneity of different wireless communications even when the sleep mode is not used.
US08116314B2
An apparatus for processing a packet includes a packet processor operating in accordance with a clock signal having a predetermined frequency, to process a packet, and a clock-signal generator producing the clock signal and transmitting the clock signal to the packet processor, wherein the clock-signal generator generates a clock signal having a frequency defined in accordance with a time interval at which packets are input into the apparatus.
US08116313B2
In order to distribute multicast packets, using different multicast addresses and avoiding fault points, a backup server is installed close to a master and converts backup multicast packets and sends them as master multicast packets to the client. At this time, backup multicast packets are delayed and sent while the delay is determined from an allowable retransmission time, a one-direction delay to the client, a time required to detect linkage problems, and a time required to establish backup paths and so on.
US08116309B2
An enhanced Ethernet protocol for computing and telecommunication supports a shortened frame size for communicating data payloads among selected devices within a constrained neighborhood based on a unique identification.
US08116298B2
A communication system (500) includes a plurality of subscriber systems (510) coupled to a plurality of twisted pair data lines (520). Each subscriber system (510) has an availability guarantee value, which may specify a level of service for the subscriber system (510). A communication server (502) is coupled to the plurality of subscriber systems (510). The communication server (502) selectively couples a subscriber system (510), responsive to a request for service, to either a first modem pool (530) or a second modem pool (540) based on the availability guarantee value associated with the subscriber system (510). Communication server (502) can also provide a soft-termination state and dynamic network address allocation for subscriber systems (510).
US08116295B2
This invention defines a medium access protocol for the support of mesh networking in wireless communications. It defines a phase for intra-cell and a phase for inter-cell traffic. During the inter-cell traffic a beacon phase is used for the reservation of transmissions. In this phase also information about the mesh topology is included and parallel transmission are supported. Even though this medium access protocol is intended to be proposed in standardization of IEEE 802.11 mesh networks (802.11) it could be used in any wireless mesh network.
US08116294B2
A radio frequency (RF) bus controller includes an interface and a processing module. The interface is coupled for communicating intra-device RF bus access requests and allocations. The processing module is coupled to receive an access request to an RF bus via the interface; determine RF bus resource availability; and when sufficient RF bus resources are available to fulfill the access request, allocate, via the interface, at least one RF bus resource in response to the access request.
US08116293B2
In a MIMO system, rate control is achieved with an inner loop that selects rates for data streams sent via a MIMO channel and an outer loop that regulates the operation of the inner loop. For the inner loop, SNR estimates are obtained for each data stream based on received pilot symbols and/or received data symbols. An effective SNR is derived for each data stream based on the SNR estimates, a diversity order, a MIMO backoff factor, and an outer loop backoff factor for the data stream. The rates are then selected for the data streams based on the effective SNRs for the data streams. The outer loop adjusts the outer loop backoff factor for each data stream based on the performance (e.g., packet errors and/or decoder metrics) for the data stream.
US08116287B2
A wireless access point may be configured to advertise, to mobile user devices, multiple wireless networks available through the wireless access point. For example, service set identifiers (SSIDs) may be specified within an information element (IE) of a communication such as, for example, an 802.11 beacon, broadcasted to mobile user devices. Such an IE may utilize the capability provided by IEEE 802.11 itself to use additional and flexible numbers of information elements within a beacon. Accordingly, networks that would otherwise remain hidden due to limitations of known wireless access points are made visible to mobile user devices. Configuring a wireless access point to advertise multiple available wireless networks, for example, by firmware upgrades, may serve as a viable and cost-effective interim solution and/or alternative to replacing a wireless access point with a wireless access point configured to implement virtual wireless access points.
US08116277B2
Methods for receiving ACK/NACK signals in a mobile communication system are disclosed. One of the methods including receiving reference signal information and a resource block index corresponding to resource block allocated for transmission of data; identifying ACK/NACK resource information through the reference signal information and the resource block index; and receiving an ACK/NACK signal of the data using the ACK/NACK resource information.
US08116273B2
A broadband wireless communication system using a plurality of Frequency Allocations (FAs) is provided. A method for packet transmission of a packet of a transmitting end includes dividing one encoded packet into a plurality of parts, mapping a plurality the plurality of parts of the packet to the FAs through the plurality of different FAs transmission, when a re-transmission request is received, re-mapping the plurality of parts of the packet to the FAs such that at least one of the at least one of the plurality of parts is re-mapped to an FA that is different than an FA previously mapped thereto. Retransmitting the encoded packet by at least one of a number of subunits.
US08116268B2
A method for controlling data transmission comprising following steps of: obtaining transmission delays and time differences between a RNC and respective base stations by the RNC; configuring cells and a common channel for data transmitting by the RNC; controlling a start time of data transmission of each cells by the RNC; informing a UE of a frame offset and a chip offset of the common channel through an interface Uu by the RNC; and receiving configuration parameters of the common channel transmitted from the RNC by the UE. In the present invention, merging of signals transmitted from different cells via the common channel has been achieved so that the quality of signals received by the UE has been improved and the throughput of the system has been enlarged.
US08116265B2
To allocate a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) to a modulation and coding pair (MODCOD) in a second generation digital video broadcasting satellite (DVB-S2) adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) system, a hub periodically transmits pilot frames of alternating MODCODs, which are identified by the VSAT. A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) at the VSAT site maintains telemetry of good and bad frames. A processor may then poll this telemetry to determine an optimal MODCOD to be allocated to the VSAT.
US08116263B2
An AN (Access Network) controlled by a communication control apparatus and communicating with a AT Access Terminal), wherein the AN receives control information including information for allocating communication information from the communication control apparatus, and the AN transmits transmission cycle information for transmitting the communication information in a predetermined transmission cycle to the AT and allocates the communication information in the predetermined transmission cycle based on the control information received from the communication control apparatus to send the communication information to the AT.
US08116259B2
Methods and systems for diversity processing based on antenna switching are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include switching among a plurality of antennas in a multi-antenna wireless terminal to receive packets. An antenna may receive a number of packets before switching to another antenna, where the number of packets may be pre-determined or dynamically determined. The received packets may be diversity processed where portions of a plurality of the received packets may be combined to form a single data packet. Similarly, antenna switching may also be used to transmit packets. For example, a data packet may be apportioned to a plurality of packets, and each of those packets may be transmitted via the antennas. Accordingly, if the number of packets to transmit is one, each antenna may transmit one packet, and the antenna switching may select another antenna with which to transmit a packet.
US08116256B2
The embodiments provide transmitting at same time first and relay second node preambles aligning data frames among the first node and the relay second node wirelessly communicating in a channel and transmitting by the first node one or more radio resource control parameters managing radio resources of the wireless communicating in the channel among the aligned first node and the relay second node. A relay resynchronization amble sequence managing synchronizing in the channel the first node frames with the relay second node frames is periodically transmitted to the relay second node.
US08116255B2
A device (D) is dedicated to data stream processing within a communication satellite of a communication network. This device (D) comprises processing means (MT) whose job is, in the event of receipt of a first incoming data stream whose carrier exhibits a first modulation and comprising at chosen locations chosen insertion blocks, i) to detect the insertion blocks and at least one characteristic of the carrier of the first incoming stream, chosen from among its frequency, its phase, its timing and its amplitude, ii) to modulate, in accordance with the first modulation and having regard to each detected characteristic, data packets to be transmitted to a destination common with that of the first incoming stream, and iii) to replace with the modulated packets certain at least of the insertion blocks detected in the first incoming stream which has not been demodulated, so that the resulting stream is transmitted by the satellite, with its first original modulation, to the common destination so as to be demodulated therein as if it had been constituted by a single modulator.
US08116246B2
Disclosed is a system and method for transmitting data based on an operational state of a mobile station in a communication system. The method includes, when detecting a low battery state of the mobile station, storing one or more data packets to be transmitted to the mobile station, extracting at least one data packet, which has a transmission delay time larger than a difference between a maximum delay time and preset margin, from the one or more stored data packets, and transmitting at least a part of the extracted at least one data packet to the mobile station by using a resource allocated to the mobile station.
US08116236B2
In one embodiment, a method that includes receiving a plurality of packet streams input from different endpoints, packets of each stream including encrypted and unencrypted portions, the unencrypted portion containing audio power level information. The audio power level information contained in the packets of each of the packet streams is then compared to select N packet streams with loudest audio. The N packet streams are then decrypted to obtain audio content, and the audio content of the N packet streams mixed to produce one or more output packet streams. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08116235B2
Video data from an upload client is received at a hosting node. A request from a download client is received at a bootstrapping node to receive the video data. The download client to receive the video data directly from the hosting node when the hosting node is below a threshold, wherein the threshold is based at least in part on the maximum number of download clients the hosting node can stream to simultaneously. The download client to receive the video data from peers in a peer-to-peer overlay when the hosting node above the threshold.
US08116226B1
Broadcast primitive filtering in a SAS expander using virtual domains. The virtual domains can be non-overlapping or overlapping logical subsets of the physical topology, or a logical construct based on the membership of a device within a group. Broadcast event propagation is handled in accordance with predetermined policies associated with the virtual domains. These policies can, for example, include limiting the broadcast traffic within the boundaries of the logical zones defined by the subsets, or routing the broadcast events in accordance with access policies, or privileges, associated with the group.
US08116225B2
A bandwidth estimation algorithm detects peaks and/or average per-user bandwidth of data communication networks, such as narrowband and broadband wide-area radio access networks. Estimation can be performed at the TCP/IP layer with no lower layer (PHY, MAC, etc.) information assumed to be available. However, the bandwidth estimation algorithm can be applied to anywhere bandwidth needs to be estimated as well.
US08116220B2
A method for the simultaneous reception of data from multiple sources having different spreading factors. A plurality of transmission response matrices are generated and grouped together for equal spreading factors. A plurality of spreading factor group matrices are assembled. A base matrix is formed based upon the spreading factor group matrix having a lowest spreading factor. An additional spreading factor group matrix is selected for consideration. Column placement reference index for the base matrix is derived. A reference location for the base matrix is derived. A column set from the selected spreading factor group matrix is derived. The column set is inserted into the base matrix. A total transmission response matrix is assembled.
US08116219B1
Performing wireless transmission of data over a wireless communication medium. A first data structure may be maintained which includes data rate information for transmission using a first number of streams. A second data structure may be maintained which includes data rate information for transmission using a second number of streams. Channel characteristics of the wireless communication medium may be determined. Channel characteristic information may be maintained based on the determined channel characteristics. Accordingly, a stream configuration and data rate may be determined based on the current channel characteristic information. Wireless transmission may be performed using the determined stream configuration and data rate. Determining channel characteristics, maintaining current channel characteristic information, determining a stream configuration and data rate, and performing wireless transmission may be dynamically performed a plurality of times during wireless data transmission.
US08116213B2
A computer-readable medium may include computer-executable instructions. The computer-executable instructions including instructions for receiving a request to trace a route, in a network, from a source device to a target device and to identify protocols that are associated with the route, sending at least one test packet toward the target device, receiving at least one reply packet from the network, examining payload of the reply packet to determine the route and to identify the protocols, and outputting description of the route and identities of the protocols.
US08116204B2
The present invention relates to a node and a method in a cellular radio network telecommunication system for assigning resources to users, comprising a network node having resources to be allocated to users being present in a radio cell served by the network node. The invention comprises:—assigning a priority to each user in the radio cell, where a user consuming a larger portion of the resources is assigned a lower priority than a user consuming a lower portion of the resources,—receiving a rate request, requesting a larger transmission rate, from a first user having a first priority. If not sufficient free resources are available to fulfill said first users rate request, the following steps are performed:—selecting a second user having lower priority than said first user,—sending messages to said first and second users indication the scheduled grant, and—transferring resources, assigned to said second user, from said second user to said first user, to thereby decrease the consumed resources for said second user and increase the consumed resources for said first user.
US08116202B2
Methods for allocating transmission bandwidths of a network are adapted to a network including an office terminal and peripheral terminals. The peripheral terminals communicate with the office terminal by time division multiplexing during a sequence of transmitting cycles. The method includes receiving requested bandwidths from uploading messages delivered from the peripheral terminals, arranging an uploading order of the peripheral terminals based on the uploading messages to obtain a transmitting sequence, adjusting the uploading order of each of the peripheral terminals in the transmitting sequence based on a size of the requested bandwidth to obtain a modified transmitting sequence, and arranging a modified uploading order of the peripheral terminals based on the modified transmitting sequence. Therefore, the transmission bandwidth allocation is fairer, and delay is reduced. Upstream order of each terminal is transferred based on its requested bandwidth, thereby effectively reducing the average delay.
US08116194B2
The invention is able to enhance a recording speed. In the invention, a recording mark (RM) composed of a cavity is formed by vaporizing a two-photon absorbing material by a two-photon absorption reaction as an embodiment of a photoreaction against a recording light beam (L1) as recording light to be condensed at the time of recording information. Also, in a recording layer (101), the information is reproduced on the basis of a return light beam (L3) formed by modulation of a readout light beam (L2) irradiated as prescribed readout light at the time of reproducing inform in conformity with the presence of absence of the recording mark (RM). Then, in the recording layer (101), in view of the fact that the a two-photon absorbing particle having a two-photon absorbing material coordinated with a metal fine particle (MN) is dispersed in a binder resin configuring the recording layer (101), the two-photon absorbing material having a two-photon absorbing characteristic is disposed as a vaporizable material in the vicinity of the metal fine particle (MN) dispersed in the binder resin.
US08116188B2
A plastic objective lens is configured to collect a light beam with at least a wavelength λ on a recording layer of an optical disk and is used in an optical pickup for recording and/or reproducing an information signal by illuminating a light beam on the optical disk having one or a plurality of recording layers in an incident direction of the light beam.
US08116184B2
A recording/reproducing device includes a laser and a laser drive carried by a pickup having a drive for movement and an input for recording information. A control controls the drives to retrieve recording parameters from a predetermined portion of the recording medium, creates pulse sequences using the input recording information and retrieved recording parameters, and forms recording marks having recording mark lengths between a predetermined and maximum lengths, a top section, a last section including a cooling period, and an intermediate period. Heat of mark front edges is controlled by recording parameters for top sections that are classified according to recording mark lengths and recording parameters of the first through the maximum recording mark lengths are classified into a same group. Heat of mark rear edges is controlled by cooling start positions for cooling periods classified according to recording mark lengths.
US08116176B2
A thermally assisted magnetic head-slider includes an air-bearing slider, a metal film, and a semiconductor laser unit. The metal film having an aperture in a part through which light from the semiconductor laser unit passes is disposed between a surface opposite to an air-bearing surface of the air-bearing slider and the semiconductor laser unit, and a material to adjust refractive index is provided in the aperture. A bottom surface of the metal film including the material to adjust refractive index is disposed to be in close contact with a surface opposite to the air-bearing surface side of the air-bearing slider, and the semiconductor laser unit is disposed to be in close contact with a top surface of the metal film including the material to adjust refractive index.
US08116164B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of banks; a peripheral circuit configured to send data to and receive data from the plurality of banks; and data lines configured to connect the plurality of banks and the peripheral circuit, wherein the plurality of banks are disposed such that a sum of lengths of data transfer paths of the data lines connecting the peripheral circuit and at least two banks, among the plurality of banks, activated at a same time is uniformly maintained.
US08116156B2
There are provided a row predecoder that predocodes an address irrespective of whether the address to which access is requested is a defective address, a row main decoder that controls a sub-word driver, based on a predecode signal generated by the row predecoder, and a repair determining circuit that determines whether the address is a defective address. The row main decoder, the row predecoder, and the repair determining circuit all have a shape in which a column direction is set to be a longitudinal direction. The row predecoder and the repair determining circuit are arranged adjacent to each other in the column direction, and are arranged in parallel with the row main decoder.
US08116153B2
A Read Only Memory (ROM) device includes a ROM array, a row address decoder, a column address decoder, a column multiplexer, and a control circuit. Data is stored in bit cells in the ROM array. The control circuit generates control signals for reading the ROM. The row address decoder selects a word line. The column address decoder enables a bit line. The data is sensed from a bit cell corresponding to the selected word line and the enabled bit line by a corresponding sense amplifier and delivered on a data output pin of the ROM. The control signals for enabling the bit line and the sense amplifier operate at a higher voltage than supply voltage of the ROM. This reduces the ROM read time.
US08116139B2
A power supply and monitoring apparatus such as in a nonvolatile memory system. A power supply circuit provides power to a large number of sense modules, each of which is associated with a bit line and a string of non-volatile storage elements. During a sensing operation, such as a read or verify operation, a discharge period is set in which a sense node of each sense module discharges into the associated bit line and string of non-volatile storage elements, when the string of non-volatile storage elements, is conductive. This discharge sinks current from the power supply, causing a perturbation. By sampling the power supply, a steady state condition can be detected from a rate of change. The steady state condition signals that the discharge period can be concluded and data can be latched from the sense node. The discharge period automatically adapts to different memory devices and environmental conditions.
US08116131B2
Provided is a method of programming a non-volatile memory device. The method includes applying a first programming pulse to a corresponding wordline of the non-volatile memory device, applying a second programming pulse to the wordline, wherein a voltage of the second programming pulse is different from that of the first programming pulse, and applying voltages to each bitline connected to the wordline, the voltages applied to each of the bitlines are different from each other according to a plurality of bit values to be programmed to corresponding memory cells in response to the first programming pulse or the second programming pulse.
US08116124B2
A compound magnetic data storage cell, applicable to spin-torque random access memory (ST-RAM), is disclosed. A magnetic data storage cell includes a magnetic storage element and two terminals communicatively connected to the magnetic storage element. The magnetic storage element is configured to yield any of at least three distinct magnetoresistance output levels, corresponding to stable magnetic configurations, in response to spin-momentum transfer inputs via the terminals.
US08116117B2
Disclosed is a method of driving a multi-level variable resistive memory device. A method of driving a multi-level variable resistive memory device includes supplying a write current to a variable resistive memory cell so as to change resistance of the variable resistive memory cell, verifying whether or not changed resistance enters a predetermined resistance window, the intended resistance window depending on the resistance of reference cells, and supplying a write current having an increased or decreased amount from the write current supplied most recently on the basis of the verification result so as to change resistance of the variable resistive memory cell.
US08116116B2
A resistance RAM includes a first electrode, an oxide layer that is formed on the first electrode, a solid electrolyte layer that is disposed on the oxide layer, and a second electrode that is disposed on the solid electrolyte layer. A method of forming the resistance RAM includes forming a conductive tip in the oxide layer by applying reference voltage to any one of the electrodes of the resistance RAM, and applying foaming voltage to the remaining one, such that the oxide layer is electrically broken. A conductive filament is formed in the solid electrolyte layer by applying a positive voltage to the second electrode, and the conductive filament that is formed in the solid electrolyte layer is removed by applying a negative voltage to the second electrode.
US08116098B2
A base element having a first and a second surface, the first surface being designed to receive a module housing and the second surface being designed to be mounted on a carrier element, and in addition an angle between 0 and 90 degrees being provided between a first face normal of the first surface and a second face normal of the second surface.
US08116095B2
A telecommunications arrangement including a chassis, at least one power supply, and a plurality of conversion modules that provide an electrical-to-optical or optical-to-electrical signal conversion. The chassis includes a separate back plane made up of individual back panels. The back panels are attached to the chassis by a tab and swell latch. The conversion modules include a printed circuit board, an input/output arrangement of connectors, and a radius limiter mounted to the printed circuit board.
US08116094B2
The present invention provides a printed circuit board capable of sufficiently ensuring joint strength and joint reliability when mounting a surface mounted device, and a mounting structure for a surface mounted device using the printed circuit board. A BGA package as a surface mounted device includes a plurality of solder balls arranged thereon and a printed circuit board includes a plurality of mounting pads corresponding respectively to the plurality of solder balls. The BGA package is connected to the mounting pads on the printed circuit board due to melting of the solder balls, thereby mounted on the printed circuit board. A concave via hole is formed on each of the mounting pads having a circular surface shape and a part of the solder ball is in the convex via hole. Here, the center of the convex via hole is apart from the center of each of the mounting pads by at least the diameter of the concave via hole.
US08116086B2
A USB flash disk with a none-joint metallic housing, the main point is that the USB flash disk is formed by inserting an internal structure composed of a printed circuit board, a metallic tray and an insulation upper seat in the metallic housing which is a none-joint rectangular pipe formed by drawing shaping.
US08116083B2
A USB device including a tubular housing and a rear cap assembly including a handle structure that is rotatably connected to the tubular housing to facilitate deploying and retracting a plug connector through a front opening of the housing. The plug connector is fixedly connected onto the front end of a sliding rack assembly that is disposed in housing such that the sliding rack assembly is slidable along a longitudinal axis. The sliding rack assembly includes a carrier including a carrier tray for supporting electronic devices and an elongated positioning rod extending from a rear portion of the carrier tray. The positioning rod is operably engaged with an actuator portion such that manual rotation of the rear cap handle structure relative to the housing around the longitudinal axis causes the sliding rack assembly to slide inside the housing between retracted and deployed positions.
US08116082B2
A fan tray for a network element that is installable and removable from the front and back of a network element. The fan tray includes one or more fans in a housing to provide cooling for the network element, an engagement rod with ends that protrude out a front and back of the housing, a first engagement lever at one end of the engagement rod and a second engagement lever at an opposite end of the engagement rod, the first and second engagement levers are movable between an unlocked and locked position and movement is tied together, a gearing mechanism coupled to the engagement rod to translate rotational force applied to the engagement levers into linear force to extend and withdraw a backplane connector assembly coupled to the gearing mechanism. The backplane connector assembly includes a backplane connector to engage and disengage with a fan tray connector of a backplane of the network element in a plane perpendicular to the installation plane of the fan tray according to movement of the engagement levers responsive to the engagement levers respectively moving to the locked and unlocked position.
US08116081B2
A display kiosk for housing a flat screen monitor and associated electronic equipment is disclosed. The display kiosk includes a lower unit assembly and an upper unit assembly. The display kiosk is assembled in two parts and provides easy access to the internal components for maintenance, repair and upgrades.
US08116073B2
A display structure of a slip-cover-hinge electronic device, which includes a housing, a display module, two track modules and a flexible-printed-circuit module, is disclosed. The housing has an accommodated cavity formed with a bottom wall, two parallel slots formed respectively at two opposite ends of the bottom wall, and a passageway formed between the two slots and on the bottom wall. The display module is connected within the cavity. Each track module has a track disposed on the opposite ends of the bottom wall and a skid slidably arranged onto the corresponding tracks for gliding in corresponding slots. The flexible-printed-circuit module has at least a flexible-printed-circuit member, which includes an electrical connection portion and a resilient portion flexibly extending from the electrical connection portion. The resilient portion extends out of the passageway of the housing, and the resilient portion is partially self-overlapped to be capable of stretching outwardly.
US08116064B2
An element body has a major capacitance forming portion to form a first capacitance, and a minor capacitance forming portion to form a plurality of second capacitances smaller than the first capacitance. The major capacitance forming portion includes a first internal electrode connected to a first terminal electrode, and a second internal electrode opposed to the first internal electrode and connected to a second terminal electrode. The minor capacitance forming portion includes a third internal electrode connected to the first terminal electrode, a fourth internal electrode arranged as separated from the third internal electrode in an identical layer and connected to the second terminal electrode, a fifth internal electrode opposed to the third and fourth internal electrodes and connected to the first terminal electrode, and a sixth internal electrode opposed to the third and fourth internal electrodes and opposed to the fifth internal electrode through a region between the third and fourth internal electrodes, and connected to the second terminal electrode.
US08116059B2
A system and method for quickly discharging an AC relay is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a circuit for discharging a relay coil a relay, the circuit including relay circuitry having a relay coil disposed across a rectifier circuit, wherein the relay coil is configured to actuate at least one load switch when sufficiently energized, relay release circuitry including suppression circuitry coupled across the relay coil, and isolation circuitry in series between the relay coil and the rectifier circuit, and control circuitry configured to provide a voltage to the rectifier circuit to energize the relay coil, wherein the isolation circuitry is configured to isolate the relay coil and suppression circuitry based on a signal from the control circuitry.
US08116054B2
A rating plug for an electronic trip unit is disclosed. The rating plug has a housing with a plurality of switches disposed within the housing, each of the switches positionable in one of two positions. The settings of the switches establish a digital signature associated with the rating plug, providing for a universal rating plug that can be used on any circuit breaker that is accepting of the rating plug and that has a sensor value equal to or greater than the rating plug current rating. For instance, a rating plug having a 1000 Amp rating can be used on any circuit breaker sensor for use at or above 1000 A.
US08116052B2
A protection ability of a power supply control circuit is improved so as to protect an output transistor against a back electromotive voltage from a load, a dump surge voltage, and a positive spike surge voltage which has a smaller energy but is higher than the dump surge voltage. The power supply control circuit includes: an output MOS transistor (power semiconductor device) connected between a first power supply terminal and an output terminal; a load connected to the output terminal; a first dynamic clamping circuit for controlling a voltage difference between a first power supply line and the output terminal; and a first switch connected between the first dynamic clamping circuit and the output MOS transistor, in which a conductive state is determined according to a result of comparison between a reference voltage and a voltage at the output terminal. The power supply control circuit further includes a second dynamic clamping circuit for controlling a voltage difference between the first power supply terminal and the output terminal to protect the output MOS transistor. The second dynamic clamping circuit operates in response to application of a positive spike surge voltage which is higher than the dump surge voltage.
US08116037B2
A disk drive. The disk drive includes a disk and a head-slider. The head-slider includes an air-bearing surface. The air-bearing surface includes a trailing-edge rail surface, an inner trailing-edge pad, and an outer trailing-edge pad. The pad surface of the outer trailing-edge pad includes a straight outer edge slanting outward; and, the angle of the outer edge with respect to the longitudinal direction of the head-slider is β1. The pad surface of the inner trailing-edge pad includes a straight inner edge slanting inward; and, the angle of the inner edge with respect to the longitudinal direction of the head-slider is β2. For absolute values of skew angles at an outermost data track position and an innermost data track position on the disk that are denoted by α1 and α2, respectively, the following conditions are satisfied: α2≦β1,α1+β1≦90°, and α1≦β2,α2+β2≦90°.
US08116031B2
A perpendicular magnetic recording system has a write head having a main helical coil (the write coil) and main pole (the write pole) that directs write flux in a direction perpendicular to the recording layer in the magnetic recording medium, and an auxiliary coil and auxiliary pole that injects magnetic flux into the write pole at an angle to the primary or perpendicular axis of the write pole. The auxiliary coil is preferably a helical coil wrapped around the auxiliary pole. The additional flux from the auxiliary pole, which is injected non-parallel to the primary magnetization of the write pole, exerts a relatively large torque on the magnetization of the write pole, thereby facilitating magnetization reversal of the write pole. Electrical circuitry is connected to the main coil and the auxiliary coil to generate the auxiliary flux simultaneous with the switching of the magnetization of the write pole.
US08116030B2
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for mounting an object to a base. In one example, the apparatus includes a base and a protuberant feature extending from the base. The protuberant feature includes a datum surface sized to matingly engage a corresponding surface of an object to precisely position the object with respect to the base.
US08116025B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors. A head is actuated radially over the disk for generating a read signal. A first read of a data sector is performed while adjusting an amplitude of the read signal in response to a gain control setting. When an error occurs while attempting to first read the data sector, a first jog value is generated in response to the gain control setting. The head is served over the data sector in response to the first jog value, and a second read of the data sector is performed.
US08116022B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium including magnetically recordable recording tracks with a width L1, non-recording sections each provided between adjacent recording tracks, and a wide land track having a width L2 larger than the width L1 of the recording tracks, and a head slider including read and write heads.
US08116020B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a first and second disk surfaces. A defect list is generated comprising a plurality of entries, wherein each entry comprises a track number comprising a defect. A first cluster across the first and second disk surfaces is identified, wherein a maximum data track number X1 in the first cluster on the first disk surface is less than a maximum data track number Y1 in the first cluster on the second disk surface. A second cluster across the first and second disk surfaces is identified, wherein a maximum data track number X2 in the second cluster on the first disk surface is less than a maximum data track number Y2 in the second cluster on the second disk surface. An entry from the defect list is selected in response to X1, and the entry of the defect list is mapped into the second cluster.
US08116018B2
Disclosed herein is a lens actuating module. The module includes a housing having an accommodating space and a bush guide. A lens barrel is accommodated in the accommodating space and includes a lens and a barrel hook. A driving unit applies a driving force to a bush such that it is moved up in the direction of the optical axis, by pulling force of contraction of a shape memory alloy wire. The bush is guided by the bush guide and engages with the barrel hook. A rotary member is interposed between the housing and the lens barrel. A preload unit pulls the lens barrel in the direction of the optical axis such that the lens barrel moves down to an original position, and pulls the lens barrel in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis to maintain a contact of the lens barrel with the rotary member.
US08116016B2
A lens module socket for receiving a lens module having a base portion includes an insulating housing, a plurality of conductive terminals received in the insulating housing, a shielding shell encircling the insulating housing, and a plurality of rotatable latches pivotally assembled to the insulating housing by a plurality of shaft pins. The insulating housing has a bottom base and side walls extended upwardly from the bottom base to surround a receiving chamber therebetween for receiving the lens module. The insulating housing defines a plurality of slits at the side walls for receiving the rotatable latches and a plurality of insertion holes extended downwardly from top portions of the side walls for receiving the shaft pins. The rotatable latches have press portions passing through the slits into the receiving chamber for pressing against the base portion of the lens module when the rotatable latches are rotated to a closed state.
US08116012B2
A magnetic device may include a coil wound body having a first coil winding face and a second coil winding face in an axial direction, a coil wound around the first coil winding face and the second coil winding face, and a coil winding start part and a coil winding end part arranged on an opposite side to the second coil winding face with respect to the first coil winding face. The coil is wound around the first coil winding face by an odd number of layer(s) from the winding start part and then the coil is wound around the second coil winding face by an even number of layers in a reverse direction to the first coil winding face, and then the coil is wound around the first coil winding face by an odd number of layer(s) in a reverse direction to the second coil winding face. The magnetic device may be used in a lens drive device in which the coil wound body is a movable body having a lens.
US08116006B2
The light directed from a light source to a concave mirror and the light directed from a display device to an eyepiece optical system are intersected by each other in a layout. This allows the light source, the concave mirror, and the display device to be arranged in compactness adjacent to the eyepiece optical system without increasing the optical power of an illumination optical system. As the result, the apparatus can easily be minimized in the thickness or the overall size. A hologram optical element is provided where the relationship between the wavelength range Δλ1 at half of the diffraction efficiency of each of the three primary colors of the light in the hologram optical element and the wavelength range Δλ2 at half of the intensity of each of the three primary colors of the light emitted from the light source is defined by Δλ1 <Δλ2. Accordingly, a component at desired wavelengths of each of the R, G, and B colors of the light emitted from the light source can be diffracted by the action of the hologram optical element and then directed to the pupil of the viewer. This allows the image to be increased in the color reproduction area and improved in the quality regardless of the display device actuated in a time-division mode.
US08116005B2
For combining light from different light sources in a light source, dichroic filters are displaced individually according to the physical arrangement of the light sources such that the reflected light from the dichroic filters is coincident in angle and space.
US08115994B2
A scanning wide-field telescope includes a primary reflecting mirror and a corrector assembly. The corrector assembly corrects light beams for spherical aberration imposed on the light beams by the primary reflecting mirror. The corrector assembly is located between the primary reflecting mirror and a viewing end of the telescope, and is configured to move to multiple optical focal points of the primary reflecting mirror.
US08115988B2
An interferometric modulator is formed by a stationary layer and a mirror facing the stationary layer. The mirror is movable between the undriven and driven positions. Landing pads, bumps or spring clips are formed on at least one of the stationary layer and the mirror. The landing pads, bumps or spring clips can prevent the stationary layer and the mirror from contacting each other when the mirror is in the driven position. The spring clips exert force on the mirror toward the undriven position when the mirror is in the driven position and in contact with the spring clips.
US08115986B2
The present invention provides a mirror device, comprising: a plurality of deflectable mirrors; an elastic member for supporting the mirror and to deflect the mirror to a range of deflecting angles; a drive electrode for driving the mirror; a control circuit for giving electric charge to the drive electrode and controlling the deflecting direction of the mirror; and a substrate on which the drive electrode and the elastic member, wherein the drive electrode is placed within an area on the substrate the mirror is projected on, has an outer form constituted by sides approximately in parallel to the outer peripheral lines of the present mirror and by sides approximately parallel to the deflection axis of the present mirror, or a form obtained by dividing the aforementioned outer form into a plurality thereof, and also fills the role of a stopper for regulating the deflection angle of the mirror.
US08115980B2
A light scanning unit includes: a light source; a beam deflector to form forward direction and reverse direction scanning lines on an image section and first and second non-image sections respectively disposed at opposite sides of the image section; a reflecting member to reflect the light beam input from the beam deflector; a light detector to receive a first light beam directly input from the beam deflector and a second light beam input via the reflecting member; a control unit to determine whether the scanning line is a forward direction scanning line or a reverse direction scanning line based on signals respectively corresponding to the first and second light beams detected in the light detector, and to control the light source so that a light beam including image information corresponding to a scanning direction of the scanning line can be emitted; and a synchronization adjusting unit to correct an alignment error between the forward direction scanning line and the reverse direction scanning line due to at least one of respective disposition tolerances of the light detector and the reflecting member and a resonance frequency change of the beam deflector correlating to a surrounding environment change.
US08115977B2
Methods, apparatus, software, and systems of the present invention allow for optimization of color and shades of gray documents prior to their conversion to a monochrome format. If color/gray elements are identified in the document, the distance between them and their intensity is determined. If there are elements with the same or similar intensity in close proximity to each other, colors of some of the elements may be replaced with solid monochrome colors, and/or dithered surfaces, and/or monochrome patterns. Further, the elements may be outlined. These improvements make elements in the document more distinguishable after its conversion to a monochrome format. The described color optimization and outlining may have wide applicability in the Internet Fax technology.
US08115971B2
An image reader includes a casing, a contact glass plate, a contact image sensor, and a sliding mechanism; wherein the contact image sensor has a housing, a light source attached to the housing so as to face the contact glass plate, a plurality of light receiving elements attached to the housing so as to face the contact glass plate and aligned in parallel in a longitudinal direction of the housing, and a bearing formed integral to the housing at a position below a lower surface of the housing; and the sliding mechanism includes a guide shaft provided on the casing and extending in a short direction of the housing and inserted through the bearing, and an urging member elastically which urges the guide shaft toward the contact glass plate so that the housing is pressed against the contact glass plate.
US08115966B2
The purpose of the present invention is to prevent a two-dimensional code to be additionally embedded from corrupting a two-dimensional code which has been embedded when a document in which the two-dimensional code has been embedded is copied or when a document in which the two-dimensional code has been embedded is overlaid on form data in which the two-dimensional code has been embedded. In the present invention, when it is detected that a second two-dimensional code is embedded in an input image, the input image is printed without overlay of a first two-dimensional code thereon. Furthermore, when form data for overlaying is stored, when it is detected that a third two-dimensional code is embedded in the form data or when it is detected that a second two-dimensional code is embedded in an input image, the input image is output without overlay of a first two-dimensional code thereon.
US08115960B2
A printer is provided which is capable of shortening time required to complete overlay printing. The printer includes a job controlling section to divide received data into a printer language-dependent portion being dependent on a printer language and print job information being not dependent on a printer language, a form controlling section to produce form bit-mapped data based on form information, and a bit-mapped controlling section to produce bit-mapped data representing non-form based on a result from analysis of a printer language-dependent portion and to perform overlay printing on a form and a non-form by overlaying bit-mapped data on form bit-mapped data. Since control on overlay printing is performed in accordance with form information in printing job information, the printer can be free from constraint of a printer language.
US08115958B2
In an image forming apparatus to which a user can login, a management unit that manages login information of a user, a storage unit that stores print data of a print job received from an external device, and a control unit are provided. When a print job is introduced from the external device while the control unit recognizes a state of a user being logged in the login management unit, the control unit temporarily stores the print data of the print job received from the external device in the storage unit and then when the control unit detects a logout with the termination of the login state in the login management unit, starts printing of the print job that is received from the external device and stored in the storage unit.
US08115956B2
Job tickets containing scoped instructions can control the processing of a PDL file to produce a data stream that is efficiently processed by a rendering device such as a raster image processor or printer. Job tickets contain instructions for processing a PDL file. Scoped instructions control processing of only those PDL file sections within a certain scope as specified on a per instruction basis.
US08115950B2
An image reading system includes an information processing apparatus and a scanner connected to the information processing apparatus via a network. Upon receiving input of information that specifies the number of pages to be included in a file through an input unit and a web browser, the information processing apparatus transmits the information through a first communication unit to the scanner. The scanner reads image data through a reading unit, and divides the image data into files based on the information through a data management unit. The scanner transmits the files to the information processing apparatus through a second communication unit. The information processing apparatus displays images of the files on a monitor.
US08115926B2
A system is configured to measure two separately polarized beams upon diffraction from a substrate in order to determine properties of the substrate. Circularly or elliptically polarized light sources are passed via a fixed phase retarder in order to change the phase of one of two orthogonally polarized radiation beams with respect to the two beams. The relative phases of the two radiation beams and other features of the beams are measured in a detector to provide information on the properties of the substrate surface.
US08115914B2
This invention enables a worker, who performs a work for optical axis adjustment, to easily grasp whether adjustment for further increasing the light receiving quantity is possible. In a multi-optical axis photoelectronic sensor, a minimum value of the light receiving quantities obtained for every optical axis is detected every time a process of measuring, while lighting each light emitting element 10 by turns, the light receiving quantity of a light receiving element corresponding to a lighted light emitting element 10 is repeated for one cycle, and a peak value of the minimum light receiving quantities detected in the past is detected. A bar graph based on specific values of the most recent minimum light receiving quantity and the peak value, or a bar graph showing a proportion of the most recent minimum light receiving quantity with respect to the peak value is displayed using a plurality of indication lights 100, each arranged on the front surfaces of a light projector 1 and a light receiver 2. The bar graph changes according to the update of the peak value and the fluctuation in the value of the minimum light receiving quantity of every hour.
US08115913B2
There is provided a light pulse generator. The light pulse generator includes: a laser diode; a voltage source that provides a bias voltage to the laser diode; a switching element that causes the laser diode to emit a light pulse by directly modulating the laser diode; and an auxiliary current circuit which starts to charge immediately after turn-on of the switching element and which starts to discharge after a forward current flows through the laser diode so as to provide a auxiliary current to the laser diode in the same direction as the forward current.
US08115907B2
A method of forming a container having a lid and a container body which define an inside space, and a material containing an organic compound provided in the inside space. The method includes forming a groove and a communication member for communicating the groove with an outside space, in at least one of the lid and the container body, providing the material in the inside space, welding the lid and the container body to each other, and exhausting the organic compound vaporized by welding heat to the outside space through the groove and the communication member.
US08115895B2
An optical compensation film comprising a light absorbing layer capable of absorbing at least light of wavelength λ nm in the visible light region is disclosed. The light absorbing layer has absorption anisotropy, light absorption coefficient kz(λ) in the direction normal to the surface of layer (in the direction of z-axis), with respect to light of wavelength λ nm in the visible light region, being larger than in-plane (x-y plane) light absorption coefficients kx(λ) and ky(λ); and the light absorbing layer has the larger degree of absorption anisotropy at the light of longer wavelength. A liquid crystal display device employing the film is also disclosed.
US08115890B2
A backlight unit, being thin-sized, but having high definition and high uniformity of luminance, and a video display apparatus applying the same therein, has a plural number of sets of at least one or more of light source(s) (1) and a light guidance plate (2) for guiding lights from the light source(s) to a side of a liquid crystal panel, to be emitted therefrom, wherein the light source(s) is/are disposed on one end side of the light guidance plate, and other set of light source is disposed on a rear surface side of the other end of the light guidance plate opposite to the one end. A gap or groove (4) is formed mutually between each of the light guidance plates in the plural number of sets, and if assuming that width of the gap or groove is “d”, distance between a light incident surface of the liquid crystal panel and a light emission surface of the light guidance plate, or distance between a light incident surface of an optical member disposed between the liquid crystal panel and the light guidance plate and a light emission surface of the light guidance plate is “h”, and further 2.0 mm>d≧0.1 mm and 10.0 mm>h≧0.4 mm, then the following condition is satisfied: 4≦h/d≦100.
US08115888B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a light source, at least one optical member having a periodic structure of 75 μm or more, pixels disposed in a matrix state, and at least one optical member with light scattering properties.
US08115887B2
A liquid crystal panel assembly includes a liquid crystal panel, a backlight module having at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source to irradiate light to the liquid crystal panel, and a housing which surrounds the liquid crystal panel and the backlight module. At least a portion of the housing adjacent to the at least one LED light source is formed of a thermal-conductive material.
US08115884B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device partially or substantially blocks light from a light source from exciting a semiconductor layer. The LCD device includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer, a light-shielding layer, and a light source. The light source directs light toward a lower surface of the substrate. The light-shielding layer is formed between the substrate and the semiconductor layer. Some or all of the light directed towards the semiconductor layer by the light source is blocked by the light-shielding layer.
US08115878B2
A TFT array substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a pixel electrode, a first TFT, a pull alignment electrode, a second TFT, a first and second push alignment electrodes, so that when a voltage is applied to the TFT array substrate, a transverse pull electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the pull alignment electrode, and transverse push electric fields are formed respectively between the first push alignment electrode and the pixel electrode and between the second push alignment electrode and the pixel electrode. Accordingly, liquid crystal molecules of the TFT array substrate can respond quickly and it is not necessary to configure bumps on a color filter substrate, thereby improving contrast ratio, simplifying manufacture process and reducing costs.
US08115870B2
A content reproducing system having a first device and a second device connected to each other through a transmission path for transmitting content data is provided. The first device includes an outputting unit and an output controlling unit configured to output the content data output from the outputting unit a transmission rate. The second device includes an inputting unit, a storage unit configured to store the content data input by the inputting unit, a transmission rate controlling unit configured to control the transmission rate in accordance with the amount of content data stored in the storage unit, a reproduction clock generating units configured to generate a reproduction clock for reproducing the content data, and a reproducing units configured to read out the content data from the storage unit on the basis of the reproduction clock generated by the reproduction clock generating unit and reproduce the content data.
US08115862B2
An electronic camera comprises a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a computer or a printer, and a power save mode changeover unit that changes over a power save mode to either an ON or an OFF state according to the operational state of the electronic camera, if the power save mode is changed over to ON by the power save mode changeover unit, the wireless communication unit stops its operation when radio waves are not being transmitted, and if the power save mode is changed over to OFF, the wireless communication unit operates in a standby state when radio waves are not being transmitted.
US08115859B2
An auto-exposure control method includes: creating an exposure table and an analog gain table including an exposure time and an analog gain of an image sensor set according to an index, respectively; calculating an average luminance value of an image frame obtained by the image sensor; checking whether or not the average luminance value is within a pre-set range including a prescribed final target value; if the average luminance value is not within the pre-set range, determining a shift step from indexes which have been applied to a current image frame according to the difference between the average luminance value and the final target value in order to determine indexes of the exposure table and the analog gain table to be applied to a next image frame; and repeatedly performing of reading an exposure time and an analog gain corresponding to the indexes shifted by the shift step determined from the indexes applied to the current image frame, from the exposure table and the analog gain table, applying the same to the image sensor, obtaining a next image frame, and calculating an average luminance value.
US08115836B2
An image reproducing apparatus is operative in accordance with multiple display modes. The image reproducing apparatus includes a data reproducing unit that reproduces an image on a display based on high dynamic range image data acquired from an object and stored in memory, and a dynamic range control unit that controls the dynamic range of the image to be reproduced on the display using one of different types of dynamic range control schemes in accordance with one of the display modes.
US08115833B2
The object is to provide a uniform impression of noise for an entire image signal by performing grayscale conversion and noise reduction in a balanced manner. The signal processing unit performs first signal conversion on an image signal from an image-acquisition device and transfers the processed image signal to a correction-coefficient calculation unit. The correction-coefficient calculation unit calculates, on the basis of the image signal from the signal processing unit, an area correction coefficient for each area used for grayscale conversion of each area. A noise reducing unit uses the area correction coefficients calculated by the correction-coefficient calculation unit to perform noise reduction on the image signal from the image-acquisition device and transfers the processed signal to the signal processing unit. The signal processing unit performs grayscale conversion on the areas of the noise-reduced image signal and transfers the signal to the compressing unit using the area correction coefficients.
US08115832B2
A zoom system (10) for an optical stereo device is provided. The zoom system (10) comprises a front plate (30) and a lens plate (60) disposed in a fixed spatial relationship and defining two optical paths within the zoom system (10). The zoom system further comprises a zoom plate (40) having two lens assemblies (45a, 45b), wherein the zoom plate (40) is disposed between the front plate (30) and the lens plate (60), and a compensation plate (50), wherein the compensation plate (50) is disposed between the zoom plate (40) and the lens plate (60). The zoom system further comprises a drive spindle (20) having a helical groove and a cam disk portion for simultaneously adjusting the position of the zoom plate (40) and the compensation plate (50) relative to the front plate (30) and the lens plate (60) in a coordinated manner, wherein the position of the zoom plate (40) is adjusted by means of the helical groove and the position of the compensation plate is adjusted by means of the cam disk portion of the drive spindle (20).
US08115831B2
Disclosed is a portable magnifier camera that can be selectively positioned into a variety of configurations. At least four distinct viewing configurations are provided: a reading mode wherein the camera rests flatly upon the viewed object; a writing mode wherein the camera rests at an angle upon the viewed object; a hand-held mode wherein the user holds the camera relative to a distant object; and an inspection mode wherein the user holds the viewed object relative to the camera. These configurations enable a user to effectively view objects of differing size and at varying distances.
US08115829B2
An apparatus and method for controlling auto exposure (AE) that is used in digital imaging devices. The apparatus controlling the luminance of an image being outputted from an image sensor by controlling exposure time and analog gain of the image sensor includes: a luminance operation unit operating and outputting a mean luminance of the image outputted from the image sensor; a shutter index determination unit comparing a predetermined target luminance with the mean luminance of the outputted image and determining a shutter index in different manners according to the magnitude of the difference between the target luminance and the mean luminance of the outputted image; and an exposure time/analog gain determination unit generating exposure time and analog gain corresponding to the shutter index determined in the shutter index determination unit and applying the generated exposure time and analog gain to the image sensor.
US08115825B2
An electronic device for producing an image of an object is disclosed. The electronic device may include a black-and-white camera having a first sensor area configured to receive luma data pertaining to the object. The first sensor area may correspond to a first pixel array, the luma data associated with the first pixel array. The electronic device may also include a color camera having a second sensor area configured to receive chroma data pertaining to the object. The second sensor area may correspond to a second pixel array. The chroma data may be associated with the second pixel array. The electronic device may also include first logic configured to correlate pixels in the first pixel array with locations on the second sensor area.
US08115803B2
An apparatus and method for projecting a spatial image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes i) a monitor, which outputs the spatial image, ii) an image direction control unit, which controls the direction of the spatial image outputted from the monitor and controls a viewing angle, and iii) a half-mirror, which transflects the spatial image whose direction is adjusted by the image direction control unit. At least one embodiment of the present invention modifies the conventional barrier technology, which has been used to control 3D images or viewing angles, to enhance a sense of realism by adjusting the direction of light emitted from a display device.
US08115799B2
A method and an apparatus for obtaining the acoustic source location information and a multimedia communication system are provided. In the method, the acoustic source location information corresponding to the original location of lens and the lens controlling information are obtained, and the current acoustic source location information is obtained according to the acoustic location information corresponding to the original location of lens and the controlling information of lens.
US08115789B2
An analyzer of a display control apparatus analyzes image characteristics of an image that has been pixel-converted by a pixel converter. A number-of-pixels determining unit compares the analysis result obtained by the analyzer with predetermined deterioration determination thresholds and determines the number of display pixels that is optimal for content. A pixel converter converts the number of pixels of the content into the determined optimal number of display pixels.
US08115788B2
An object is to reduce a pseudo contour occurring in time gray scale method display. One pixel is divided into m subpixels (m is an integer of m≧2), and the area of the (s+1)th subpixel (1≦s≦m−1) is twice the area of the s-th subpixel. Further, one frame is divided into n subframes (n is an integer of n≧2), and a lighting period of the (p+1)th subframe (1≦p≦n−1) is 2m times longer than a lighting period of a p-th subframe. Then, at least one subframe of the n subframes is divided into a plurality of subpixels each having a lighting period shorter than that of the subframe so that the n subframes are increased to t subframes (t>n). In at least one subframe of the t subframes, lighting periods of the subframes in a lighting state are sequentially added by the m subpixels, so that a gray scale of the pixel is expressed.
US08115787B2
A method and system for converting color image data (data outputting from element 202) from a, for example, three-dimensional color space format to a format usable by an n-primary display (206), wherein n is greater than or equal to 3. The system (converter 204) may define a two-dimensional sub-space having a plurality of two-dimensional positions, each position representing a set of n primary color values and a third, scaleable coordinate value for generating an n-primary display input signal (signal inputting toi display 206). Furthermore, the system may receive a three-dimensional color space input signal including out-of range pixel data not reproducible by a three-primary additive display, and may convert the data to side gamut color image pixel data suitable for driving the wide gamut color display.
US08115786B2
The liquid crystal driving circuit for converting pixel values into driving voltages on a plurality of channels includes a reference voltage generating circuit, a plurality of buffer amplifiers, an output selection circuit coupling, and a plurality of switch circuits. The reference voltage generating circuit generates a plurality of grayscale reference voltages. Each buffer amplifier corresponds to one of the grayscale voltages and is powered by a supply voltage. The output selection circuit couples to the channels to outputs of the buffer amplifiers selected according to the pixel values. The switch circuits couples inputs of the selected buffer amplifiers to receive the corresponding grayscale reference voltages, and couples inputs of the unselected buffer amplifiers to receive the supply voltage.
US08115782B2
Properties of pixels of a digital image are sampled within different subdivisions of an editing tool impression to produce different pixel property distributions. The property distributions from each region may be automatically classified to identify different edit classes within the property space, which are then used to apply an edit effect to the digital image within the tool impression. The edit classes are represented by an edit profile, the generation of which may be completely automated based on selection of a tool impression, or partially automated using the selection of the tool impression and receipt of classification guidance input, such as one or more parameters received from user input or a configuration file. The edit classes may also be generated without reference to the pixel property distributions, such as via user input.
US08115779B2
The invention relates to a method and a system for translating a three value color space signal, preferably given in a CIE scale, to an n primary color space signal, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 4, thus providing color controlling of a white light source comprising an array of colored light emitting diodes with respect to maximum CRI and maximum luminous efficiency.
US08115767B2
Techniques, systems, arrangements, and computer program products are operable in computer graphics systems to make shadow volumes more general with respect to the meshes that can serve as occluding geometry in such computer graphics systems, as well as for accelerating shadow volume techniques, particularly for large and complex input scenes.
US08115765B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for rule-based procedural generation of terrain in real time for a virtual world. Using the terrain editor tool, the terrain system allows defining and modifying the terrain height, color, shaders, textures, flora, and environment, for example. Additionally, generating the terrain procedurally allows for detail by changing the parameters used to create the terrain geometry. These rules can also be added and removed dynamically, leading to terrain modification in real time. In addition, resources are managed for the terrain generation system, such as memory allocation and deallocation.
US08115760B2
The invention relates to a method for the pictorial representation of a three-dimensional measuring data record, comprising the creation of the three-dimensional measured data record by means of a computer tomographic or nuclear spin tomographic device, the processing of a first subset of the three-dimensional measured data record for a pictorial reproduction in a first pictorial representation in a first representation layer, and the processing of at least one second subset of the three-dimensional measured data record for a pictorial reproduction in at least one second pictorial representation in at least one second representation layer, wherein at least one value of at least one orientation parameter for the determination of the orientation of the at least one second representation layer with respect to the first representation layer can be selected by means of a control device.
US08115757B2
One embodiment of the present invention discloses a display device which can use a display element having a relatively large difference between a minimum gradation voltage and a maximum gradation voltage. A first selection period and a second selection period are included in a period (a scanning signal line selection period) in which each gate wiring is selected. In the first selection period, a first selection voltage for allowing every TFT included in a line, which is an object to be selected, to be in an ON state is applied to the gate wiring of the line which is the object to be selected. In a period between the first selection period and the second selection period, a non selection voltage is applied to the gate wiring which is the object to be selected and the voltage of an auxiliary capacity wiring corresponding to the gate wiring which is the object to be selected is changed. In the second selection period, a second selection voltage for allowing a part of the TFTs included in the line, which is the object to be selected, to be in an ON state is applied to the gate wiring which is the object to be selected.
US08115747B2
An energy-efficient touch panel control device includes a touch panel, a buffer memory, an interrupt initiation unit, for outputting an interrupt signal, an analog to digital conversion unit, for converting analog output voltage to digital trace data and storing the digital trace data in the buffer memory, and according to a control signal, switching an operating mode, an operation unit, generating a detecting result according to the digital trace data, switching the operating mode according to the control signal, a mode control unit, for generating the control signal according to the interrupt signal, and a host interface unit.
US08115742B2
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes at least two stacked carbon nanotube layers. Each carbon nanotube layer comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes substantially aligned in a single direction. The carbon nanotubes in two adjacent carbon nanotube layers are substantially aligned along the same direction. A display device adopting the touch panel includes the touch panel and a display element.
US08115720B2
A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel, a first printed circuit board attached to one side of the liquid crystal panel and including a mounted drive circuit configured to drive the liquid crystal display panel, a second printed circuit board including a mounted timing controller configured to supply a predetermined control signal and a predetermined data signal to the drive circuit and a mounted power supplying section configured to supply a predetermined voltage to the drive circuit, a flexible circuit board configured to supply the predetermined control signal, the predetermined data signal, and the predetermined voltage supplied from the second printed circuit board to the first printed circuit board, and a memory device mounted to the second printed circuit board. Further, the memory device is configured to perform a write protection function in response to a predetermined voltage supplied from an electrical passage via at least one of the flexible circuit board and the first printed circuit board.
US08115717B2
A method for line-by-line addressing of RMS responding display matrix with wavelets, said method comprises steps of: selecting the wavelets such that energy of them is proportional to an integer power of two to form a wavelet matrix; obtaining select waveform profile by summing elements of column in the wavelet matrix; obtaining column waveforms by dot product of data with column of the wavelet matrix; and applying the select waveform and the corresponding column waveforms by selecting one row of the display matrix at a time.
US08115716B2
In the liquid crystal display device adjacent source lines may be short-circuited during horizontal scanning periods. A gate driver sequentially may apply a pixel data write pulse to gate lines in each frame period and may apply a black voltage application pulse during the horizontal scanning periods which is after the lapse of a period of the order of a 2/3 frame from the application of the pixel data write pulse to each gate line. A source driver may connect each source line to a charge sharing voltage fixing power supply during the horizontal scanning periods where the adjacent source lines are short-circuited, and thereby brings a charge sharing voltage to the same value regardless of display gradation.
US08115713B2
An image processing apparatus including a frame doubling processing part for generating a doubled image signal, a false impulse drive processing part for outputting a current image signal after dividing the doubled image signal, a first frame memory for outputting the current image signal as a previous image signal delayed by one sub-frame, a correction processing part for correcting a gradation level of the current image signal after the previous image signal and the current image signal being input thereto, a second frame memory for outputting a delayed doubled image signal from the doubled image signal, and a movement detector for outputting a movement detection signal after the delayed doubled image signal and the doubled image signal being input thereto is provided, wherein the correction processing part corrects the gradation level of the current image signal when the movement detection signal is a signal indicating a dynamic image.
US08115709B2
An exemplary electro-wetting display (EWD) device includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate opposite to the upper substrate, a plurality of side walls interposed between the upper and lower substrates and cooperating with the upper and lower substrates to form a plurality of pixel units, a first polar liquid disposed in the pixel units, a second, colored, non-polar liquid disposed in the pixel units and being immiscible with the first liquid, and a plurality of scanning lines disposed on the lower substrate and parallel to and spaced apart from each other for providing scanning signals to the pixel units. Each of the pixel units corresponds to at least part of a corresponding previous scanning line.
US08115704B2
A method of driving an emissive display, the display comprising a plurality of pixels each addressable by a row electrode and a column electrode, the method comprising: driving a plurality of the column electrodes with a first set of column drive signals; and driving two or more of the row electrodes with a first set of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the column drive signals; then driving the plurality of column electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of column drive signals; and driving the two or more row electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the second column drive signals.
US08115694B2
A coupling device is provided, including a substrate, a ground element, a first feed conductor and a second feed conductor. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface. The ground element is disposed on the second surface, wherein the ground element includes a first portion, a second portion, an annular groove and a feed slot, the annular groove is located between the first portion and the second portion, enclosing the first portion, and a first end of the feed slot is connected to the annular groove. The first feed conductor is disposed on the first surface corresponding to the annular groove, wherein the first feed conductor couples the ground element to feed a current signal. The second feed conductor is disposed on the first surface corresponding to the feed slot, wherein second feed conductor couples the feed slot to feed a magnetic current.
US08115686B2
The invention relates to a handheld device comprising a first antenna (401, 701, 901, 931, 961, 1101, 1151, 1301, 1501) arranged to operate in at least a first frequency band, and a second antenna (402, 702, 902, 1102, 1302, 1502, 2210) arranged to operate in at least a second frequency band, wherein said second frequency band is different from said first frequency band. According to the invention, the second antenna comprises a slot antenna comprising at least one slot in at least one conductive layer. The invention also relates to enhancement of the isolation between first and second antennas in a handheld device.
US08115669B2
Provided is a vehicular radar device which is capable of reducing an operation resource quantity necessary for a process of estimating an axis deviation angle in a radar measurement coordinate system, to thereby reduce a device size. The vehicular radar device includes: a measurement unit that measures an azimuth angle and a relative Doppler velocity; an extraction/accumulation unit that extracts target information satisfying conditions related to the relative Doppler velocity, a travel speed and a turning velocity, and accumulates the azimuth angle and a velocity ratio obtained by dividing the relative Doppler velocity by the travel speed of the subject vehicle among the extracted target information; and an axis deviation angle estimate unit that reads the target information accumulated in the extraction/accumulation unit, and estimates an axis deviation angle of the measurement coordinate system of a radar based on a second-order polynomial expression of the azimuth angle of the target.
US08115666B2
A method and system for examining subsurface targets utilizing an elevated or airborne platform. A broad spectrum of frequencies is transmitted from the platform and is directed at the various subsurface targets. A plurality of chirp signals would be utilized to transmit the entire frequency range. These signals are reflected from the various subsurface targets and are received by the platform. The received chirp signals are combined in a manner to allow the visualization of the subsurface target.
US08115661B2
A method and system for calibrating an initial driving signal for driving an optical pick-up head of an optical disk drive is provided. On one embodiment, said optical disk drive is utilized for reading or writing data on an optical disk, the optical disk includes a plurality of auto power control areas (APC areas) and a plurality of data areas, and the APC areas and the data areas are interleaved in between. In at least one of the APC areas that before the data areas for a normal data writing, an initial driving signal is used for the normal data writing to drive the optical pick-up head to emit laserbeam. A detected level of the laserbeam is then obtained. An update initial driving signal is then calibrated according to the detected level and a target level.
US08115658B2
A letter confirmation system is provided on a handheld electronic device. The letter confirmation provides highlighting of various letters that have been input to the handheld electronic device during a string of member input actuations. The letter confirmation system can additionally provide predictive linguistic elements that would be appropriate next inputs. Various types of highlights can be provided in various combinations to provide various indications to a user.
US08115652B2
A method and an apparatus for vehicle driving guide with lamps are applied to a target road. The apparatus has a traffic condition detection module, multiple indication lamps and a signal control module. The traffic condition detection module obtains a traffic condition. The indication lamps are mounted separately on the target road. The signal control module is electrically connected to the traffic condition detection module and the indication lamps and operates the indication lamps according to a control process based on different traffic conditions. The control process may be in a chase mode that sequentially pulses the indication lamps on with a regulated moving direction of the target road with a pulse interval between turning the indication lamps on to present an impression that the lights are moving at an indicator speed. The impression allows drivers in vehicles on the target road to follow to drive.
US08115645B2
A thermal detection method comprises steps of providing a rotation device, disposing a thermal sensor on the rotation device, rotating the rotation device, and using the thermal sensor to detect a temperature of an object without contacting the object. A thermal detecting system comprises a rotation device and a thermal sensor disposed on the rotation device for detecting a temperature of an object without contacting the object.
US08115641B1
A system and a method for detecting if a person has fallen down is provided. The system includes at least two sensors which remotely detect energy in at least two zones. The output of the sensors are analyzed and compared to characteristics which are determined to be representative of a fall. If the sensor outputs match the particular characteristics, the system concludes that a fall has occurred and outputs this result. An alarm may be generated if the system detects a fall.
US08115634B2
A system for detecting access to an article, including an RFID tag, a reader detecting the RFID tag via wireless communication, and a container including conductive material. The container encloses the article, the conductive material surrounding the RFID tag and substantially preventing wireless communication between the RFID tag and the reader unless the container is opened. Detection of the RFID tag indicates that the container has been opened and the article has been accessed. A host computer may be notified of the detection and may receive from the RFID tag information associated with the article for inventory and accounting purposes.
US08115633B2
A method for tracking objects includes providing each of at least two different objects with a transmitter having individualized identifier data; logically connecting the objects to each other by connecting the identifier data of the transmitters to each other; recording the identifier data of the transmitters of the objects in a memory; connecting contact information of the object in question to the identifier data; detecting the transmitter of the object with a receiver of an identification point when the object comes close to the identification point; determining based on the identifier data contained in the memory whether at least two objects logically connected to each other have traveled past the identification point inside a pre-defined time window; and performing one or more pre-defined feedback actions when at least two of the objects logically connected to each other have not traveled past the identification point inside the pre-defined time window.
US08115632B1
A semiconductor chip for an RFID tag is described. The semiconductor chip including wireless transceiver and processing block circuitry to receive and put into effect a wirelessly received instruction encoded in a TUNE command. The instruction commanding the semiconductor chip to perform at least one specific act. The semiconductor chip having circuitry to perform the at least one specific act. The circuitry being coupled to the processing block. The circuitry and its corresponding specific act identified by at least one of the following: enablement circuitry to turn a sub-circuit within the semiconductor chip on; disablement circuitry to turn a sub-circuit within the semiconductor chip off; current bias circuitry to alter a bias current within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip; voltage bias circuitry to alter a bias voltage within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip; threshold adjustment circuitry to adjust a threshold within a sub-circuit of the semiconductor chip.
US08115630B2
An RFID tag (10), containing at least two independent microscopic RFID chips (16) or microradios is programmed with the same unique identifier for each chip. The unique identifier is used in the RFID chips (16) to key the RFID chip (16) transmitting to produce outputs in the same time slot so that the outputs add coherently, thus to create an output that is identical to that of a conventional tag containing only one such chip.
US08115624B2
System, method, and kit for remotely monitoring an individual with a sensor-integrated picture frame
In embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for remotely monitoring an individual may include providing a sensor integrated in a monitoring object at a first location where the monitoring object may be configured as a picture frame. A sensor may be associated with an environment of an individual at the first location. The sensor may be associated with a network. Sensor data may be processed to obtain monitoring information for the activity of the individual in the environment. The monitoring information may be transmitted over the network from the first location to a receiving object at a second location, where the receiving object may be configured as a picture frame.
US08115609B2
A method and apparatus for secure access to data, to application and to systems and for providing an alarm to users upon detecting that a monitored device is not within a desired proximity using a multi-function BLUETOOTH apparatus are described. The multi-function BLUETOOTH apparatus can also provide voice and location functionality.
US08115605B2
A power line communications PLC transmitter and receiver device includes a physical communications protocol layer that provides for dynamic selection of a communications signal transmission operating mode from a plurality of such modes, where each has a corresponding transmission data structure that is based on characteristics of the electric power distribution network to which the PLC device is to be coupled and also the communications protocol profile requirements for the network.
US08115595B2
An RFID reader control system and method is provided. A protocol for controlling an RFID reader and an RFID reader control unit of a mobile phone is defined. Messages, information, commands, responses, and notification are constructed and transmitted between the RFID reader and the RFID reader control unit.
US08115594B2
The invention provides a tag communication device, a tag moving direction detecting system and a tag moving direction detecting method able to detect the moving direction of a moving body attaching a RFID tag thereto by simple processing, and able to easily detect the moving direction even when its moving speed is increased. A scan antenna scans a beam of a transmitted radio wave toward a belt conveyer for conveying baggage with a RFID tag. ID is read from the RFID tag, and reading NO. and a scan angle are related and recorded to a measuring data table, and plot data are generated. These plot data are plotted in an XY coordinate system, and a plot graph is generated. Further, a linear approximate straight line is calculated from this plot graph, and a moving direction of the baggage is detected from an inclination value of the linear approximate straight line.
US08115592B2
A system for submitting alert notices to mobile communication devices is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile communication device (MCD) having a controller element that transmits to an alert generation system (AGS) a location coordinate in order for the AGS to submit an alert notice to the MCD when the MCD is in proximity to an alert condition. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08115588B2
A novel game controller is provided. The game controller includes: a lower operation button supported by a rotation shaft so as to be capable of a rotating operation; a resistor arranged on an internal substrate; and a conductive member to be pressed against the resistor by a rotating operation on the lower operation button, the conductive member having elasticity. The resistor outputs an analog signal in accordance with a contact area of the conductive member, thereby realizing an analog input.
US08115587B2
A ceramic main body 1 is composed of a (Mn,Ni)3O4- or (Mn,Co)3O4-based ceramic material. A first phase has a spinel structure. A second phase is formed of high-resistance plate crystals. The second phase is present in the first phase in a dispersed state. A heated pathway having a predetermined pattern is formed on a surface of the ceramic main body by the application of heat by laser irradiation. In the heated pathway, the second phase disappears and is crystallographically equivalent to the first phase. The plate crystals of the second phase precipitate at 800° C. or lower in the cooling substep during firing. The formation of the heated pathway facilitates the adjustment of the resistance of an NTC thermistor. Thereby, provided are an NTC thermistor ceramic with a resistance that can be easily adjusted to a lower value even after sintering, a method for producing the NTC thermistor ceramic, and an NTC thermistor.
US08115581B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus, comprising a field emission source having polarities and positions in accordance with a code, a plurality of connected coils adapted to move proximate to said field emission source and having positions in accordance with said code, and wherein an electrical pulse is created when said field emission source is aligned with said plurality of connected coils according to said code.
US08115573B2
System and method for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is disclosed. A preferred embodiment comprises a first anchor region, a vibrating MEMS structure fixed to the first anchor region, a first electrode adjacent the vibrating MEMS structure, a second electrode adjacent the vibrating MEMS structure wherein the vibrating MEMS structure is arranged between the first and the second electrode.
US08115572B2
Tunable matching network topologies are disclosed. A network in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one inductor, and at least one tunable capacitor, in parallel with the inductor, wherein the at least one tunable capacitor tunes the at least one inductor self-resonant frequency.
US08115565B2
A waveguide arrangement having a longitudinal extension, along which an electromagnetic wave may propagate, and comprising at least one waveguide part and a feeding arrangement which is arranged for feeding said waveguide part with a first polarization and a second polarization, said polarizations being mutually orthogonal. The feeding arrangement comprises a dielectric carrier material comprising a first feeding conductor, feeding the first polarization and a second feeding conductor, feeding the second polarization, where the first polarization is excited by means of first excitation means fed by said first feeding conductor and the second polarization is excited by means of second excitation means fed by said second feeding conductor, where at least one excitation means is a symmetrical structure with respect to the longitudinal extension.
US08115560B2
In one embodiment, a circuit topology for use in an n-phase voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) or injection-locked frequency divider includes a transmission line ring having n transmission line delay segments connected at n junctions, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 3. Each transmission line segment provides a 1/n wavelength signal delay between adjacent junctions. The transmission line ring is coupled to a first power supply node. Each of the junctions has a respective transistor coupled thereto, each transistor having a first source/drain terminal coupled to its respective junction, a second source/drain terminal coupled to a second power supply node, and a gate terminal, wherein the gate terminal is coupled to a signal that is ½ wavelength out-of-phase with respect to a signal at the first source/drain terminal of the transistor.
US08115552B2
A step gain amplifier has an amplifier with an input and an output, and a bias circuit connected to the input and to a bias node. A passive feedback circuit using only passive elements connects the output to the input. A control circuit is connected to the bias circuit at the bias node.
US08115541B2
A three-level half-bridge PWM amplifier includes a PWM generator and an output stage. The PWM generator changes a width of a pulse at a first level or a second level according to amplitude of an input signal and outputs a three-level PWM output signal having the first level, the second level, and a reference level. The output stage drives an output node connected to a terminal of a load to a first power supply voltage, a second power supply voltage, or a third power supply voltage based on the three-level PWM output signal. Accordingly, unnecessary static current consumption is reduced, thereby increasing efficiency.
US08115538B2
The invention relates to the field of modulation and demodulation circuits, such as envelope detectors used to demodulate amplitude-modulated (AM) signals. By coupling an analog circuit to a port of a digital component, an envelope detector can be obtained, which achieves demodulation of AM signals for direct coupling into a digital input port. Accordingly, an envelope detector may be used in the data receiving part of a sealed device requiring post-manufacturing data transfer, in combination with additional components that provide electromagnetic coupling, such as inductive coupling, capacitive coupling, or radiative coupling. An example of such a device is a credit card sized authentication token.
US08115528B2
A circuit, delay-locked loop, memory device, system and method of synchronizing a clock are described. A circuit generally includes a delay line configured to delay an external clock signal to produce a substantially in-phase output clock signal, a main loop configured to control delay through the delay line, and a secondary loop configured to adjust delay through the main loop. The clock synchronization method generally includes adjusting a delay along a delay line in response to a first phase difference between an input clock to the delay line and a shared clock signal delayed by a shared dynamic I/O model of an output driver. The method further includes adjusting the shared dynamic I/O model in response to a second phase difference between an output clock signal and the shared clock signal.
US08115520B2
A driver circuit includes a main driver which receives an input signal and outputs a first signal corresponding to the input signal, a sub driver which receives the input signal and outputs a non-inverted signal and an inverted signal corresponding to the input signal, a differentiating circuit including resistors and a variable capacity condenser, which outputs signals by differentiating the non-inverted signal and the inverted signal, respectively, and an addition unit which outputs a high frequency emphasized signal given by adding the output signal of the main driver and the signal given by differentiating the non-inverted signal, or a low frequency emphasized signal given by adding the output signal of the main driver and the signal given by differentiating the inverted signal.
US08115517B2
A circuit arrangement for identifying network zero crossings of a network voltage of an alternating current network is provided. A measurement current generated by the network voltage is supplied to a zero crossing detector in order to produce a network zero crossing signal. A current sink is arranged between a live conductor and a neutral conductor of the alternating current network, the current sink allowing the path of a current value of the measurement current generated by the network voltage to be defined.
US08115516B2
A circuit arrangement for detecting unwanted signals on a clock signal comprises an input for receiving the clock signal, and a Phase Lock Loop PLL circuit having a reference input coupled to the input of the circuit arrangement for receiving the clock signal and an output for providing a PLL output signal. The circuit arrangement further comprises a detector coupled to the output of the PLL circuit and to the input of the circuit arrangement. The detector is arranged to identify correct transitions in the clock signal using the PLL output signal, and to remove incorrect transitions due to unwanted signals from the clock signal so as to provide a filtered clock signal at an output of the circuit arrangement.
US08115510B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC) that includes several configurable circuits grouped in several tiles. The configurable IC also includes a configuration network for loading configuration data into the IC, where the configuration data is for configuring several of the configurable circuit. In some embodiments, the configuration network includes several registers at several boundaries between the tiles, where the registers allow multiple configuration data sets to be routed to multiple tiles concurrently. The configuration network in some embodiments includes several address counters at several tiles, where each address counter allows one address to be loaded for a tile and then to be successively incremented based on increment instructions sent over the configuration network. At least, two different addresses specified by an address counter of a particular tile identify two different resources within the particular tile.
US08115506B2
Methods and apparatus for determining whether a malfunctioning pixel in a large area substrate, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, is due to the pixel itself or to the driver circuit for that pixel and for localizing any driver circuit defects are provided. In an effort to localize the driver circuit defects, test pads coupled to the input and/or output of certain driver circuits may be fabricated on the substrate. The voltage or charge of these test pads may be detected using any suitable sensing device, such as an electron beam, an electro-optical sensor, or an electrode in close proximity to the surface of the pixels and/or drivers capacitively coupled to the pixel or driver. For some embodiments, the defective driver circuits may be repaired in the same area as the test area or may be transported via conveyor or robot to a separate repair station.
US08115502B2
The invention provides a fluid measuring apparatus, which includes a collector, a sensing circuit, and an electrochromic device electrically connected to the sensing circuit. When the concentration of a fluid flowing through the collector and between the sensing circuit varies, the color of the electrochromic device changes accordingly. Further, the electrochromic device includes an electrochromic material, and the sensing circuit includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and the second electrodes are disposed in the collector and the electrochromic material is disposed on the first electrode. When the concentration of an electrolytic solution flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode varies, the color of the electrochromic material changes accordingly.
US08115501B2
A sensor system includes a sensor and a control module. The sensor includes an electrically actuated moving member. The sensor is in fluid communication with a reservoir of a separator that separates a first fluid from a fuel. The control module selectively causes current to be supplied to the sensor to actuate the member. The control module measures the current and determines a parameter of the current. The control module identifies one of presence and absence of the first fluid in the reservoir based on the parameter.
US08115491B2
To perform marine electromagnetic (EM) surveying of a subterranean structure, a marine cable system is provided including a tow cable, a plurality of electromagnetic (EM) sources coupled to the tow cable, and a plurality of EM receivers coupled to the tow cable. The system is configured for deployment in a body of water to perform marine EM surveying of a subterranean structure.
US08115488B2
A method and apparatus for tuning and matching extremely small sample coils with very low inductance for use in magnetic resonance experiments conducted at low frequencies. A circuit is disclosed that is appropriate for performing measurements in fields where magnetic resonance is beneficially utilized. The circuit has a microcoil, an adjustable tuning capacitance, and added inductance in the form of a tuning inductor. The microcoil is an electrical coil having an inductance of about 25 nanohenries (nH) or less. Because additional inductance is purposefully added, the capacitance required for resonance and apparatus function is proportionally and helpfully reduced. The apparatus and method permit the resonant circuit and the magnet to be made extremely small, which is crucial for new applications in portable magnetic resonance imaging, for example.
US08115485B1
A method of calibrating an imaging sequence includes the application of a pre-scan pulse sequence to acquire MR signals from a region-of-interest to be imaged with an imaging pulse sequence. The pre-scan pulse sequence is interrupted to acquire pre-scan data in a low bandwidth acquisition window. A frequency spectrum is generated from the pre-scan data and displayed to interactively allow a user to establish scan parameters for the imaging pulse sequence.
US08115479B2
A rotation-angle-detecting apparatus comprising a magnet rotor having 4 or more magnetic poles on the surface, and sensor device for detecting magnetic flux from the magnet rotor, and an electronic circuit for outputting a signal representing the rotation angle of the magnet rotor using pluralities of signals obtained from the sensor device, the sensor device having pluralities of spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive devices for outputting two or more different phase signals from a rotating magnetic field near the rotating magnet, each spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device having a pinned layer and a free layer, the magnetization direction of the pinned layer being fixed, and the magnetization direction of the free layer rotating depending on a magnetic field direction, pluralities of the spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive devices comprising a first spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device having a reference magnetic-field-sensing direction, and a second spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device having a magnetic-field-sensing direction different from that of the first spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive device.
US08115476B1
A power meter has a connector block with prongs for plugging the connector block into a wall socket and also has a socket for receiving the plug of a power cord of an electrical device. A display unit is tethered to the connector block such that values associated with energy usage of the electrical device may be shown on the display but remote from the wall socket. The power meter may calculate a cost associated with the energy usage of the device and display the cost information on the remote display.
US08115473B2
An optical voltage transformer is connected with an external electric device and includes a primary electrode to which a measured voltage is applied by the external electric device, a first secondary electrode provided oppositely to the primary electrode, an insulation layer provided between the primary and first secondary electrodes and constituting an insulation cylinder integrally formed with the primary and first secondary electrodes, a ground layer provided on an outer circumference of the insulation cylinder and around the first secondary electrode for securing a capacitance by interposing the insulation layer between the ground layer and the first secondary electrode, and an electro-optic element for measuring a voltage between the first secondary electrode and the ground layer. According to the optical voltage transformer, measurement of the measured voltage can be done with high accuracy without affected by its surrounding environment and its downsizing can be achieved by reducing the number of its components.
US08115471B2
Various methods are described to characterize interferometric modulators or similar devices. Measured voltages across interferometric modulators may be used to characterize transition voltages of the interferometric modulators. Measured currents may be analyzed by integration of measured current to provide an indication of a dynamic response of the interferometric modulator. Frequency analysis may be used to provide an indication of a hysteresis window of the interferometric modulator or mechanical properties of the interferometric modulator. Capacitance may be determined through signal correlation, and spread-spectrum analysis may be used to minimize the effect of noise or interference on measurements of various interferometric modulator parameters.
US08115468B2
Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based on the PWM mode signal, the regulator is switched into a power saving low power operational mode.
US08115448B2
The present invention is a wireless power system which includes components which can be recharged by harvesting wireless power, wireless power transmitters for transmitting the power, and devices which are powered from the components. Features such as temperature monitoring, tiered network protocols including both data and power communication, and power management strategies related to both charging and non-charging operations, are used to improve performance of the wireless network. Rechargeable batteries which are configured to be recharged using wireless power have unique components specifically tailored for recharging operations rather than for providing power to a device. A wireless power supply for powering implanted devices benefits from an external patient controller which contains features for adjusting both power transmission and harvesting provided by other components of the wireless power network.
US08115447B2
A battery pack rechargeable by a magnetic induction effect incorporates a secondary coil electromagnetically coupled to a primary coil of a battery charger and a secondary battery rechargeable by electric power induced to the secondary coil. The secondary battery is in a form of a thin battery having a larger width than a thickness, and two opposing surfaces of the secondary battery are composed of a first flat surface and a second flat surface. The secondary coil is in a form of a planar coil with a wire material being spirally coiled in the plane. In the battery pack, the secondary coil in the form of the planar coil is fixedly layered on the first flat surface of the thin battery.
US08115446B2
An energy storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of energy storage units electrically connected in series and a plurality of bi-directional energy converters each having first and second sides. Each of the first sides is electrically connected with one of the plurality of energy storage units. The system also includes another energy storage unit. The second sides of the plurality of bi-directional energy converters are electrically connected in parallel with the another energy storage unit. Each of the bi-directional energy converters is capable of transferring energy between the first and second sides.
US08115439B2
A system for moving robots in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The system includes: a surface having a position-coding pattern which identifies the surface; mobile robots for moving across the surface, each robot being configured for sensing and decoding the position-coding pattern; and a computer system in communication with the mobile robots. The computer system is configured to send instructions for moving each mobile robot relative to the surface in response to position information corresponding to that mobile robot. Further, the computer system is configured to determine instructions for moving each mobile robot using a predetermined algorithm. The predetermined algorithm is selected on the basis of the identity of the surface.
US08115432B2
A triphase rotating electric machine includes three coils evenly distributed around a rotational axes of the machine, and at least one first sensor, capable of generating a periodic signal to represent the position of the machine around the axle and a control circuit capable of controlling, when in the first mode, the conduction of a switch (KUH), linked to at least one of the three coils based on the periodic signal generated by the first sensor (U), such that the conduction phases of the switch (KUH) have a duration in the order of half the signal period (U). The control circuit is capable of controlling switch (KUH), based on a second mode in which the conduction phases of the switch (KUH) have a duration in the order of a third of the signal period (U).
US08115427B2
Systems, devices, and methods for controlling a motor are disclosed. A method may include determining a rotational direction of a motor from a pair of quadrature signals sent to a microprocessor. The method further includes adjusting an internal count stored in the microprocessor at each edge of each of the pair of quadrature signals. The method further includes adjusting an external count stored in the microprocessor and transmitting an interrupt to a main controller after a first phase signal and a second phase signal have transitioned through each combinational logic state in one of a forward rotational direction and a reverse rotational direction. The method further includes transmitting a signal comprising the rotational direction of the motor and the external count from the microprocessor to a main controller.
US08115424B2
The present invention relates to a method of controlling the speed of rotation of a piezoelectric motor comprising at least one step of determining the variation of the speed of rotation as a function of the frequency of the excitation voltages of the piezoelectric motor for the actual temperature of the piezoelectric material.
US08115414B2
Techniques for dynamic headroom control in a light emitting diode (LED) system are disclosed. An output voltage is provided to drive a plurality of LED strings. A feedback controller monitors the tail voltages of the LED strings to identify the minimum tail voltage and adjusts the output voltage based on the lowest tail voltage. The LED strings grouped into subsets and the feedback controller is segmented such that, for a certain duration, a minimum tail voltage is determined for each subset. The minimum tail voltages of the subsets are used to determine the overall minimum tail voltage of the plurality of LED strings for the certain duration so as to control the output voltage in the following duration. The segments of the feedback controller can be implemented in separate integrated circuit (IC) packages, thereby facilitating adaptation to different numbers of LED strings by integrating the corresponding number of IC packages.
US08115412B2
A power converting unit supplies a predetermined current to each of light-emitting elements by controlling a duty ratio of a semiconductor switching element. A light-emitting-element selecting unit sequentially selects a light-emitting element to be supplied with the current from the power converting unit. A duty-ratio control unit controls the duty ratio of the semiconductor switching element based on a value obtained by multiplying a gain by a difference between an output current of the power converting unit and a target current. A gain selecting unit changes the gain according to selected light-emitting element.
US08115407B2
An address-free driving device and lighting fixture system are disclosed. The device is applied in controlling a lighting device, and includes a serial interface, a signal converter, a signal processor and a lighting driving unit. The signal converter converts an inputted signal from the serial interface into a digital signal. The signal processor then extracts a controlling data corresponding to the address-free driving device from the digital signal, and determines whether or not the inputted signal from the serial interface can be outputted to another address-free driving device. The lighting driving unit drives the lighting device to illuminate light based on the controlling data. Accordingly, when the lighting devices are electrically and serially connected, the address-free driving device then controls the lighting devices based on the order of series connection.
US08115406B2
A fluorescent lamp driver circuit is provided. The fluorescent lamp driver circuit uses reversed current detecting signal to achieve feedback control and circuit protection so as to simplify the driver circuit and reduces the number of the required electronic components. The driver circuit needs a single control unit to control the whole circuit, which not only reduces cost, but also simplifies circuit design.
US08115405B2
A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes a DC power source circuit; a power supply circuit for converting an output from the DC power source circuit into a square wave AC output to be supplied to a high pressure discharge lamp; a starting circuit for applying a high voltage output for lamp startup to the high pressure discharge lamp; a control circuit; and a half-wave discharge detection circuit for detecting a half-wave discharge. The detection circuit detects the half-wave discharge at an initial stage of the lamp startup and the control circuit controls the magnitude of a voltage of a square wave half period of one polarity having a load voltage of a larger magnitude and that of a square wave half period of the other polarity having a load voltage of a smaller magnitude to approximate to each other.
US08115404B2
A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device, includes: a DC/DC converter for converting a power source voltage of a DC power source into a desired DC voltage and stably lighting a high pressure discharge lamp; a DC/AC inverter for inverting the DC voltage into an AC voltage; and a starting pulse generating circuit for generating a high voltage required for the start-up of the high pressure discharge lamp. Further, the high pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes a lighting state decision unit for deciding a lighted/unlighted state of the high pressure discharge lamp; and an operating state switching control unit for switching the operating state of at least one of the DC/DC converter, the DC/AC inverter, and the starting pulse generating circuit to another operating state, depending on a predetermined operation phase out of the start-up, stable lighting and power interrupt phases of the high pressure discharge lamp.
US08115394B2
A headlamp controller includes: a headlamp unit configured to illuminate a front area of a vehicle with a light distribution pattern; an image capturing camera configured to capture an image of the front area; and a light distribution controller including: a road shape detecting unit configured to detect a road shape based on the captured image; a reference optical flow generating unit configured to generate a reference optical flow for a target object belonging to one of attributes based on the road shape; a bright point optical flow measuring unit configured to measure an optical flow of a bright point defined as a target in the captured image; and an attribute determining unit configured to compare the reference optical flow with the optical flow of the bright point and determine which one of the attributes the optical flow of the bright point belongs.
US08115373B2
A method and system for treating emissions includes charging particles in an exhaust stream, producing one or more radicals, and oxidizing at least a portion of the charged particles with at least a portion of the produced radicals. At least a portion of the charged particles in the exhaust stream are then attracted on at least one attraction surface which is one of oppositely charged from the charged particles and grounded. The attracted particles are oxidized with another portion of the one or more produced radicals to self regenerate the at least one attraction surface. Downstream from where the attracted particles are oxidized, at least a portion of one or more first compounds in the exhaust stream are converted to one or more second compounds downstream from the attracting. Additionally, at least a portion of any remaining charged particles are oxidized into one or more gases.
US08115370B2
A bending LED bulb has a transparent bending tube and a flexible LED strip. The flexible LED strip has a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) and a plurality of LEDs mounted on the flexible PCB and is inserted and fixed in the transparent bending tube. As the LEDs are sequentially mounted on the flexible PCB, the LEDs are adjacent to a wall of the transparent bending tube, and are equally spaced. Accordingly, a lumen value of the bending LED bulb can be raised, and heat generated by the LEDs can be dissipated out through the wall of the transparent bending tube to avoid high temperature arising from accumulation of the waste heat.
US08115364B2
A permanent magnet power generator which, when used at an electric power generating facility such as a wind power plant, etc., would not be bulky and would not impede wind capture by a wind turbine; instead, it can raise the generated voltage without impeding wind capture has a generator shaft; at least three rotors, which are secured with the generator shaft, constituted by a plurality of plate-shaped structures having a permanent magnet attached thereto, and each disposed in the longitudinal direction of the generator shaft; and a stator, which is plate-shaped with a stator coil disposed in at least two gaps formed by the rotors, evenly-spaced apart from the generator shaft. The rotors and stators are disposed alternately in the longitudinal direction of the generator shaft, with a total of at least five stages. Also a wind power generator with a propeller on the shaft of this permanent magnet generator.
US08115358B1
A magnetic bearing arrangement for a rotary device includes circuitry for generating a multiphase excitation signal for energizing the phase windings of a magnetic bearing element. According to an embodiment of the present invention, circuitry for detecting the radial position of a rotor of the rotary device generates a position signal indicative of the radial position of the rotor of the rotary device relative to a desired rotor position. The position signal is used to modify the excitation signal to produce a modified excitation signal. The modified excitation signal is used to energize the phase windings of the magnetic bearing, thus providing a low-cost and efficient means for dynamically suspending the rotor of the rotary device.
US08115344B2
The invention provides lateral nanoelectromechanical switches useful for integration into circuitry fabricated using standard semiconductor processing methods, or using techniques compatible with the mainstream semiconductor processing technologies. Methods of fabricating the switches are described. Some exemplary designs for two and three terminal switches are provided. Descriptions of structural features and the operating parameters for some exemplary switches are given. The switches are expected to be compatible with circuitry that is operable in computer-based systems.
US08115333B2
A wind turbine electrical generator may include a monopole tower extending upwardly from ground level. The wind turbine electrical generator may also include an electrical power generator carried by an upper end of the monopole tower and may include a horizontally extending drive shaft. The wind turbine electrical generator may further include a plurality of wind-driven blades carried by the horizontally extending drive shaft. The monopole tower may have an outer surface with a vertically extending outer corner therein defining a pair of adjacent vertical facets. The monopole tower may be positioned with the vertically extending outer corner aligned with the land-based radar site so that the pair of adjacent vertical facets reflects radar illumination away from the radar site to reduce an amount of the radar illumination reflected back to the land-based radar site.
US08115331B2
A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle is detected with an accelerometer attached to the nacelle. In an active damping unit, a pitch angle of windmill blades for generating a thrust on the windmill blades so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit, a pitch angle of the windmill blades for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control using a subtracter. The pitch angle of the windmill blades is controlled on the basis of the resulting blade-pitch-angle command after combining.
US08115319B2
Disclosed is a flip chip package maintaining alignment during soldering, primarily comprising a chip and a substrate. A plurality of bumps and at least an extruded alignment key are disposed on the active surface of the chip. The substrate has a plurality of bonding pads and at least an alignment base where the alignment base has a concaved alignment pattern corresponding to the extruded alignment key. When the chip is disposed on the substrate, the extruded alignment key is embedded into the concaved alignment pattern to achieve accurately align the bumps to the corresponding bonding pads. Therefore, even with the mechanical misalignment due to the accuracy of flip-chip die bonders and the transportation during reflow processes, the bumps of a chip still can accurately align to the bonding pads of the substrate to achieve accurate soldering which is especially beneficial to the mass production of MPS-C2 products.
US08115309B2
A semiconductor device including: a semiconductor chip having a rectangular surface on which a plurality of electrodes are formed; a plurality of resin protrusions formed on the surface of the semiconductor chip; and a plurality of interconnects each of which is electrically connected to one of the electrodes and includes an electrical connection section disposed on one of the resin protrusions. At least part of the resin protrusions are disposed in a region near a short side of the surface and extend in a direction which intersects the short side.
US08115307B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to reduce interconnect length between devices. A cavity is formed in a substrate having a substrate surface. The cavity has a depth. A first device having a device surface and a thickness is placed into the cavity. The thickness matches the depth such that the device surface is approximately planar with the substrate surface. The first device is attached to a second device via bumps on the second device.
US08115306B2
An apparatus comprises an integrated circuit die including a main body having a top layer, a bottom layer, and a peripheral edge surface extending between the top layer and the bottom layer. The integrated circuit die also includes a bond pad on the main body, an edge contact at the peripheral edge surface and a line connecting the bond pad to the edge contact. The edge contact includes a bottom surface that substantially in the same plane as a surface of an encapsulant encasing the die. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08115303B2
Semiconductor package structures are provided which are designed to have liquid coolers integrally packaged with first level chip modules. In particular, apparatus for integrally packaging a liquid cooler device within a first level chip package structure include structures in which a liquid cooler device is thermally coupled directly to the back side of an integrated circuit chip flip-chip mounted on flexible chip carrier substrate. The liquid cooler device is mechanically coupled to the package substrate through a metallic stiffener structure that is bonded to the flexible package substrate to provide mechanical rigidity to the flexible package substrate.
US08115302B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for integrating microchannel cooling modules within high-density electronic modules (e.g., chip packages, system-on-a-package modules, etc.,) comprising multiple high-performance IC chips. Electronic modules are designed such that high-performance (high power) IC chips are disposed in close proximity to the integrated cooling module (or cooling plate) for effective heat extraction. Moreover, electronic modules which comprise large surface area silicon carriers with multiple chips face mounted thereon are designed such that integrated silicon cooling modules are rigidly bonded to the back surfaces of such chips to increase the structural integrity of the silicon carriers.
US08115300B2
In a semiconductor apparatus, a semiconductor element is mounted on a wiring substrate. Wiring patterns and protrusions are formed on a surface of a substrate with the wiring patterns extending on tops of the protrusions. The surface of the substrate on which the wiring patterns are formed are covered with an insulating layer. Surfaces of connection parts of the wiring patterns formed on the tops of the protrusions are formed with the surfaces of the connection parts exposed to a surface of the insulating layer on a level with the surface of the insulating layer or in a position lower than the surface of the insulating layer. The connection parts are formed as pads for connection formed in alignment with connection electrodes of the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is mounted by making electrical connection to the connection parts by flip chip bonding.
US08115298B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed which includes a tab (5) for use in supporting a semiconductor chip (8), a seal section (12) as formed by sealing the semiconductor chip (8) with a resin material, more than one tab suspension lead (4) for support of the tab (5), a plurality of electrical leads (2) which have a to-be-connected portion as exposed to outer periphery on the back surface of the seal section (12) and a thickness reduced portion as formed to be thinner than said to-be-connected portion and which are provided with an inner groove (2e) and outer groove (2f) in a wire bonding surface (2d) as disposed within the seal section (12) of said to-be-connected portion, and wires (10) for electrical connection between the leads (2) and pads (7) of the semiconductor chip (8), wherein said thickness reduced portion of the leads (2) is covered by or coated with a sealing resin material while causing the wires (10) to be contacted with said to-be-connected portion at specified part lying midway between the outer groove (2f) and inner groove (2e) to thereby permit said thickness reduced portion of leads (2) and the outer groove (2f) plus the inner groove (2e) to prevent occurrence of any accidental lead drop-down detachment.
US08115297B2
The present invention comprises a first substrate with a die formed on a die metal pad, a first and a second wiring circuits formed on the surfaces of the first substrate. A second substrate has a die opening window for receiving the die, a third wiring circuit is formed on top surface of the second substrate and a fourth wiring circuit on bottom surface of the second substrate. An adhesive material is filled into the gap between back side of the die and top surface of the first substrate and between the side wall of the die and the side wall of the die receiving through hole and the bottom side of the second substrate. During the formation, laser is introduced to cut the backside of the first substrate and an opening hole is formed in the first substrate to expose a part of the backside of the Au or Au/Ag metal layer of chip/die.
US08115292B2
An interposer is presented. The interposer includes an interposer base having first and second surfaces. A redistribution layer is disposed on a first surface of the interposer base. The interposer has at least one interposer pad coupled to the redistribution layer. It also includes at least one interposer contact on the second surface. The interposer contact is electrically coupled to the interposer pad via the redistribution layer. The interposer also includes at least one interposer via through the interposer base for coupling the interposer contact to the redistribution layer. The interposer via includes reflowed conductive material of the interposer contact.
US08115285B2
A semiconductor package and related methods are described. In one embodiment, the package includes a die pad, multiple leads, a chip, a package body, and a protective layer. The die pad includes an upper sloped portion, a lower sloped portion, and a peripheral edge region defining a cavity with a cavity bottom. Each lead includes an upper sloped portion and a lower sloped portion. The chip is disposed on the cavity bottom and is coupled to the leads. The package body is formed over the chip and the leads, substantially fills the cavity, and substantially covers the upper sloped portions of the die pad and the leads. The lower sloped portions of the die pad and the leads at least partially extend outwardly from a lower surface of the package body. The protective layer substantially covers the lower sloped portion and the lower surface of at least one lead.
US08115283B1
A semiconductor device has a base substrate having a plurality of metal traces and a plurality of base vias. An opening is formed through the base substrate. At least one die is attached to the first surface of the substrate and positioned over the opening. A cover substrate has a plurality of metal traces. A cavity in the cover substrate forms side wall sections around the cavity. The cover substrate is attached to the base substrate so the at least one die is positioned in the interior of the cavity. Ground planes in the base substrate are coupled to ground planes in the cover substrate to form an RF shield around the at least one die.
US08115277B2
A method of making an integrated circuit including structuring a material. The method includes providing an arrangement of three-dimensional bodies. The material is arranged between the bodies and structured directed radiation. The projection pattern of the three-dimensional bodies is transferred into the material. The structured material connects at least two of the three-dimensional bodies.
US08115275B2
An antifuse having a link including a region of unsilicided semiconductor material may be programmed at reduced voltage and current and with reduced generation of heat by electromigration of metal or silicide from a cathode into the region of unsilicided semiconductor material to form an alloy having reduced bulk resistance. The cathode and anode are preferably shaped to control regions from which and to which material is electrically migrated. After programming, additional electromigration of material can return the antifuse to a high resistance state. The process by which the antifuse is fabricated is completely compatible with fabrication of field effect transistors and the antifuse may be advantageously formed on isolation structures.
US08115273B2
A integrated semiconductor device has a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type over the first layer, a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type over the second layer, an isolation trench extending through the entire depth of the second and third layers into the first layer, and a first region of the second conductivity type located next to the isolation trench and extending from an interface between the second and third layers, along an interface between the second layer and the isolation trench. This first region can help reduce a concentration of field lines where the isolation trench meets the interface of the second and third layers, and hence provide a better reverse breakdown characteristic.
US08115254B2
A stack pad layers including a first pad oxide layer, a pad nitride layer, and a second pad oxide layer are formed on a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A deep trench extending below a top surface or a bottom surface of a buried insulator layer of the SOI substrate and enclosing at least one top semiconductor region is formed by lithographic methods and etching. A stress-generating insulator material is deposited in the deep trench and recessed below a top surface of the SOI substrate to form a stress-generating buried insulator plug in the deep trench. A silicon oxide material is deposited in the deep trench, planarized, and recessed. The stack of pad layer is removed to expose substantially coplanar top surfaces of the top semiconductor layer and of silicon oxide plugs. The stress-generating buried insulator plug encloses, and generates a stress to, the at least one top semiconductor region.
US08115239B2
The electric device according to the invention has a resistor comprising a layer of a phase change material which is changeable between a first phase with a first electrical resistivity and a second phase with a second electrical resistivity different from the first electrical resistivity. The phase change material is a fast growth material. The electric device further comprises a switching signal generator for switching the resistor between at least three different electrical resistance values by changing a corresponding portion of the layer of the phase change material from the first phase to the second phase.
US08115235B2
A quantum well (QW) layer is provided in a semiconductive device. The QW layer is provided with a beryllium-doped halo layer in a barrier structure below the QW layer. The semiconductive device includes InGaAs bottom and top barrier layers respectively below and above the QW layer. The semiconductive device also includes a high-k gate dielectric layer that sits on the InP spacer first layer in a gate recess. A process of forming the QW layer includes using an off-cut semiconductive substrate.
US08115229B2
An arrangement for dissipating thermal energy generated by an LED includes an LED and a thermal energy dissipating medium. The LED includes an LED circuit, encapsulating material surrounding the LED circuit, and first and second electrical leads extending into the encapsulating material and electrically connected to the LED circuit. The thermal energy dissipating medium defines an opening therethrough sized to receive therein the LED such that the thermal energy dissipating medium defining the opening is in physical, thermally conductive contact with an exterior surface of at least one side portion of the encapsulating material of the LED. The thermal energy dissipating medium is not electrically connected to any of the LED circuit, the mounting surface, the first electrical lead and the second electrical lead. The thermal energy dissipating medium is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity of greater than or equal to 50 W/mK.
US08115217B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide packaged LED devices in which the majority of the emitted light comes out the top of each LED chip with very little side emissions. Because light only comes out from the top, phosphor deposition and color temperature control can be significantly simplified. A package LED may include a housing positioned on a supporting submount, sized and dimensioned to accommodate a single LED chip or an array of LED chips. The LED chip(s) may be attached to the submount utilizing the Gold-to-Gold Interconnect (GGI) process or solder-based approaches. In some embodiments, phosphor may be deposited on top of the LED chip(s) or sandwiched between glass plates on top of the LED chip(s). The phosphor layer may be inside or on top of the housing and be secured to the housing utilizing an adhesive. The housing may be adhered to the submount utilizing a thermal epoxy.
US08115215B2
An array substrate is disclosed. The array substrate comprises a substrate, a gate metal layer, a gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer, a patterned metal layer, a flat layer, and a pixel electrode. The patterned metal layer is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor layer comprising a source and a drain, and on the surface of the gate insulation layer comprising a storage capacitor line and a data line. The storage capacitor line has an extending portion parallel to a scan line. The pixel electrode overlaps parts of the scan line, parts of the data line, parts of the storage capacitor line, and parts of the extending portion. A method for manufacturing the array substrate is also provided.
US08115213B2
A light-emitting diode includes a substrate, a lower cladding layer, an active layer having a quantum well of a thirty percent concentration of indium on the lower cladding layer, and an upper cladding layer. A method of manufacturing light-emitting diodes includes forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate, forming an active layer on the lower cladding layer such that the active layer has a quantum well of thirty percent indium, forming an upper cladding layer on the active layer, and forming a metal cap on the upper cladding layer.
US08115205B2
Provided is an electrophoretic display device and a method of manufacturing and repairing the electrophoretic display device. The electrophoretic display device includes: a gate line, a gate electrode, and a common electrode, separated a predetermined distance from the gate line, which are formed on a substrate; a gate insulation layer formed on an overall surface of the substrate including the gate line; a data line configured to define a pixel area by crossing the gate line; a source electrode configured to extend from the data line; a drain electrode separated from a predetermined distance from the source electrode; a protection layer formed on an overall surface of the substrate including the data line, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; a pixel electrode formed on the protection layer and connected to the drain electrode; an electrophoretic film formed on the substrate including the pixel electrode; a common line formed on a boundary portion between the pixel areas and configured to connect the common electrodes formed in the respective pixel areas; and a repair hole formed by removing the protection layer corresponding to the common line to expose the gate insulation layer.
US08115201B2
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film containing indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn), in which the contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor layer and a source and drain electrodes is reduced, and to provide a method for manufacturing the thin film transistor. An ohmic contact is formed by intentionally providing a buffer layer having a higher carrier concentration than the IGZO semiconductor layer between the IGZO semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers.
US08115196B2
A base structure for high performance Silicon Germanium:Carbon (SiGe:C) based heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with phosphorus atomic layer doping (ALD) is disclosed. The ALD process subjects the base substrate to nitrogen gas (in ambient temperature approximately equal to 500 degrees Celsius) and provides an additional SiGe:C spacer layer. During the ALD process, the percent concentrations of Germanium (Ge) and carbon (C) are substantially matched and phosphorus is a preferred dopant. The improved SiGe:C HBT is less sensitive to process temperature and exposure times, and exhibits lower dopant segregation and sharper base profiles.
US08115188B2
Disclosed herein is a memory element, including a parallel combination of a thin film transistor; and a resistance change element, the thin film transistor including a semiconductor thin film in which a channel region, and an input terminal and an output terminal located on both sides of the channel region, respectively, are formed, and a gate electrode overlapping the channel region through an insulating film to become a control terminal, the resistance change element including one conductive layer connected to the input terminal side of the thin film transistor, the other conductive layer connected to the output terminal side of the thin film transistor, and at least one oxide film layer disposed between the one conductive layer and the other conductive layer.
US08115183B2
For maskless irradiating a target with a beam of energetic electrically charged particles using a pattern definition means with a plurality of apertures and imaging the apertures in the pattern definition means onto a target which moves (v) relative to the pattern definition means laterally to the axis, the location of the image is moved along with the target, for a pixel exposure period within which a distance of relative movement of the target is covered which is at least a multiple of the width (w) of the aperture images as measured on the target, and after said pixel exposure period the location of the beam image is changed, which change of location generally compensates the overall movement of the location of the beam image.
US08115170B2
A Scanning Time-Resolved Emission (S-TRE) microscope or system includes an optical system configured to collect light from emissions of light generated by a device under test (DUT). A scanning system is configured to permit the emissions of light to be collected from positions across the DUT in accordance with a scan pattern. A timing photodetector is configured to detect a single photon or photons of the emissions of light from the particular positions across the DUT such that the emissions of light are correlated to the positions to create a time-dependent map of the emissions of light across the DUT.
US08115164B2
A calibration device for managing a variety of performance tests and/or calibration tasks in a laser scanning microscope. The calibration device, which has focusing optics and a test structure arranged in the focal plane of the focusing optics, with structural elements detectable in reflected and/or transmitted light aligned to each other in a common mounting, can be switched into the microscope beam path in a laser scanning microscope, so that the pupil of the focusing optics coincides with the objective pupil of the laser scanning microscope or lies in a plane conjugated to it.
US08115161B2
The invention relates to an imaging apparatus that is capable of taking images of objects in at least three directions on a single imaging device, has a wide imaging angle of view and can easily be made compact, and a vehicle incorporating it. The imaging apparatus comprises a single imaging device 30 and at least three imaging optical systems 101, 102 and 103 that are located in juxtaposition to form on an imaging plane of the imaging device 30 at least three images in varying imaging directions. Of the three imaging optical systems 101, 102 and 103, at least two 101 and 102 reflect axial chief rays from objects in the right-and-left direction intersecting the direction of juxtaposition, and each have a curved reflecting surface of concave shape.
US08115159B2
A solid-state image pickup device including: a pixel array portion; a differential circuit; a reset voltage supplying section; and a common phase feedback circuit.
US08115153B2
A solid-state imaging device which includes a pixel unit, a plurality of pixels in the pixel unit which are two dimensionally arranged in rows and columns and each include a photoelectric conversion element and a reset element, a driver unit which sequentially applies selective scanning to each respective row of the pixel unit, a mode switching circuit, where the mode switching circuit is configured to charge a portion of the pixels in the pixel unit and to apply an intermediate voltage to a gate of each reset element in the non-charged pixels.
US08115152B1
A photoconductor read out circuit includes a biasing signal generator connected to apply an alternating current biasing signal to a first terminal of the photoconductor. An input capacitance connected to a second terminal of the photoconductor stores charge applied to that terminal. A charge transfer amplifier included in the read out circuit receives a demodulating signal and functions to transfer charge to a summing node in response to the charge stored by the input capacitance and in coordination with the demodulating signal. A charge collection arrangement included in the read out circuit selectively resets the summing node to a base charge level, and stores charge applied to the summing node between resets to the base charge level. A sampling arrangement included in the read out circuit selectively applies a charge from the summing node to an output node, selectively presets the output node to a base output charge level, and stores charge applied to the output node between presets to the base output charge level. The charge stored at the output node between presets represents an output data signal from the read out circuit.
US08115148B1
Current targeting approaches involve guiding to a spatially derived guidepoint of a group of objects likely to be the preferred object. This method may not allow the intercepting missile to contain the preferred, or other probable object(s), within its divert capability. The guidepoint is shifted closer to the preferred object using specific energy and angular momentum, constants of orbital motion, which describe properties of an object's trajectory. Guiding to the specific energy derived guidepoint does not offer significant benefit over guiding to the spatially derived guidance point. However, computing the spatial rate of change of specific energy within the plane formed by the guidance objects establishes a vector pointing close to the preferred object. This is the direction to shift the guidepoint in order to contain the preferred object within the interceptor's divert capability.
US08115145B2
A technique for climate control of, for example, base station circuitry within an enclosure involves placing base station circuitry within the enclosure and controlling the climate therein. A system according to this technique includes an enclosure suitable for use outside in a wide range of extreme weather conditions. A controller may, for example, control a fan tray with a heater to pull ambient air through a filtration unit, through the fan tray where the air is heated, and through cold start recirculation dampers.
US08115142B2
In a plate for adjusting a temperature of a substrate, a body of the plate supports the substrate. A first channel and a second channel are disposed within the body of the plate. The first channel has a first inlet and a first outlet and passes therethrough a first fluid to adjust the temperature of the substrate. The second channel has a second inlet adjacent to the first outlet and a second outlet adjacent to the first inlet and passes therethrough a second fluid to adjust the temperature of the substrate. Further, the first and second channels are disposed side by side. Thus, the temperature of the substrate may be adjusted uniformly as a whole.
US08115140B2
A heater assembly configured to elevate a temperature of a processing element in a chemical treatment system is described. The heater assembly may be configured to uniformly heat a large area processing element, such as a processing element that spans a plurality of substrates. Additionally, for example, the heater assembly may be configured to elevate a temperature of an upper assembly, a gas injection assembly, a substrate holder, a chamber wall, or any combination of two or more thereof.
US08115139B2
An infrared sensor with an electrically heatable sensor housing. The housing including a heating device in the form of a strip conductor-like electric heating track, which is controlled by a control device, and applied onto a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate comprises an electrically insulated ceramic material providing adequate thermal conductivity and preferably forming the bottom of the sensor housing, and carrying at least one infrared sensor element, e.g., a thermopile sensor. The ceramic substrate having electric strip conductors serving as a contact surface for a corresponding (not-shown) housing cover and through-hole contacts serving as electrical connections between the top side and the bottom side of the ceramic substrate. The electric heating tracks and strip conductors in a preferred embodiment comprise thick-film tracks. The infrared sensor being suitable for a measuring tip of an intra-auricular infrared thermometer.
US08115133B2
A gas-insulated circuit breaker has a sealed container filled with gas; a pair of contacts so constructed as to be connected and separated each other in the sealed container; gas flow generation means for blasting the gas on an arc generated when the contacts are separated, the gas flow generation means including: an accumulation space, pressure increasing means for increasing the pressure of the pressure accumulation space, a gas passage connecting the pressure accumulation space to the arc, and an insulating nozzle that controls the flow of the gas from the pressure accumulation space to the arc; an inside-nozzle insulating member disposed co-axially with the insulating nozzle. The arc is generated in a space between an inner wall section of the insulating nozzle and an outer wall section of the inside-nozzle insulating member, and the gas flows in the space.
US08115130B2
A switch-type electronic device adapted to be mounted on a circuit board is disclosed. A housing is made of an insulative material. The housing includes a first face adapted to oppose the circuit board and a second face intersecting with the first face and formed with a projection. A cover is made of a conductive material. The cover includes a first part covering a side of the housing opposite to the first face, at least one second part extending from the first part and opposing the second face, and a third part extending from each of the at least one second part and engaging with the projection. An operating member includes a first part disposed outside the housing and adapted to be operated by a user, and a second part disposed in the housing and configured to switch the electronic device between a first state and a second state when the first part is operated by the user. The first part of the operating member includes a portion opposing the second part of the cover, and is configured to abut against the second part of the cover when the electronic device is switched between the first state and the second state.
US08115128B2
A multifunction switch has a switch body; a main switch toggle rotationally mounted to the switch body for controlling completion of an electric circuit. The main switch toggle has an on position and an off position. A toggle switch button is mounted to the main switch toggle. The toggle switch button is generally planar. A secondary switch button is mounted to the toggle switch button. A secondary switch is mounted to the switch body. The secondary switch is mounted adjacent to the main switch toggle. A generally planar faceplate has a switch button opening. The switch button opening is sized to receive the toggle switch button. An offset gap is formed when the toggle switch button is moved to the main switch off position.
US08115119B2
A multi-directional key for an electronic device includes a hollow frame a key substrate, a multi-directional key body, and a supporting frame. The hollow frame includes a pair of first opposite parallel bars and a pair of second opposite parallel bars. Perpendicular planes of the first opposite parallel bars and perpendicular planes of the second opposite parallel bars are substantially perpendicular to each other. Each of two opposite sides of the key substrate is correspondingly connected to each of the first opposite parallel bars of the hollow frame by a pair of first connection portions. The multi-directional key body is positioned on the key substrate. The supporting frame is connected to the second opposite parallel bars of the hollow frame by a pair of second connection portions. A key assembly employing the multi-directional key is also provided.
US08115117B2
A system and method of forming a patterned conformal structure for an electrical system is disclosed. The conformal structure includes a dielectric coating positioned on an electrical system having circuit components mounted thereon, the dielectric coating shaped to conform to a surface of the electrical system and having a plurality of openings therein positioned over contact pads on the surface of the electrical system. The conformal structure also includes a conductive coating layered on the dielectric coating and on the contact pads such that an electrical connection is formed between the conductive coating and the contact pads. The dielectric coating and the conductive coating have a plurality of overlapping pathway openings formed therethrough to isolate a respective shielding area of the conformal structure over desired circuit components or groups of circuit components.
US08115115B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game comprises a gaming cabinet having a first member and a second member. The first member is located physically separate from the second member. The gaming machine further comprises a plurality of high-voltage wires generally located within the first member. The gaming machine additionally includes a plurality of low-voltage wires generally located within the second member. The first member and the second member shielding the respective plurality of high-voltage wires and low-voltage wires to reduce electrical interference between the plurality of high-voltage wires and the plurality of low-voltage wires.
US08115111B2
A multilayer printed wiring board includes a multilayered structure having conductor circuit layers and interlaminar insulative layers, the interlaminar insulative layers including an outermost interlaminar insulative layer, the conductor circuit layers including an outermost conductor circuit layer formed over the outermost interlaminar insulative, a filled-viahole formed in the outermost interlaminar insulative layer and having one or more metal plating fillings and completely closing a hole formed through the outermost interlaminar insulative layer such that the metal plating of the filled-viahole extends out of the hole and forms a substantially flat surface, and solder bumps including a first solder bump formed on the substantially flat surface of the filled-viahole and a second solder bump formed on a surface portion in the outermost conductor circuit layer. The substantially flat surface of the filled-viahole is leveled substantially at the same height as the surface portion of the outermost conductor circuit layer.
US08115100B2
A temporary electrical or data outlet decommissioning arrangement includes: a generally rectangularly shaped receiving baseplate; a cover plate having a plurality of receiving baseplate engagement tabs thereon, wherein the baseplate has two side walls and two transverse end walls defining a cover plate receiving opening, the side walls each have a common plurality of tab-receiving slots therein, and wherein the cover plate has two side walls and two transverse end walls, wherein the cover plate has a pair of engagement tabs extending off of one side wall, and has a single locking tab on the side opposite the pair of engagement tabs, and the single locking tab has an adjacent recessed support wall to provide a recess in the side wall of the cover plate to permit a tool access for removal of the cover plate from the baseplate.
US08115098B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a hinge system and method for use with an electrical enclosure. The hinge system can include a first mounting plate having a bushing and a second mounting plate having an aperture. The hinge system can include a pin having a first portion received by the bushing and a second portion selectively received by the aperture. The hinge system can include a cam lever, which can extend from the first mounting plate at an angle. The cam lever can be moveable between a first position to retract the pin from the aperture and a second position to lock the pin in the aperture. The cam lever can be operable in a substantially single plane of motion.
US08115078B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid HNS 14450321 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid HNS 14450321 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08115069B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016124. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016124. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016124 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016124 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08115065B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the squash line designated YCN 130-1053T. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash line YCN 130-1053T, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing a plant of squash line YCN 130-1053T with itself or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of squash line YCN 130-1053T, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08115064B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated WAS146-4197. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line WAS146-4197, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line WAS146-4197 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line WAS146-4197, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08115062B2
Transgenic plants containing recombinant barley alanine aminotransferase are described. Also provided are methods for generating transgenic plants containing recombinant barley alanine aminotransferase.
US08115056B2
The current invention provides plant promoter sequences. Compositions comprising the promoter sequence are described, as are methods for the expression of transgenes in plants comprising the use of these sequences. The methods of the invention include the direct creation of transgenic plants with the promoters by genetic transformation, as well as by plant breeding methods.
US08115055B2
Isolated nucleic acid fragments comprising precursor miRNA, and artificial miRNAs and their use in down-regulating gene expression are described.
US08115052B2
Compositions and methods for modulating abscisic acid (ABA) perception and signal transduction in developing seed are provided. The methods and compositions find use in increasing yield in plants. Compositions comprise genetic constructs known to affect ABA sensitivity, particularly ABA biosynthetic mutants and fragments and variants thereof. Such compositions can be expressed with seed-preferred promoters.
US08115049B2
An epidermal positioning mechanism for use with an application to a predetermined epidermal surface. The epidermal positioning mechanism comprises a strip of material having a first end portion of a predetermined shape, a second end portion of a predetermined shape, and middle portion coupling the first end portion to the second end portion. The first end portion and the second end portion each may include a side including an adhesive layer. An overlaying, non-adhesive barrier layer may be located between a portion of the adhesive layer and an end portion.
US08115046B2
A two-component, water based micro encapsulation composition and method for the cleanup of hydrocarbon spills or contaminates on various surfaces and media. The two-part formulation includes a first solution including water in a predetermined ratio of a water soluble alkaline silicate solution having at least one alkali metal and a predetermined ratio of at least one water soluble surfactant; and a second solution including water, a predetermined ratio of water soluble acid, a predetermined ratio of water dispersible polymer, a predetermined ratio of water soluble hydrotrope, and a predetermined ratio of at least one water soluble flocculating agent. A method of using the two-part formulation includes preparing the two-part formulation, allowing the first solution to contact the hydrocarbon or chemical contaminate; allowing the second solution to contact the first solution and contaminate to form a homogeneous mixture; and removing the homogeneous mixture.
US08115042B2
In the oligomerization of olefins in a tubular reactor employing a molecular sieve catalyst, the temperature of the reaction is monitored and the space velocity of the olefin feed to the reactor is reduced as the temperature increases. This has been found to increase catalyst life and lead to extended production runs. Further extensions of the production run are achieved by improving reactor operating stability as the end of the production run approaches.
US08115034B2
The invention relates to polyketone compounds and the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, the use of said polyketone compounds and/or the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof as plasticizers, processes of making polyketone compounds and the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, compositions comprising the polyketone compounds and/or the at least partially hydrogenated products thereof, and to articles formed from products of the invention.
US08115033B2
Antimicrobially active 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanone of the following formula 1 is described, as is a method for producing this compound and the use thereof as an antimicrobial active ingredient.
US08115031B2
Disclosed are compounds comprising analogs of quinic acids or shikimic acids having anti-inflammatory properties. The compounds are suitable for oral administration, stable, and demonstrate significant efficacy in inhibiting NF-kB, inhibiting leukocyte adhesion, and inhibiting other factors and cytokines known to be involved in inflammatory disease.
US08115026B2
This invention relates to compounds useful for treating fungal infections, more specifically topical treatment of onychomycosis and/or cutaneous fungal infections. This invention is directed to compounds that are active against fungi and have properties that allow the compound, when placed in contact with a patient, to reach the particular part of the skin, nail, hair, claw or hoof infected by the fungus. In particular the present compounds have physiochemical properties that facilitate penetration of the nail plate.
US08115022B2
A method for producing biofuels along with valuable food and neutraceutical products is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids along with carotenoids and chlorophylls from the algal biomass, and separation of the carotenoids and chlorophylls using adsorption or membrane diafiltration or other methods. The remaining neutral lipids are esterified with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising omega-3 fatty acids esters and remaining carotenoids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
US08115017B2
C-phenyl 1-thioglucitol compounds of the following formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof or hydrates thereof: [wherein X represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group, Y represents a C1-6 alkylene group or —O—(CH2)n- (wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 5), and Z represents —CONHRA or —NHCONHRB (provided that when Z represents —NHCONHRB, n is not 1), wherein RA represents a C1-6 alkyl group substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and —CONH2, and RB represents a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group substituted with 1 to 3 substituents selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and —CONH2] are useful as prophylactic or therapeutic agents for diabetes, because of their suppressive effect on sugar (e.g., glucose) absorption through inhibition of SGLT1 activity, or alternatively, because of their suppressive effect on sugar (e.g., glucose) absorption and excretory effect on urinary sugars through inhibition of both SGLT1 and SGLT2 activities.
US08115016B2
The present invention relates to pyrrolidin-2-ones according to the formula (1), or salts thereof, wherein R1 is hydrogen or a nitrogen protecting group, methods for their preparation and their use in the preparation of NEP-inhibitors, particularly in the preparation of N-(3-carboxyl-1-oxopropyl)-(4S)-(p-phenylphenylmethyl)-4-amino-(2R)-methyl butanoic acid ethyl ester or salt thereof.
US08115014B2
As a compound having a potent oral activity and a long-lasting cysLT1/cysLT2 receptor antagonistic activity, the compound of the formula (I): which exhibits potent antagonistic activity against the cysLT1/cysLT2 receptor, and have long-lasting effects even in case of oral administration, and therefore is useful as an oral agent for preventing and/or treating a variety of diseases, for example, respiratory disease (for example, asthma (bronchial asthma, etc.), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia (interstitial pneumonia, etc.), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), apnea syndrome, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis (acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, etc.), pulmonary fibrosis, coughing (chronic coughing, etc.), and the like) was developed.
US08115013B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, fluvastatin, more specifically to a process for the preparation of amorphous form of fluvastatin sodium.
US08115007B2
A process for the preparation of diaminodinitropyridine or diaminodinitrobenzene by contacting an aminopyridine or aminobenzene with oleum and nitric acid, wherein the improvement comprises adding at least about 1% molar excess of nitric acid, based upon the aminopyridine or aminobenzene with stirring for at least two hours to form first the intermediate sulfonic acid, and then diaminodinitropyridine or diaminodinitrobenzene, and use of such products in the preparation of rigid rod polymers is disclosed.
US08115004B2
The present invention provides an improved process for the preparation of highly pure montelukast sodium through highly pure diol intermediate compound of formula (2) and (1)-(mercapto methyl)cyclopropane acetic acid methyl ester compound of formula (4) or mercaptomethyl cyclopropane acetic acid compound of formula (7). The present invention also provides novel organic amine salts of montelukast.
US08114977B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to proteins derived from white spot syndrome virus, nucleic acid sequences encoding them, and their use in the manufacture of a vaccine for prophylaxis and/or treatment of white spot syndrome in crustaceans.
US08114975B2
The invention generally relates to compositions and methods for identifying and testing tyrosine kinase signaling pathway agonists and antagonists, and more particularly, methods and compositions for screening compounds and identifying compounds that will modulate the interaction of protein tyrosine kinase substrates with their intracellular ligands, as well as between their intracellular ligands and other members of the signaling pathway.
US08114967B2
The invention concerns constructs and libraries comprising antibody surrogate light chain sequences. In particular, the invention concerns constructs comprising VpreB sequences, optionally partnered with another polypeptide, such as, for example, antibody heavy chain variable domain sequences, and libraries containing the same.
US08114965B2
The invention includes antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof which bind specifically to conformational epitopes on the extracellular domain of PSMA, compositions containing one or a combination of such antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof, hybridoma cell lines that produce the antibodies, and methods of using the antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof for cancer diagnosis and treatment. The invention also includes oligomeric forms of PSMA proteins, compositions comprising the multimers, and antibodies that selectively bind to the multimers.
US08114960B2
Alternative and improved approaches to the heterologous expression of the proteins of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. These approaches typically affect the level of expression, the ease of purification, the cellular localization, and/or the immunological properties of the expressed protein.
US08114956B2
A polymer having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I) and a ferrocene-based reduction potential of −1.5 to −0.5 V as measured by a cyclic voltammetry method wherein Ar1 represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or a divalent heterocyclic group, and these groups may be substituted by a substituent.
US08114947B2
The invention is a two part polymerizable composition comprising in one part an organoboron compound capable of forming free radical generating species amine complex and in the second part one or more compounds capable of free radical polymerization and a cure accelerator comprising a) at least one compound containing a quinone structure or b) at least one compound containing at least one aromatic ring and one or more, preferably two substituents on the aromatic ring selected from hydroxyl, ether and both, where there are two substituents they are located either ortho or para with respect to one another and a peroxide containing compound. The second part may further contain an agent capable of causing the organoboron compound to form free radical generating species upon contacting the two parts. The first part may further comprises one or more compounds capable of free radical polymerization. This facilitates formulating compositions that have commercially desirable volumetric ratios of the two parts. Adhesive compositions of the present formulation provide excellent adhesion to low surface energy substrates, such as plastics.
US08114939B2
Metal catalyst residues in resins containing polymerized lactic acid units, such as polylactides, are deactivated by treatment with a polymer or copolymer that contain pendant acid groups and pendant ester groups, with an acid-containing PLA resin, or with a polymer or copolymer having at least one acid groups per 250 atomic mass units and which has pendant lactic acid or poly(lactic acid) groups. The deactivating agent is effective at deactivating the catalyst, and has little effect on the optical clarity of the resin.
US08114927B1
The invention relates to asphalt emulsions comprising an asphalt component selected from the group consisting of a solvent extracted asphalt, an oxidized asphalt, and combinations thereof. The invention also relates to products made therefrom, including fibrous mats comprising a fiber component, such as glass fibers, and a binder component comprising an asphalt emulsion. The invention further relates to wet-laid processes for manufacturing fibrous mats and that employ the use of an amphoteric surfactant, which is applied to a wet fiber web prepared from a dispersion of fiber components, such as glass fibers.
US08114925B2
A method for preparing a filler composition useful for preparing a nanocomposite polymer is provided. The method includes a first step of dispersing a water dispersible filler material in a liquid comprising water to form a dispersion and a second step of replacing at least a portion of the water of the liquid with an organic solvent. The resulting filler composition features a water concentration of the liquid of less than six percent by weight, and the average size of at least one dimension of the filler material is less than two hundred nanometers upon examination by transmission electron microscopy of a representative freeze dried sample of the dispersion of the first step. A nanocomposite polymer, particularly and epoxy resin composition, can be prepared by mixing the above-made filler composition with one or more polymer, polymer component, monomer or prepolymer.
US08114924B2
The disclosure provides a highly loaded pearlescent pigment acrylic polymer slurry concentrate for use as a pearlescent pigment additive for an acrylic polymer sheet, comprising: (a) about 35 to about 45 wt. % of a pearlescent pigment based on the weight of the slurry concentrate; (b) about 1.0 to about 5.0 wt. % of a copolymer dispersant comprising a pigment functional component derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of urethane or urea, epoxy-containing methacrylate esterified with aromatic carboxylic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acids, ammonia and primary, secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines, primary aromatic amines, and alkyl methacrylate; and a solvent functional component derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate, ethyl hexyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, 1,2-propane diol, 6, hydroxyhexanoic acid, and 2-phenoxyethanol; (c) about 15 to about 45 wt. % of a (C1-C22) alkyl ((C1-C10)alk) acrylate; and (d) about 0.1 to about 1.5 wt. % of a thixotropic agent.
US08114914B2
Vasoconstrictors are administered topically to provide protection against the adverse effects, e.g., alopecia, mucositis or dermatitis, induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Appropriate dosages and formulations of topical vasoconstrictors are provided. Methods for the use of such compositions are also provided.
US08114912B2
Bronchodilating compositions and methods are provided. The compositions are intended for administration as a nebulized aerosol. In certain embodiments, the compositions contain formoterol, or a derivative thereof. Methods for treatment, prevention, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of bronchoconstrictive disorders using the compositions provided herein are also provided.
US08114911B2
Provided is a composition for treating obesity which comprises an effective amount of a prostaglandin compound, especially, a compound of formula (I).
US08114908B2
A process is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters. More specifically, carboxylic acid esters are reacted with an inorganic peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolysis activity. The present perhydrolase catalysts are classified as members of the carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE-7) based on the conserved structural features. Further, disinfectant formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.
US08114886B2
The present invention relates to a novel compound having an effect of inhibiting production/secretion of β-amyloid protein. The present invention provides a compound represented by the general formula (1): or a salt thereof, or a solvate of the compound or the salt; and a medicament comprising thereof.
US08114876B2
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3 and X have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US08114873B2
Naphthalene-based compounds having linked heterocyclic and aromatic rings capable of inhibiting P38, methods for inhibiting P38 in vivo or in vitro, diagnostics for determining activity in the treatment of P38 and/or cytokine-associated conditions and methods for treating conditions associated with P38 activity or cytokine activity; more particularly naphthalene-based compounds of Formula (I) having a morpholine heterocyclic ring, and methods of use thereof
US08114871B2
The present invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of Formula (I): wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 are as defined above. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and to methods of treating diabetes mellitus and its complications (including in particular diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy), cancer, ischemia, inflammation, central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and dermatological disease pression, viral diseases, inflammatory disorders, or diseases in which the liver is a target organ.
US08114868B2
Disclosed is a compound represented by Formula (Im1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, enantiomer or diastereomer thereof. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of Formula (Im1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, enantiomer or diastereomer thereof and methods of inhibiting 11β-HSD1 activity comprising the step of administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound of Formulas (Im1), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, enantiomer or diastereomer thereof.
US08114864B2
The invention provides novel Thuggacin-Type macrolide compounds which form rearrangement products forming a lacton bond to different carbon atoms. The novel compounds can be produced by fermentation of Sorangium cellulosum and Chondromyces crocatus and can be isolated by adsorption and chromoatograhic processing steps. The compounds are found to have antibiotic activity. The invention also relates to Thuggacin A, Thuggacin B, Thuggacin C, 13-Methyl-Thuggacin A, Thuggacin CMC-A, Thuggacin CMC-B and Thuggacin CMC-C AS Antimycobacterial Agents.
US08114853B2
The present invention provides methods of detecting cells showing smooth muscle differentiation. The present invention further provides methods of detecting tumor cells. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for treating smooth muscle cell disorders.
US08114850B2
Compositions and methods for modulating tumor proliferation in an individual are provided. The methods employ nucleolin-binding agents, such as aptamers. The aptamers of the present invention can be used to modulate the proliferation of malignant, dysplastic, hyperproliferative, and/or metastatic cells through interference with molecular interactions and functions of nucleolin in the tumor cell.
US08114845B2
Methods of treating cancer and infectious diseases utilizing a treatment regimen comprising administering a compound that reduces inhibitory signal transduction in T cells, in combination with a potentiating agent, such as cyclophosphamide, to produce potent T cell mediated responses, are described. Compositions comprising the PD-1 antagonists and potentiating agents useful in the methods of the invention are also disclosed.
US08114844B2
Linear and cyclic peptidomimetics which bind to one or more melanocortin receptors are provided, which peptidomimetics include at least one ring-constrained amino acid surrogate of formula I: where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and y are as defined in the specification, together with methods for synthesizing ring-constrained amino acid surrogates of formula I and peptidomimetics incorporating the same, and methods of use of peptidomimetics in the treatment of various diseases, syndromes and conditions.
US08114842B1
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one bioactive agent for treating wet AMD. The nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability for paracellular drug delivery.
US08114841B2
The present invention provides effective new methods and materials for maxillofacial bone augmentation, particularly alveolar ridge augmentation, that are free of problems associated with prior art methods. In one embodiment, these materials include human recombinant platelet derived growth factor (rhPDGF-BB) and a biocompatible matrix. In another embodiment, these materials include rhPDGF-BB, a deproteinized bone block or calcium phosphate, and a bioresorbable membrane. The use of these materials in the present method is effective in regenerating maxillofacial bones and facilitating achievement of stable osseointegrated implants. The mandible and maxilla are preferred bones for augmentation, and enhancement of the alveolar ridge is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
US08114833B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising a peptide and propylene glycol, to methods of preparing such formulations, and to uses of such formulations in the treatment of diseases and conditions for which use of the peptide contained in such formulations is indicated. The present invention further relates to methods for reducing the clogging of injection devices by a peptide formulation and for reducing deposits on production equipment during production of a peptide formulation.
US08114831B2
A method of treatment of inflamed, pre-cancerous or cancerous tissue or polyps in a mammalian subject is disclosed. The treatment involves administration of a composition of at least one peptide agonist of a guanylate cyclase receptor and/or other small molecules that enhance intracellular production of cGMP. The at least one peptide agonist of a guanylate cyclase receptor may be administered either alone or in combination with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase. The inhibitor may be a small molecule, peptide, protein or other compound that inhibits the degradation of cGMP. Without requiring a particular mechanism of action, this treatment may restore a healthy balance between proliferation and apoptosis in the subject's population of epithelial cells, and also suppress carcinogenesis. Thus, the method may be used to treat, inter alia, inflammation, including gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders, general organ inflammation and asthma, and carcinogenesis of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, bladder, testis, prostate and pancreas, or polyps.
US08114817B2
A treatment fluid and system are disclosed for cleaning borehole filtercake using the treatment fluid, wherein the filtercake contains reservoir drilling fluid (RDF) solids. The treatment fluid comprises a fluoride source providing a 1.2 to 5 molar fluoride concentration, and another acid or combination of acids to provide a pH between 1.8 and 5. The treatment fluid is balanced for a dissolving power high enough to have significant dissolution of the filtercake, but low enough for even propagation to avoid premature leak-off.
US08114812B2
Imaging elements for dual-sided direct thermal printing are described, generally comprising a substrate and a thermally sensitive coating on each side. Calendering is provided to produce a smoothness of 75 Bekk or greater on each side of the media product. A subcoat or base coat, e.g., of calcium carbonate or clay, may be provided on paper substrates to enhance smoothness of finish and the quality of thermal printing.
US08114797B2
To Provide a polarizing glass with better weatherability than conventional polarizing glasses, affording high long-term reliability without the above-described surface deterioration. To provide an optical isolator employing polarizing glass of improved weatherability, affording good weatherability and high reliability for extended periods.A polarizing glass comprising geometrically anisotropic particles dispersed in an oriented manner in at least one surface layer of a glass base body. The glass base body does not comprise an oxide of alkali earth metal and PbO, and consists of borosilicate glass comprising at least one additive component selected from the group consisting of Y2O3, ZrO2, La2O3, Ce O2, Ce2O3, Ti O2, V2O5, Ta2O5, WO3, and Nb2O5, and the geometrically anisotropic metal particles are metallic cupper particles. An optical isolator employing the polarizing glass.
US08114796B2
The lead-free and fluorine-free optical glass has a refractive index of 1.60≦nd≦1.64 and an Abbe number of from 56≦vd≦64, a transformation temperature less than or equal to 590° C., can be precise pressed and is stable to cystallization. The glass has the following, composition (in weight-% based on oxide content. P2O5, 26-35; B2O3, 10-15; Al2O3, 5.5-10; BaO, 25-37; SrO, 0-6; CaO, 8-15; ZnO, 3-10; Bi2O3, 0-8; Na2O, 0-2; K2O, 0-2; WO3, 0-10; La2O3, 0-2; Nb2O5, 0-1; TiO2,0-<1; Σ alkaline earth metal oxides ≧40; Σ alkali metal oxides, 0-2 and at least one fining agent, 0-0.5.
US08114790B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a process chamber configured to be vacuum-exhausted; a worktable configured to place a target substrate thereon inside the process chamber; a microwave generation source configured to generate microwaves; a planar antenna including a plurality of slots and configured to supply microwaves generated by the microwave generation source through the slots into the process chamber; a gas supply mechanism configured to supply a film formation source gas into the process chamber; and an RF power supply configured to apply an RF power to the worktable. The apparatus is preset to turn a nitrogen-containing gas and a silicon-containing gas supplied in the process chamber into plasma by the microwaves, and to deposit a silicon nitride film on a surface of the target substrate by use of the plasma, while applying the RF power to the worktable.
US08114788B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming an energy cured resin layer on a semiconductor substrate having an electrode pad and a passivation film; fusing the resin layer so that fusion of a surface section is progressed more than of a central section by a first energy supply processing; forming a resin boss by curing and shrinking the resin layer by a second energy supply processing; and forming an electrical conducting layer which is electrically connected to the electrode pad and passes over the resin boss.
US08114786B2
Disclosed is a heat treatment unit 4 serving as a heat treatment apparatus, which includes a chamber 42 for containing a wafer W on which a low dielectric constant interlayer insulating film is formed, a formic acid supply device 44 for supplying gaseous formic acid into the chamber 42, and a heater 43 for heating the wafer W in the chamber 42 which is supplied with formic acid by the formic acid supply device 44.
US08114784B2
Integrated circuits (ICs) commonly contain pre-metal dielectric (PMD) liners with compressive stress to increase electron and hole mobilities in MOS transistors. The increase is limited by the thickness of the PMD liner. The instant invention is a multi-layered PMD liner in an integrated circuit which has a higher stress than single layer PMD liners. Each layer in the inventive PMD liner is exposed to a nitrogen-containing plasma, and which has a compressive stress higher than 1300 MPa. The PMD liner of the instant invention is composed of 3 to 10 layers. The hydrogen content of the first layer may be increased to improve transistor properties such as flicker noise and Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI). An IC containing the inventive PMD liner and a method for forming same are also claimed.
US08114781B2
A substrate processing method capable of selectively removing a nitride film. Oxygen plasma containing plasmarized oxygen gas is made to be in contact with a silicon nitride film, which is made of SiN, of a wafer to thereby cause the silicon nitride film to be changed to a silicon monoxide film. The silicon monoxide film is selectively etched by hydrofluoric acid generated from HF gas supplied toward the silicon monoxide film.
US08114780B2
A method of removing carbon doped silicon oxide between metal contacts is provided. A layer of the carbon doped silicon oxide is converted to a layer of silicon oxide by removing the carbon dopant. The converted layer of silicon oxide is selectively wet etched with respect to the carbon doped silicon oxide and the metal contacts, which forms recess between the metal contacts.
US08114772B2
A method of manufacturing semiconductor device includes preparing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first insulation layer is formed on the second surface. A sacrificial layer is formed on the first insulation layer. An opening is formed to penetrate through the substrate and extend from the first surface to a portion of the sacrificial layer. A second insulation layer is formed on an inner wall of the opening. A plug is formed to fill the opening. The sacrificial layer is removed to expose a lower portion of the plug through the second surface.
US08114763B2
Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus may include a tantalum aluminum oxynitride film for use in a variety of electronic systems and devices. The tantalum aluminum oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. The tantalum aluminum oxynitride film may be formed using atomic layer deposition. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a tantalum aluminum oxynitride film.
