US08116984B2
The invention relates a method of quantifying CD64 and CD163 expression in leukocytes and, specifically to a kit for use with a flow cytometer including a suspension of quantitative fluorescent microbead standards, fluorescent labeled antibodies directed to CD64 and CD163, and analytical software. The software is used to take information on the microbead suspension and fluorescent labeled antibodies from a flow cytometer and analyse data, smooth curves, calculate new parameters, provide quality control measures and notify of expiration of the assay system.
US08116979B2
A system and a method for estimating a model of a geological formation are provided. The geological formation has a wellbore extending therethrough. The method includes obtaining a first resistivity log associated with the geological formation from a LWD sensor in the wellbore. The method further includes obtaining a second resistivity log associated with the geological formation from a WL sensor in the wellbore. The method further includes calculating a plurality of horizontal resistivity values associated with the geological formation by utilizing a first inversion technique and the first resistivity log. The method further includes obtaining a plurality of invaded zone resistivity values obtained from a micro-resistivity measurement device in the WL sensor. The method further includes calculating a plurality of invaded zone thickness values proximate the wellbore by utilizing a second inversion technique and the second resistivity log.
US08116978B2
A device with an improved user interface and mounting features comprises a sensor operable to detect a mounting configuration of the device, a display, and a processing system coupled with the sensor and the display. The processing system is generally operable to receive an indication of the detected mounting configuration from the sensor and present information on the display according to the detected mounting configuration.
US08116965B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for and method of diagnosing whether or not a failure occurs in a variable valve mechanism on the basis of a manipulated variable of an electric actuator. The variable valve mechanism is operated by the electric actuator and varies an open characteristic of an engine valve. The time for determining occurrence of a failure in the electric actuator is changed according to a temperature condition.
US08116964B2
The invention relates to a system for controlling a thermal engine with valves, that comprises an engine control unit (1) and a plurality of valve actuators (3), wherein the engine control unit is connected to a communication bus (2) and the actuators are distributed into at least two sets each comprising a connection interface (4) to the communication bus, the engine control unit being designed so as to define actuator driving instructions and to transmit into the bus and for each set an individualised frame including the driving instructions for the related set.
US08116948B2
An energy-absorbing force limiter for a safety device comprises a first component (5) and a second component (2), such as a seat-belt, that is moveable relative to the first component (5). The force limiter provides an energy-absorbing movement-resisting effect, for example by means of a frictional brake (4, 5), to resist movement of the second component relative to the first. An adjustable control element (6) actuates the brake. The magnitude of the frictional effect is a function of the degree of adjustment of the control element and at least one parameter, such as temperature, which influences the coefficient of friction. The control mechanism (9) adjusts the adjustable control element (6) to control the magnitude of the movement-resisting effect in response to a signal (12) representative of the desired resistance to movement together with a signal (10, 11) representative of that at least one parameter.
US08116946B2
An electric power steering (EPS) device including a rack actuator that applies assist force to a rack shaft, a column actuator that applies assist force to a column shaft, and an ECU that controls operation of the actuators by supplying drive power to motors, each of which is a drive source of the corresponding one of the actuators. A permanent magnet motor (BLDC) is employed as the motor of the rack actuator and an induction motor, which is a non-permanent magnet motor, is used as the motor of the column actuator.
US08116937B2
A vehicle display apparatus includes an image display device (30) disposed in a region where an operator is unable to operate the display apparatus (30), and a transparent display input device (100) installed in a region from a surface portion of the instrument panel (40) to an upper portion of a center console (50). The vehicle display apparatus is designed to allow the operator to operate the image display device (30) from a remote position by manipulating the transparent display apparatus (100) disposed near the operator.
US08116936B2
A system for collecting and storing performance data for an engine is provided. The system includes one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data signals representative of one or more engine data performance parameters. The system further includes a data sampling component, a data quantizing component, a data storage sampling rate component, a data encoding component and a data storage component. The data sampling component is configured to sample the sensor data signals at a data sampling rate. The data quantizing component is configured to generate quantized data samples corresponding to the sampled sensor data signals. The data storage sampling rate component is configured to determine a data storage sampling rate for the quantized data samples, based on an analysis of at least a subset of the quantized data samples. The data encoding component is configured to encode the quantized data samples according to the data storage sampling rate, and the data storage component is configured to store the encoded data samples from the encoding component.
US08116929B2
An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor has a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at a vehicle equipped with the imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data, and the control processes the captured image data. The control, responsive to the processing of the captured image data, may distinguish an object present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor. The control, responsive at least in part to the processing of the captured image data, determines an object of interest present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor.
US08116921B2
A vehicle control system for causing a follower vehicle to follow a leader may have a tether system mounted to the follower vehicle. The tether system may include a tether having an end adapted to be attached to the leader, a length sensor, and an angle sensor. A path tracking system operatively associated with the tether system determines a path traveled by the leader. A path control system operatively associated with the path tracking system and the follower vehicle causes the follower vehicle to follow the path traveled by the leader. A spacing control system operatively associated with the path tracking system and the follower vehicle causes the follower vehicle to maintain a predetermined spacing between the follower vehicle and the leader.
US08116910B2
A remote controlled robot system that includes a robot and a remote controlled station. The robot includes a camera and a printer coupled to a mobile platform. The remote control station may display one or more graphical user interfaces with data fields. The graphical user interfaces allow a user to enter information into the data fields. The information is then transmitted to the robot and printed by the robot printer. The information may include a medical prescription and the name of the patient. Providing a robot printer allows the user to directly provide a medical prescription while remotely observing and interacting with the patient.
US08116907B2
Methods and systems for programmed dispensation of consumable compositions are provided.A method for administering a consumable composition may comprise one or more of the following steps: (a) dispensing a dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; (b) detecting an amount of consumable composition dispensed; and (c) requesting an additional amount of consumable composition according to the amount of consumable composition dispensed.A system for administering a consumable composition may comprise one or more of the following: (a) means for dispensing a dose of a consumable composition according to a programmed dosing schedule; (b) means for detecting an amount of consumable composition dispensed; and (c) means for requesting an additional amount of consumable composition according to the amount of consumable composition dispensed.
US08116905B2
A targeted product distribution system is described herein with respect to an exemplary management of product flow through a distribution center. Specifically, the system and method described herein is directed to the management and display of direct and easily-understood instructions, such that average individuals, as well as those with mental disabilities, will be able to contribute equally to the overall process.
US08116901B2
For controlling a motion sequence of a machine element, with which the control of the motion sequence of the machine element is carried out based on a functional relationship between a master shaft and a slave shaft, the functional relationship IS ascertained with consideration for several conditions of this motion sequence. The functional relationship includes at least one first section, which is defined by an nth-order polynomial, and at least one second section, which is at least partially separated from the first section, and which is defined by an ath-order polynomial. In this case, “a” is less than “n”.
US08116895B2
Computer-aided design and manufacture software and hardware automate garment and fashion definition and production. Configurable garment includes ornamental element, pattern display, and personal identifier and wireless sensor electronics.
US08116890B2
A portable audio device suitable for reproducing MPEG encoded data includes a plurality of inputs, a data storage, a display, an audio output, at least one processor, and a battery. The plurality of inputs includes a forward input, a play control input, and a random input. The data storage stores compressed digitized audio data. The at least one processor is responsive to selection of at least one of the plurality of inputs to convert selected compressed digitized audio data stored in the data storage for reproduction by the audio output and to provide information to the display.
US08116881B2
Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, configured to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. At least one electrode is fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve when the housing is placed in the vicinity of the nerve, and such that the electrode surrounds greater than 180 degrees of a circumference of the nerve after the placement of the housing. Two end insulating elements are fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements, and the end insulating elements come in contact or practically in contact with the nerve when the housing is placed in the vicinity of the nerve. Other embodiments are also described.
US08116876B2
A method for selectively interacting with electrically excitable tissue of a patient is provided. In one configuration, an implantable pulse generator with a number of outputs and an array of electrodes with a number of electrodes being greater than the number of outputs may be implanted in a patient. An extension unit may be implanted between the implantable pulse generator and array. The extension unit acts to electrically couple the inputs of implantable pulse generator with the greater number of electrodes in the array so that the output sources are coupled to a portion of the electrodes.
US08116875B2
New and useful neurostimulation systems are provided that include an implantable pulse generator dimensioned and configured for implantation in the skull of a patient. The implantable pulse generator has an electrode operatively associated with a distal end portion thereof and can be provided with adjustment means, such as an adjustable biasing member or spring arranged between the electrode to the distal end portion of the pulse generator. Also provided are systems involving networked neurostimulators that are configured and adapted to work jointly in accordance with prescribed treatment protocol to effect a desired recovery from brain injury. Such networked neurostimulation systems are particularly advantageous for effecting relatively large and/or relatively distant regions of the brain. Additionally, systems and methods for motor-evoked potential (MEP)-based neuromodulation are provided. Further, AC and/or DC stimulation can be utilized, depending on the precise implementation.
US08116866B2
A method and apparatus for delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in which an evoked response electrogram is recorded during one or more cardiac cycles and used to aid in the selection of resynchronization pacing parameters and/or to monitor the effectiveness of resynchronization therapy. The morphology of an evoked response electrogram may be recorded and analyzed to determine if and when intrinsic activation of one ventricle is occurring in order to optimally adjust the programmed atrio-ventricular (AV) delay interval for ventricular resynchronization pacing of a patient with intact AV node conduction.
US08116842B2
A process, apparatus, and method for online control and database collection and management of a computerized detection, tracking, and feedback control system. The system tests for nutrients by Raman scattering effects on skin or other tissues to determine the content of carotenoids or other nutrients as evidenced in that skin. Serum levels of nutrients may vary dramatically with time, but skin tissues may average such nutrition over time. Skin and other tissues may be scanned with light to produce accurate measurements of carotenoids or other nutrients accumulated in the skin based on the Raman scattering affect of those nutrients in the skin. A score can be derived from a properly calibrated bio-photonic scanner to reflect an averaged effective uptake of the detected nutrient (e.g. such as the carotenoid example).
US08116839B1
An initialization module in a pulse oximeter accommodates a variety of different probes and a variety of operating parameters as well as providing for interrogation of various probe circuits for detection of probe faults. Probe fault detection for the red and infrared LED circuits of the probe is implemented using an adaptive algorithm that is dependent on the drive settings or signals applied to the LED circuits. A configurable circuit is used to provide multiple initialization values relating to a calibration circuit of the probe for improved fault detection. Additionally, potential faults with respect to the photodetector circuit of a probe are identified based on monitoring drawn by an output by the photodetector.
US08116832B2
The invention relates to a combined apparatus of a phone holder and a wireless earset. The combined apparatus includes a phone holder and a wireless earset used cooperatively with a mobile phone. The phone holder includes a backplate, a bottom plate, a left holding arm, a right holding arm and a mounting structure. The wireless earset includes a casing, an earphone and a microphone. A holding device for holding the wireless earset is provided on the left holding arm or the right holding arm or the backplate of the phone holder.
US08116831B2
A hand-held communication device (100), such as a cellular telephone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), comprises a sensor assembly (200) and an auxiliary input interface (300). Auxiliary input interface (300) is situated along one or more exterior surfaces (110) of device (100) and is electrically coupled to processing circuitry within device (100). Sensor assembly (200) is removably attached to the one or more exterior surfaces (110) of device (100). Sensor assembly (200) preferably includes multiple pressure sensors for receiving tactile inputs from a user, and multiple outputs for coupling to auxiliary input interface (300). Sensor assembly (200) provides signals at the multiple outputs in response to tactile inputs from the user. In one form, during an assignment procedure, tactile inputs from the user are assigned to predefined functions of the device and/or one or more software applications installed in the device. Subsequently, during normal operation of the device (100), each of the specific tactile input results in the execution of one or more predefined functions. Sensor assembly (200) is preferably realized by a combination that includes an elastomeric connector (210) and a top portion having a flexible shroud (250) and multiple conductive strips (270, 272, . . . , 284) that are configured for contacting conductive regions (220, 222, . . . , 232) of elastomeric connector (210).
US08116830B2
A data input key for a portable apparatus and a key array thereof. The data input key includes a first key having a first recess positioned on the top thereof and a second key that has a second recess positioned on the top thereof, while facing the first recess, and which is disposed adjacent to the first key while facing it. In a first mode, the same data is recognized when either of the keys are pressed, and in a second mode different data is recognized when each of the first and second keys are pressed.
US08116828B2
A current consumption controlling apparatus and method in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a first transceiver for outputting a signal indicative of a transmit burst time of a first communication system mode supported by the first transceiver to a second transceiver, and adjusting a gain of a power amplifier by receiving a signal indicative of a transmit burst time of a second communication system mode from the second transceiver; and the second transceiver for outputting the signal indicative of the transmit burst time of the second communication system mode to the first transceiver, and adjusting a gain of a power amplifier by receiving the signal indicative of the transmit burst time of the first communication system mode.
US08116827B2
A portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a housing, a circuit module, a solar module, and a keypad module. The circuit module is disposed in the housing. The solar module provides a supplied power to the circuit module. The keypad module having light transparency is disposed in the housing and covers the solar module. The solar module receives the light from a light source through the keypad module to provide the supplied power.
US08116807B2
A graphical user interface on a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display includes an airplane mode switch icon with an “on” position and an “off” position. A communications signal strength icon is displayed if the airplane mode switch icon is at the “off” position. The communications signal strength icon is replaced with an airplane icon upon detecting a movement of a finger contact on or near the airplane mode switch icon. The detected movement of the finger contact is from the “off” position to the “on” position.
US08116802B2
HS-SCCH transmission power is controlled on a transmitting side depending on whether HS-DSCH transmission is to be executed, so as to maintain total reception power on a receiving side at a constant level. More specifically, the HS-SCCH transmission power of P2 is transmitted in the case where the HS-DSCH transmission is not to be executed, while the HS-SCCH transmission power is controlled to be P1=P2−ΔP, in the case where the HS-DSCH transmission is to be executed, which increases the power by ΔP. Accordingly, the total power on the receiving side remains unchanged regardless of whether the HS-DSCH transmission is to be executed, and hence the AGC function on the receiving side is kept from saturation, which allows preventing a receiving error.
US08116801B2
Provided is an outer loop power control apparatus and method for a signal transmitter in a communication system. The outer loop power control method includes determining a first setpoint of a kth frame according to whether or not an error occurs in a (k−1)th frame, updating a second setpoint of the kth frame with the first setpoint of the kth frame if a difference value between the first setpoint of the kth frame and a second setpoint of the (k−1)th frame is greater than a first reference value, and transmitting a transmit power control message to a signal receiver at the kth frame if the difference value between first setpoint of the kth frame and the second setpoint of the (k−1)th frame is greater than a second reference value.
US08116792B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for mitigating a temporary interference condition are provided. The temporary interference condition is predicted between a first cellular device and a second cellular device prior to an occurrence of the temporary interference condition. A mitigation action for mitigating the temporary interference condition is identified. A schedule and a scale or scaling for the mitigation action are determined. The mitigation action is implemented in accordance with the schedule and the scale or scaling to mitigate the temporary interference condition during the occurrence of the temporary interference condition.
US08116788B2
Systems and methods for reporting of presence information associated with use of a mobile telephone are presented. In one example, a headset that is paired with a cellular mobile phone relays presence information to a presence application running on a computer.
US08116782B2
The present invention implements communication control with user's service subscription information reflected in a mobile communication network. A QoS control server for providing a communication quality control function of a network, a user information management server for managing user's service information, a service proxy server for transferring a service control message transmitted by a user to a service control server, a service relay server for relaying a message between service control servers in two different networks, and a service control server for exercising service control based on user service information are included. In user service start processing, the service control server or service relay server transmits a service control message inclusive of service subscription information acquired beforehand to the service proxy server. The QoS control server acquires the service subscription information from the service proxy server. Thus, subscriber information is reflected to communication quality control processing.
US08116781B2
The invention provides for the management of wireless resources, which can reduce call blocking by allowing high priority services, under suitable conditions, to use resources allocated to low priority services. Thus high priority services can pre-empt the usage of wireless resources by low priority services. This has the advantage of reducing call blocking for high priority calls, while permitting low priority calls to have more access to radio resources than conventional systems with the same call blocking rate. Thus a base station can implement a preemption mechanism that would reclaim Walsh Code and Forward Power resources from an active Supplemental Channel (SCH) burst in order to accommodate incoming Fundamental Channel (FCH) requests.
US08116776B1
A method for providing telecommunication service includes transmitting a node identifier to a mobile station over a first network that supports a first communication protocol and receiving a handoff call, based on the node identifier, from the mobile station over a second network that supports a second communication protocol. The handoff call includes a mobile station identifier. The method further includes identifying a first communication link over the first network based on the mobile station identifier and initiating a second communication link with the mobile station over the second network. The method also includes terminating the first communication link.
US08116774B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, for requesting, and allocating communication resources at a new fixed-site transceiver of a radio communication system, such as a new access point of a wireless local area network. A resource information container is formed that is structured to include information elements that identify, amongst other things, resource requirements of a mobile unit. The information elements of a resource information container include a root node, one or more leaf nodes, and, selectably, one or more group nodes. The resource information container is communicated prior to commencement of transition procedures to early-reserve or determine availability of resources at a new access point.
US08116769B2
Anchoring a communication session for a target mobile phone includes identifying a current access node operable to provide the target mobile phone access to a first network of a first network type. Potential access nodes operable to provide a mobile phone access to a second network of a second network type are identified. Whether the communication session can be handed off to a potential access node of the one or more potential access nodes is established. Anchoring of the communication session is initiated in the second network only if the communication session can be handed off to a potential access node of the one or more potential access nodes.
US08116767B2
A method and system for retry of a packet data call. The method can include the steps of attempting (210) an IP registration with a mobile unit (110) to make a packet data call using a first protocol on a network (120) that employs both the first protocol and a second protocol for packet data calls and detecting (212) a failure in the IP registration using the first protocol due to a failure in a data link layer of the first protocol. A physical layer of the first protocol is unaffected by the failure in the data link layer of the first protocol such that communications may still be performed over the physical layer. The method can also include the steps of—at the mobile unit—ceasing (214) the attempted IP registration using the first protocol on the network and attempting (216) an IP registration with the mobile unit using the second protocol of the network. As an example, the first protocol can be EVDO, and the second protocol can be 1X.
US08116766B2
The present invention relates to a method for optimizing a search of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) by a mobile terminal having a nonvolatile memory and a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. The method includes: searching for a PLMN based on priority information registered in the SIM; regarding the PLMN that has been found, determining whether the SIM card includes any priority information about at least one particular radio access technology associated with the PLMN; when priority information is included, selecting a cell of the PLMN; when priority information is not included, determining whether the nonvolatile memory includes any information about at least one particular radio access technology to be selected on a priority basis in a country of the PLMN; when priority information is included, selecting a cell of the PLMN for which the particular radio access technology has been developed; and when priority information is not included, selecting a cell where a radio access technology, which is set beforehand by default in the nonvolatile memory for all countries that are not listed in the nonvolatile memory, has been developed.
US08116761B1
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless access control system. The method includes monitoring a first wireless access node to determine when the first wireless access node experiences wireless access congestion, where the first wireless access node broadcasts a first paging zone identifier for receipt by wireless communication devices receiving wireless access from the first wireless access node. The method also includes, in response to the wireless access congestion at the first wireless access node, instructing a second wireless access node which broadcasts a second paging zone identifier to toggle between broadcasting the first paging zone identifier and broadcasting the second paging zone identifier at a first duty cycle.
US08116759B2
A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a control networks on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with the control network. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network may have user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network may also include a wide area network interface, allowing diagnostic information for the control network to be retrieved or parts to be ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the mobile conveyance control network.
US08116753B2
A mobile terminal and a method for playing at least one multimedia object are disclosed. The method for playing multimedia objects comprises synchronizing at least one attribute value of the at least one multimedia object with an attribute value of a multimedia player module provided in the mobile terminal; and playing the at least one multimedia object in accordance with the synchronized at least one attribute value using the multimedia player module.
US08116748B2
The location of group members having mobile communications devices such as cellular telephones, PDAs, and the like are managed by maintaining group member location awareness among the individual group members. The location of each group member is known on the basis of the determined location of the mobile communications device of each, either in absolute terms or in relative terms. The absolute and/or relative location may be reported by the mobile communications devices, such as to a mobile communications device of an administrator of the group or directly to individual group members. Rules may be established for providing notifications such as alerts and alarms to the group members when a group member strays from the group or from a fixed reference point and information may be provided to the straying member to assist the straying member in returning to the group.
US08116747B2
Apparatuses and methods to facilitate customer to supplier funds transfer via premium messages. In one aspect, an apparatus to electronically transfer funds from a customer to a supplier includes: a server component connected to a network; and a database coupled to the server component. The server component is configured to: transmit a plurality of premium rate mobile terminating text messages to the mobile cellular telephone of the customer; populate the database with an identification of the telephone number of the customer; receive classifications of offers sold by a plurality of suppliers; populate the database with a table associating the suppliers with classifications of the offers sold by the suppliers, the database including an identification of classifications for the telephone number of the customer; and determine whether to allow or prohibit transmission of text messages to effect payment based upon the identification of the classifications for the telephone number of the customer.
US08116742B2
A communications system and method includes a mobile device having a mail user agent. A mobile office platform as a server includes a mail agent that is operative with the mail user agent for accessing one or more electronic mailboxes of the mail user agent using at least one protocol specific connector. The mobile office platform is operative for providing only the n-most recent mail headers of electronic messages to the mail user agent.
US08116741B2
Systems and methods for delivering information to a transmitting and receiving device. The device receives a notification alerting a user of the device that information is available to be obtained and, in some embodiments, providing a short description of the information. After receiving the notification at the device, the user can then use the device to obtain or otherwise act on the information at a time and at a place convenient to the user.
US08116737B2
In embodiments of the invention, there is provided with a method, system, and apparatus for locking information. Specifically, a server sends a lock message carrying lock object information to a mobile terminal; the mobile terminal locks a lock object according to the lock message, the lock object corresponding to the lock object information. With the solutions provided in the embodiments of the invention, a server may lock information for a mobile terminal, so as to prevent other servers from manipulating the information.
US08116732B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for routing mobile users to safe, or secure, locations. In one embodiment, based on threat information obtained from one or more source, a threat level is determined for a location of a user of a mobile device. The threat level is indicative of physical safety and/or network safety at the location of the user of the mobile device. The threat level may be a function of a transaction type of a transaction being performed or desired to be performed by the user of the mobile device. If the location is unsafe, a safe location is identified, and the user of the mobile device is routed to the safe location.
US08116728B2
Communication networks and methods are disclosed for performing charging in LTE/EPC communication networks. In an LTE/EPC communication network, a PCRF stores charging rules for online and offline charging. To perform charging for a session, LTE network elements that are serving the session request charging rules from the PCRF. The PCRF identifies the charging rules, and assigns a unique LTE charging identifier for the session across all network elements in the LTE/EPC communication network. The LTE network elements receive the charging rules from the PCRF along with the LTE charging identifier for the session. The LTE network elements generate charging messages for the session, and insert the LTE charging identifier in the charging messages. The LTE network elements then transmit the charging messages to a charging system, such as an OCS or an OFCS. The OCS/OFCS may then correlate the charging messages for the session based on the LTE charging identifier.
US08116722B2
Calls from a phone identified as being a source of harassing or other undesirable phone calls are blocked at a mobile positioning center (MPC). Upon request by the PSAP, a call record detail can be obtained from the MPC revealing a simulated “callback phone number” as well as a unique number identifier of the phone, such as an ESN or MEID. The MPC then intercepts all future incoming calls from phones with that unique identifier number and routes them to a recording that advises the harasser that the phone has been identified as a harasser and is now blocked. The recording can also advise the caller how to restore service. In a preferred embodiment, the MPC sets a timer to automatically restore service after a designated length of time.
US08116721B2
An apparatus and method for providing an urgent call service in a communication system are provided. A base station receives from a mobile station a message ranging request with a Medium Access Control (MAC) address in which a priority is set. If the priority set in the MAC address is a highest priority, the base station processes the message ranging request with the highest priority and provides the urgent call service to the mobile station. Upon detecting a request for the urgent call service, the mobile station sends a message ranging request to a base station using a Medium Access Control (MAC) address in which a highest priority is set, and receives the urgent call service in response to the message ranging request.
US08116715B2
The present invention intends to provide a filter circuit in which an area occupied by the circuit can be reduced by suppressing the scale of its circuit configuration while a predetermined vicinity disturbance wave rejection ratio is maintained and a communication semiconductor device using the same, the filter circuit filtering an analog signal and including a voltage/current conversion circuit for converting the analog signal from voltage to current, and a capacitor array which executes signal processing by charging/discharging the current converted by the voltage/current conversion circuit to/from plural capacitors, the capacitor array being so constructed that the plural capacitors are divided to plural stages so that signals averaged by the capacitor on a preceding stage are accumulated in the capacitor on a next stage successively.
US08116698B2
Techniques are provided to enable wireless communication between first and second wireless communication devices each having a plurality of antennas, where the second device sends the transmissions via less than all of its plurality of antennas. Each transmission may comprise a plurality of time-frequency instances. At the first communication device, data is derived representing parameters of a communication channel between the plurality of antennas of the first device and all of the plurality of antennas of the second device from the transmissions received at the plurality of antennas of the first device. Beamforming weights for transmitting one or more signal streams via the plurality of antennas of the first device to the plurality of antennas of the second device are computed based on the data representing parameters of the communication channel between the plurality of antennas of the first device and the plurality of antennas of the second device. The beamforming weights are applied to the one or more signal streams to be transmitted via the plurality of antennas of the first device to the plurality of antennas of the second device.
US08116695B2
Some embodiments include devices, methods and/or systems of reduced peak-to-average-ratio communication. An apparatus may include a transmitter to transmit a transmission corresponding to an input signal, wherein the transmitter may include a peak-to-average-ratio-reduction transformer to generate a plurality of transformed data components by applying a predefined peak-to-average-ratio-reduction transform scheme to a plurality of fine constellation data components corresponding to the input signal, wherein a peak-to-average-ratio corresponding to the plurality of transformed data components is lower than a peak-to-average-ratio corresponding to the plurality of fine-constellation data components; and a transmission module to generate the transmission based at least on the plurality of transformed data components. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08116692B2
A method and device may be used to produce a received interference value in wireless communications. A wireless transmit/receive unit comprising a radio frequency signal measurement device may be configured to produce a value indicating a radio frequency signal, noise and interference received power. An average noise plus interference measuring device may be configured to produce a value indicating a measured average noise plus interference metric. A received signal to noise indication calculation device may be configured to calculate a received signal to noise indicator from the value indicating a radio frequency signal, noise and interference received power and the value may indicate a measured average noise plus interference metric.
US08116683B2
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast.
US08116677B2
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.
US08116675B2
A method and apparatus for handover based on a dynamic beamforming scheme, which is adapted to a mobile communication system including a mobile node and a base station, is provided. The apparatus includes a mobile profile information processor configured to process mobile profile information based on a location of the mobile node, and to generate a beamforming control signal according to the mobile profile information; a handover indication message processor configured to generate a first handover indication message incorporating the mobile profile information in preparation for a handover of the mobile node; a transceiver configured to transmit the first handover indication message; and a beamforming controller configured to control beamforming for transmission of the transceiver according to the beamforming control signal.
US08116671B2
Apparatuses useful in printing and methods of mitigating media edge wear effects on fixing belts in printing are provided. An exemplary apparatus useful for printing onto media includes a first roll including a first surface; a second roll including a second surface; a fixing member including a third surface; a fixing belt supported on the first surface and second surface, the fixing belt including a surface forming a nip with the fixing member; a registration distribution system for translating the first roll, second roll, fixing member and fixing belt, as a unit, transversely with respect to a media travel path of media received at the nip; and a belt steering mechanism connected to the second roll for translating the fixing belt across the first surface of the first roll at the nip, transversely to the media travel path, while the registration distribution system translates the first roll, second roll, fixing member and fixing belt transversely to the media travel path.
US08116667B2
A developing device include: a toner carrier that is arranged oppositely to an image carrier; a toner-flying electrode member spaced apart from the toner carrier; and an oscillating electric field generating power source that connects the toner-flying electrode member and the toner carrier, and generates an oscillating electric field which causes the toner to fly from the toner carrier. The toner-flying electrode member includes a conductive member that extends at least along a rotational axis direction of the toner carrier; an insulating coating layer that applies insulating coating continuously to a conductive member surface located on a toner carrier side; and an exposed portion where the conductive member surface adjacent to the insulating coating layer and located on an image carrier side is exposed.
US08116666B2
A toner container holds toner and is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus. A housing holds the toner therein and includes a first engagement portion and an opening through which the toner is discharged into the image forming apparatus. The first engagement portion includes a first surface and either a first projection formed on the first surface or a first recess formed in the first surface. A shutter is fitted into the housing and is slidable relative to the housing. The shutter includes a second engagement portion that engages the first engagement portion when the shutter slides relative to the housing. The second engagement portion includes a second surface. Either a second projection is formed on the second surface or a second recess is formed in the second surface.
US08116665B2
A technology for controlling the generation of damages of a photoconductive surface caused due to the attachment of a carrier to a photoconductor in an image forming apparatus using a two-component developing agent is provided. An image forming apparatus is configured to include an intermediate transfer body having prescribed elasticity on a transfer surface onto which a toner image is transferred; plural image carriers which transfer a toner image onto the transfer surface and which are disposed along a movement direction of the transfer surface of the intermediate transfer body; plural development sections which form toner images having a different color from each other with respect to the plural image carriers by using a two-component developing agent made of a toner and a carrier; and developing agent replenishment sections which replenish a toner and a carrier in the development sections.
US08116660B2
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge, a main assembly including a positioner positioning the cartridge and an urger urging the cartridge to the positioner, a mover supporting the cartridge and movable between a pulled out position outside of the main assembly and an inside position inside the main assembly, and a gripper mounted to the mover and movable between a reference position and an outward position located outwardly with respect to the pull out direction of the mover. When the mover is at the inside position, the cartridge is positioned to the positioner by the urger to be placed in a positioning state when the gripper is at the reference position and the positioning state of the cartridge is released by moving the gripper from the reference position to the outward position.
US08116659B2
An image-forming device includes a casing, a process unit, a first shutter, a toner cartridge, a second shutter, and a wall. The process unit is detachably mounted in the casing and formed with a first opening, the process unit having a developer roller carrying a toner. The first shutter opens and closes the first opening. The toner cartridge is detachably mounted in the casing, accommodates the toner, and is formed with a second opening, the second opening being in alignment with the first opening. The second shutter opens and closes the second opening. The wall is disposed between the developer unit and the toner cartridge and is formed with a third opening, the third opening being in alignment with the first opening and the second opening. By providing the wall, the process unit and toner cartridge can be detachably mounted in the casing, thereby avoiding a drop in precision for positioning the process unit and toner cartridge relative to the casing.
US08116656B2
A transfer unit has a belt unit having a belt and a cleaning unit for cleaning the belt. The belt unit and the cleaning unit are integratedly provided. The cleaning unit is movable for the belt unit. The transfer unit is detachable for an apparatus main body. A position of the cleaning unit for the belt unit before the transfer unit is attached to the apparatus main body is different from a position of the cleaning unit for the belt unit after the transfer unit is attached to the apparatus main body.
US08116630B2
A system and method for dynamically adding/dropping wavelengths in a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer (ROADM) transport network is disclosed. The system includes at least one optical transponder, a plurality of optical fan-out devices, each arranged to receive an input signal from a network degree and coupled to at least one of a plurality of optical fan-in devices, each optical fan-in device arranged to output a signal to a network degree, the optical fan-out devices comprising at least one wavelength selective switch and the optical fan-in devices comprising at least one wavelength selective switch, the optical fan-out devices and optical fan-in devices being connected so as to enable signals input from each of the plurality of network degrees to be switched to another network degree of the plurality of network degrees; a plurality of demultiplexers for locally dropping selected wavelengths; a plurality of multiplexers for locally adding selected wavelengths; and at least one fiber switch interposed between the at least one optical transponder and the plurality of demultiplexers and multiplexers. The fiber switch is coupled to wavelengths and degrees that are allocated for a bandwidth-on-demand application. Other configurations include additional fan-in and fan-out devices interposed between a mux/demux assembly and the optical transponders to support wavelength redistribution applications.
US08116627B2
When a signal of weak optical power is received immediately after a signal of intense optical power, input of the signal of intense optical power readily causes saturation, and the influence interferes in the signal of weak optical power to deteriorate receiver sensitivity. Moreover, when a reverse-bias voltage of APD is changed, if a difference between the voltages is large, a next optical signal is received until the receiver sensitivity of the APD becomes stable, so that receiver sensitivity deteriorates. A DBA order is determined so that a difference in reverse-bias voltage is small, and reverse-bias voltage is controlled in line with reception timing from ONU.
US08116623B2
Provided is a multi-ring network operating method of cross-connecting at least two ring networks, the method including connecting an input working ring and an input protection ring of a ring network to an output working ring and an output protection ring of another ring network and then performing cross-connection between the same or different ring networks by using a multi-dimensional cross-connect apparatus. In the multi-ring operating method, a plurality of ring networks can be connected regardless of the protection method used by the ring networks, and the original protection method of each ring network can remain after they are connected.
US08116621B2
Methods and systems to set an amount of light to be emitted by a remote flash device may comprise: a first radio communication device coupled to a camera, a means for a user to set a desired light emission intensity or power emission level which may be perceptible to a first radio communication device, and at least a second radio communication device coupled to a remote flash device. The first radio communication device may transmit at least one radio signal to the second radio communication device which may comprise a power emission level. The at least second radio communication device may send any sequence of data or control signals to a remote flash device which may be representative of the desired light emission intensity or power emission level. The at least second radio communication device may send activation signals to the coupled flash device, followed by allowing a delay interval to elapse, followed by sending quench signals to the coupled flash device.
US08116616B2
Presenting viewers with an alternative brief version of a recorded advertisement when they choose to fast-forward through or skip (or any other trick play event) the recorded advertisement. The alternative advertisement may be displayed instead of or in conjunction with the recorded advertisement (i.e., fast-forwarding advertisement is displayed in one portion of the screen (i.e., background or portion of a split screen) and the alternative brief version is displayed in another portion). The alternative brief version of the advertisement (trick play advertisement) may be a marketing message that is a static screen presenting a logo or a portion of the recorded advertisement, or may be a condensed version of the actual advertisement. The trick play advertisements may be targeted. An alternate or entirely unrelated advertisement can also be displayed as the trick play advertisement.
US08116608B2
According to one of embodiments, a method and apparatus for reproducing video and audio changes a playback speed for video and a playback speed for audio independently of each other. To provide an apparatus and method for controlling the playback speeds shortly before a period in which the video and audio should better be played back at a normal-speed, thereby to reduce the strange feeling the user may have as the playback changes from the high-speed playback to the normal-speed playback, a video signal and an audio signal are first isolated from a content and then demodulated. A playback speed is set for the video signal modulated, and a playback speed is set for the audio signal modulated. The video signal and the audio signal, each set to a playback speed, are output.
US08116605B2
In part, the invention relates to a lens assembly. The lens assembly includes a micro-lens; a beam director in optical communication with the micro-lens; and a substantially transparent film. The substantially transparent film is capable of bi-directionally transmitting light, and generating a controlled amount of backscatter. In addition, the film surrounds a portion of the beam director.
US08116587B2
Method and apparatus for high-speed and low-complexity piecewise geometric transformation of signals
A method and system for high-speed and low-complexity geometric transformation of signals are described. In one embodiment, the system comprises an input patch consisting of a window of pixels from an input image. The system may further comprise a transformation selector to generate control data to control a geometric transformation mapping based on the location of a current pixel being processed. In one embodiment, the system may also comprise a hardware geometric transform engine to perform a geometric transformation mapping by switching on one path through the geometric transform engine from an input window to an output pixel using the control data. In one embodiment, the system may further comprise an interpolator to generate interpolated geometric transformation mappings using the control data and multiple outputs from the geometric transform engine by switching on multiple paths from an input window.
US08116586B2
Some embodiments provide a method of editing images with distortion caused by a camera lens. The method identifies a set of geometries on a set of images taken by the camera lens. The method finds transformations for applying on the set of identified geometries to remove distortion on the geometries. The method applies the transformations to images taken by the camera lens to remove distortions. In some embodiments the identified geometries are curvilinear lines that correspond to straight lines in the scene being captured by the lens. Some embodiments provide a method of matching distortion for adding graphical objects to images. The method first removes the distortion on the images as described above. The method then adds the graphical objects to these images. Finally, the method applies inverse transformations on the images to restore them to their original form.
US08116578B2
A method and apparatus of improving the compression efficiency of a motion vector by efficiently predicting a motion vector in an enhancement layer from a motion vector in a base layer in a video coding method using a multi-layer are provided. The method includes obtaining a motion vector in a base layer frame having a first frame rate from an input frame, obtaining a motion vector in a first enhancement layer frame having a second frame rate from the input frame, the second frame rate being greater than the first frame rate, generating a predicted motion vector by referring to a motion vector for at least one frame among base layer frames present immediately before and after the same temporal position as the first enhancement layer frame if there is no base layer frame at the same temporal position as the first enhancement layer frame, and coding a difference between the motion vector in the first enhancement layer frame and the generated predicted motion vector, and the obtained motion vector in the base layer.
US08116565B2
A reading unit supplies card information that has been read from a card to a management unit by way of a read-out unit. The management unit assigns a high order of priority to card information that has been newly read and stores the card information to which this order of priority has been given in a memory unit. A fingerprint scanner supplies input fingerprint information to a selection unit by way of a generation unit. The selection unit, upon receiving the input fingerprint information, supplies this input fingerprint information to a collation unit and further, selects a plurality of items of registered fingerprint information that are stored in the memory unit starting in order with items having the highest order of priority. The collation unit, upon receiving the input fingerprint information, collates this input fingerprint information with the registered fingerprint information in the order selected by the selection unit, and determines whether registered fingerprint information that matches the input fingerprint information is present within the plurality of items of registered fingerprint information.
US08116563B2
An image processing device for processing image data includes: a gray level transforming processing unit which receives input, of image data, performs gray level transforming, and outputs image data having all of multiple color information by each pixel being configured of one of the multiple color information; the gray level transforming processing unit further including a first gray value computing unit for computing a first gray value according to the brightness of a pixel of interest which exists in a pixel location of interest; a second gray value computing unit for computing a second gray value by gray value transforming as to the first gray value; and pixel value gray level transforming unit for computing a pixel value subjected to gray level transforming of the pixel of interest, based on the first gray value, the second gray value, and the pixel value of the pixel of interest.
US08116553B2
A system, method, and computer program for determining a descriptor, comprising calculating a maximum distance for a plurality of points in a sector between each of said plurality of points and an origin; calculating a minimal distance from one of said plurality of points and a target line, wherein said maximum distance is an initial value; computing a plurality of Fourier coefficients from said minimal distances; and defining an invariant descriptor from said Fourier coefficients, and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
US08116550B2
Methods are disclosed for locating and focusing on a fiducial mark on a specimen slide. A plurality of pixels are identified as candidate pixels. A pixel is identified as a candidate pixel based on a number of empty pixels in an area defined by boundary lines extending from the pixel, and one or more dimensions, such as the perimeter, of the defined area. The candidate pixel enclosing the largest area is selected from the group or set of candidate pixels, and the coordinates of that pixel are considered to be the coordinates of the corner of the fiducial mark. The methods can be performed using different gray values that define dark or fiducial pixels and light or empty pixels. Differences between the results at different gray values can be used as focus scores for automatic focusing on the fiducial mark.
US08116545B2
The present description relates to a method for generating a bone density value. The method can include generating digital image data depending upon an X-ray image corresponding to at least a part of the bone; transmitting a digital image data signal comprising the digital image data; and processing said digital image data signal. The processing step can include generating a trabeculae model depending upon said processed digital image data signal; generating at least one geometrical figure depending upon the generated trabeculae model, wherein the generated geometrical figure is provided essentially within a space at least partly defined by center lines of the generated trabeculae; and calculating the bone density value depending upon the at least one generated geometrical figure. Devices and storage for the method(s) are also described.
US08116539B2
An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing device which receives an optical image of an object subjected to light via an image capturing lens and converts the optical image into an image signal; a face detecting device which detects a plurality of human faces from the image signal; a face distance calculating device which calculates a distance between the detected human faces; a notice device which gives a notice corresponding to the calculated distance between the human faces; a timer shot device which performs a real shooting after an elapse of a first predetermined time since a shooting instruction; and a control device which gives the shooting instruction to the timer shot device when the calculated distance between the human faces is less than a predetermined value. Accordingly, even when the shooting object includes persons, a well composed shooting can be easily realized.
US08116535B2
The present invention provides an image trimming apparatus, comprising: a reading device which reads out an original image to be trimmed from an original recording device in which the original image is recorded; a display device which displays an image based on the read out original image; a manual trimming indicating device which indicates a trimming region by a manual operation with respect to the image displayed on the displaying device; an automatic trimming indicating device which, when the read out original image includes a face image of a person, automatically indicating a predetermined trimming region having the face image at the time of the manual operation; and a trimming device which cuts out the image within the trimming region indicated by the manual trimming indicating device or the automatic trimming indicating device from the original image of the image displayed on the displaying device.
US08116532B2
A method for imaging a subsurface material, the method including: receiving a first image of the subsurface material and a second image of the subsurface material, the first image displaying a first property of the subsurface material and the second image displaying a second property of the subsurface material wherein the first property is different from the second property; and combining the first image and the second image to create a combined image. A system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US08116520B2
A system and method for overlaying computer-generated highlights in a display of millimeter wave imagery is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, visible spectrum and algorithmically created images are displayed adjacent to corresponding millimeter wave imagery on a graphical user interface (GUI). The millimeter wave imagery is used to detect a threat such as a concealed object. A computer generated highlight coinciding with a location of the detected concealed object is used to automatically overlay at least one or more of the visible spectrum images, algorithmically created images, and millimeter wave imagery. The computer generated highlight is encoded with information valuable for aiding the user when viewing and assessing the image date.
US08116517B2
An action analysis apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires moving image data including a series of frame image data obtained by imaging a human body, a unit that detects at least one image area in which a predetermined portion of the imaged human body is imaged in the frame image data included in the acquired moving image data and generates and stores information to identify the detected image area, and a unit that generates at least one of feature quantity information about an action of the predetermined portion of the human body detected in the frame image data and generates and stores information to identify frame image data at a timing at which the feature quantity information satisfies a predetermined condition as feature time point information. The feature time point information is applied to present the moving image data to a user.
US08116513B2
A document matching process section calculates feature points (e.g., the centroid) on the basis of an inputted document image, then selects a plurality of feature points from among the calculated feature points, and then calculates a hash value on the basis of the selected feature points. Then, on the basis of the calculated features, the document matching process section determines whether the document image is similar to a stored format (stored image) stored. When it is determined as being similar, the document matching process section determines whether the entry omission is present in a part in the document image corresponding to a part defined in the stored image, and then outputs the determination result.
US08116512B2
A planar magnetic driver includes covering plates that are maintained under tension to form a buckled or curved surface, thereby providing for a larger magnetic gap, and allowing for a larger excursion of the diaphragm and extended lower frequency response. Another aspect of the driver includes a corrugated region along the periphery of the diaphragm, which provides increased internal dampening.
US08116511B2
An earphone with adjustable impedance is provided. The earphone mainly includes an earphone body, a communication line, an earphone plug, an alter switch and an adjustable impedance unit used for adjusting an impedance of the earphone. The adjustable impedance unit is connected between the earphone plug and the earphone body through the alter switch. The impedance of the earphone can be matched on the output impedance of the media player by adjusting the impedance of the adjustable impedance unit when an earphone is connected with a media player.
US08116508B2
An apparatus uses a transducer to produce vibration in the ultrasonic frequency range and in the audible frequency range. A membrane or cantilever structure is coupled to the transducer to produce acoustic waves. When the vibration is in the audible frequency range, the membrane structure works like a conventional loudspeaker. When the vibration is in the ultrasonic frequency range, the ultrasonic signal is modulated by audio signal for creating better directivity. The acoustic waves in the ultrasonic frequency range can reproduce directional audible sound due to the nonlinear interaction of ultrasonic waves in air.
US08116496B2
An earpiece for a hearing device is provided with a high retaining force in an ear shell in a repeatedly detachable manner. The earpiece comprising a receiver including a receiver connecting piece at the sound outlet and an ear shell in which the receiver is fixed and which holds the receiver in the ear canal and possesses, when worn in the ear canal, an inner side facing the eardrum and an opposite outer side on which the receiver is detachably fixed. The receiver is attached to the ear shell via a bayonet fitting. A first part of the bayonet fitting is fixedly connected to the receiver connecting piece. A second part of the bayonet fitting is rotated from the inner side of the ear shell to the first part of the bayonet fitting. The bayonet fitting ensures sufficient retention and wear-free releasing and closing.
US08116491B2
It should be possible to carry out dynamic range compression in hearing devices, and in particular in hearing aids, so it is free from distortion and practically in real time. For this purpose it is proposed that the modulation spectrum be obtained from the audio or input signal. The modulation spectrum is subsequently directly modified corresponding to a predefined compression function. Finally a modified or compressed output signal is recovered from the modified modulation spectrum. Alternatively a complex envelope may be obtained from the input signal, which is filtered using time-variant modulation filtering corresponding to a predefined compression rule. A distortion-free, compressed output signal may also be recovered herefrom.
US08116488B2
The sound reproducing apparatus for use with a signal source comprises, a first output unit connected to the signal source via a first power amplifier, a first phase shifter connected to the signal source, a second output unit connected to the first phase shifter via a second power amplifier, a second phase shifter connected to the signal source, a third output unit connected to the second phase shifter via a third power amplifier, a fourth phase shifter connected to a third phase shifter, and a fourth output unit connected to the fourth phase shifter via a fourth power amplifier, wherein the first output unit and the second output unit are in right and left relation with each other, the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in right and left relation with each other, a group of the first output unit and the second output unit and a group of the third output unit and the fourth output unit are in front and rear relation with each other. The vehicle is equipped with the sound reproducing apparatus. In this way, it is possible to obtain a sound reproducing apparatus improved in sound quality and a vehicle using the sound reproducing apparatus.
US08116482B2
A microphone for use in windy environments. The microphone uses a transducer to flood the environment outside the microphone with a high frequency (such as an ultrasonic) acoustic field. The sounds desired to be detected are mixed with the high frequency carrier, and can then be received by the microphone with less wind noise. The microphone then demodulates the desired sound signals from the high frequency carrier. The microphone can be configured in a special emitter-receiver configuration that also reduces interference from engine noise.
US08116477B2
Disclosed is a fit adjuster for a neckband type headset, which includes a headset band and a pair of earpieces connected to both ends of the headset band and placed on the ears of a user. The fit adjuster includes at least one opening formed at a stress concentration portion of the headset band; and an adjustment pin inserted into the opening to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the opening.
US08116476B2
Audio signal receiving apparatus, audio signal receiving method and audio signal transmission system
An audio signal receiving apparatus includes a sound source information receiving portion to receive sound source information containing sound source type information indicating a sound source type of the audio signal being transmitted through channels and externally connected equipment playback sound source information indicating a sound source type of the audio signal being played back by the externally connected equipment from externally connected equipment, an audio signal receiving portion to receive the audio signal from the externally connected equipment, and a playbackable sound source setting portion to determine and set a sound source type of the audio signal that can played back to a playbackable sound source based on the sound source information. The playbackable sound source setting portion sets a sound source type of the audio signal being played back by the externally connected equipment to the playbackable sound source as an externally connected equipment playback sound source.
US08116460B2
The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.
US08116456B2
Techniques for managing heterogeneous key stores are presented. A centralized key management service receives key instructions in a generic format. These key instructions are communicated to distributed key agents distributed over a network. The key agents translate the key instructions into native formats expected by distributed key stores. The key agents then process the key instructions in the native formats against the distributed key stores on behalf of the centralized key management service.
US08116454B2
One aspect involves receiving by a tag of wireless communications that utilize a first security provision, and wireless communications that utilize a second security provision different from the first security provision. A different aspect involves receiving by an entity of an authentication request that is based on a first digital certificate unknown to the entity, and determining by the entity, without external authentication of the first digital certificate, whether the first digital certificate is in a trust relationship with a second digital certificate that is different from the first digital certificate and that is known to the entity.
US08116452B2
To provide a content playback device capable of protecting content according to DRM, when decrypting encrypted content recorded on a recording medium and playing the decrypted content. If key generation information is “00”, a key control unit 104 concatenates a decrypted media key and content information in this order, and applies a one-way function to the concatenation result to generate a content key. If the key generation information is “10”, the key control unit 104 sets a rights key as the content key. If the key generation information is “01”, the key control unit 104 concatenates the decrypted media key and the rights key in this order, and applies a one-way function to the concatenation result to generate the content key.
US08116436B2
A voiceprint of a calling party, and identifying information, are obtained during a call. One or more voiceprint samples stored in association with the identifying information are selected, and the calling party's identity is verified based on a comparison of the voiceprint to at least one of the selected voiceprint samples. For example, the voiceprint samples may be derived from a verbal utterance by the calling party before the call, mixed with different background noises likely corrupting the calling party's utterance during the call. If the comparison fails to determine the calling party's identity, an attempt to verify the calling party's identity is made based on additional information received during the call. In another example, if the calling party's identity is verified based on the additional information, the voiceprint may be stored in association with the identifying information as a voiceprint sample for use in future verification of the calling party's identity.
US08116425B2
A shift register includes a first flip-flop group composed of a plurality of cascaded first flip-flops, each first flip-flop having a first master latch and a first slave latch and having first and second transmission paths for transmitting a master clock and a slave clock, a second flip-flop group composed of a plurality of cascaded second flip-flops, each second flip-flop having a second master latch and a second slave latch which are each composed of a transistor with a relatively small transistor size and having a third transmission path connected to the first transmission path and a fourth transmission path connected to the second transmission path, and a transfer portion configured to transfer pieces of data held in the second flip-flops to one of the first master latches and the first slave latches of the first flip-flops.
US08116422B2
A zirconium alloy suitable for forming reactor components that exhibit reduced irradiation growth and improved corrosion resistance during operation of a light water reactor (LWR), for example, a boiling water reactor (BWR). During operation of the reactor, the reactor components will be exposed to a strong, and frequently asymmetrical, radiation fields sufficient to induce or accelerate corrosion of the irradiated alloy surfaces within the reactor core. Reactor components fabricated from the disclosed zirconium alloy will also tend to exhibit an improved tolerance for cold-working during fabrication of the component, thereby simplifying the fabrication of such components by reducing or eliminating subsequent thermal processing, for example, anneals, without unduly degrading the performance of the finished component.
US08116420B2
A repeater circuit, such as a clock regeneration and multiplication circuit, is described. In this repeater circuit, a clock multiplier unit (CMU) generates an internal clock signal based on a forwarded clock signal, which is received on a link. Furthermore, a phase interpolator (PI) in the repeater circuit provides the output clock signal based on the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal. Note that the CMU and the PI filter reduce the cycle-to-cycle jitter in the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal, and that the output clock signal has a phase that is a weighted average of the phases of the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal. In addition, the relative weights of the forwarded clock signal and the internal clock signal (i.e., the amount of phase averaging and jitter filtering) may be adjusted based on a position or location on the link.
US08116417B2
An up/down detection unit samples a received data signal and determines in which of first through third areas of the data signal the logic level of the data signal transitions, wherein the data sampling clock signal, the first edge sampling clock signal, and the second edge sampling clock signal are sequentially activated. A lower limit detection unit detects a lower limit of the first area if the logic level of the data signal transitions in the first area. An upper limit detection unit detects an upper limit of the third area if the logic level of the data signal transitions in the third area. A phase detection unit determines a delay amount indicating the amount by which the data signal is to be delayed according to the upper limit and lower limit detected. A buffer unit delays the data signal by the delay amount determined by the phase detection unit.
US08116406B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for generating a soft bit metric and a multi-level (M-ary) Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) receiving system using the same. The apparatus includes an analog to digital converter for converting an analog symbol signal of a demodulated I (Inphase) or Q (Quadrature) channel into a digital signal, a scaler for scaling the converted digital signal based on a reference value used for determining a space between symbols, a positive integer converter for calculating a positive integer of the scaled digital I or Q channel symbol signal, a sign determinator for determining a sign of the scaled digital I or Q channel symbol signal, and a bit information converter for converting the scaled digital I or Q channel symbol signal into soft bit metric information per bit on the basis of the calculated positive integer and the determined sign value.
US08116403B2
A wireless transmission device of the present invention includes n (where n is an integer of two or more) transmission antennas and a delay imparting section for delaying transmission signals supplied to the n transmission antennas by a maximum delay time (n−1)T or less based on a delay time T dependent upon a communication signal, which indicates whether to transmit the transmission signals by way of frequency diversity or multiuser diversity.
US08116400B2
Implementation of Fast Information Channel (FIC) signaling when Chunks of FIC information span more than one sub-Frame of an M/H Frame is described. FIC signaling is advanced further at the digital television (DTV) transmitters than originally proposed, thereby eliminating need for substantial amounts of delay memory for coded M/H data in receivers for such data. Each FIC-Chunk includes a bit indicating when it is not applicable only to M/H Frames yet to be received but is also applicable to an M/H Frame being currently received. This facilitates reception being more quickly established after a change in DTV channel selection. Transmission Parameter Channel (TPC) signaling pertaining to the M/H Frame being currently received continues to the conclusion of the M/H Frame, so the total number of M/H Groups in each M/H sub-Frame is signaled to facilitate de-interleaving of the FIC signaling. Code combining of FIC Chunks is described.
US08116393B2
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver includes a n average power calculation unit and an output unit. The average power calculation unit calculates and outputs a first average power of a null symbol section of each transmitted frame output from an OFDM transmitter and calculates and outputs second average powers of sub-carriers that correspond to each null symbol section. The output unit compares the first average power and the second average powers, to perform a reciprocal transformation on difference values of the first average power and each of the second average powers based on results of the comparisons, and to store and output reciprocally transformed values as channel state information.
US08116389B2
A control unit generates packet signals to be transmitted. The control unit uses either a first packet format, where a second known signal defined by a second radio communication system different from a first radio communication system is assigned anterior to a first known signal defined by the first radio communication system, or a second packet format, where the first known signal is assigned in an anterior part. Subcarriers to be used in the first known signal contain subcarriers to be used in the second known signal, and the first known signal and the second known signal are defined by different values.
US08116386B2
An apparatus for providing improved gray mapping may include a processor. The processor may be configured to divide gray value byte data into high priority portions and low priority portions distributed as constellation points in a constellation matrix and to provide separation between each of the constellation points by assigning a unique mapping code to a plurality of the constellation points.
US08116383B2
A method of an efficient adaptive mode selection for H.264/AVC-coded video delivery in burst-packet-loss networks to generate the image data of the missing macroblocks in the decoded current frame by using the information related to the spatial redundancy in the same frame and the temporal redundancy in the inter frames is disclosed. The method first employs the Intra High-Speed Spatial Error Concealment (SEC) method for the initial frame. For the succeeding inter frames, the Temporal Error Concealment (TEC) method is used when the Adjacent External Boundary Matching Error (AEBME) of the surrounding macroblocks is not more than the dynamic threshold (DTα). The Intra High-Speed SEC is used when AEBME is more than (DTα) and the surrounding macroblocks are all coded intra-method, otherwise the task proceeds by employing Normal SEC.
US08116380B2
A decoder processes a first bitstream element (e.g., a pull-down flag) in a first syntax layer (e.g., sequence layer or entry point layer) above frame layer in a bitstream for a video sequence, the bitstream comprising encoded source video having a source type (e.g., progressive or interlace). The decoder processes frame data in a second syntax layer (e.g., frame layer) of the bitstream for a frame (such as an interlaced frame or progressive frame, depending on source type, or a skipped frame) in the video sequence. The first bitstream element indicates whether a repeat-picture element (e.g., a repeat-frame element or a repeat field-element) is present or absent in the frame data in the second syntax layer.
US08116379B2
A parallel deblocking filtering method, and deblocking filter processor performing such deblocking, for removing edge artifacts created during video compression. The method includes loading luma samples for a macroblock. Filtering is performed on a set of vertical edges of the macroblock using information in the luma samples, with vertical edge filtering occurring concurrently with the loading of the luma samples. The method also includes filtering a set of horizontal edges of the macroblock using information in the luma samples. The horizontal edge filtering occurs in parallel with vertical edge sampling and with loading operations. The use of parallel and concurrent operations significantly enhances the efficiency of the deblocking method. Storing of filtered samples is also performed in the method, and this storing is performed concurrently with some loading operations as well as filtering operations. Edge filtering includes performing filtering to the H.264 standard and its deblocking filtering algorithm.
US08116375B2
A method for obtaining an image reference block in a code mode of fixed reference frame number includes the steps of: performing motion estimation for each block of a current B frame and obtaining a motion vector MV of a corresponding block of a backward reference frame; discriminating whether the motion vector is beyond a maximum forward reference frame which is possibly pointed by the B frame, if not, then calculating the forward and backward motion vectors in a normal way; if yes, then using the motion vector of the forward reference frame that the B frame can obtain in the same direction to replace the motion vector of the corresponding block in the backward reference, and calculating the forward and the backward motion vectors of the B frame; finally, two image blocks pointed by the final obtained forward and backward motion vectors as the image reference blocks corresponding to the macro block. The present invention solves the possibly appeared problem of un-matching motion vectors, and can guarantee the coding efficiency to the largest extent.
US08116371B2
The layered coding technique is employed to achieve the image quality scalability for video coding standards. The desired image quality scalability can be achieved by refining the image coefficients in subsequent enhancement layers. In most cases, the refinement coefficient consists of some binary information such as whether this coefficient is refined in this coding pass, whether this coefficient is positively or negatively refined, etc. Because it is generally difficult to code binary information efficiently with VLC (Variable Length Coding) technology, this disclosure introduces a method to code refinement symbol more efficiently with VLC by grouping the symbols of distinct binary elements.
US08116370B2
According to aspects of embodiments of the invention, a method of encoding a sequence of frames of image data, each frame including a number of lines of pixels equal to a frame height, and each line having a number of pixels equal to a line length, comprises: encoding as an encoded symbol stream a sequence of pixels of a frame without including an end-of-line code after each line; identifying as a run having a run length, a sequence of pixels having values less than a threshold; and encoding the run using digit encoding. According to other aspects, the digit encoding may further comprise: identifying a set of most frequently used symbols; assigning a symbolic digit to each of the set of most frequently used symbols; assigning a start symbol; and encoding using digit encoding may include: inserting in the encoded symbol stream the start symbol; and inserting in the encoded symbol stream after the start symbol a sequence of symbolic digits identifying the run length of the run. The method may yet further comprise: assigning an end symbol; and inserting the end symbol in the encoded symbol stream after the sequence of symbolic digits. According to yet another variation, the method may further comprise: defining the assigned start symbol to include a field indicating how many of the symbolic digits are required to identify the run length of the run.
US08116362B2
A line card is proposed in which one or more DMT processing modules 1 communicate with a data link layer platform, such as an ATM, POSPHY or Ethernet processor. The data relating to a single symbol is transmitted between the data link layer platform and a given one of DMT processing modules in a plurality of data portions spaced apart in time. The data portions relating to different channels of a given DMT processing module (or to different DMT processing modules) are interleaved in time. Since the data portions of a given symbol are spaced apart in time, the data relating to a single symbol is transmitted over a longer time period than in conventional devices which reduces the effective burstiness of the traffic, and thus reduces the memory requirements of the data link layer platform.
US08116352B2
Methods and apparatuses for chaotic communication in a wireless personal area network, A chaotic information carrier is generated for a first predetermined frequency range using a ring-structure oscillator. The ring structure oscillator includes a non-linear element. Chaotic pulses are generated by modulating the chaotic information carrier for the first predetermined frequency range with a data signal. A shape of a spectral density envelope of the chaotic information carrier for the first predetermined frequency range is determined based on a set of parameters which include a first set of values.
US08116347B2
The invention relates to a two-stage laser system well fit for semiconductor aligners, which is reduced in terms of spatial coherence while taking advantage of the high stability, high output efficiency and fine line width of the MOPO mode. The two-stage laser system for aligners comprises an oscillation-stage laser (50) and an amplification-stage laser (60). Oscillation laser light having divergence is used as the oscillation-stage laser (50), and the amplification-stage laser (60) comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon resonator made up of an input side mirror (1) and an output side mirror (2). The resonator is configured as a stable resonator.
US08116344B2
A red surface emitting laser element includes a first reflector, a second reflector including a p-type semiconductor multilayer film, an active layer between the first reflector and the second reflector, and a p-type semiconductor spacer layer between the active layer and the second reflector, the p-type semiconductor spacer layer having a thickness of 100 nm or more and 350 nm or less.
US08116335B2
A data communication apparatus, comprising an interface for enabling communication with a remote entity via a network and a control entity in communication with said interface. The control entity is operative to establish a packet-switched connection with the remote entity through the network and to negotiate with the remote entity using in-band signaling entry into a codec-bypass mode of operation. In this way, a codec-bypass connection, which enhances speech quality, can be established over a packet network, which reduces bandwidth.
US08116331B2
The network apparatus (switch 10) of the communication system, which has the path table for registering a MAC address of the facing device which faces the device and a lending MAC address set in advance so as to be correlated with each other, and the MAC table for registering a MAC address inherent in a device connected to the apparatus itself, and path identification information for specifying a combination between a MAC address of a facing device in the path table to which the device is to refer and a lending MAC address so as to be correlated with each other, generates path identification information and registers the same at the path table when communicating through a pseudo wire, and resets the pseudo wire based on the path table and the MAC table when a device in communication is changed through the pseudo wire.
US08116329B2
A relay station, a base station, a power management method, and a computer readable medium thereof are provided. The relay station is located within the coverage area of the BS. The relay station comprises a receiving/transmission module and a determination module. The receiving/transmission module is configured to receive a BS beacon in a first period of time. The determination module is configured to allow the BS to transmit a data to the relay station according to the BS beacon, so that the receiving/transmission module transmits a power saving poll to the BS, receives a power saving poll ACK in the first period of time, and receives the data in a second period of time after the first period of time.
US08116317B2
A system for preventing quality of service policy abuse comprising a media connection and a local area network prioritizing quality of service in which quality of service to a to a video receiver or similar device may be maintained by prioritizing its signal relative to other signals competing for network bandwidth.
US08116311B1
Method and system for a switch element is provided. The method includes (a) receiving a portion of a packet at a port of the switch element; (b) generating a tag based on an estimated packet size obtained from the portion of the packet; (c) sending the tag with the estimated packet size to a transmit segment of the port; (d) selecting a request from among a plurality of pending requests for processing the packet associated with the tag; (e) receiving an actual packet size for the packet in step (a); (f) determining if the actual packet size is different from the estimated packet size; and (g) adjusting an arbitration weight used for selecting the request in step (d), if the actual packet size is different from the estimated packet size.
US08116307B1
Network traffic associated with a user is lawfully intercepted by mirroring data packets flowing to and from the user for which interception has been designated. A unique packet structure enables analysis of mirrored data packets of any network type. In one implementation, a packet structure comprises routable packets that encapsulate the mirrored packet stream. The routable packet structure may be formed by prepending a correlation header to each mirrored packet. The correlation header includes a routing header to allow the mirrored packets to be transportable across the public Internet. In addition, an intercept header may be embedded within the correlation header to easily support various analyzer-specific implementations. The intercept header may include a version field that is extensible for the various analyzer implementations.
US08116306B2
A shared memory system including: a shared memory includes a plurality of memory banks; a plurality of input ports; a plurality of input buffers; and a controller for controlling writing-into and reading out of the shared memory and for transferring data from each of the input buffers to the shared memory, wherein when one of the memory banks is cycled back next to the starting memory bank, another memory block is to be selected next for writing the remainder of a series of data, said controller controlling each of the input buffers to transfer a plurality of series of data to the shared memory successively with a time gap while switching to said another memory block, said controller offsetting a start memory bank in said another block for start writing the remainder of the series of data by an amount of memory banks corresponding to the time gap.
US08116303B2
A multiple-function peripheral device includes a packet-switched network interface and an autonomous application programming interface. The application programming interface requests image information from a remote server via the packet-switched network interface in a first mode of operation. The application programming interface sends image information to a remote device via the packet-switched network interface in a second mode of operation.
US08116302B1
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for determining whether a call in a packet-switched network to a first destination is to be forwarded, forwarding the call to a second destination based on a determination that the call is to be forwarded, notifying the first destination that the call has been forwarded, receiving a request from the first destination to screen the call, and enabling the first destination to screen the call.
US08116292B2
A method implemented in a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a Node-B and a radio network controller (RNC) for quantizing multiplexed data allowed by grants to closely match a selected enhanced uplink transport format combination (E-TFC) transport block size is disclosed. The amount of scheduled and non-scheduled data allowed to be transmitted is quantized so that the amount of data multiplexed into an enhanced uplink (EU) medium access control (MAC-e) protocol data unit (PDU) more closely matches the selected E-TFC transport block size. In an embodiment, the amount of buffered data allowed to be multiplexed by at least one grant, (a serving grant and/or a non-serving grant), is quantized so that the sum of scheduled and non-scheduled data including MAC header and control information multiplexed into a MAC-e PDU more closely matches the selected E-TFC transport block size.
US08116290B2
A receiver in a wireless local area network capable of receiving and processing plurality of frames that are separated by a reduced interframe spacing interval. Upon receiving a frame, the receiver determines whether the received frame is using Reduced Interframe Spacing intervals. When the received frame includes a RIFS indicator, acknowledgment of the received frame is suppressed, and subsequent frames of the plurality of frames are received at a RIFS interval.
US08116288B2
A method for distributing data in a heterogeneous network. The method operates on a private mobile network, which includes a mobility server, mobile components and fixed components, on which the mobility server includes data storage units that store data on behalf of network members, at least some of such data being stored in multiple data formats. The distribution method includes transmitting upon request selected said data to addressees, each such transmission being formatted for acceptance by each respective addressee.
US08116283B2
An Access Network (AN) can send an acknowledge message (ACK) to an Access Terminal (AT) to indicate that the AN has successfully decoded the data received in the first set of slots of the first data packet. The AN can send a negative acknowledge message (NAK) to the AT to indicate that the AN has not successfully decoded the data received in the first set of slots of a first data packet. Based upon receipt of the NAK, the AT can resend the data by sending a second set of slots of the first data packet containing redundant data. Based upon receipt of the ACK, the AT can send a first set of slots of another packet. The AT can gate off for a predetermined period of time after sending the first set of slots of a first packet and before sending a next set of slots.
US08116276B2
A digital broadcast receiving system and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method a method for controlling a digital broadcast receiving system includes the steps of receiving a broadcast signal having mobile service data and main service data multiplexed therein, extracting transmission parameter channel (TPC) signaling information and fast information channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group within the received mobile service data, acquiring a program table, by using the IP signaling channel within an ensemble included in the received broadcast signal, and controlling the system to create a list of channels mapped with all ensembles transmitted through at least one physical frequency, by using the acquired program table.
US08116274B2
A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) reports a buffer status as part of scheduling information for enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmissions. For reporting the buffer status, the WTRU calculates a total amount of data available across all logical channels for which reporting is requested by a radio resource control (RRC) entity. The total amount of data includes an amount of data that is available for transmission and retransmission at a radio link control (RLC) entity and an amount of data that is available for transmission in a medium access control for enhanced dedicated channel (MAC-i/is) segmentation entity in case that a MAC-i/is entity is configured. The WTRU sends scheduling information including a total E-DCH buffer status (TEBS) field that is set based on the total amount of data.
US08116267B2
In a wireless network comprising a plurality of subscriber stations and a base station capable of providing service to the subscriber stations, a subscriber station is provided that includes a rank selector and a scheduling data reporter. The rank selector is operable to select a rank for the subscriber station. The rank is operable to identify a number of antennas for transmitting data streams from the base station to the subscriber station. The scheduling data reporter is operable to report scheduling data, including the rank, to the base station.
US08116266B2
A method and apparatus for selecting a radio bearer type for providing a service to a plurality of mobile terminals according to a count of mobile terminals obtained through responses to a service response request message from a network is provided. An MBMS radio bearer type is selected according to a count that includes RRC-connected mobile terminals that still need to establish a connection in order to receive an MBMS such that the radio bearer type established is sufficient to provide the MBMS to all mobile terminals desiring to receive the service.
US08116264B2
Methods and systems for providing voice and date services in a femtocell wireless network. The proposed approach integrates IWLAN architecture into femtocell architecture by introducing a gateway to serve both IWLAN and femtocell users. The proposed approach handles the voice and data in a different way so that it enhances the data handling efficiency while re-using existing MSC investment. The proposed approach carries the data traffic from a femtocell base station to the gateway in native IP packet, instead of encapsulating them in 3G data, thus enhancing the efficiency and performance for the data traffic. The data traffic can then be sent to GGSN or directly to packet data network. The approach tunnels voice traffic to MSC through the gateway as in conventional Iu-CS approach.
US08116261B2
A message display terminal for displaying content existing on a network comprises reception means which receives an HTTP response message, a first display area for displaying a message body, a second display area for displaying other information, and display control means which lets the second display area display advertisement data.
US08116257B2
A method of calculating local time, in an intelligent network, of a subscriber's User Equipment (UE), determines whether a call originates or terminates with the UE, the UTC offset and DST observance indicator for the (G)MSC signaling the intelligent network, and a determination is of whether the UE is in a Problem Area cell site. If the UE is in a Problem Area cell site, the received time and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) Offset is corrected. A Cell Global Identity (CGI) is used to lookup the UTC Offset and a Daylight Saving Time (DST) observance indicator for the Cell Site. For calls terminating with the UE, if the UE is not in a Problem Area cell site, the VLR serving the UE is used to lookup the UTC offset and DST observance indicator for the subscriber. A time zone delta is applied to the call time of day and the UTC Offset and if DST is in effect, and there is a difference of DST between an MSC serving the UE and the location associated with the UE, a DST delta is applied to call time of day.
US08116253B2
Forward link transmission power to a user terminal in a wireless communications system having a plurality of beams is controlled by determining a baseline power level, Pbaseline, from a received active pilot channel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); determining a power margin, Pmargin, from an identified interference susceptibility; determining a power level correction, Pcorrection, based on an identified quality of service metric (QSM); determining a fade correction factor, Pfade, based on a detected fade environment; and setting Ptransmit based on Pbaseline, Pmargin, Pcorrection and Pfade. For example, Ptransmit may be set to a power level that is substantially equal to the sum of Pbaseline, Pmargin, Pcorrection and Pfade. The determination of each of Pbaseline, Pmargin, Pcorrection and Pfade may be performed in independently running control loops or processes.
US08116244B2
A method and apparatus includes a scheduling entity (308) for scheduling and transmitting the superframe (402) across a communication network (200). The controller (310) coupled with scheduling entity (308) groups the subscriber unit (304) into one of the plurality of groups. The scheduler entity (308) assigns a coding scheme for each group and encodes each frame of the superframe (402) based upon the assigned coding scheme for the group, to which the frame is to be transmitted. The transceiver (316) coupled with controller (310) via hardware interface (314) receives the encoded superframe and transmits the superframe to the plurality of subscriber units in the communication network (200).
US08116233B2
An approach for assigning IP network addresses and for performing name resolution and service discovery in infrastructure mode and/or ad-hoc mode peer-to-peer networks. The size of an ad-hoc network and/or the size of infrastructure network basic service sets may be limited to a selected number of peer stations. A first portion of an IP network address assigned to stations joining a network may be predetermined by the network to be joined and a second portion of the IP network address may be selected dynamically, as each new station joins the network. Stations may generate layer 2 messages that include an information element containing information that supports peer-to-peer service discovery, name resolution and IP network address assignment across multiple ad-hoc and infrastructure networks. A peer-to-peer station may dynamically connect to available ad-hoc or infrastructure networks to access required services, as needed.
US08116229B2
In one embodiment, the convergence node switches of a destination node switch in a network having multiple equal paths between a source switch and destination switch are identified. When a new equal cost path is added to the network, packets are flushed up to the convergence node switch closest to the source switch.
US08116227B1
Optimal automated exploration of hierarchical MPLS LSPs is disclosed. A path verification message (PVM) is transmitted from an initial router. Each label in the PVM's label stack corresponds to a hierarchy layer and is associated with a time-to-live (TTL) field. The TTL field for the label of a current layer is set so the PVM travels one hop from the initial router. In response, a reply message indicating that the PVM reached its destination is received. These steps are then repeated. For each successive PVM transmitted, the TTL field associated with a label corresponding to the current hierarchy layer is incremented. For any reply message including information describing a non-current layer, modify the next PVM's label stack and increment the TTL field of the label for the described different layer; any other TTL fields are unchanged. If any received reply message indicates a destination router was reached, the process terminates.
US08116223B2
A method for automatically establishing wireless connections between a plurality of grouped wireless devices and a third party wireless device, comprising the steps of: forming a connection group having a first wireless device and at least one additional grouped wireless device; configuring a connection table to record connection group attribute parameters for the connection group, the connection group attribute parameters including connection parameters of said first wireless device and other grouped wireless devices; configuring the first wireless device in the connection group such that it is capable of establishing a wireless connection with a third party wireless device; and establishing an additional wireless connection between the third party wireless device and the wireless devices of the group if the additional wireless connection satisfies a connection parameter specified by the connection table in the connection group.
US08116217B2
A wireless communication apparatus having a wireless communication function capable of using a plurality of transmission rates. The wireless communication apparatus includes utilization-factor calculation section for calculating a utilization factor of a wireless transmission path through which wireless communication is performed using the wireless communication function and determination section for determining a transmission rate at least on the basis of the utilization factor calculated by the utilization-factor calculation section.
US08116206B1
A method for routing frames is provided. The method comprises: receiving a frame at a receive port segment of a port for a switch element; generating a tag based on information included in the frame, where the tag identifies a location where the frame is stored in the receive port segment; transmitting the tag to a destination port for the frame; generating a request for the frame, wherein the destination port generates the request for the frame; transmitting the request for the frame to the port that received the frame, where a field in the request differentiates the request for the frame from the tag generated by the receive port segment of the port that received the frame; and transmitting the frame stored at the receive port segment, in response to the request sent by the destination port.
US08116203B2
A method for establishing a virtual channel between network devices is disclosed. In the case of a local network device establishing a virtual channel with a remote network device, a virtual channel request message is sent from the local network device to the remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are received and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are sent. The virtual channel is then enabled. In the case of a remote network device establishing a virtual channel with a local network device, a virtual channel request message is received from a local network device by a remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are sent and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are received. The virtual channel is then enabled.
US08116190B2
A recording/reproducing apparatus (100) is provided with: a first substrate (41) on which a recording medium (43) is mounted; and a second substrate (21) to which a recording/reproducing head (23), which performs information recording and information reproduction on the recording/reproducing medium is fixed, wherein the second substrate is relatively displaced in a predetermined direction substantially parallel to the first substrate with respect to the first substrate, a particulate (30) is placed in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, the particulate can be displaced with displacement of the second substrate, the particulate has a substantially circular cross section in a direction that the second substrate is displaced when the second substrate is displaced.
US08116189B2
An optical pickup lens for focusing a light beam from a laser light source on an optical information recording medium is a single lens. The optical pickup lens has two surfaces, and a surface R2 opposite to a surface R1 closer to the laser light source has a continuous shape. When the surface R2 has radii h1, h2 and h3 (h1
US08116187B2
A method of designing an optical element to be used for an optical system in which each of a plurality of light beams having different design wavelengths passes through the optical element is provided. The method includes determining at least two types of optical path difference functions including first and second optical path difference functions in such a manner that proportion, brought by the first optical path difference function, between diffraction orders at which diffraction efficiencies of the plurality of light beams are maximized is different from proportion, brought by the second optical path difference function, between diffraction orders at which diffraction efficiencies of the plurality of light beams are maximized, and obtaining a shape defined by combining the at least two types of optical path difference functions so as to apply the obtained shape to at least one surface of surfaces of the optical element.
US08116183B2
A method of detecting defects of a recording medium comprises detecting a number of error-corrected error correction code symbols in each of a plurality of sectors in the recording medium, classifying sectors having a number of error-corrected ECC symbols greater than a first threshold value as first type defect sectors, calculating moving averages of the numbers of error-corrected ECC symbols in units of a predetermined number of sectors, and classifying sectors that are used to calculate a moving average greater than a second threshold value as second type defect sectors.
US08116177B2
An objective-lens driving device includes a fixed block fixed to a moving base, a movable block having a lens holder configured to hold objective lenses, support springs configured to connect the fixed block and the movable block to each other, a focusing magnetic circuit including a first focusing coil, a second focusing coil, a first focusing magnet, and a second focusing magnet, and a tracking magnetic circuit. The first focusing coil is attached to the lens holder such that a first thrust-generating portion and a second thrust-generating portion are spaced from each other in a tangential direction. The second focusing coil is attached to the lens holder such that an axial direction of the second focusing coil coincides with the tangential direction. The first focusing magnet and the second focusing magnet are arranged in the tangential direction with the movable block disposed therebetween.
US08116172B2
A near-field light generating device includes: a base having a top surface; a waveguide that allows laser light to propagate therethrough and is disposed above the top surface of the base; and a surface plasmon generating element that is disposed above the top surface of the base so as to adjoin the waveguide in a direction parallel to the top surface of the base. The waveguide has a side surface that faces the surface plasmon generating element. The surface plasmon generating element includes: a coupling part that is opposed to a part of the side surface of the waveguide with spacing therebetween and causes excitation of a surface plasmon by coupling with evanescent light occurring from the part of the side surface; and a near-field light generating part that generates near-field light based on the surface plasmon excited at the coupling part.
US08116170B2
A timekeeping device has a reception unit that captures a positioning information satellite and receives satellite signals transmitted from the captured positioning information satellite, a time information generating unit that generates time information based on the satellite signal received by the reception unit, a time display unit that displays time information, and a reception control unit that controls the reception unit. The reception control unit includes a satellite capture control unit that controls the reception unit to run the positioning information satellite capture process, a signal condition detection unit that detects the signal condition of the captured positioning information satellite, a decoding control unit that controls the reception unit to apply a decoding process to the satellite signal transmitted from the captured positioning information satellite, and a reception channel setting unit that sets the reception unit to a single satellite mode or a multi-channel mode based on the signal condition detected by the signal condition detection unit, and the reception unit sets the number of positioning information satellites that can be simultaneously captured and decoded to 1 when set to the single satellite mode, and sets the number of positioning information satellites that can be simultaneously captured and decoded to more than 1 when set to the multi-channel mode.
US08116167B2
Method and system for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof
A compact array of transducers is employed as a downhole instrument for acoustic investigation of the surrounding rock formation. The array is operable to generate simultaneously a first acoustic beam signal at a first frequency and a second acoustic beam signal at a second frequency different than the first frequency. These two signals can be oriented through an azimuthal rotation of the array and an inclination rotation using control of the relative phases of the signals from the transmitter elements or electromechanical linkage. Due to the non-linearity of the formation, the first and the second acoustic beam signal mix into the rock formation where they combine into a collimated third signal that propagates in the formation along the same direction than the first and second signals and has a frequency equal to the difference of the first and the second acoustic signals. The third signal is received either within the same borehole, after reflection, or another borehole, after transmission, and analyzed to determine information about rock formation. Recording of the third signal generated along several azimuthal and inclination directions also provides 3D images of the formation, information about 3D distribution of rock formation and fluid properties and an indication of the dynamic acoustic non-linearity of the formation.
US08116163B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor memory device that includes: a fuse circuit having multiple fuse elements; and a fuse selection circuit connected to an internal address signal line that receives an address signal externally inputted. The fuse circuit is connected to the fuse selection circuit to receive an output from the fuse selection circuit, is supplied with an externally inputted trigger signal that permits nonvolatile recording of the fuse elements, and, in response to the output and the trigger signal, records the fuse element corresponding to the internal address signal line among the plurality of fuse elements while recording at least one of the plurality of fuse elements other than the fuse element thus recorded.
US08116162B1
Within an integrated circuit comprising a memory controller, a method can include, responsive to determining that the memory controller is performing a refresh operation, calculating a new tap setting according to a new maximum value and an old tap setting of the delay circuit. The new maximum value specifies a number of taps of the delay circuit that approximates a predetermined time span. The method can include dynamically adjusting a delay applied to a signal by a delay circuit according to the new tap setting. The delay circuit generates a delayed signal that is provided to the memory controller.
US08116158B2
A semiconductor device includes a data line pair formed of a data line and a complementary data line; a first sensing amplification unit including a first sensing amplifier and a second sensing amplifier that are cross-coupled with the data line and the complementary data line; a first variable current source supplying or flowing out a first variable current to the first sensing amplifier; and a second variable current source supplying or flowing out a second variable current to the second sensing amplifier. A current amount of the first variable current is different from a current amount of the second variable current.
US08116155B2
An apparatus for measuring data setup/hold time is capable of effectively measuring a setup/hold time of data, and includes a data generating unit for delaying an external clock signal according to counting signals and generating an internal clock signal and data signals from the delayed external clock signal in response to test signals, a data latch unit for latching buffered data signals in synchronization with the internal clock signal, wherein the buffered data signals are produced by buffering the data signals, a flag signal generating unit for generating flag signals from the latched data signals latched in the data latch unit in response to the test signals, and a counter for producing the counting signals in response to the flag signals.
US08116152B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell, a precharge control circuit, a power supply circuit, a bit line driver, a word line driver, a first multiplexer, and a second multiplexer. The memory cell includes an anti-fuse storage element and a selection transistor. Before data are written into the anti-fuse storage element of the memory cell, the anti-fuse storage element is set up in a precharged state by the precharge control circuit, the bit line driver, the word line driver, the first multiplexer, and the second multiplexer.
US08116151B2
Providing systems and methods that reduce memory device read errors and improve memory device reliability by intelligently disturbing the memory cells during storage of their characteristic states. A specification component can determine a desired characteristic state for each cell of a plurality of multi-cell memory devices. A storage component can, alternatively, successively store an equivalent characteristic state in each cell of the plurality of multi-cell memory devices in stages, based on a cell's current characteristic state, or directly store the desired characteristic state of each cell of the plurality of multi-cell memory devices, based on an ordering of desired characteristic states of cells of the multi-cell memory devices. Further, a step component can gradate the equivalent characteristic state between successive storage stages. In this way, the overlap of distributions of electrical characteristics associated with different bits of one or more memory cells can be reduced.
US08116150B2
A resistance change memory includes a resistance change element having a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state in accordance with write information, and a write circuit configured to supply a write current that the write current flowing through the resistance change element is held constant before and after the resistance change element is changed from the high-resistance state to the low-resistance state, and apply a write voltage that the write voltage applied to the resistance change element is held constant before and after the resistance change element is changed from the low-resistance state to the high-resistance state.
US08116144B2
A memory module includes a memory device having a plurality of data pins and conductive lines electrically connected to the plurality of data pins. The memory device is configurable, using at least one input to the memory device, to a data pin configuration selected from among a plurality of different data pin configurations. The plurality of different data pin configurations include a first data pin configuration that uses a first number of data pins of the memory device, and a second data pin configuration that uses a second, different number of data pins.
US08116141B2
A distribution analyzing method for a nonvolatile memory device having memory cells exhibiting overlapping first and second threshold voltage distributions includes; detecting a degree of overlap between the first and second threshold voltage distributions by reading data stored in the memory cells and determining read index data from the read data, and estimating a distribution characteristic for at least one of the overlapping threshold voltage distributions using the read index data.
US08116137B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for programming memory cells. One method includes determining a quantity of erase pulses used to place a group of memory cells of the array in an erased state, and adjusting at least one operating parameter associated with programming the group of memory cells at least partially based on the determined quantity of erase pulses.
US08116135B2
The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for reducing non-volatile memory cell read failures. One such method embodiment includes performing a first read operation, using an initial read potential, to determine a state of a selected memory cell in a string of non-volatile memory cells. This method includes determining whether the state of the selected memory cell is an incorrect state by performing a first check using a data checking technique, and if the incorrect state is determined, performing a number of subsequent read operations using read potentials stepped to a higher and a lower read potential to a particular count of read operations.
US08116134B2
Memory cells store k bits of data (k is a natural number not less than 2) into a single cell. A number n of data storage circuits store externally supplied k bits of data to write data into the memory cells. A control circuit inputs the data on a first page, a second page, . . . , a k-th page to every h (h≦n) of the data storage circuits and then writes the data in the n data storage circuits into the memory cells.
US08116133B2
Systems and methods, including computer software, for reading data from a flash memory cell involve detecting voltages from a group of memory cells. The group of memory cells have associated metadata for error detection, and each memory cell stores a voltage representing a data value selected from a plurality of possible data values. Each possible data value corresponds to one range of multiple non-overlapping ranges of analog voltages. Memory cells having uncertain data values are identified based on the detected voltages. Alternative data values for the memory cells having the uncertain data values are determined. A combination of alternative data values is selected, and an error detection test is performed using the metadata associated with the memory cells and the selected combination of alternative data values.
US08116129B2
A variable resistance memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of active lines formed on the substrate, are uniformly separated, and extend in a first direction, a plurality of switching devices formed on the active lines and are separated from one another, a plurality of variable resistance devices respectively formed on and connected to the switching devices, a plurality of local bit lines formed on the variable resistance devices, are uniformly separated, extend in a second direction, and are connected to the variable resistance devices, a plurality of local word lines formed on the local bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction, a plurality of global bit lines formed on the local word lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the second direction, and a plurality of global word lines formed on the global bit lines, are uniformly separated, and extend in the first direction.
US08116125B2
A method of operating a phase-change memory device, including a phase-change layer and a unit applying a voltage to the phase-change layer, which includes applying a reset voltage to the phase-change layer, wherein the reset voltage includes at least two pulse voltages which are continuously applied.
US08116122B2
A spin-transfer torque memory apparatus and self-reference read schemes are described. One method of self-reference reading a spin-transfer torque memory unit includes applying a first read current through a magnetic tunnel junction data cell and forming a first bit line read voltage, the magnetic tunnel junction data cell having a first resistance state and storing the first bit line read voltage in a first voltage storage device. Then applying a low resistance state polarized write current through the magnetic tunnel junction data cell, forming a low second resistance state magnetic tunnel junction data cell. A second read current is applied through the low second resistance state magnetic tunnel junction data cell to forming a second bit line read voltage. The second bit line read voltage is stored in a second voltage storage device. The method also includes comparing the first bit line read voltage with the second bit line read voltage to determine whether the first resistance state of the magnetic tunnel junction data cell was a high resistance state or low resistance state.
US08116120B2
Positive logic circuits, systems and methods using MOSFETs operated in a depletion-mode, including electrostatic discharge protection circuits (ESD), non-inverting latches and buffers, and one-to-three transistor static random access memory cells. These novel circuits supplement enhancement-mode MOSFET technology and are also intended to improve the reliability of the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuit (IC) products.
US08116110B1
A memory device including nonvolatile memory cells arrayed in a first direction and in a second direction, a plurality of first lines extending in the first direction for coupling memory cells arrayed in the first direction, and a plurality of second lines extending in the second direction for coupling memory cells arrayed in the second direction. The memory device includes a plurality of decoders, including i) first decoders coupled to the first lines and ii) second decoders coupled to the second lines, for accessing any one or more of the memory cells in any order. The memory device includes a plurality of segments. Each segment includes different ones of the nonvolatile memory cells. A first one of the segments is juxtaposed to, in the second direction, a second one of the segments. The second one of the segments mirrors, in the second direction, the first one of the segments.
US08116109B2
A high-density memory device is fabricated three-dimensionally in layers. To keep points of failure low, address decoding circuits are included within each layer so that, in addition to power and data lines, only the address signal lines need be interconnected between the layers.
US08116103B2
The device is for feeding electricity into a power grid (8) with a DC generator (1), a DC converter (2) and an inverter (3), and particularly to a DC converter (2) suited for the device. The DC converter (2) comprises a choking coil (15) having two windings (w1, w2) that are magnetically coupled and conductively connected to each other, two switches (S5, S6) and three diodes (D6, D7, D8), and is configured such that grounding of the direct current generator (1) at the negative output (5) thereof is possible and the power load of the switches (S5, S6) is kept small.
US08116096B2
A retention assembly for securing a surface contact card in a portable electronic device includes a main body and a locking member. The main body defines a receiving groove in the main body. The locking member includes a fixing portion fixed on the main body adjacent to the receiving groove, and a pressing portion connected to the fixing portion. When the pressing portion is pressed by an external force, the pressing portion is moved close to the fixing portion. When the external force is released, the pressing portion is moved away from the fixing portion.
US08116090B2
A system is provided for the integration of microwave components in a low temperature co-fired ceramic, the system includes a low temperature co-fired ceramic body having a top surface, into which is disposed a plurality of cavities; a plurality of microwave devices, each device being disposed within a cavity such that the cavities provide radio isolation to the devices; and a coaxial connection disposed within the body configured to connect the devices to external components the coaxial components comprising vias disposed within the co-fired ceramic body.
US08116088B2
Provided are a semiconductor package, a method of forming the semiconductor package, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The semiconductor package includes: a PCB including at least two parts divided by an isolation region; a semiconductor chip mounted on the PCB; and a molding layer disposed in the isolation region. The method includes: preparing a PCB, the PCB including a plurality of chip regions and a scribe region; forming isolation regions dividing each of the chip regions into two parts, the isolation regions including inner isolation regions and outer isolation regions, the inner isolation regions being provided in the chip regions, the outer isolation regions being provided at both ends of the inner isolation regions so as to extend toward the scribe region; mounting semiconductor chips on the chip regions; and cutting the PCB along the scribe region to divide the chip regions into at least two parts.
US08116087B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) bracket is used to fasten a PCB with a positioning hole to an enclosure of an electronic device. The PCB bracket includes a base portion defining a screw hole, a supporting arm, a spring arm and a screw. The supporting arm vertically extends from the base portion and includes a first clamping portion apart from and parallel with the base portion. The first clamping portion is inserted into the positioning hole. The spring arm includes a second clamping portion disposed between the first clamping portion and the base portion. The screw is screwed through the enclosure, the screw hole of the base portion and abuts against the urging portion, so that the spring arm is out of shape and drives the first clamping portion toward the second clamping portion so as to fasten the PCB.
US08116066B2
In a method of manufacturing an electronic component built-in substrate of the present invention, a mounted body including a first insulating layer, a stopper metal layer formed under the first insulating layer of a portion corresponding to a component mounting region and a second insulating layer formed on a lower surface of the first insulating layer and covering the stopper metal layer is prepared, and a concave portion is obtained by penetration-processing a portion of the first insulating layer, which corresponds to the component mounting region to form an opening portion, while using the stopper metal layer as a stopper. Also, the stopper metal layer in the concave portion is removed, then an electronic component is mounted on the concave portion, and then a third insulating layer is formed on the electronic component.
US08116063B2
The present invention provides a metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor structure composed of a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The MOM capacitor structure has a plurality of symmetrical branch sections, which form an interdigitated structure along a plurality of ring contours. The MOM capacitor structure has an optimal geometrical symmetry, and therefore a better capacitance matching effect can be obtained, and the MOM capacitor structure has a higher unit capacitance. In addition, a capacitance value ratio between the first capacitor and the second capacitor can be adjusted according to different requirements in the MOM capacitor structure. Furthermore, the MOM capacitor structure of the present invention does not need additional masks, and the process cost is cheaper. In addition, due to the semiconductor process improvement, a large amount of metal layers can be stacked, and since the distance between the metal layers becomes smaller, the unit capacitance becomes higher.
US08116058B2
The present invention contemplates systems and methods for distributing RF and DC signals and detecting, logging and suppressing surge energy associated with surge events such as lightning and power line surges. The detection and logging is provided in order to determine possible causes of a failure and who might be responsible for the repair. The suppression is provided in order to protect electrical equipment such as split mount wireless radio systems from catastrophic failure due to surge events.
US08116057B2
Methods and apparatus for protecting data bus ports and their corresponding PHY devices from taking damage associated with excess voltage across one or more signal pairs during an intermittent connection. Such connections cause the signal pins to carry external device current which raises the signal voltage above the power rails, exceeding the PHY device ratings and causing PHY degradation or destruction. In an exemplary embodiment, an RC circuit is used to detect the voltage level across a signal pair. If this voltage level exceeds a certain preset voltage level, power to the outgoing serial bus port is shut off and return power is abated. While the circuit is responding, the exemplary embodiment uses a 3.6V Zener diode to bleed excess voltage to ground. A current monitor/limiter is also used for limiting current if the voltage level detected exceeds a certain threshold.
US08116051B2
An exemplary aspect of a power supply control circuit includes a reference voltage control circuit that applies a potential corresponding to a potential of a second power supply line to a reference voltage node connected to a control terminal of a first switch when a power supply voltage is applied in a forward direction between first and second power supply lines, and that applies a potential corresponding to a potential of a first power supply line to the reference voltage node when the power supply voltage is applied in the reverse direction between the first and second power supply lines.
US08116050B2
To provide a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a detection circuit that detects an occurrence of latch up and can be configured while adopting a layout configuration that suppresses the occurrence of latch up; and a recovery unit that enables a recovery from the latch up without cutting off a positive potential. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a n-channel MOS transistor 7 that is formed on a P-type region 3 on a semiconductor substrate; and a latch up detection circuit that detects an occurrence of latch up in the n-channel MOS transistor 7. The latch up detection circuit includes: a n-MOS transistor structure 12 in which a source 10 and a back gate 8 are connected in common with a source 5 and the back gate 8 of the n-channel MOS transistor 7; and an electric current detection unit 15 that detects an electric current flowing to a drain 9 of the n-MOS transistor structure 12.
US08116044B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that facilitates the operation of a supercapacitor. During operation, the system measures an electrical parameter of the supercapacitor using a set of conductor rings surrounding a capacitor seal of the supercapacitor. Next, the system determines the presence of a leak in the supercapacitor based on the electrical parameter. Finally, the system manages the operation of the supercapacitor based on the presence of the leak.
US08116041B2
An FPC holding mechanism of an actuator assembly of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes an FPC holder protruding from an arm-mold of the actuator assembly, and an FPC clip mounted to the FPC holder so as to be rotatable. The FPC holder defines a guide groove into which the FPC is inserted and a first side support plate facing one side surface of the FPC. The FPC clip includes a second side support plate juxtaposed with the first side support plate and facing the other side surface of the FPC, and at least two clip arms extending in a horizontal direction over upper and lower edges of the FPC, respectively. At least one of the clip arms has a hook hooked onto the first side support plate. The FPC holding mechanism thus prevents a portion of the FPC from moving in vertical and horizontal directions.
US08116038B1
A novel disk drive head stack assembly (HSA) includes a first head gimbal assembly attached to a first actuator arm. A dummy mass is attached to a second actuator arm. The dummy mass includes a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width. The mounting plate portion includes first and second projections. The dummy mass also includes a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length. A root portion of the neck portion is disposed between the first and second projections, and defines first and second alcoves between the root portion and the first and second projections, respectively. The dummy mass also includes a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length. The neck width is less than the mounting plate width, and the neck width is less than the distal mass width.
US08116023B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of servo sectors defining a plurality of servo tracks, and a head actuated radially over the disk for generating a read signal. Each servo sector comprises a preamble comprising a first end and a second end, and each servo sector comprises a servo sync mark after the second end of the preamble. The servo tracks form a plurality of servo zones, wherein a servo data rate of the servo sectors in a first servo zone is different than a servo data rate of the servo sectors in a second servo zone. The first end of the preambles in the servo sectors are aligned along a radius of the disk across at least the first servo zone and the second servo zone.
US08116019B2
An illumination system including at least one coherent light source, a light uniforming element, and a prism is provided. The coherent light source is capable of emitting a coherent beam. The light uniforming element is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent beam. The prism is disposed on the transmission path of the coherent beam and between the coherent light source and the light uniforming element. The prism has a light incident end and a light exit end. The light incident end has at least one incident polygonal pyramid portion protruding away from the light exit end. The prism is capable of rotating about an axis, and the axis extends from the light incident end to the light exit end. The illumination system effectively reduces the degree of the speckle phenomenon.
US08116014B2
Disclosed are an imaging lens having a small size and high imaging performance, a camera module that is provided with the imaging lens and can obtain a high-resolution image signal, and an imaging apparatus. An imaging lens includes a first lens having a positive power, a second lens having a negative power, a third lens that has a positive power and includes a convex image-side surface, and a fourth lens that has a negative power and includes an object-side surface which is concave or flat near an optical axis. The first to fourth lenses are arranged in this order from an object side, and the imaging lens satisfies Conditional expression.
US08116013B2
Disclosed is a wide-angle lens having a viewing angle of more than 130°. The wide angle lens has a front group, an aperture, and a rear group arranged in this order from an object side to an image side. The front group has a first lens as a negative lens, a second lens as a negative lens, and a third lens as a positive lens arranged from the object side to the image side. The rear group is a cemented lens having a positive power when two lenses are bonded to each other. The wide-angle lens constitutes an image forming system with the five lenses as a whole, the first lens and the second lens of the front group are aspherical lenses, and the third lens is a spherical lens.
US08116009B2
Far-field sub-diffraction optical lenses “FaSDOLs” comprise an anisotropic crystal having special dispersion characteristics such that it supports diffraction free propagation. An image with subwavelength features on the input surface is transferred through a propagation function to the output surface with effectively no, or minimal, loss in information. These special properties may be exploited in several ways, including but not limited to, magnification of an image at the input surface through the use an oblique cut at the output surface, magnification of an image at the input surface through use of a curved crystalline structure, and more generally near-field optical processing.
US08116007B2
An optical sight includes a main barrel unit, an objective lens unit, an ocular lens unit, and a magnification unit. The main barrel unit extends about an axis. The objective lens unit is mounted to a front end of the main barrel unit. The ocular lens unit is mounted to a rear end of the main barrel unit, and includes an outer barrel securely connected to the main barrel unit, an inner barrel coupled threadedly with the outer barrel, a lens disposed in the inner barrel, an adjusting barrel disposed on the inner barrel and movable in a direction along the axis, and a release device disposed between the inner barrel and the adjusting barrel. The magnification unit is rotatably disposed in the main barrel unit between the objective lens unit and the ocular lens unit.
US08116003B1
An interface between two different optical materials can comprise a stack of thin film layers that manage light incident on that interface. One of the optical materials can have a first composition and a first refractive index, while the other optical material can have a second composition and a second refractive index. The stack can comprise thin film layers of the first optical material interleaved between thin film layers of the second optical material. The layers of the stack can be configured to provide the stack with an aggregate composition of at least one of the optical materials that progressively varies from one end of the stack to the other end. To provide the progressive variation in composition, the layers of one of the optical materials can have a progressively increased thickness across the stack, or can progressively increase in number, for example.
US08116002B2
A reflection grating device with a continuous non-reflecting dielectric adjusting layer disposed between a grating structure and one or more continuous reflecting layers is disclosed that operates in an order of interest, such as the 1st order or 3rd order of diffraction, with high efficiency and near-exclusion of unwanted orders. Such devices can be employed, for example, in telecommunication and laser applications.
US08115998B2
In an in-line optical isolator, a first polarization separation element 91, a Faraday rotator 6 made of a BIG film, and a second polarization separation element 92 are placed in that order. The isolator further includes a first optical fiber collimator 1a being placed at the forward-beam incident side of the first polarization separation element 91 and including a collimating lens 101 and a first optical fiber 31, and a second optical fiber collimator 2a being placed at the forward-beam exit side of the second polarization separation element 92 and including a collimating lens 102 and a second optical fiber 32 connected to a fiber amplifier. Also, an edge filter 100, which transmits light emitted from the first optical fiber 31 and having a wavelength equal to an oscillation wavelength and which reflects light emitted from the first optical fiber 31 and having wavelengths shorter than this wavelength, is placed between the second optical fiber collimator 2a and the second polarization separation element 92.
US08115990B2
A pixel structure of a display device disposed on a substrate includes a plurality of sub-pixel structure. Each sub-pixel structure includes a light-absorption region, a reflection region, a first electrode disposed in the light-absorption region, a second electrode disposed in the reflection region, and a plurality of charge-carrying balls disposed over the first electrode and the second electrode. Each of the charge-carrying balls includes a white portion and a black portion. The white portion has a first conductivity type, and the black portion has second conductivity type.
US08115989B2
Anti-stiction systems may include one or more anti-stiction electrodes driven to provide an electrical force that counteracts a stiction force acting upon a moveable portion of an interferometric modulator. The anti-stiction electrode(s) may be disposed on a back glass or on another such substrate. The anti-stiction electrode(s) may be configured to apply an electrical force to substantially all of the interferometric modulators in a display device at once and/or may be configured to apply an electrical force only to a selected area. In some embodiments, the sum of an anti-stiction electrical force and a mechanical restoring force of a moveable part of an interferometric modulator is sufficient to counteract a stiction force.
US08115985B2
A 2D/3D display device is provided. The 2D/3D display device includes a flat display device and a parallax barrier panel disposed on a display surface of the flat display device. The parallax barrier panel has a barrier pattern which includes a first electrochromic material layer and a second electrochromic material layer. In a 2D display mode, the barrier pattern, the first electrochromic material layer, and the second electrochromic material layer are transparent. In a 3D stereoscopic display mode, the barrier pattern is non-transmissible. The first electrochromic material layer has a first color, and the second electrochromic material layer has a second color.
US08115984B2
This invention discloses pre-formed electrochromic films that are used in assembly of electrochromic devices. These films are laminated to conductive substrates to form the electrochromic devices. The invention also discloses optical characteristics of the substrates for imparting durability to the electrochromic devices from solar radiation.
US08115979B2
An International Color Consortium (ICC) profile making tool includes a regression module to establish a dependency between a profile connection space (PCS) and a device color space and an optimization module to generate a first output profile based on an ink minimization mode and a second output profile based on a high accuracy mode.
US08115978B2
Input data in a color space dependent on input device is converted into first data in a device-independent color space based on input viewing condition. Through forward conversion based on a perception model corresponding to the input viewing condition, the first data is converted into second data in a color perception space in accordance with specified color-space compression mode. The second data is converted into third data through color-space compression based on a gamut of first output device. The third data is converted into fourth data through color-space compression based on a gamut of second output device. Through inverse conversion based on a perception model of the second output device, the fourth data is converted into fifth data in a device-independent color space based on viewing condition of the second output device. The fifth data is converted into output data in a color space dependent on the second output device.
US08115975B2
A disclosed image scanning device includes a pressing unit for pressing a document; an operation detection unit for detecting an opening operation and a closing operation of the pressing unit; a movable scanning unit for scanning the document; and a control unit for moving the movable scanning unit from a standby position to a document-size detection start position when the opening operation is detected and moving the movable scanning unit from the document-size detection start position to the standby position to determine a size of the document when the closing operation is detected. The control unit is configured to continue moving the movable scanning unit from the standby position to the document-size detection start position until the arrival of the movable scanning unit at the document-size detection start position is detected even if the pressing unit is operated.
US08115970B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading device which reads an image in accordance with a sheet-through method. The image reading device includes a reading device and a control device. The reading device is configured to include a carriage including an optical device for optically reading an image. The control device is configured to control shading correction of images on successively fed sheets by first performing the setting of the timing of starting a shading correction and the setting of the operation of the carriage, and then performing the setting of shading correction before shading correction starts during the operation of the carriage.
US08115959B2
An image scanning device to which an external storage is detachably connected. The image scanning device is provided with an image scanning unit configured to scan an image formed on an original document and generate data representing the scanned image, a data storing unit configured to store the data generated by the image scanning unit in the external storage connected to the image scanning device, a capacity presuming unit configured to presume a necessary capacity which should be available in the external storage for storing the data generated by the image scanning unit prior to storing the data, a comparing unit configured to detect a remaining capacity of the external storage and compare the remaining storage with the necessary capacity presumed by the capacity presuming unit, and a warning unit configured to issue warning if the remaining capacity is less than the necessary capacity.
US08115953B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus comprises an input unit through which a condition for reading image data of a document is input, a reading unit to read the image data under the reading condition, a first storage unit to store the image data read by the reading unit, a second storage unit to store information indicative of a relationship between the reading condition and an estimated volume of the image data to be stored in the first storage unit, a data volume estimating unit that estimates a volume of the image data to be read based on the reading condition and the information stored in the second storage unit, and a determining unit to determine whether to read the image data based on the estimated data volume and a volume of the image data that have already been stored in the first storage unit.
US08115945B2
Some aspects of the present invention relate to a method whereby an image device may communicate its job configuration properties to a remote computing device, which may then communicate with the imaging device to modify those configuration properties for a particular imaging job. Some aspects relate to methods whereby job configuration properties are transmitted to a remote application that generates an optimized job definition list that defines an imaging job based on the values of the job configuration properties.
US08115942B2
An image forming apparatus detects whether a sub board, which performs image processing, is in a processing-disabled state. If it is detected that the sub board is in the processing-disabled state, the image forming apparatus activates a virtual environment on a main board, which performs information processing, to allow an image processing unit configured to perform the image processing to run on the virtual environment. The image forming apparatus transfers data processed by the image processing unit to the sub board when the sub board comes into a processing-enabled state and then prints and outputs the data via a print engine.
US08115940B2
This invention allows a user to immediately grasp the print status of a job only by inputting a print instruction of a job stored and held in an image forming apparatus. This invention also provides a user-friendly apparatus that notifies the user of a predicted time until completion of printing. For this purpose, the image forming apparatus of this invention has a touch panel formed on the display screen of the operation unit. A list of jobs registered in a Hold job list is displayed on the display screen. When the user selects at least one job and touches a “Test print” or “Print” button, the print job is registered in the print execution queue. Simultaneously, a list of unprinted print jobs registered in the print execution queue is automatically displayed.
US08115939B2
An image processing apparatus has a processing condition setting section, a reference image processing section and a processing condition registration section. The processing condition setting section sets an image processing condition to input image data. The input image data is subjected to image processing according to the image processing condition. The reference image processing section performs the image processing on reference image data according to the image processing condition and generates processed reference image data. The processing condition registration section registers into a condition storage the processed reference image data with the image processing condition.
US08115934B2
A method of forming an image of tissue. The method includes non-invasively inserting a fiber-based device into a patient's ear canal and acquiring OCT data from ear tissue while the fiber-based device is in the ear canal. The method also includes converting the OCT data into at least one image.
US08115933B2
An interferometer for optically measuring an object (10), including a light source (1), at least one beam splitter (2) and at least one detector (12a, 12b), with the beam splitter being arranged in the beam path of the light source such that a light beam created by the light source is split into a working beam (3) and a reference beam (4). The interferometer is embodied such that the working beam impinges on the object (10) to be measured and the working beam is at least partially reflected by the object and interfered with the reference beam on the detector (12a, 12b). Here it is essential that the interferometer is provided with a spatial light modulator, which comprises a hologram control unit (9) and a hologram reconstruction unit (8) connected thereto, with the hologram reconstruction unit being arranged in the beam path of the working beam between the beam splitter (2) and the object (10) and the hologram control unit (9) controlling the hologram reconstruction unit (8) such that the hologram reconstruction unit creates an optionally predetermined hologram such that the working beam is deflected and/or split by the hologram reconstruction unit.
US08115929B2
A system for detecting the lateral movement of thread includes an optical device configured to emit an optical signal. The optical device includes a resonant cavity. The system further includes a driver configured to drive the optical signal. A mechanical guide is configured to receive a moving thread that scatters the optical signal such that a portion of the optical signal is reflected back into the resonant cavity of the optical device; causing a change in the optical signal. An optical detector is configured to detect the changed optical signal. Lateral movement detection circuitry is configured to detect lateral movements such as vibrations.
US08115925B1
A polarization switching lidar device, arranged for remote detection and characterization of airborne aggregations of particulates, includes a pulsed laser, a mirror, a polarizing beam splitter, an actively controlled retarder arranged to be controllably alternated between a zero retardation state and a quarter-wave retardation state such that the transmitted portion of the exiting laser light beam is linearly polarized in a predetermined direction when the actively controlled retarder is in the zero retardation state, while being circularly polarized in a predetermined rotational sense when the actively controlled retarder is in the quarter-wave retardation state. A directable telescoping assembly is arranged to collect photons backscattered by the airborne aggregations of particulates and to redirect the collected portion of depolarized backscattered photons onto the polarizing beam splitter. A photodetector is arranged to generate at least one electronic signal proportional to the collected portion of depolarized backscattered photons.
US08115915B2
A method and apparatus for inspecting a defect of a surface of a sample in which a laser beam is irradiated on a sample surface so that at least a part of an illumination field of the laser beam illuminates a first area of the sample surface, a plurality of scattered light rays from the first area caused by the irradiation in the irradiating is detected, errors of inclination of an illumination apparatus and a sensor for the plurality of scattered light rays detected are corrected, the plurality of scattered light rays corrected is at least one of added and averaged, a defect on the sample surface based on the plurality of scattered light rays in accordance with the correcting of errors of inclination of the illumination apparatus and the sensor is determined.
US08115909B2
A sensor system with a lighting device and a detector device is specified. The lighting device is provided for emitting laser radiation of a first wavelength and laser radiation of a second wavelength different from the first. The detector device is provided for detecting electromagnetic radiation of the first and the second wavelength.
US08115904B2
An optical system for producing a pattern of focused spots, such as a maskless lithographic projection system, includes an illuminator, a pattern generator, and an imager. The illuminator includes a light source for generating a light beam, a homogenizer for evenly dispersing light within the light beam, and a condenser for coupling the light source to the homogenizer. The pattern generator has individually addressable elements illuminated by the light beam from the illuminator. The imager images the addressable elements of the pattern generator onto corresponding focusing elements for forming focused spots that are conjugate to aperture stops in both the imager and the illuminator. The illuminator underfills the imager aperture stop for reducing the size of the focused spots. The condenser underfills the illuminator aperture stop for further controlling the size and shape of the focused spots.
US08115881B2
A voltage pull-down circuit electrically connected between two scan lines and a bus line includes a transistor and an electrostatic discharge protection device. Each transistor comprises a source, a drain, and a gate electrically connected to one of the scan lines. Each gate is connected to another scan line, the source, and the drain through the electrostatic discharge protection device.
US08115873B2
As information to be processed at an object-based video or audio-visual (AV) terminal, an object-oriented bitstream includes objects, composition information, and scene demarcation information. Such bitstream structure allows on-line editing, e.g. cut and paste, insertion/deletion, grouping, and special effects. In the interest of ease of editing, AV objects and their composition information are transmitted or accessed on separate logical channels (LCs). Objects which have a lifetime in the decoder beyond their initial presentation time are cached for reuse until a selected expiration time. The system includes a de-multiplexer, a controller which controls the operation of the AV terminal, input buffers, AV objects decoders, buffers for decoded data, a composer, a display, and an object cache.
US08115872B2
A method of capturing digital broadcast images in a digital broadcast terminal is provided. Upon request for output of digital broadcasting from a user, video frames of received digital broadcast frames are decoded. Upon request for a multi-capture function from the user, digital broadcast images of the decoded video frames are captured at a predetermined number of shots per unit time and stored.
US08115866B2
Given an incoming stream of interlaced video, data for each field is analyzed to detect a progressive frame cadence. If a progressive frame cadence is detected, a set of instructions is generated to instruct a de-interlacing unit which fields were mastered from the same progressive frame. The similarity in motion between two consecutive fields and the correlation between two consecutive fields is used to detect the presence of cadences and breaks in cadences. Breaks in cadences are continuously detected in order to characterize the source as video and prevent false detection of cadences.
US08115844B2
In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval.
US08115842B2
The invention relates to matrix-array image sensors with MOS-technology active pixels, comprising a matrix-array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. To read the signal from a pixel, the reset potential present on a column conductor is sampled in two capacitors. The first capacitor is linked to an input of a comparator; the other input receives, through the second capacitor, a linear voltage ramp varying in a first direction for a first duration, then a linear voltage ramp in the reverse direction; a digital value N of the time between the start of this second ramp and the switching over of the comparator is counted; the useful potential present on the column conductor and representing the lighting of the pixel is sampled again, but in the first capacitor only; two ramps identical to the preceding ones are applied to the second input, through the second capacitor; a digital value N′ of the time between the start of the second reverse ramp and the switching over of the comparator is counted, the difference between the two counts N and N′ representing a measurement of the lighting of the pixel.
US08115824B2
The invention relates to an active-pixel-sensor (APS) apparatus for use in a star tracker device including an imager chip, said imager chip comprising an array of photo-diodes operating as optical pixels, and a logic circuit. The logic circuit is configured for reading out a pixel signal depending on an amount of light irradiated during a predetermined integration time and resetting the optical pixel upon termination of the predetermined integration time processing the pixel signals and to output the modified signals and for performing a non-destructive readout of the pixel signal during the integration time. In order to distinguish Single-Event-Upset (SEU) contributions to the signal from star signal contributions, it is proposed to further configure the logic circuit to detect whether or not a discontinuity has occurred in the pixel signal during the integration time, and to modify the signal depending on the result of this detection.
US08115821B2
An ROI setting apparatus including an ROI recognition unit and an ROI control unit is provided. In one embodiment, the ROI recognition unit contains multiple ROI recognition modules for recognizing an ROI of image data according to various methods to obtain a recognition result. The ROI control unit selects one ROI recognition module out of the ROI recognition modules and sets ROI information based on the recognition result. The ROI recognition module may be selected according to an instruction from a user input via an operation unit, or a scene type selected by a scene selection switch of an image capture unit. The ROI control unit may perform operations such as selecting, enlarging, or reducing the ROI recognized by the ROI recognition module, or changing the ROI recognition conditions according to the respective instructions from the user input via the operation unit.
US08115818B2
An imaging device and its image processing for creating an image with less blur from a small number of images under different exposure conditions in a shortened processing time. The imaging device 10 captures an image by means of an optical system 11 and an imaging element 12 in a short exposure time with a high resolution and much noise and images in a long exposure time with low resolution and less noise. After signal processing by signal processing section 13, a CPU 14 detects the position variation between captured images and blurs, separates the edges blur and the noise by using the threshold from the two difference images, combines the two images at a varied combination ratio, and thereby creates an image with no blur and reduced noise.
US08115817B2
In an anti-shake circuit for an imaging device, a differential circuit receives an analog sensing signal and a target signal and then generates a difference signal. An analog mathematical circuit performs at least one mathematical operation on the difference signal, resulting in generation of at least one mathematical output signal. A driver receives the at least one mathematical output signal, and, accordingly, generates a driving signal and controls an actuator in order to correct the shaking movement.
US08115815B2
An image pickup apparatus that records a picked-up image and time information indicating when the picked-up image was picked up includes a unit that obtains location information and UTC and generates positioning information indicating the obtained result, a unit that determines the time difference between the time corresponding to the location information and UTC using the location information, a unit that calculates the local time of a location indicated by the location information using UTC and the time difference, and a unit that performs correction of a system time of the image pickup apparatus when the time difference between the system time and the local time exceeds a predetermined time period and that causes the correction of the system time to be delayed until after the completion of a recording operation of the picked-up image when the recording operation is being performed.
US08115811B2
An image around a vehicle matching the intent of a driver is automatically displayed.An infrared camera (2) picks up an image of the face of a driver (7). A visual line direction and a face direction are detected from the face image of the driver (7). Based on the visual line direction of the driver (7) and the face direction thereof, a direction in which the driver (7) gazes is detected. When the direction in which the driver (7) gazes is included in image pickup ranges of CCD cameras (1A, 1B, and 1C), an image around a vehicle (100) picked up by any one of the CCD cameras (1A, 1B, and 1C) is automatically displayed on a monitor (6).
US08115804B2
Decoding a multiview video signal comprises: receiving a bitstream comprising encodings of multiple views of the multiview video signal, each view comprising multiple pictures segmented into multiple segments; and obtaining a predictor for illumination compensation of a first segment with respect to a reference picture using an offset value for illumination compensation of at least one neighboring segment adjacent to the first segment according whether the reference picture associated with the first segment is the same as a reference picture associated with the neighboring segment.
US08115798B2
A mobile communication device includes a first body, a folder portion rotatably coupled with the first body and positionable between open and closed positions, a first display unit coupled to the folder portion and configured to display first information, and a second display unit coupled to a first side of the first body and configured to receive input and display second information, wherein at least one of text information and graphic information received through the second display unit is displayed on the first display unit.
US08115791B2
A printing apparatus that receives a supply of an image receiving medium and includes a platen arranged to feed the image receiving medium selectively in one of a forward and reverse direction. A print head arranged to print an image on the image receiving medium while the medium is fed in the forward direction and an arcuate guide portion partially encasing the platen and movable relative to the surface of the platen. The guide portion having an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the print head to permit a supply of image receiving medium to be received and an operative position wherein the guide portion is moved to be proximate to the print head whereby the guide portion in the operative position restricts movement of the image receiving medium in a direction perpendicular to the forward and reverse direction.
US08115785B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a driving method of a liquid crystal display device for improvement of image quality and a liquid crystal display device in which the driving method is used. One frame period is divided up into an n (n: integer, n≧3) number of periods (hereinafter referred to as subframe periods). Furthermore, a voltage is applied to a liquid crystal so as to correct for a loss in luminance resulting from response speed of the liquid crystal. The voltage for correction is applied during subframe periods other than the first subframe period.
US08115783B2
In a graphics processing system, the left, right, top and bottom edge planes for the purposes of clipping are set to the maximum values that can be represented using floating-point format numbers, vertex positions are snapped to a grid of predefined vertex positions, and the precision of selected vertices is prioritized when deriving edge functions for a given primitive. In respect of the depth near and far clipping planes, those planes are set to the maximum floating-point number format that can be represented for “Z” in the graphics system, but then fragments that have a Z value that falls outside the range zero to one are discarded using a depth test. In respect of the eye-plane, the need for clipping is avoided by modifying edge equations generated for a primitive in dependence on the sign of a “W” value for each vertex of the primitive.
US08115781B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing image data to provide adjusted pixel information that achieves smoothed output discontinuities. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of processing image data including analyzing first display information including pixel data indicative of pixel display on a graphical user interface, detecting one or more ramp steps in the pixel data, and assigning, in association with random number generation and/or threshold setting functionality, a carry possibility for a pixel adjacent the one or more ramp steps. Other exemplary implementations may include generating second display information included adjusted pixel data for pixels adjacent the ramp steps. Consistent with certain implementations, the second display information may include pixel values adjusted according to the carry possibility in one or both of the temporal domain and/or spatial domain.
US08115777B2
A method and apparatus is provided for emulating an impairment of a person. The method comprises determining a type of sensory impairment of a person communicating with an agent endpoint device and applying a configuration filter corresponding to the determined type of sensory impairment to output at the agent endpoint device to emulate the sensory impairment of the person. Determining the type of sensory impairment may comprise determining a hearing impairment of the person or a type of color-blindness of the person.
US08115775B1
A method comprises encoding information in a texture map, and enhancing texturing utilizing the information, where the information identifies at least one region in at least one texture. Additionally, a texture data structure is embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprises a texture map with encoded information that identifies at least one region in at least one texture. In addition, an apparatus comprises a processor for encoding information in a texture map to enhance texturing, where the information identifies at least one region in at least one texture.
US08115774B2
A method. for use in animation includes the steps of establishing a model having a plurality of joints, exposing a region of a first normal map based on a position of one or more of the joints, and applying the exposed region of the first normal map to the model. A system for use in animation is configured to accomplish these steps.
US08115773B2
A method and an apparatus for determining a dependency relationship between graphics commands based on availability of graphics hardware resources to perform graphics processing operations according to the dependency relationship are described. The graphics commands may be received from graphics APIs (application programming interfaces) for rendering a graphics object. A graphics driver may transmit a portion or all of the received graphics commands to a graphics processing unit (GPU) or a media processor based on the determined dependency relationship between the graphics commands.
US08115770B2
A system, method, and computer program for a finding an intersection for geometrically coincident curves, comprising selecting a curve pair where at least one curve in said curve pair is a parametric curve; determining a curve parameter for each curve in said curve pair; splitting each of said curves into a plurality of candidate segments; recursively subdividing each of said candidate segments into a pair of finalized segments that are sufficiently straight; intersecting an approximation for each of said finalized segments; obtaining a plurality of next parameter values from said intersecting step; and testing for a terminating condition and appropriate means and computer-readable instructions.
US08115769B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided for displaying a status of a security application. A status of at least one security application is initially identified. An index is calculated that is representative of a degree of risk associated with the status of the at least one security application. The index is then displayed.
US08115762B1
Embodiments relate to locking geometric and camera parameters in image-based three-dimensional modeling. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method modifies a three-dimensional model using a set of two-dimensional photographic images. In the method, at least one constraint, input by a user, for a two-dimensional photographic image from the set of two-dimensional photographic images are received. Each constraint indicates that a position on the two-dimensional photographic image corresponds to a position on the three-dimensional model. When the number of constraints received for the two-dimensional photographic image is less than or equal to a first threshold value, camera parameters representing a camera that took the constrained photographic image. Finally, a photogrammetry algorithm is applied to at least the set of parameters to determine at least one unlocked parameter in the set of parameters and to modify the three-dimensional model based on the constraints.
US08115759B2
Disclosed here is a method for driving a plasma display panel and a plasma display device capable of providing image display with a high contrast ratio and excellent quality by stabilizing an address discharge. According to the method, which is the method for driving a plasma display panel in which discharge cells are formed at intersections of scan electrodes, sustain electrodes and data electrodes, the field—that contains at least one sub-field having the all-cell initializing operation—and the field—that is formed of sub-fields having the selective-cell initializing operation only—are set at a ratio of 1:N (where, N takes an integer of 1 or greater). At the same time, at least in one sub-field of the field having the selective-cell initializing operation only, the scan-pulse width employed for the selective-cell initializing field is determined longer than the scan-pulse width employed for the field containing the all-cell initializing operation.
US08115756B2
A display driver integrated circuit using a ping-pong type sample and hold circuit is provided. The display driver integrated circuit includes a data counter, a comparison unit, a gray voltage generation unit, and a sample and hold circuit. The data counter outputs first through n-th gamma data in response to a clock signal. The comparison unit compares input image data with each of the first through n-th gamma data so as to output a comparison signal. The gray voltage generation unit generates first through n-th gray voltages in response to the first through n-th gamma data. The sample and hold circuit includes a first sub sample and hold circuit and a second sub sample and hold circuit and outputs one of the first through n-th gray voltages in response to the comparison signal. While the first sub sample and hold circuit is performing sampling, the second sub sample and hold circuit outputs one of the first through n-th gray voltages, or alternatively, while the second sub sample and hold circuit is performing sampling, the first sub sample and hold circuit outputs one of the first through n-th gray voltages.
US08115754B2
A data line driving method adapted in a display panel driver circuit is provided. The display panel driver circuit comprises a plurality rows of gate lines and a plurality of data driver stages each corresponding to a data line group, wherein the data line driving method comprises the steps of: turning on the data driver stages in a first sequential order to input a first frame data in the data line groups corresponding to the data driver stages in each gate line activation time within a first frame period; and turning on the data driver stages in a second sequential order which is opposed to the first sequential order to input a second frame data in the data line groups corresponding to the data driver stages in each gate line activation time within a second frame period; wherein the first and the second frame period are two interlaced periods next to each other.
US08115740B2
The present invention provides a method for executing commands in an electronic device having a touch sensing element. A stylus or finger is used to touch the touch sensing element and move through several sensing areas on the touch sensing element. A responsive signal is generated by the touch sensing element according to the touched sensing areas. A processor then executes a corresponding command in accordance with the responsive signal.
US08115739B2
A touch screen device and an operating method thereof are provided. More specifically, a touch screen device is provided which allows a user to selectively restrict input through a touch screen. The touch screen device includes a screen that includes a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch on the display and convert the touch into an electrical signal, and a controller configured to cause images to be displayed on the display and receive and process signals from the detector. Further, a user may determine whether the controller is operated according to the signal input into the detector. The determination may be made either by a switch separately installed on an earphone or by inputting a signal into the detector by a user.
US08115738B2
A position detecting apparatus includes a display apparatus having a screen for displaying images by changing states of a plurality of display elements arrayed in the screen along a predetermined direction which is parallel to a side boundary of the screen, and at least one detecting conductor disposed on the display apparatus to detect a position indicated on the display apparatus. The at least one detecting conductor is a loop coil having short sides and long sides, the long sides of the loop coil being arranged so as to cross the predetermined direction of the display elements.
US08115732B2
Virtual controllers for visual displays are described. In one implementation, a camera captures an image of hands against a background. The image is segmented into hand areas and background areas. Various hand and finger gestures isolate parts of the background into independent areas, which are then assigned control parameters for manipulating the visual display. Multiple control parameters can be associated with attributes of multiple independent areas formed by two hands, for advanced control including simultaneous functions of clicking, selecting, executing, horizontal movement, vertical movement, scrolling, dragging, rotational movement, zooming, maximizing, minimizing, executing file functions, and executing menu choices.
US08115730B2
Disclosed are an input device in which an input key is located within the movement radius of a user's fingers, and a method for inputting a command using the input device. To this end, the input device according to the present invention comprises: an input key located within the movement radius of a user's fingers to be moved in the front, rear, left and right directions within the movement radius of the fingers, for inputting the variety of commands therethrough; a plurality of sensing means regularly arranged within the movement radius of the fingers, for sensing approach of the input key thereto or contact of the input key therewith to send a sensing signal; and a controller for receiving the sensing signal from the plurality of the sensing means, determining which one of the plurality of sensing means has sent the sensing signal thereto, extracting an inputted command based on the received signal, and instructing corresponding execution means to execute the extracted command. According to the present invention, desired input commands can be inputted only by moving at least one input key in the front, rear, left and right directions. This method can reduce the size of the input device to the extent of the movement radius of a user's fingers. It is thus possible to provide an input device of an electronic device that can follow a current trend toward miniaturization of the device.
US08115729B2
The invention relates to methods and materials for controlling stability and color intensity in an electrophoretic display element. Filler particles in the electrophoretic display element, serves as a medium that the electrophoretic particles must travel through during switching between optical states of the display. The filler particles provide improved control over the color intensity of the electrophoretic display element. In addition, the filler particles create resistance to the migration of the electrophoretic particles, thereby improving the bistability of the electrophoretic displays and inhibiting settling of the electrophoretic particles. Also, migration resistance provided by the filler particles can enable threshold addressing of an electrophoretic display.
US08115726B2
A display device comprises a liquid crystal module comprising a matrix of pixels, a backlight assembly, and a controller comprising logic to receive an image comprising at least a first stationary portion and a second moving portion, separate the first stationary portion from the second moving portion, present the first stationary portion at a first refresh rate and present the second moving portion at a second refresh rate, different from the first refresh rate.
US08115700B2
A system to automatically blank a screen from a multi-layer display is disclosed. The system includes a multi-layer display, an associated logic device and a display controller in communication therewith and configured to receive signals from the logic device. The multi-layer display includes at least a first display screen and a second display screen positioned behind the first display screen, with both display screens in communication with the display controller. The display controller has a signal analyzer configured to analyze received signals, which are sent to one or both of the first and second display screens depending upon the results from the signal analyzer. Analysis results can involve whether signal resolution is greater than a predetermined amount. Signals sent to both display screens results in a multi-layer display presentation, while signals sent to only one screen results in the auto-blanking of the other screen for a single screen display presentation.
US08115699B2
A plurality of positional information transmitters 100, each of which transmits positional information to which a plurality of unit spaces are each uniquely assigned, are disposed on a ceiling. A mobile terminal 10 receives the positional information transmitted from each of the positional information transmitters 100 and changes a terminal-side image in accordance with the received positional information. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 transmits to a server 300 current positional information and operation information indicating an instruction inputted by a user. The server 300 changes, in accordance with the current positional information and the operation information received by the mobile terminal 10, a floor image displayed on a plurality of floor displays 200 disposed on a floor. Thus, it becomes possible to provide a highly interesting and novel position detecting system.
US08115693B2
A sensor that senses incident RF signals is provided. The sensor is capable of sensing signals in the Gigahertz (GHz) and Terahertz (THz) range. The sensor may utilize one or more cantilevers, an interferometer, or may be formed in a box-type configuration.
US08115688B2
An RF conduit according to one embodiment includes a pair of antennas coupled together by a transmission line such that RF tunneling occurs along the transmission line between the antennas and an RF signal received at one antenna is reradiated at the other antenna. An RF conduit according to another embodiment includes a pair of antenna traces each having first and second end portions and a central portion extending between the first and second end portions, wherein the central portions are positioned relative to each other such that they form a transmission line for RF tunneling therealong between the first ends of the antenna traces and the second ends of the antenna traces and an RF signal received at the first ends is reradiated at the second ends. Additional systems and methods are presented.
US08115684B2
The present invention relates to a method of production of an antenna pattern having a predetermined general outline, with an ink jet printer, laser activation device or similar device. The device creates the antenna pattern with a plurality of empty inner portions within the general outline.
US08115682B2
A multi-band HAC compatible antenna module having a metal shield arranged around the built-in antenna for resonant coupling with the antenna to lower electromagnetic interference and to improves hearing aids compatibility characteristic. When compared with a reference antenna without metal shield, the multi-band HAC compatible antenna module shows 3 dB˜4 dB HAC improvement in GSM850 and GSM900, and 1 dB HAC improvement in DCS and PCS bands.
US08115675B2
An integrated global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver may be operable to decompose GNSS IF signals associated with GPS satellites and/or GLONASS satellites into a constituent narrowband GPS data stream and/or a plurality of constituent narrowband GLONASS data streams utilizing, for example, a GPS IF tuner and/or one or more GLONASS IF tuners. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be processed at reduced sampling rates utilizing a shared sample memory in the integrated GNSS receiver. The narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the narrowband GPS data stream may be stored in allocated sections of the shared sample memory. The stored narrowband GLONASS data streams and/or the stored narrowband GPS data stream may be processed using a correlation such as a fast Fourier transform (FFT) correlation.
US08115663B2
In an embodiment, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes inputs for receiving first and second signals encoded as a digital signal pair including overlapping low value portions that are substantially equal in duration to overlapping high value portions, within a frame. The DAC further includes an output terminal for providing an analog signal and includes first and second switches responsive to the first and second signals alter a level of the analog signal based on values of the first and second signals to provide a mismatch-immune DAC functionality. In one instance, the switches couple current sources to a common node. In another instance, the switches configure a resistive network to alter a resistance at an input to an amplifier.
US08115653B2
In a method and a corresponding device for outputting parking instructions to a driver of a vehicle, the parking process is divided into a multiplicity of sections each having a constant specified steering angle, and there being situated between each two sections a stopping point that is to be approached after a corresponding stop instruction within a stopping path. A respective tolerance band is defined for the stopping path and/or for the steering angle, a corresponding stop instruction, corresponding to a specified stopping path, and/or a corresponding specified steering angle being defined for each section, taking into account the respective tolerance band.
US08115650B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for selectively immobilizing equipment to ensure the safety of a proximate worker. The apparatus comprises an article of clothing wearable by the proximate worker, a sensor and a stopping means for stopping the movement of a portion of the equipment in response to the sensing. The article of clothing has a RFID tag having an antenna distributed about the article so as to substantially surround a worker wearing the article of clothing. The sensor senses the proximity of the RFID tag to a portion of the equipment. The method comprises sensing the proximity of the RFID tag to a portion of the equipment and stopping the movement of a portion of the equipment in response to the sensing.
US08115644B1
an apparatus comprising a sensor system and a controller. The sensor system may be configured to provide information about an angle of a ski rope relative to a ski pylon. The controller may be configured to provide (i) a first indication if the sensor indicates the ski rope reaches a target angle within a target time and (ii) a second indication if the sensor does not indicate the ski rope reaches the target angle be within the target time.
US08115638B2
An RFID thread which is mounted on a sheet and whose predetermined information can be read wirelessly from outside, the RFID thread includes: an IC chip recording the predetermined information; a first antenna consisting of an electrically continuous conductor which has a length corresponding to a size of the sheet and on which one or a plurality of the IC chips are mounted; and a base film made of resin for supporting the first antenna.
US08115628B2
The system employs full transceivers, each having peer-to-peer, client/server, and IP networking capabilities, and covering open-area ranges of up to 100 feet. The system uses Low Frequency for data communications so it can achieve both low cost (less costly than many RF-ID tags) and long battery life (10-15 years). Additionally, since these tags have batteries, static RAM maybe be added at very low cost, as well as sensors, LED's displays etc. The system also employs a sidewinder that communicates to said tag regularly, said sidewinder keeps the IP address of said tag. The system also employs an embedded VPN. The VPN includes a suite of diagnostic tools that run on a laptop. The system also includes a visibility data server that communicates to the sidewinder by the VPN. The data server includes a virtual tag data base, said virtual tag data base updated by the sidewinder.
US08115622B2
An underground radio communications and personnel tracking system uses a portable communications device worn by a miner when underground in a mine. A cap-lamp transceiver provides voice and text communication on ultra-low frequency (ULF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) carrier frequencies and modulation adapted by programming of a software defined radio to making selective and agile radio contacts via through-the-earth, conductor/lifeline, coal seam, tunnel, and ionosphere/earth-surface waveguides for transmission of electromagnetic waves. These waveguides comprise layered earth coal and mineral deposits, and manmade mining complex infrastructures which serendipitously form efficient waveguides. Ultra-Low Frequency F1/F1 repeaters are placed underground in the mine, and providing for extended range of communication of the cap-lamp transceiver with radios and tracking devices above ground of the mine.
US08115620B2
Arrangement and method for monitoring inanimate objects in an interior thereof includes a sensor system arranged to obtain data about the object by applying micropower impulse radar (MIR) transmissions into the interior of the asset, i.e., container volume monitoring using MIR, a location determining system arranged on the asset to monitor the location of the asset, and a communication system arranged on the asset and coupled to the sensor system and the location determining system. The communication system transmits the data about each object obtained by the sensor system and the location of the asset provided by the location determining system to one or more remote facilities, these remote facilities being those interested in the information about the objects in the asset being monitored.
US08115613B2
A method of operating a tire pressure monitoring system on a vehicle comprising tracking number of burst transmissions sent by a sensor, building a pareto of potential sensor identifications based on the greatest number of burst transmissions received from the sensor associating a potential sensor identification to a respective tire location on the vehicle and storing the associated sensor identification in memory. A tire pressure monitoring system comprising a plurality of tires in respective locations, each of the plurality of tires having a sensor, at least one sensor capable of burst mode transmission, and an auto learn function in a controller coupled to the sensors in the plurality of tires, the controller receiving and counting burst transmissions from the sensor for a predetermined time, the controller creating a pareto of received sensor identifications, filtering the pareto of potential sensor identifications and assigning the potential sensor identifications to a respective tire in the plurality of tires.
US08115612B2
A display device for a vehicle that display an amount of a particulate matter collected in a filter device for exhaust gas purification. A vehicle 1 includes distance storage apparatus 46 for storing a travel distance, a filter device 5 for exhaust gas purification for trapping a particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas, and collected amount detection apparatus 25 for finding an amount of the particulate matter collected in the filter device 5 for exhaust gas purification. A display control unit 42 normally acquires a travel distance from the distance storage apparatus 46 and displays the travel distance as a numerical value on a segment display unit 41, and when instructed to display a collected amount of the particulate matter, the display control unit 42 acquires a collected amount from the collected amount detection apparatus 25 and lights up the number of segment groups 61 corresponding to the collected amount, thereby displaying the collected amount.
US08115611B2
An object detecting device scans an image captured by a camera from one side close to the vehicle to the other side remote from the vehicle for detection of an obstacle through pattern matching, so that an obstacle that is close to the vehicle and is likely to collide with the vehicle can be detected in a short time. Thus, the driver is informed of the presence of an obstacle having a high risk of collision, earlier than other obstacles located ahead of the vehicle.
US08115608B2
System for providing a hazardous materials hazardous material alert. The system includes a method for transmitting a hazardous material alert for use with a vehicle that is transporting hazardous material. The method comprises steps of detecting a hazard event, and transmitting the hazardous material alert in response to the hazard event, wherein the hazardous material alert includes information relating to the hazardous material.
US08115604B2
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.
US08115597B1
The present disclosure provides a power rectifier for a Radio Frequency Identification tag circuit. The rectifier is constructed from a pair of complementary MOS transistors. Gates of the transistors have predetermined voltages applied to them. The applied voltages bias the transistors to near their active operating region. During the same time additional control signals are applied to the gates of the transistors, the control signals are synchronous, but out of phase, with each other.
US08115580B2
A magnetic field adjusting device includes a pair of opposing pole plates mounted on respective magnetic field generating sources, forming a magnetic field space; a plurality of shimming plugs movably mounted at the periphery of the pole plates, with each shimming plug being mounted in a radially oriented retaining groove, so as to be moveable in the direction of the retaining groove. Additionally, or alternatively, the circumferences of the magnetic field generating sources are arranged with adjusting bars which can move perpendicular to the pole plates.
US08115578B2
An electromechanical relay includes a case and a relay module, in which the case has terminals to enable a connection into the circuit to be protected and connectors which cooperate with complementary connectors on the relay module to enable the relay to readily be connected to the external circuit. The relay also has an arrangement in which the fixed contacts are directly associated with the connectors on the module and the movable contacts are associated therewith, and can be provided as either normally open or normally closed contacts.
US08115563B2
The frequency characteristic of a voltage-feedback class-D amplifier circuit for driving an output load is improved. A triangular-wave correction circuit which compensates a gradient of a triangular wave is provided to a triangular-wave signal generator which supplies a triangular wave signal used as a PWM carrier to a comparison circuit for performing PWM modulation of an input signal. In an area where a duty of a command value for an output circuit drive becomes about 50%, a slew rate (gradient) of the triangular wave is decreased.
US08115555B2
Systems and methods are provided for a transformer or balun function with reference enhancement. The systems and methods may include a transformer having at least a primary winding and a secondary winding for reference enhancement, where the primary winding includes a center tap, where the secondary winding includes a first port and a second port, and an electrical connection that electrically connects the second port and the center tap of the primary winding to provide a common reference for the primary winding and the secondary winding. The primary winding of the transformer may be configured to receive differential outputs of a power amplifier, and the transformer may be configured to convert the differential outputs from a balanced signal to an unbalanced signal available at the first port of the secondary winding.
US08115550B2
A transmitter for supplying a large current upon phase change of an output voltage is disclosed. The transmitter includes a first amplifying unit including a first amplifier including first NMOS and PMOS transistors connected by a common source thereof, and a second amplifier including a second PMOS and NMOS transistors connected by a common drain thereof while being connected with the first amplifier in parallel, a second amplifying unit including a third amplifier including third NMOS and PMOS transistors connected by a common source thereof, and a fourth amplifier including fourth PMOS and NMOS transistors connected by a common drain thereof while being connected with the third amplifier in parallel, and differential output nodes including a positive node connected to an output stage of the first amplifying unit, to which the common source of the first amplifier and the common drain of the second amplifier are connected, and a negative node connected to an output stage of the second amplifying unit, to which the common source of the third amplifier and the common drain of the fourth amplifier are connected.
US08115549B2
A feedback resistor is connected between an input terminal and an output terminal of an operational amplifier. A negative resistor is connected between an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.
US08115545B2
Some embodiments regard a circuit comprising: a high voltage transistor providing a resistance; an amplifier configured to receive a current and to convert the current to a first voltage that is used in a loop creating the current; and an automatic level control circuit that, based on an AC amplitude of the first voltage, adjusts a second voltage at a gate of the high voltage transistor and thereby adjusts the resistance and the first voltage; wherein the automatic level control circuit is configured to adjust the first voltage toward the first reference voltage if the first voltage differs from a first reference voltage.
US08115542B2
A class-D amplifier includes a ramp generator to provide a ramp signal having a frequency varying with an audio input signal, and a modulator to convert the audio input signal to a pulse width modulation signal according to the ramp signal for a driver to drive a load device. The varying frequency of the ramp signal will cause the frequency of the pulse width modulation signal unfixed and consequently improves EMI issue.
US08115535B2
A leakage current suppressing circuit includes a bias generating unit and a switch unit. The bias generating unit is adapted to be coupled to a power source and an output terminal, and generates a bias voltage substantially equal to a voltage at the power source when the power source is turned on, and substantially equal to a voltage at the output terminal when the power source is turned off. The switch unit includes a first P-type transistor having a first terminal adapted to be coupled to the power source, a second terminal adapted to be coupled to the output terminal, a gate terminal, and a body terminal coupled to the bias generating unit for receiving the bias voltage therefrom.
US08115533B2
A voltage level shifter and a semiconductor device having the same are presented. The voltage level shifter includes a swing width transformer and a power supply controller. The swing width transformer receives an input signal that ranges between a first level power voltage and a ground voltage and is configured to generate a signal that ranges between a second level power voltage and that of the ground voltage. The power supply controller is configured to control power supply to the swing width transformer in response to an enable signal activated in an active mode.
US08115529B2
A frequency divider section generates a frequency-divided clock RSELO by dividing the frequency of an internal clock LCLK, which lags behind an external clock in phase, and generates a delayed frequency-divided clock RSELI by delaying the frequency-divided clock RSELO. A signal input from the outside in synchronization with an internal clock PCLK which lags behind the external clock in phase is held in a latch circuit in synchronization with the delayed frequency-divided clock RSELI. Then, an output signal of the latch circuit is read into a latch circuit in synchronization with the frequency-divided clock RSELO and is output as a signal which is synchronized with the internal clock LCLK. In addition, a frequency divider section includes a variable divider which divides the frequency of the internal clock LCLK by a predetermined divide ratio which can be changed.
US08115526B2
Disclosed is a PLL oscillator circuit capable of examining an unlock state while being equipped with an auto retry function enabling automatic relock. In the PLL oscillator circuit, a MPU receives a lock detection signal from the PLL-IC that receives an external reference signal and an output signal from a VCXO and outputs a control voltage to the VCXO, sets data for unlock alarm test at the PLL-IC, the data turning a lock state into an unlock state, when determining an unlock state with the lock detection signal from the PLL-IC, outputs an unlock alarm output signal to the outside, determines whether the unlock state continues for a first time period, and when the unlock state continues for the first time period, executes retry to set data for relock at the PLL-IC.
US08115519B2
A phase accumulator generates phase data for a direct digital synthesis (DDS) device based on a reference phase to provide analog sinusoidal outputs that are locked to the reference phase and thus phase coherent. The frequency of a sinusoidal DDS output may be controlled by changing a frequency control word (FCW) provided to the phase accumulator without affecting the incrementing reference phase. The sinusoidal DDS output is based on a multiple of the FCW and the reference phase and thus remains locked to the reference phase, providing phase coherency even when the FCW changes to change the frequency.
US08115515B2
A radiation hardened differential output buffer is partitioned into multiple stages, each including at least one current source and a bridge circuit. Each stage receives substantially the same inputs at substantially the same time, and provides substantially the same output. The outputs of each stage are connected together. As a result, if one of the stages is disrupted by SEE, the disrupted stage does not contribute enough current to the output of the differential output buffer to disrupt the output signal.
US08115514B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a latch having a first output node and a second output node complementary to each other. A first pre-charge transistor has a source-drain path coupled between a positive power supply node and the first output node. A second pre-charge transistor has a source-drain path coupled between the positive power supply node and the second output node. The integrated circuit structure further includes a delay-inverter coupled between a signal input node and inputs of a first NMOS transistor and a second NMOS transistor in the latch. The delay-inverter is configured to allow one of the first pre-charge transistor and the second pre-charge transistor to pre-charge a respective one of the first output node and the second output node before an input signal at the signal input node arrives at a gate of a respective one of the first NMOS transistor and the second NMOS transistor.
US08115507B2
Disclosed is a test circuit including a first transfer circuit, a second transfer circuit and comparators and performing parallel testing of a plurality of chips under test. The first transfer circuit includes flip-flops. A data pattern from a tester is supplied to the initial stage chip under test. To the remaining chips under test, output data from the corresponding stages of the first transfer circuit are supplied. The second transfer circuit sequentially transfers an output of the initial stage chip under test, as an expected value pattern, in response to clock cycles. The comparator compares output data of the chip under test with an expected value pattern from the corresponding stage of the second transfer circuit.
US08115500B2
Test structures and methods for measuring contact and via parasitic capacitance in an integrated circuit are provided. The accuracy of contact and via capacitance measurements are improved by eliminating not-to-be-measured capacitance from the measurement results. The capacitance is measured on a target test structure that has to-be-measured contact or via capacitance. Measurements are then repeated on a substantially similar reference test structure that is free of to-be-measured contact or via capacitances. By using the capacitance measurements of the two test structures, the to-be-measured contact and via capacitance can be calculated.
US08115483B2
In a method and device for field quality testing of a magnetic resonance antenna arrangement of a magnetic resonance system composed of multiple antenna elements, a test signal is fed into the respective antenna elements by a transmission antenna and the test signal, or a noise signal that occurs with no signal fed to the respective antenna elements, is determined at a receiver unit for each of at least some of the individual antenna elements. The noise received noise signals and/or test signals are analyzed with regard to specific characteristic data and a quality state of the magnetic resonance antenna arrangement is determined based thereon.
US08115478B2
A device for measuring a concentration of magnetic material has exciting coils 11a and an output coil 11b which generates exciting voltage when alternating current flows through the exciting coils 11a. Measurement means 6 is provided to measure variation in phase difference between voltages of the exciting and output coils 11a and 11b, so that a concentration of magnetic material is measured with high accuracy from variation in phase difference when a test object is caused to approach the exciting coil 11a or/and the output coil 11b. A minute concentration of magnetic material in the fluid is continuously measured.
US08115461B2
A power supply circuit with low noise and low power consumption and a battery device using the power supply circuit. If a voltage VDD is higher than a prescribed voltage, a charge pump circuit 140A is operated in “½ mode” (a step-down ratio of “2”), steps down the voltage VDD, and outputs an intermediate voltage VCPO. Since the voltage VDD is stepped down, the intermediate voltage VCPO being input into a first LDO 135 is about half the case where no step-down is carried out, and the power being consumed in a MOS transistor Q11 (FIG. 3) of the first LDO 135 is greatly reduced. Therefore, the increase in power consumption of the first LDO 135 due to a voltage increase in the voltage VDD can be suppressed. Also, since the heat sink of the first LDO 135 can be reduced in size or omitted by the suppression of power consumption, the size and weight of the device can be reduced.
US08115456B2
A circuit is disclosed for a power supply unit for generating a DC voltage, the power supply unit having a current transformer, a rectifier, a series circuit including a first blocking diode and a charging capacitor, an electronic switch which is in parallel with the current transformer, a comparator, a voltage reference circuit for the comparator. In at least one embodiment, the circuit includes a circuit for monitoring the voltage across the charging capacitor. The comparator is used to control the electronic switch on the basis of the voltage across the charging capacitor in relation to the voltage which is generated by the voltage reference circuit and is applied to the comparator. In at least one embodiment, provision is made of a tap which is located between the rectifier and the first blocking diode and at which the circuit for monitoring the voltage across the charging capacitor is located. The circuit is in the form of an RC combination having a second blocking diode connected in series.
US08115441B2
A controller continually updates rotor time constant estimation of an induction machine by interrogating the induction machine with a small signal oscillation and monitoring the response. The small signal oscillation is injected onto the d-axis current command signal, and is generated at a frequency that represents the most recent estimate of the rotor time constant (i.e., rotor time constant equal the inverse of the frequency). The controller monitors rotor flux generated in response to the small signal oscillation, and updates the most recent estimate of the rotor time constant based on the monitored rotor flux. This process is repeated continuously to allow for the continuous updating of the rotor time constant.
US08115440B2
A machine part, such as a laser, is moved along at least one axis of movement relative to a workpiece. Position pulses are generated by means of an incremental encoder, with the number of position pulses in a position pulse train being representative of the movement position of the machine part. A trigger signal for the machine part is generated when the current number of position pulses corresponds to a predefined number of pulses. In a preferred embodiment, the current number of position pulses and the defined number of pulses are compared remote from a higher-level drive control circuit. It is particularly preferred if the current number of position pulses and the defined number of pulses are compared in a comparator which is arranged on an interface card of a computer unit, with the drive control circuit for controlling the movement of the machine part being implemented with a closed loop controller in the form of a controller program, which is cyclically executed by a central processor of the computer unit.
US08115438B2
An aperture closure member control arrangement includes a disc which rotates as the aperture closure member moves. The disc has a ring of teeth. A sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor and permanent magnet, detect the passage of teeth as a cyclic waveform of amplitude and frequency determined by the spacing of the teeth, and the speed of rotation of the disc. An irregularity in the form of a missing tooth creates an irregularity in the output of the sensor, in the form of a pulse of greater amplitude and lower frequency. Accordingly, pulses from the irregularity can be discriminated and counted to provide a coarse indication of position, or pulses from the teeth can be counted, to provide a fine indication.
US08115422B2
Provided is an LED drive circuit capable of using a switching regulator IC having low breakdown voltage even when a power supply voltage is high. The LED drive circuit includes a voltage clamp circuit for clamping the power supply voltage to an operating voltage of the switching regulator IC, converts an output voltage of a current detecting circuit for detecting a current flowing through an LED into the operating voltage of the switching regulator IC, and outputs the operating voltage.
US08115421B2
A burst dimming signal to determine a ratio between an ON period and an OFF period is inputted. In the OFF period of the burst dimming signal, a lamp current Ila is stopped from flowing to a discharge lamp FL, while a lamp voltage Vla is applied to both ends of the discharge lamp FL, and preheating currents If1 and If2 are supplied to hot cathodes of the discharge lamp FL. In the ON period of the burst dimming signal, the discharge lamp FL is electrically broken down and is supplied with the lamp current Ila.
US08115417B2
Disclosed herein are embodiments of color management systems and methods for LED backlights. One exemplary system comprises: a collection device adapted to collect optical signals of the LED array, transform the optical signals into electric signals and send the electric signals; a control device connected with the collection device adapted to process the electric signals, compare processing results with calibration values and output brightness control signals according to comparison results; and a driver device connected with the control device adapted to adjust brightness of the LED array according to the brightness control signals. Embodiments of the disclosed technology can be used to effectively adjust the brightness of LED backlights and/or keep the color coordinate values of the backlights constant in order to help ensure display quality.
US08115413B2
The present invention provides a module for controlling an LED current for selective feedback, an apparatus and a method for driving LEDs using the same. The module for controlling the LED current, which is connected to a plurality of LED channels receiving driving powers supplied from at least one DC/DC converter and controls currents of the LED channels through a constant current, the LED current controlling module includes: an operation mode selector for selecting an operation mode according to an inputted enable signal level; a channel divider for dividing a plurality of LED channels into at least one group according to the selected operation mode; and a minimum voltage selector for selecting an LED channel with a minimum voltage, obtained by comparing voltages detected from each of lower ends of the LED channels included in each of one or more divided groups.
US08115400B2
Backlight module is disclosed. The backlight module includes a first lamp, a first voltage source, a second lamp, a second voltage source, a first external electrode, and a second external electrode. Both the first and the second voltage sources have a first terminal and a second terminal. The first voltage source is used to output a first voltage signal and electrically couples to the first terminal of the first lamp. The second voltage source is used to output a second voltage signal and electrically couples to the first terminal of the second lamp. Both the first external electrode and the second external electrode have a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the first external electrode electrically couples to the second voltage source and the first terminal of the second external electrode electrically couples to the first voltage source, wherein the first voltage signal and the second voltage signal are inverted.
US08115398B2
The invention relates to copying light conditions from one location and pasting into or providing similar light conditions to another location in a lighting system. A light detector (20) is provided which comprises a first sensor (50) configured to receive a first light directly from a first light source (14) and measure first light attributes of the first light, and a second sensor (52) configured to receive the first light influenced by reflections from surfaces (24) and measure second light attributes of the first light. Processing means (16) are adapted to process perceivable light attributes at the first location (22, 24) from the first light attributes and the second light attributes, and in conjunction with the specification of the second light source (15) to control the second light source (15) to provide the second light having light attributes at the second location (23, 25) that substantially match the perceivable light attributes at the first location (22, 24), whereby the illumination at the first location (22, 24) may be copied and pasted to the second location (23, 25).
US08115395B2
A self-dusting lamp device includes a housing, a heat-dissipating module, a lighting element and a controlling unit. The housing has an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion on the outer periphery thereof. The heat-dissipating module has a heat-dissipating fan mounted in the housing. The lighting element is coupled to the heat-dissipating module for illumination. The controlling unit has a driving circuit electrically connected to the heat-dissipating fan and a direction controlling circuit electrically connected to the driving circuit. The direction controlling circuit controls the heat-dissipating fan to rotate in a normal direction for dissipating heat or to rotate in a dusting direction for dusting down the housing through the driving circuit.
US08115390B2
A high-pressure discharge lamp may include a ceramic discharge vessel and a longitudinal axis, with electrodes respectively being led out from the discharge vessel by means of a feed-through via capillaries, wherein a tubular cermet part, which consists of individual layers of different composition layered axially in succession, is fitted on the capillary, each layer containing Mo and Al2O3, the proportion of Mo in the first layer facing toward the capillary being from 3 to 15 vol. % and in the last layer being from 85 to 97 vol. %, and a molybdenum cover cap, the cover cap being welded to the feed-through and the cover cap being connected to the cermet part by means of solder containing metal, and the connection between the capillary and the cermet part being established by means of high-melting glass solder or sinter-active Al2O3 powder.
US08115381B2
This invention provides a top-emission active matrix electroluminescent device including a substrate and a plurality of pixel areas formed within a display area of the substrate. Each of the pixel areas includes at least one sub-pixel area comprising at least, from top to bottom: a first conductive electrode layer, an electroluminescent layer, a second conductive electrode layer, a first reflective layer region, and a second reflective layer region. The first reflective layer region and second reflective layer region overlap each other in part. Some of the light rays emitted from the electroluminescent layer are reflected by the first reflective layer region and second reflective layer region, respectively, and are then directed upwards. The reflected light rays compensate the top-emitting light rays also emitted from the electroluminescent layer, reducing color shifts at different viewing angles due to the micro-cavity effect.
US08115377B2
A translucent material substrate is shaped such that high luminous efficiency can be obtained in an organic EL light source in which light is emitted from a translucent material substrate to the atmosphere. The organic EL light source includes a luminescent layer composed of an organic luminescent element, a transparent electrode and a counter electrode, and a translucent material substrate. The translucent material substrate has a truncated quadrangular pyramidal shape having a surface in abutment with the luminescent layer as the bottom face of the shape. The bottom face is formed in the shape of a square in which the length of one side is “b”, and the top face opposite the bottom face is formed in the shape of a square in which the length of one side with respect to the same extending direction as that of the “b”-length side is “a”. In addition, the shape of the translucent material substrate has thickness “c”. The translucent material substrate is shaped so that a ratio (a/b) of length a of a side of the top face to length b of a side of the bottom face in the same extending direction as that of the side is 0.3 or higher but not higher than 0.95, and that a ratio (b/c) of length b of a side of the bottom face to the thickness c of the translucent material substrate is 10 or lower.
US08115372B2
A spark plug for an internal combustion engine, includes: a cylindrical insulating body; a center electrode; a cylindrical metal shell; and a ground electrode, as defined herein, wherein the noble metal tip is bonded to the ground electrode via a molten bond, and when viewed in a cross-section including a center axis of the noble metal tip along a longitudinal direction of the ground electrode, a sum of a cross-sectional area of a base-end-side molten bond (A) positioned at a base end side of the ground electrode and a cross-sectional area of a front-end-side molten bond (B) positioned at a front end side of the ground electrode is equal to or greater than 4 mm2, and the cross-sectional area of the front-end-side molten bond (B) is 1.1 to 1.3 times greater than that of the base-end-side molten bond (A).
US08115367B2
By resistor attached by a piezoelectric element, measurement with high accuracy is possible by strain of the piezoelectric element. A piezoelectric actuator includes the piezoelectric element which is formed into an arbitrary shape, polarized in an arbitrary direction, and includes electrodes provided on at least two surfaces opposed in a thickness direction thereof. The piezoelectric actuator also includes a driver power supply for applying a voltage between the electrodes to generate strain in the piezoelectric element, a driver power supply for applying a voltage to generate strain in the piezoelectric element, resistors provided on the electrodes through intermediation of insulators, and a displacement detection device connected with the resistors. The electrodes of the piezoelectric element on which the resistors are provided are set at a ground potential.
US08115365B2
A surface acoustic wave device has a supporting substrate, a propagation substrate made of a piezoelectric single crystal, an organic adhesive layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 μm and bonding the supporting substrate and the propagation substrate, and a surface acoustic wave filter provided on the propagation substrate.
US08115363B2
A commutator 10 comprises an electrically non-conductive base 12; and a plurality of electrically conducting segments 16 supported by the base 12. Each segment 16 comprising a first electrically conductive inner layer 18 provided on the base 12, and a second electrically conductive outer layer 20 fixed to the inner layer 18. The inner and outer layers 18, 20 have opposing surfaces 21, 22 which abut each other, once the commutator is assembled. An opening, preferably being a recess 30, for receiving flux and/or air during the fixing of the outer layer to the inner layer is provided in at least one of the opposing surfaces 21, 22. There is also provided a DC electric motor which includes such a commutator 10.
US08115362B2
An alternator can reduce the size of welding equipment and shorten the time of welding operation while ensuring high performance and high quality with the generation of electromagnetic noise being suppressed. The alternator includes a rotor having N poles and S poles alternately formed along a circumferential direction thereof, a stator core arranged so as to surround the rotor and having a plurality of axially extending slots formed at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction thereof, and a stator having a stator winding fitted into the slots. The stator core is formed by deforming by bending a hexahedral element iron core composed of iron core blocks with their adjacent ends being in abutment with each other and fusion bonded by welding. The weld portions of the blocks have a depth fusion extending at least up to a tensile region where a tensile stress of the stator core is generated.
US08115359B2
A modular life extension kit is configured to extend a useful life of a support frame for a wind turbine generator. The support frame includes a support member coupled to a support cross-member. The support member has a first length, and the support cross-member has a second length. The modular life extension kit includes a plurality of plates configured to be coupled to the support frame. At least a first plate of the plurality of plates has a first side configured to be coupled to the support member and a second side configured to be coupled to the support cross-member. The first side extends at least five percent of the first length and the second side extends at least five percent of the second length.
US08115357B2
A motor is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the motor includes a rotational axis, a rotating body, which rotates together with the rotational axis as one unit, a hub having a ring-shaped body and a protruding part, in which the ring-shaped body is interposed between the rotational axis and the rotating body and the protruding part is protruded from the ring-shaped body towards the rotational axis and is in contact with the rotating body so as to extend an outer circumferential surface of the ring-shaped body coupled to the rotating body, and a housing, which supports and rotates the rotational axis, in which the housing having a supporting part is interposed between the rotational axis and the protruding part of the hub and supports the rotational axis. Thus, the rotor can be safely supported, providing the rotational stability of the rotor.
US08115347B2
The production effort for electrical machines with pole teeth which are fitted with permanent magnets is intended to be reduced. A permanent magnet is inserted between two pole teeth halves (1, 2) for this purpose. The two halves (1, 2) are connected to one another with an interlock by means of a plastic sheath (4). The plastic sheath (4) results in a dimensionally stable pocket (3), in which the permanent magnet can subsequently be inserted. It is therefore possible to insert the permanent magnet as late as possible during the manufacturing process, thus reducing the overall production effort.
US08115337B2
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an input circuit, a startup circuit, and a current limiter. The input circuit is coupled to a first source and is adapted to provide a first voltage and a first current to a load having a capacitance. The startup circuit is coupled to the input circuit and to the first source, and the startup circuit includes a current source and a startup capacitor coupled in series with one another. The current limiter has a cascode circuit and a discharge circuit. The cascode circuit has a bias transistor and a power transistor coupled in series with one another to provide a second voltage and a second current to the load, where the bias transistor is coupled to a second source and where the bias transistor generally operates as source follower during startup. The discharge circuit is coupled to a node between the bias transistor and the power transistor of the cascode circuit and coupled to a node between the startup current source.
US08115336B1
A power saving circuit (PSC) may include a first circuit and a second circuit electrically coupled in series in a power sharing configuration. The PSC may further include a regulator that is electrically coupled to a first node between the first and second circuits. The regulator can supply current to the first node when the first circuit requires less current or the second circuit requires more current, and the regulator can remove current from the first node when the first circuit requires more current or the second circuit requires less current.
US08115335B2
An automatic sensing power system automatically determines a power requirement for an electrical device, converts power to the required level, and outputs the power to the electrical device when the electrical device is connected to the automatic sensing power system.
US08115334B2
A system and method for operating power take-off (PTO) systems aboard hybrid and electric systems and vehicles is disclosed. The PTO system includes an energy storage device configured to supply electrical power and at least one electrical drive system electrically connected to the energy storage device to receive the electrical power, with each of the at least one electrical drive systems configured to convert the electrical power to a desired mechanical power. The PTO system also includes at least one PTO shaft mechanically connected to each of the at least one electrical drive systems that is driven by the mechanical power to generate a mechanical output, with the mechanical output of each of the at least one PTO shafts being independently controllable from the mechanical output of other PTO shafts.
US08115325B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of bonding pads formed along an edge of a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of I/O cells arranged along the edge under the plurality of bonding pads; an upper layer wire mesh including a plurality of upper layer wirings; and a core region formed on the semiconductor substrate. In the semiconductor integrated circuit, the core region has an area larger than an area occupied by the upper layer wire mesh in a plane parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08115324B2
A semiconductor module may include a circuit substrate with a first die on the circuit substrate and a second die on the first die. The first die may include at least one first data input/output pad on a first peripheral portion of the first die and at least one first control/address pad on a third peripheral portion, the third peripheral portion being separate from the first peripheral portion of the first die. The second die may include at least one second data input/output pad on a second peripheral portion and at least one second control/address pad on a fourth peripheral portion. The second peripheral portion of the second die is not overlapped with the first peripheral portion of the first die in plan view. The fourth peripheral portion of the second die overlaps at least a portion of the third peripheral portion of the first die.
US08115323B2
A semiconductor package and a method of manufacturing the package are provided. The semiconductor package comprises: a mounting substrate including a bond finger; at least one semiconductor chip disposed on the mounting substrate, the semiconductor chip including a bonding pad; a first molding member disposed on the mounting substrate so as to cover the bond finger and the bonding pad, the first molding member including an interconnection path disposed inside the first molding member so as to connect the bond finger to the bonding pad; a conductive element disposed in the interconnection path; and a second molding member overlying the first molding member. The interconnection path can be formed by a laser process. The conductive element can be formed by conductive nanoparticles or metal wires.
US08115320B2
A bond pad structure located over an active circuit structure is disclosed. The bond pad structure includes a bond pad, a passivation layer and a topmost metal layer in the active circuit structure. The passivation layer covers the bond pad and has an opening, and the opening exposes a part of the bond pad. The part of the topmost metal layer located under the opening serves as a supporting layer. The supporting layer has at least a slot, and the topmost metal layer is electrically connected to the bond pad through a plurality of via plugs.
US08115318B2
In a semiconductor device, an insulating interlayer having a groove is formed on an insulating underlayer. A silicon-diffused metal layer including no metal silicide is buried in the groove. A metal diffusion barrier layer is formed on the silicon-diffused metal layer and the insulating interlayer.
US08115317B2
To improve connection reliability of a through electrode in a semiconductor device, and prevent deterioration of electrical characteristics due to a residue generated from a pad at the time of forming the through electrode. A contact area between a pad and a conductor layer is equal to a diameter of a hole of an opening provided in a silicon substrate. Consequently, it is possible to increase the contact area as compared with a conventional configuration. This improves the connection reliability. Furthermore, a residue containing metal is attached to the outside of an insulation film in the manufacturing process. Consequently, the residue is prevented from contacting a silicon substrate body. Also, heavy metals, such as Cu, in the residue are prevented from being diffused into the silicon substrate body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the deterioration of electrical characteristics.
US08115311B2
A wiring structure includes a first insulation layer located on a substrate, and first and second plugs located on the substrate and extending through the first insulation layer. The first plug includes an upper peripheral portion that defines a recess and the second plug is adjacent to the first plug. A second insulation layer is located on the first insulation layer, the first plug and the second plug. A bit line structure is located on the second insulation layer and is electrically connected to the first plug. A protection spacer is located on the recess of the first plug and a sidewall of an opening in the second insulation layer. The opening exposes the recess of the first plug, the second plug and the sidewall of the bit line structure. A pad is located in the opening and contacts the second plug.
US08115308B2
A microelectronic assembly is disclosed that includes a semiconductor wafer with contacts, compliant bumps of dielectric material overlying the first surface of the semiconductor wafer, and a dielectric layer overlying the first surface of the semiconductor wafer and edges of the compliant bumps. The compliant bumps have planar top surfaces which are accessible through the dielectric layer. Conductive traces may be electrically connected with contacts and extend therefrom to overlie the planar top surfaces of the compliant bumps. Conductive elements may overlie the planar top surfaces in contact with the conductive traces.
US08115299B2
A semiconductor device and a lead frame capable of preventing development of defective mounting resulting from a burr and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with the lead frame are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip and a lead arranged on the periphery of the semiconductor chip to extend in a direction intersecting with the side surface of the semiconductor chip, so that at least an end portion on the side farther from the semiconductor chip is bonded to a mounting substrate. A groove opened on a surface bonded to the mounting substrate and an end face on the side farther from the semiconductor chip is formed in the lead over the full width in the width direction orthogonal to the thickness direction and along the end face. An embedded body made of solder is embedded in the groove.
US08115295B2
A miniaturized semiconductor device has a package substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on the main surface of the package substrate and having plural LNAs each for amplifying a signal, an RF VCO for converting the frequency of the signal supplied from each LNA, and an IF VCO for converting the frequency of a signal supplied from a baseband. A plurality of ball electrodes are provided on the back surface of the package substrate. The package substrate is provided with a first common GND wire for supplying a GND potential to each of the LNAs, with a second common GND wire for supplying the GND potential to the RF VCO, and with a third common GND wire for supplying the GND potential to the IF VCO. The first, second, and third common GND wires are separated from each other.
US08115284B2
A semiconductor device with its package size close to its chip size has a stress absorbing layer, allows a patterned flexible substrate to be omitted, and allows a plurality of components to be fabricated simultaneously. There is: a step of forming electrodes on a wafer; a step of providing a resin later as a stress relieving layer on the wafer, avoiding the electrodes; a step of forming a chromium layer as wiring from electrodes over the resin layer; and step of forming solder balls as external electrodes on the chromium layer over the resin layer; and a step of cutting the wafer into individual semiconductor chips; in the steps of forming the chromium layer and solder balls, metal thin film fabrication technology is used during the wafer process.
US08115281B2
A high-Q differential varactor includes reduced inner spacing dimensions between differential fingers.
US08115278B2
A semiconductor element formed over the same substrate as a TFT, includes a semiconductor film having an impurity region; an insulating film formed over the semiconductor film; an electrode divided into a plurality of parts over the insulating film by spacing a distance a in a first direction (channel width direction); an insulator with a width b formed to be in contact with a side wall of the electrodes and an insulator formed in a region between the electrodes divided into a plurality of parts; a silicide layer formed over part of the surface of the impurity region; and characteristics of the TFT are evaluated by measuring resistance of the semiconductor film of the semiconductor element.
US08115276B2
An integrated circuit system that includes: providing a substrate including front-end-of-line circuitry; forming a first metallization layer over the substrate and electrically connected to the substrate; forming a viabar or a via group over the first metallization layer; and forming a second metallization layer over the first metallization layer and electrically connected to the first metallization layer through either the viabar or the via group.
US08115272B2
An apparatus includes a semiconductor layer (2) having therein a cavity (4). A dielectric layer (3) is formed on the semiconductor layer. A plurality of etchant openings (24) extend through the dielectric layer for passage of etchant for etching the cavity. An SiO2 pillar (25) extends from a bottom of the cavity to engage and support a portion of the dielectric layer extending over the cavity. In one embodiment, a cap layer (34) on the dielectric layer covers the etchant openings.
US08115271B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; and forming a first and a second MOS device. The first MOS device includes a first active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a first gate over the first active region. The second MOS device includes a second active region in the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate over the second active region. The method further include forming a dielectric region between the first and the second active regions, wherein the dielectric region has an inherent stress; and implanting the dielectric region to form a stress-released region in the dielectric region, wherein source and drain regions of the first and the second MOS devices are not implanted during the step of implanting.
US08115267B2
A semiconductor device which comprises an SOI substrate having an insulating layer between a semiconductor substrate layer and a semiconductor layer in a surface of which a semiconductor element is formed, and at least one external terminal provided, via an insulating film, on a surface of the semiconductor substrate layer and electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The semiconductor device further comprises a contact portion constituted by a conductive film reaching through the insulating film to electrically connect to the semiconductor substrate layer; and a potential fixing electrode provided, via the insulating film, on the surface of the semiconductor substrate layer and connected to the contact portion.
US08115266B2
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a semiconductor substrate, a MEMS including a fixed electrode and a movable electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer, and a well formed in the semiconductor substrate below the fixed electrode. The well is one of an n-type well and a p-type well. The p-type well applies a positive voltage to the fixed electrode while the n-type well applies a negative voltage to the fixed electrode.
US08115260B2
This document discusses, among other things, an IC package including first and a second discrete components fabricated into a semiconductor substrate. The first and second discrete components can be adjacent to one another in the semiconductor substrate, and an integrated circuit die can be mounted on the semiconductor substrate and coupled to the first and second discrete components.
US08115257B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes an internal circuit, a CMOS composed of a P-channel MOS transistor with a source connected to a high-potential power supply line and a gate connected to the internal circuit, and an N-channel MOS transistor with a source connected to a low-potential power supply line and a gate connected to the internal circuit, an output terminal connected to a drain of the P-channel MOS transistor and a drain of the N-channel MOS transistor and a protection transistor with a source and a gate connected to one power supply line of the high-potential power supply line and the low-potential power supply line and a drain connected to the output terminal, a conductivity type of the protection transistor being the same as a conductivity type of one MOS transistor of the P-channel MOS transistor and the N-channel MOS transistor, the source of the one MOS transistor being connected to the one power supply line. Resistance of a current path extending from the output terminal through the one MOS transistor to the one power supply line has a value such that, when a voltage at which the protection transistor causes snapback is applied between the output terminal and the one power supply line, a current flowing through the current path is lower than a breakdown current of the one MOS transistor.
US08115256B2
A semiconductor device includes an inverter having an NMOSFET and a PMOSFET having sources, drains and gate electrodes respectively, the drains being connected to each other and the gate electrodes being connected to each other, and a pnp bipolar transistor including a collector (C), a base (B) and an emitter (E), the base (B) receiving an output of the inverter.
US08115251B2
A recessed gate FET device includes a substrate having an upper and lower portions, the lower portion having a reduced concentration of dopant material than the upper portion; a trench-type gate electrode defining a surrounding channel region and having a gate dielectric material layer lining and including a conductive material having a top surface recessed to reduce overlap capacitance with respect to the source and drain diffusion regions formed at an upper substrate surface at either side of the gate electrode. There is optionally formed halo implants at either side of and abutting the gate electrode, each halo implants extending below the source and drain diffusions into the channel region. Additionally, highly doped source and drain extension regions are formed that provide a low resistance path from the source and drain diffusion regions to the channel region. The recessed gate FET device suppresses short channel effects and exhibits improved threshold voltage (Vt) characteristics at corners of the trench bottom.
US08115246B2
A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor layer having a convex portion and a concave portion surrounding the convex portion. The semiconductor device may further include a protrusion type isolation layer filling the concave portion and extending upward so that an uppermost surface of the isolation layer is a at level higher that an uppermost surface of the convex portion.
US08115238B2
Provided is a memory device employing magnetic domain wall movement. The memory device includes a writing track and a column structure. The writing track forms magnetic domains that have predetermined magnetization directions. The column structure is formed on the writing track and includes at least one interconnecting layer and at least one storage track.
US08115228B2
Proposed is a lighting device (100), comprising LEDs (130) mounted on a transparent substrate (110), provided with a transparent electrically conductive layer (120) and a contact pad (140). The contact pad has a second part (142), extending away from a first part (141), for further reducing the current density in the conductive layer (120). This is advantageous for making the lighting device robust to large power dissipation, especially under high current testing conditions. Moreover, as the voltage drop over transparent conductive layer is reduced, the efficiency of the lighting device is increased.
US08115222B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a first metal layer placed on the p-type semiconductor layer on the substrate, and includes a first pattern width W1; a second metal layer on the first metal layer; a transparent electrode layer on the second metal layer and the p type semiconductor layer, and has an opening patterned with a second pattern width W2 on the second metal layer; an insulating film the transparent electrode layer and the second metal layer, and has an opening patterned with third pattern width W3 on the second metal layer; a reflective stacked film on the insulating film, and has an opening patterned with third pattern width W3 on the second metal layer; a third metal layer on the second metal layer of an opening patterned with the reflective stacked film and third pattern width W3; and a fourth metal layer on the third metal layer.
US08115212B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a transparent positive electrode for use in a face-up-type chip which can emit intense light even using a low drive voltage.The inventive positive electrode for a semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a transparent electrode formed on a semiconductor layer and a bonding pad electrode formed on the transparent electrode, wherein the bonding pad electrode has a reflecting layer that is in contact with at least the transparent electrode.
US08115199B2
An electroluminescent device comprising: a first charge carrier injecting layer for injecting positive charge carriers; a second charge carrier injecting layer for injecting negative charge carriers; and a light-emissive layer located between the charge carrier injecting layers and comprising a mixture of: a first component for accepting positive charge carriers from the first charge carrier injecting layer; a second component for accepting negative charge carriers from the second charge carrier injecting layer; and a third, organic light-emissive component for generating light as a result of combination of charge carriers from the first and second components; at least one of the first, second and third components forming a type II semiconductor interface with another of the first, second and third components.
US08115195B2
A multilayer semiconductor wafer has a substrate wafer having a first side and a second side; a fully or partially relaxed heteroepitaxial layer deposited on the first side of the substrate wafer; and a stress compensating layer deposited on the second side of the substrate wafer. The multilayer semiconductor wafer is produced by a method including depositing on a first side of a substrate a fully or partially relaxed heteroepitaxial layer at a deposition temperature; and at the same temperature or before significantly cooling the wafer from the deposition temperature, providing a stress compensating layer on a second side of the substrate.
US08115194B2
A semiconductor device including transistors and strain layers is provided. Each transistor includes a source region and a drain region on a substrate and a gate structure on a channel region between the source region and the drain region. Lengths of the channel regions of these transistors are the same, but at least one source or drain region has a width along a channel length direction and the width is different from widths of other source or drain regions. The strain layers include first and second strain layers embedded separately at two sides of each gate structure in the substrate. A first width of each first strain layer along the channel length direction is the same, and a second width of each second strain layer along the channel length direction is the same.
US08115193B2
A novel vertical resonator type light emitting diode of which has a simplified structure of the reflector layer of its light emitting side an which is resistant to declination of its emission output power towards a high temperature range, has an active layer 5, and a first reflector layer 3 at its light reflecting side and a second reflector layer 9 at its light emitting side which are formed to sandwich the active later 5 between them, wherein each of the first reflector layer 3 and the second reflector layer 9 is structured to comprise a plurality of pairs of two alternate semiconductor layers formed which are different from each other in refractive index, and the second reflector layer 9 has a number of such pairs which is not less than 1/10 and not more than ⅓ of that which said first reflector layer 3 has. The emission output power can be enhanced when the first reflector layer has a number of such pairs which is not less than 11 and not more than 41.
US08115191B2
A nanostructure comprising germanium, including wires of less than 1 micron in diameter and walls of less than 1 micron in width, in contact with the substrate and extending outward from the substrate is provided along with a method of preparation.
US08115190B2
An apparatus and a method of manufacturing the apparatus. The apparatus includes a main nanowire and branch nanowires emanating from the main nanowire. The main nanowire may have a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may have a first carrier concentration and the second portion may have a second carrier concentration, different to the first carrier concentration. Each branch nanowire may emanate from the first portion of the main nanowire. Each branch nanowire may emanate from the main nanowire at a substantially fixed distance along a length of the main nanowire.
US08115187B2
Vacuum microelectronic devices with carbon nanotube films, layers, ribbons and fabrics are provided. The present invention discloses microelectronic vacuum devices including triode structures that include three-terminals (an emitter, a grid and an anode), and also higher-order devices such as tetrodes and pentodes, all of which use carbon nanotubes to form various components of the devices. In certain embodiments, patterned portions of nanotube fabric may be used as grid/gate components, conductive traces, etc. Nanotube fabrics may be suspended or conformally disposed. In certain embodiments, methods for stiffening a nanotube fabric layer are used. Various methods for applying, selectively removing (e.g. etching), suspending, and stiffening vertically- and horizontally-disposed nanotube fabrics are disclosed, as are CMOS-compatible fabrication methods. In certain embodiments, nanotube fabric triodes provide high-speed, small-scale, low-power devices that can be employed in radiation-intensive applications.
US08115184B2
A gas field ion source that can simultaneously increase a conductance during rough vacuuming and reduce an extraction electrode aperture diameter from the viewpoint of the increase of ion current. The gas field ion source has a mechanism to change a conductance in vacuuming a gas molecule ionization chamber. That is, the conductance in vacuuming a gas molecule ionization chamber is changed in accordance with whether or not an ion beam is extracted from the gas molecule ionization chamber. By forming lids as parts of the members constituting the mechanism to change the conductance with a bimetal alloy, the conductance can be changed in accordance with the temperature of the gas molecule ionization chamber, for example the conductance is changed to a relatively small conductance at a relatively low temperature and to a relatively large conductance at a relatively high temperature.
US08115173B2
A phoswich device for determining depth of interaction (DOI) includes a wavelength shifting layer between first and second scintillators of different scintillation materials and having different decay time characteristics. The wavelength shifting layer allows a true phoswich device to be constructed where the emission wavelength of one scintillator is in the peak excitation band of the other scintillator, by shifting the scintillation light outside of this excitation band to prevent scintillation light of one scintillator from exciting a response in the other scintillator, thus enabling unique identification of the location of a gamma photon scintillation event. The phoswich device is particularly applicable to positron emission tomography (PET) applications.
US08115167B2
The content of the invention comprises a concept of multi-beam ion pre-selection from a single sample, coordinated mobility (against the gas flow) separation, cooling ions in supersonic gas flow and mass separation of thus low divergent ions by single or plural compact high-resolution orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometers both linear or reflectron type with controlled collision-induced dissociation (CID) and multi-channel data recording for the optimization of sample use in the analysis, and obtaining as much useful information about the sample as possible in a reasonably short time.
US08115165B2
A mass spectrometer and method for performing high resolution mass spectrometry are provided, the mass spectrometer comprising an electrostatic trap and mass analyzer. The electrostatic trap comprises entrance and exit ends, entrance and exit end ion mirrors, a central field-free region, and a longitudinal axis. The mass analyzer receives ions from the exit end. Ions are admitted into the electrostatic trap via the entrance end, trapping ions in the electrostatic trap, the ions oscillating between the entrance and exit end ion mirrors along the axis. The electrostatic trap waits for the ions to separate into bunches different m/z values via the oscillating, and then excites a given bunch of ions of a given m/z value along the axis until at least a portion of the given bunch overcomes a barrier field at the exit end ion mirror, exiting the electrostatic trap for analysis, leaving behind remaining ions.
US08115147B2
In one exemplary embodiment, the induction heating system includes an induction heating power source. The induction heating power source is operable to identify an induction heating device coupled to the induction heating power source. The exemplary induction heating power source is operable to automatically limit power based on the identity of the induction heating device.
US08115138B2
System(s) and method(s) that facilitates comprehensive identification and designation of welding procedures. A configuration component facilitates configuring the welding system with respect to pre-defined procedures and/or parameters and facilitates naming of the configured welding system. A storage component that stores the configured welding system in a readily accessible memory location. A remote access component can facilitate remotely accessing the welding system, the configuration of the welding system alterable by way of the remote access component.
US08115127B2
The present invention relates generally to a rotary handle. More particularly, the invention encompasses a deliberate action rotary handle. The invention further includes an extended drive-plate deliberate action rotary handle, such that to turn on a component, such as, a circuit breaker, requires a deliberate manual action by the user. If a deliberate action is not taken by a user but the handle is accidentally pushed then the handle does not engage with a drive shaft and the handle moves to an outer edge of a drive plate thus preventing the engagement of the handle with the other components to turn on the component.
US08115123B2
A configurable circuit breaker is disclosed which is, for example, applicable for medium voltage range, with flexibility in configuration, based on the electrical and mechanical constraints. The circuit breaker can include multiple poles, which can be fitted on a shaft at desired positions, using clamping, dowelling, bolting or other types of connections. An epoxy frame can mount the circuit breaker on a truck horizontally or vertically, by mounting inserts and the clamping mechanism. Side sheets of the pole allow internal access. Flexible contacts and the vertical slots enable adjustability in the incoming and outgoing distances, as per design constraints. A tulip contact can be provided for mounting incoming/outgoing conductors. A common actuator can be mounted anywhere on the shaft, via the movable contact or on any of the poles, which are robust enough.
US08115114B2
A method for manufacturing a ceramic substrate having a via hole(s) and a surface wiring pattern electrically connected to the via hole(s). The method includes: preparing a sintered ceramic substrate having a via hole(s); forming over the sintered ceramic substrate a sintered ceramic layer having a hole(s) or opening(s) whose bottom is configured to be at least a part of an exposed end surface of the via hole(s) by post-firing method; forming inside the hole(s) or opening(s) a conductive portion which electrically connects the surface of the sintered ceramic layer and the via hole(s); and forming over the surface of the sintered ceramic layer a surface wiring pattern electrically connected to the conductive portion.
US08115107B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for securely and cost effectively attaching one or more shielded cables to a planar substrate. A cable assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to a distal end of the one or more shielded cables. Perpendicular alignment of the distal cable ends promotes a dense array that is achieved using angular mounting brackets for coupling cable shields to electrical contacts on an engagement surface of the PCB. Mounting brackets are attached between the cable shield and shield contacts using electrically conductive attachment techniques including soldering and laser welding. The PCB also includes one or more signal contacts for each cable. Distal ends of the internal conductors are each bent about 90 degrees from the vertical cable axis to align with the horizontal engagement surface. Internal conductors are surface mounted to their respective signal contact using one or more of soldering and laser welding.
US08115105B2
A prepreg comprising composite woven cloth or non-woven cloth composed of glass fiber and polyolefin fiber that are a main part of the cloth and a thermosetting resin composition that gives a cured product having a low thermal expansion coefficient, wherein the thermal expansion coefficient of the cured resin composition at 50 to 100° C. is 50 ppm/° C. or less, is disclosed. A printed circuit board, multi layered circuit board, and electronic part are disclosed.
US08115101B2
Patient monitoring systems can include a cable for transmitting information from a patient parameter sensor to a monitor. The cable can include an electrical circuit that can store information regarding the cable and can communicate information to the monitor.
US08115092B2
An electronic piano includes a tone signal synthesizing system implemented by software, keys and key sensors monitoring the keys and reporting the key positions to the tone signal synthesizing system, and the tone signal synthesizing system includes damper model calculating modules for determining resistance against vibrations of wires of an a piano, a hammer model calculating module for determining force exerted on the wires, string model calculating modules for determining force exerted on an instrument body of the piano by the wires on the basis of the resistance and force exerted on the wires, an instrument body model calculating module for determining displacements of instrument body on the basis of the force exerted on the instrument body and an air model calculating module for determining a sound pressure at an observation point from the displacement of instrument body.
US08115089B2
Waveform data representative of singing voices of a singing music piece are analyzed to generate melody component data representative of variation over time in fundamental frequency component presumed to represent a melody in the singing voices. Then, through machine learning that uses score data representative of a musical score of the singing music piece and the melody component data, a melody component model, representative of a variation component presumed to represent the melody among the variation over time in fundamental frequency component, is generated for each combination of notes. Parameters defining the melody component models and note identifiers indicative of the combinations of notes whose variation over time in fundamental frequency component are represented by the melody component models are stored into a pitch curve generating database in association with each other.
US08115083B2
A wheat variety designated W980281J1, the plants and seeds of wheat variety W980281J1, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety W980281J1 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety W980281J1 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety W980281J1. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety W980281J1 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US08115080B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH997005. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH997005, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH997005 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH997005.
US08115068B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016119. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016119. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016119 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016119 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08115058B2
The present invention provides promoters from plants capable of driving gene expression in plant cells. The promoters vary in strength and in tissue specificity, and can be used to facilitate the development of transgenic plants in which tissue preferred expression, constitutive expression, and the strength of transgene expression is either more or less critical.
US08115050B2
A soaker pad for a cloth diaper comprising an outer layer, absorbent pad, inner layer, and side panels. The inner longitudinal edge of each side panel is folded inward to create a fold line and fold area. Elastics are located just inside the fold line to create an inner gusset. Elastics are situated parallel to the longitudinal edge of the outer layer to create an outer gusset. Neither the inner nor outer gusset is in contact with the inner layer. Each side panel is adhered to the outer layer in the margin along each longitudinal edge of the outer layer that is not in contact with the inner layer and along the outer margins of the inner layer. The fold area is adhered to the inner layer except at the middle portion of the fold area, thereby allowing the inner gusset to stand up and away from the inner layer.
US08115045B2
Methods for removing nuclear waste from a component are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of supplying oxalic acid to the nuclear waste on the component to form an oxalic acid/waste solution, feeding the oxalic acid/waste solution from the component, feeding an oxidant to the oxalic acid/waste solution to form carbon-dioxide, water and a precipitate, and separating the precipitate from the water. A system for removing nuclear waste is also provided.
US08115040B2
A composition of a superior lubricant or lubricant component having a very high VI, a low cloud point, a difference between the T90 and T10 boiling points of at least 250° F. by SIMDIST, and a very low Bromine Number.
US08115024B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a porous metal-organic framework material comprising the step reacting a reaction mixture in the liquid phase of at least one copper compound having at least one at least bidentate, organic compound which can bind by coordination to the copper in the presence of a nonaqueous solvent, the at least one at least bidentate, organic compound being derived from a polycarboxylic acid having at least three carboxyl groups, and the reaction proceeding at atmospheric pressure above 80° C.
US08115020B2
A method for utilizing an industrially convenient fructose source for a dehydration reaction converting a carbohydrate to a furan derivative is provided. Recovery methods also are provided. Embodiments of the methods improve upon the known methods of producing furan derivatives.
US08115019B2
Disclosed are cis-2,6-disubstituted tetrahydropyran derivatives represented by Chemical Formula 1 and a preparation method thereof. The tetrahydropyran derivatives can be prepared by Prins-reacting tetrahydropyran derivatives with homopargylicalcohol derivatives in the presence of trimethylsilyltriflate. The tetrahydropyran derivatives with cis-substituents at both C2 and C6 positions of the tetrahydropyran ring are useful as intermediates for use in the synthesis and development of therapeutically effective, naturally occurring compounds. (wherein, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the specification.).
US08115015B2
The present invention also provides the amorphous form of hemi-calcium salt of atorvastatin with high purity and processes for preparation thereof.
US08115006B2
To provide a process for producing a specific anthranilamide compound or its salt.To provide a process for producing an anthranilamide compound represented by the formula (I) or its salt: wherein each of R1a and R3 which are independent of each other, is halogen or haloalkyl; R2 is cyclopropyl alkyl or cyclobutyl alkyl; and Hal is a chlorine atom or a bromine atom, which comprises a step of selectively halogenating a compound represented by the formula (II): wherein R1a, R2 and R3 are as defined above.
US08114999B2
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, L, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US08114997B2
The present invention is directed to a method and composition of treating or preventing viral infections, in particular, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, in human patients or other animal hosts, comprising the administration of N.sup.4-acyl-2′,3′-dideoxy-5-fluorocytidine or N.sup.4-acyl-2′,3′-didehyd-ro-2′,3′-dideoxy-5-fluorocytidine, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, and other derivatives thereof.
US08114996B2
Method of synthesizing a compound of formula (I), wherein R1, R2 are, independently, chloro or fluoro, and wherein R3 is H, alkyl, aralkyl or is an alkylether or alkylthioether comprising the steps of firstly reducing a diazeny compound of formula (II) non-catalytically or with a catalytic amount of an homogenous organic, non-metal catalyst to the corresponding hydrazo compound of formula (III) and in a second step catalytically hydrogenating said hydrazo compound in with a heterogeneous Ni-catalyst to the compound of formula (I).
US08114990B2
A process is described for drying melamine wet cakes, comprising the steps of: a) providing a turbo-dryer (T) comprising a cylindrical tubular body (1) having a heating jacket (4), inlets and outlets (5, 6) and a bladed rotor (7) rotatably supported therein; b) feeding a continuous flow of a melamine wet cake into the turbo-dryer (T), the internal wall (9) of which is maintained at a temperature of at least 220° C.; c) feeding a continuous flow of a gas selected from air or nitrogen into the turbo-dryer (T); d) subjecting the flow of melamine wet cake to the mechanical action of the bladed rotor (7) rotating at a speed of at least 200 rpm, with consequent centrifugation of the wet cake against the heated wall (9), thus causing the instantaneous evaporation of the water contained into the cake, and transport of the latter towards the outlet (6); e) continuously discharging, after an average residence time of less than 1 minute, a flow of melamine crystals having a humidity content of less than 0.1%.
US08114984B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of an Aha gene (Aha1 gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of an Aha gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by Aha1 expression and the expression of an Aha gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting the expression of an Aha gene in a cell.
US08114981B2
The invention relates to an isolated RNA that mediates RNA interference of an mRNA to which it corresponds and a method of mediating RNA interference of mRNA of a gene in a cell or organism using the isolated RNA.
US08114974B2
Provided herein are genetically modified microorganisms that have enhanced fermentation activity, and methods for making and using such microorganisms.
US08114972B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising lectins is anti-tumorigenic and anti-viral, bacterial or protozoan. The composition, termed BiOmune is also useful for imaging, diagnosis and therapy of cancer.
US08114963B2
Fluorescent dye compounds of formula (I) are disclosed. These compounds are useful as they interact with organic compounds in a manner such that excitation with certain wavelengths of light results in fluorescent emission. Detection and/or monitoring of the fluorescence provides a means for the detection or quantification of organic compounds when bound to these fluorescent dye compounds. Formula (I), wherein: each of R, R′ and R″ is a hydrogen atom, halogen atom or a straight or branched C1-20 alkyl, alkenyl or alkynl group optionally substituted with one or more halogen, hydroxyl, and/or oxy group; rings A, B and C optionally include one or more double bonds; rings B and C are optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms.
US08114962B2
This invention is a novel method for detecting and localizing specific nucleic acid sequences in a sample with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The method and novel compositions used in the method involve the use of Probe Nucleic Acids, the production of nucleic acid binding regions and the use of nucleic acid Target Binding Assemblies to detect and localize specific Target Nucleic Acids. The detection and localization of the Target Nucleic Acid is accomplished even in the presence of nucleic acids which have similar sequences. The method provides for a high degree of amplification of the signal produced by each specific binding event. In particular, methods and compositions are presented for the detection of HIV and HPV nucleic acid in samples. These methods and compositions find use in diagnosis of disease, genetic monitoring, forensics, and analysis of nucleic acid mixtures. Some of the novel compositions used in the detection method are useful in preventing or treating pathogenic conditions.
US08114961B2
A human laminin receptor crystal is disclosed. Methods are disclosed for using various computer and non-computer means in order to develop models for use in the development of novel therapeutics that block and/or mimic laminin receptor interactions in the setting of, among others, Alzheimer's disease, other neurological disorders, cancer, and viral and bacterial infections.
US08114959B2
Method for increasing the shelf-life of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a glucagon-like peptide which is prepared from a peptide product that has been dried at a pH above neutral pH.
US08114946B2
The present invention provides a polymerization process which is conducted by contacting an olefin monomer and at least one olefin comonomer in the presence of hydrogen and a metallocene-based catalyst composition. Polymers produced from the polymerization process are also provided, and these polymers have a reverse comonomer distribution, low levels of long chain branches, and a ratio of Mw/Mn from about 3 to about 6.
US08114944B2
Continuous process for manufacturing a polyolefin resin in at least two reactors in which in a first polymerization reactor, an olefin is polymerized continuously in the presence of a catalyst and a diluent to produce a first suspension comprising the diluent and polyolefin particles. At least a portion of the first suspension is transferred from the first polymerisation reactor to a second polymerisation reactor where further polymerisation takes place. A further suspension containing diluent and polymer particles is withdrawn from the second reactor and transferred to two separators, in each of which separators a diluent-rich flow and a concentrated suspension of polyolefin particles are formed and separated. The diluent-rich flow from one separator is recycled to a reactor preceding the second reactor, and the diluent-rich flow from the other separator is recycled to the second reactor. The invention enables higher separator efficiencies to be achieved.
US08114943B2
Butadiene copolymers are brominated in solution using bromine as the brominating agent. The bromination is conducted in the presence of an excess of an aliphatic alcohol, relative to the amount of bromine that is used. The bromination proceeds rapidly at mild conditions, and is selective in that only aliphatic carbon-carbon double bonds are brominated, and unwanted bromination at tertiary carbon atoms is largely or completely avoided. The resulting brominated polymers are characterized in having very good thermal stability.
US08114933B2
The thermoplastic rubber grafted copolymer resin composition comprising (A) about 100 parts by weight of a rubber grafted copolymer prepared by (a1) about 10 to 100 parts by weight of a rubber-modified grafted copolymer and (a2) about 0 to 90 parts by weight of copolymer prepared by vinyl cyanide compound/aromatic vinyl compound or methyl methacrylate or N-phenyl maleimide/vinyl cyanide monomer or aromatic vinyl monomer/methyl methacrylate or N-phenyl maleimide; (B) about 1 to 30 parts by weight of a maleic anhydride copolymer; and (C) about 1 to 20 parts by weight of a clay treated with a compound containing reactive functional groups; wherein said compound containing functional groups has a radical-polymerizable group and an onium ion that can ion-exchange with said clay.
US08114932B2
Polymer articles formed from a modified propylene based polymer and processes of forming the same are described herein. The modified propylene based polymers generally include a propylene based polymer, a nucleator including a hyper nucleator, and a neutralizer composition, wherein the neutralizer composition includes a first compound selected from stearoyl lactylates, lactates, hydrotalcites, hydroxides and combinations thereof and may optionally include a second compound selected from metal stearates, wherein the lactates are selected from modified calcium salts derived from stearic and lactic acids and calcium lactates.
US08114931B2
An aqueous polymer dispersion that includes a) a polyurethane dispersion having an average particle size of 60 to 350 nm and b) an aqueous silicon dioxide dispersion having a particle diameter of the SiO2 particles of 20 to 400 nm. The dispersion is prepared by mixing the polyurethane dispersion (a) with the silicon dioxide dispersion (b). The aqueous polymer dispersion can be used in adhesive compositions, which can be used to bond substrates together, especially substrates that are structural components of shoes.
US08114929B2
A composition comprising a clear thermoplastic blend comprising: (a) a polycarbonate component; and (b) a polyester component comprising (i) a polyester based substantially on 1,4 cyclohexane dimethanol and terephthalic acid monomer units, (ii) copolymers polyester based substantially on 1,4 cyclohexane dimethanol and terephthalic acid monomer units and modified with up to 25 mol % of copolymerizable acid and/or diol monomers, and (iii) combinations thereof. The polycarbonate component and the polyester component are present in sufficient proportions to form a molding composition capable of being molded into an article that exhibits transparency and structural integrity after the article is exposed to a caustic aqueous environment for at least 70 hours. The invention also relates to articles made from the composition, methods for making the compositions, and methods for using articles.
US08114926B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of a bituminous binder and a bituminous binder which can be obtained according to said method. The method for the preparation of the bituminous binder comprises a mixing stage of 0.05 5 wt. % acid, 0.5 25 wt. % rubber crumbs and 70 99.5 wt. % bitumen. The invention also relates to bituminous concretes comprising said binder and a method for the production and use thereof.
US08114921B2
A macromolecule includes a polymer directly tethered or bonded to a polyatomic functionality. The polyatomic functionality can be located at a terminus of the polymer and can be generated concurrent with or soon after formation of the polymer. The macro-molecule can be prepared from a functionalized polymer by hydrolyzing and condensing (e.g., by a sol-gel process) functionalities in which one or more alkoxy groups are bound to a silica atom in the presence of an excess of a compound that includes a Si, Ti, Zr, Sn, Al, or Fe atom. Such macromolecules can be used in the manufacture of vulcanizates and tire components, either alone or blended with other polymers and/or other particulate fillers.
US08114920B2
The UV-curable aqueous coating composition is characterized by using a UV-curable aqueous emulsion obtained by urethane reaction with a mixture including a poly-carbonate polyol or polyester polyol; an isocyanate compound; a urethane-reactive carboxylic acid; a UV-curable acrylic oligomer having 2 to 9 functional acrylate groups; a UV-curable acrylic monomer; and a urethane-reactive acrylate without an organic solvent. The aqueous composition provides good environmental acceptability and satisfactory film properties comparable to those of the prior oily UV-curable coating composition and, therefore, it is useful for coating various plastics.
US08114916B2
A process and system for producing hydrocarbon compounds or fuels that recycle products of hydrocarbon compound combustion—carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, or both, and water. The energy for recycling is electricity derived from preferably not fossil based fuels, like from nuclear fuels or from renewable energy. The process comprises electrolysing water, and then using hydrogen to reduce externally supplied carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, then using so produced carbon monoxide together with any externally supplied carbon monoxide and hydrogen in Fischer-Tropsch reactors, with upstream upgrading to desired specification fuels—for example, gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene, diesel fuel, and others. Energy released in some of these processes is used by other processes. Using adiabatic temperature changes and isothermal pressure changes for gas processing and separation, large amounts of required energy are internally recycled using electric and heat distribution lines. Phase conversion of working fluid is used in heat distribution lines for increased energy efficiency. The resulting use of electric energy is less than 1.4 times the amount of the high heating value of combustion of so produced hydrocarbon compounds when carbon dioxide is converted to carbon monoxide in the invention, and less than 0.84 when carbon monoxide is the source.
US08114913B1
The invention is for the combination and related methods of N-acetyl-cysteine oral, inhaled, or intravenous, or glutathione inhaled or intravenous, generally in combination with antibiotic and/or antiviral therapy to ameliorate the toxic effects of infection with materials used in Bioterror incidents such as Bacillus anthracis and smallpox virus, and alternatively, upon exposure to radiation, during testing, and vaccination, as treatment prior to treatment with antibiotic or antiviral therapy to ameliorate the toxic effects of infection and exposure with these organisms.
US08114906B2
A method of treating or inhibiting depression in a patient with cardiovascular disease, especially a patient suffering from coronary artery or vascular disease, the method including administering, preferably orally, to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an essential fatty acid composition comprising preferably more than 25% by weight of eicosapentanoic acid ethyl ester (EPA), of docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA), or of a mixture of eicosapentanoic acid ethyl ester (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester (DHA), especially a mixture of EPA and DHA in an EPA/DHA ratio in the range from about 0.9 to about 1.5 at a dosage of from about 0.7 g to about 6 g per day.
US08114902B2
Disclosed is a 2-aminobutanol compound represented by the following formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof, or a solvate thereof, as well as a production method of the 2-aminobutanol compound of formula (I). The 2-aminobutanol compounds of formula (I) have few side effects including bradycardia and have superior peripheral blood lymphocyte-decreasing effects.
US08114895B2
The present invention relates to an isolated bioactive molecule Caerulomycin A, derivatives and analogs thereof as effective immunosuppressive agents. The immunosuppressive property of the compound is targeted in particular against the lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and B cells and in the production of IL-4 and IFN-γ and antibodies. The compound operates through a mechanism by downregulating the expression of activation marker CD28 and upregulating the immunosuppressive marker CTLA-4. Caerulomycin A has previously been isolated from Streptomyces caeruleus and found to have useful antifungal activity. Prior to the present invention however, this compound had not been determined to have immunomodulatory activity.
US08114894B2
Disclosed herein are compounds that may be modulators of 5-HT receptors, and methods of making and using same.
US08114888B2
The invention provides certain compounds and salts of Formula I and Formula II: which possess antimicrobial activity. The invention also provides novel synthetic intermediates useful in making compounds of Formula I and Formula II. The variables A1, R2, R3, R5, R6, R7, A8 and R9 are defined herein.
US08114880B2
The present invention is concerned with novel piperidine or piperazine substituted tetrahydro-naphthalene-1-carboxylic acid derivatives having apoB secretion/MTP inhibiting activity and concomitant lipid lowering activity. The invention further relates to methods for preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds as well as the use of said compounds as a medicine for the treatment of atherosclerosis, pancreatitis, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and type II diabetes.
US08114878B2
The invention relates to new dihydrothienopyrimidine of formula 1, as well as pharmacologically acceptable salts, diastereomers, enantiomers, racemates, hydrates or solvates thereof, wherein X is SO or SO2, but preferably SO, and wherein R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings given in the description, and which are suitable for the treatment of respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints or diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints, skin or eyes, diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system or cancers, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which contain these compounds.
US08114877B2
Compounds of formula I in free or salt form, wherein R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating conditions mediated by activation of the adenosine A2A receptor, especially inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and a process for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08114874B2
This invention relates to compounds of the general formula: in which the variable groups are as defined herein, and to their preparation and use. In particular, the compounds include embodiments in which Ring T is an imidazo[1,2-b]pyridazine ring system, Rings A and B are each aryl and L1 is —C(O)NR1— or —NR1C(O)—. Uses for the compounds and for compositions containing them include treatment of cancer and other diseases mediated by protein kinases.
US08114872B2
The present invention provides triazolyl aminopyrimidine compounds useful in the treatment of cancer.
US08114865B2
Substituted indazole derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as defined in the specification, process for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; the compounds of the invention may be useful in therapy in the treatment of diseases associated with a dysregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer formula (I).
US08114859B2
This invention discloses 2-methylene-(20S,25S)-19,27-dinor-(22E)-vitamin D analogs, and specifically 2-methylene-(20S,25S)-19,27-dinor-(22E)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and pharmaceutical uses therefor. This compound exhibits pronounced activity in arresting the proliferation of undifferentiated cells and inducing their differentiation to the monocyte thus evidencing use as an anti-cancer agent and for the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis as well as skin conditions such as wrinkles, slack skin, dry skin and insufficient sebum secretion. This compound also has little, if any, calcemic activity and therefore may be used to treat autoimmune disorders or inflammatory diseases in humans as well as renal osteodystrophy. This compound may also be used for the treatment or prevention of obesity.
US08114857B2
The present invention provides new derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid, and a pharmaceutical composition containing these derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid as active ingredients, useful for the treatment of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for the prevention/treatment of colon cancer. More particularly, these derivatives comprise a hydrogen sulfide releasing moiety linked via an azo, an ester, an anhydride, a thioester or an amide linkage to a molecule of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for preparing these compounds and their use for treating IBD and IBS and the prevention/treatment of colon cancer.
US08114856B2
The present invention is directed to analogs of aminoglycoside compounds as well as their preparation and use as prophylactic or therapeutics against microbial infection.
US08114851B2
The present invention relates to the specific inhibition of expression of a target gene in mammals using a short double stranded RNA. The dsRNA is less than 49 nucleotides in length and has a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to at least a part of the target gene. The dsRNAs of the present invention are useful for treating diseases, for example, cancer, viral diseases or neurodegenerative diseases.
US08114846B2
The present invention provides a method for treating NSCL, pancreatic, colon or breast cancer tumors or tumor metastases in a patient, comprising administering to the patient simultaneously or sequentially a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of an EGFR kinase inhibitor and an agent that sensitizes tumor cells to the effects of EGFR kinase inhibitors, wherein the agent is an mTOR inhibitor, with or without additional agents or treatments, such as other anti-cancer drugs or radiation therapy. The present invention also provides a method for treating tumors or tumor metastases in a patient, comprising administering to said patient simultaneously or sequentially a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of an EGFR kinase inhibitor and an agent that sensitizes tumor cells to the effects of EGFR kinase inhibitors, wherein said agent is an mTOR inhibitor that binds to and directly inhibits both mTORC1 and mTORC2 kinases. The present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an EGFR kinase inhibitor and an mTOR inhibitor that binds to and directly inhibits both mTORC1 and mTORC2 kinases, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A preferred example of an EGFR kinase inhibitor that can be used in practicing the methods of this invention is the compound erlotinib HCl (also known as TARCEVA®).
US08114832B2
The invention relates to the detection and/or removal of conformationally altered proteins and/or molecules comprising a cross-β structure from a pharmaceutical composition. Disclosed is that unwanted and/or toxic side effects of pharmaceuticals are caused by proteins present in the pharmaceutical and adopting a cross-β structure conformation. Further disclosed is a method for detecting a protein in a pharmaceutical composition, the method comprising: contacting the pharmaceutical composition or any of its constituents comprising a protein with at least one cross-β structure-binding compound resulting in a bound protein and/or peptide comprising a cross-β structure and; detecting whether bound protein and/or peptide comprising a cross-β structure are present in the pharmaceutical composition or any of its constituents comprising a protein. Further described are methods for removing cross-β structures from a pharmaceutical composition and controlling the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition.
US08114827B2
The invention relates to a hydrous, paste-like cleaning or detergent composition comprising an emulsion having an aqueous phase and an oil phase, the composition comprises based on the whole concentrate 1 to 50 wt-% of one or more alkalinity source, 1 to 60 wt-% of a guerbet alcohol ethoxylate of the formula R1—(OC2H4)n—OH, wherein R1 is a branched C9 to C20 alkyl group and n is from 2 to 10, 1 to 30 wt-% of a linear alkoxylated fatty alcohol of the formula R2—(OC2H4)x—(OC3H6)y—OH, wherein R2 is a linear C10 to C16 group and n is from 3 to 7 and m is from 3 to 7, 0.01-10 wt-% of one or more crosslinked or partly crosslinked polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, 1-10 wt-% of a thickener system comprising the following components: 1-5 wt-% of a polyacrylate, 0-5 wt-% of a swellable phyllosilicate, 0-2 wt-% of a polyethylene glycol with the provision that the thickener system comprises at least two of these components, and the rest up to 100 wt-% is water.
US08114821B2
The production of solid lubricant agglomerates by combining solid lubricant powder, an inorganic binder, other fillers if optionally desired, and a liquid to form a mixture, and driving off the liquid to form dry agglomerates which are subsequently classified by size or milled and classified by size to yield agglomerates of a desired size range. These agglomerates are then treated to stabilize the binder, thereby strengthening the binder and rendering it nondispersible in the liquid. The undesired size ranges can be readily recycled because the agglomerates with untreated binder can be reprocessed, thereby promoting high recovery rates.
US08114820B2
Alkaline earth metal compounds may be fluid loss control (FLC) agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for fluid loss control pills, lost circulation material pills and kill pills in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The FLC agents may include, but not be limited to oxides and hydroxides of alkaline earth metal, and in one case magnesium oxide where the particle size of the magnesium oxide is between 1 nanometer to 0.4 millimeter. The FLC agent may alternatively be transition metal oxides and/or transition metal hydroxides. The FLC agent appears to associate with the VES micelles and together form a novel pseudo-filter cake quasi-crosslinked viscous fluid layer that limits further VES fluid flow into the porous media. The FLC agent solid particles may be added along with VES fluids. The pills may also contain internal breakers to reduce the viscosity thereof so that the components of the pill may be recovered.
US08114819B2
This invention provides polymers having side chain groups selected from at least one of the following: a) a group comprising an ester of a polycarboxylic acid or polycarboxylate salt, an aminoalkylphosphate ester, or an ammoniumalkylphosphate ester; b) a group comprising (1) an alkanolamino group, (2) a fatty quaternary ammonium moiety, (3) a heterocyclic ring moiety having at least five members, which ring has at least one nitrogen atom, said ring further comprising either unsaturation or at least one additional heteroatom, or (4) both (2) and (3) c) a group comprising an alkylamino ethoxylate or an alkylamino propoxylate; d) a group comprising a trialkylhexahydrotriazine moiety; e) a group comprising a fatty alkyl ester; and f) a group comprising (i) a group as in a), and (ii) a group as in b). Also provided are processes for preparing polymers having such side chain groups.
US08114804B2
A process for making a self-deagglomerating suspension, in particular, a suspension which self-deagglomerates to form a substantially transparent suspension, of finely divided titanium (IV) oxide particles, comprising: vigorously mixing (a) a volume of a first component comprising a major proportion of an alcohol, a minor proportion of a titanium alkoxide and a minor proportion of a titanium alkoxide activator selected from the group consisting of water and a first aqueous base, and (b) a volume of a second component selected from the group consisting of water and a second aqueous base, at least one of the first component or the second component having a base therein, the second component being substantially free of alcohol, to form a mixture comprising a suspension of finely divided titanium (IV) oxide particles, the mixture having a water to titanium molar ratio ranging from about 40 to about 1 to about 5000 to about 1, wherein the proportion of the titanium alkoxide, the proportion of the activator, the mixing vigor, and the ratio of the volume of the first component to the volume of the second component are effective for the mixture to be initially opaque and subsequently spontaneously form into a substantially optically transparent suspension.
US08114802B2
A process to upgrade heavy oil and convert the heavy oil into lower boiling hydrocarbon products is provided. The process employs a catalyst slurry comprising catalyst particles with an average particle size ranging from 1 to 20 microns. In the upgrade process, spent slurry catalyst in heavy oil is generated as an effluent stream, which is subsequently recovered/separated from the heavy oil via membrane filtration. In one embodiment, residual hydrocarbons, i.e., heavy oil and solvent employed in the filtration for the heavy oil extraction are removed from the catalyst particles with the use of a cleaning solution comprising a sufficient amount of at least a surfactant for removing at least 90% of the hydrocarbons from the catalyst particles. In one embodiment, ultrasonic cleaning is also used for the removal of hydrocarbons. In another embodiment, a plasma source is employed for the volatilization of the hydrocarbons. Valuable metals can be recovered from catalyst particles for subsequent re-use in a catalyst synthesis unit, generating a fresh slurry catalyst.
US08114801B2
Multilayer ceramic chip capacitors which satisfy COG requirements and which are compatible with reducing atmosphere sintering conditions so that non-noble metals such as nickel and nickel alloys thereof may be used for internal and external electrodes are made in accordance with the invention. The capacitors exhibit desirable dielectric properties (high capacitance, low dissipation factor, high insulation resistance), excellent performance on highly accelerated life testing, and very good resistance to dielectric breakdown. The dielectric layers comprise a strontium zirconate matrix doped with other metal oxides such as TiO2, MgO, B2O3, CaO, Al2O3, SiO2, and SrO in various combinations.
US08114800B2
There is described a ceramic powder, ceramic layer and layer system having gadolinium/mixed crystal pyrochlore phases and oxides. Besides a good thermal insulation property, thermal insulation layer systems must also have a long lifetime of the thermal insulation layer. The layer system according to the invention has an outer ceramic layer, which comprises a mixed crystal of gadolinium zirconate and gadolinium hafnate.
US08114792B2
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional woven hollow layer-connecting fabric, comprising an upper layer-surface (10) formed by crossing upper ground warp yarns (1), (2) and a weft yarn (3) and a lower layer-surface (11) formed by crossing lower ground warp yarns (4), (5) and a weft yarn (6); the weft yarns (3) and (6) on the upper and lower layer-surfaces are also crossed with poil warps (7), (8) besides ground warp yarns (1), (2) and (4), (5) on their own layer-surface; the spatial walking direction of poil warps (7), (8) woven from one layer-surface to another is opposite to the weft-inserting direction of the fabric. The framework feature of the composite layer-connecting fabric of the present invention is distinct, and the vertical support function of poil warps between two layer-surfaces is good. The spatial structure of the layer-connecting fabric is varied in conformation, easy to design and adapted to produce on a large scale. The compositely-strengthened material has the characteristics, such as anti-corrosion, anti-penetration, light weight and excellent physical mechanical properties.
US08114782B2
A method of etching or removing an amorphous carbon organic hardmask overlying a low dielectric constant film in a lithographic process. The method includes providing a dielectric film having thereover an amorphous carbon organic hardmask to be removed, the dielectric film having a dielectric constant no greater than about 4.0, introducing over the amorphous carbon organic hardmask an ionizable gas comprising a mixture of hydrogen and an oxidizing gas, and applying energy to the mixture to create a plasma of the mixture. The method further includes contacting the amorphous carbon organic hardmask with the plasma, with the amorphous carbon organic hardmask being at a temperature in excess of 200° C., to remove the amorphous carbon organic hardmask without substantially harming the underlying substrate.
US08114768B2
A liner-to-liner direct contact is formed between an upper metallic liner of a conductive via and a lower metallic liner of a metal line below. The liner-to-liner contact impedes abrupt electromigration failures and enhances electromigration resistance of the metal interconnect structure. The at least one dielectric material portion may include a plurality of dielectric material portions arranged to insure direct contact of between the upper metallic liner and the lower metallic liner. Alternatively, the at least one dielectric material portion may comprise a single dielectric portion of which the area has a sufficient lateral overlap with the area of the conductive via to insure that a liner-to-liner direct contact is formed within the range of allowed lithographic overlay variations.
US08114767B2
A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a dielectric material formed between a design sensitive structure and a passivation layer. The design sensitive structure comprising a lower wiring layer electrically and mechanically connected to a higher wiring level by a via farm. A method and structure is also provided.
US08114765B2
The embodiments generally relate to methods of making semiconductor devices, and more particularly, to methods for making semiconductor pillar structures and increasing array feature pattern density using selective or directional gap fill. The technique has application to a variety of materials and can be applied to making monolithic two or three-dimensional memory arrays.
US08114757B1
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, the method comprising providing a base wafer comprising a semiconductor substrate; preparing a first monocrystalline layer comprising semiconductor regions; performing a first layer transfer of the first monocrystalline layer on top of the semiconductor substrate; preparing a second monocrystalline layer comprising semiconductor regions; performing a second layer transfer of the second monocrystalline layer on top of the first monocrystalline layer; and etching portions of the first monocrystalline layer and portions of the second monocrystalline layer.
US08114755B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes removing a part of a semiconductor substrate to form a protruding portion and a recess portion in a surface area of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first epitaxial semiconductor layer in the recess portion, forming a second epitaxial semiconductor layer on the protruding portion and the first epitaxial semiconductor layer, removing a first part of the second epitaxial semiconductor layer with a second part of the second epitaxial semiconductor layer left to expose a part of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer, and etching the first epitaxial semiconductor layer from the exposed part of the first epitaxial semiconductor layer to form a cavity under the second part of the second epitaxial semiconductor layer.
US08114748B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that includes forming a gate structure atop a substrate and implanting dopants into the substrate to a depth of 10 nm or less from an upper surface of the substrate. In a following step, an anneal is performed with a peak temperature ranging from 1200° C. to 1400° C., and a hold time period ranging from 1 millisecond to 5 milliseconds.
US08114745B2
A transistor suitable for high-voltage applications is provided. The transistor is formed on a substrate having a deep well of a first conductivity type. A first well of the first conductivity type and a second well of a second conductivity type are formed such that they are not immediately adjacent each other. The well of the first conductivity type and the second conductivity type may be formed simultaneously as respective wells for low-voltage devices. In this manner, the high-voltage devices may be formed on the same wafer as low-voltage devices with fewer process steps, thereby reducing costs and process time. A doped isolation well may be formed adjacent the first well on an opposing side from the second well to provide further device isolation.
US08114735B2
In a method of manufacturing a non-volatile memory device, a tunnel insulating layer may be formed on a channel region of a substrate. A charge trapping layer including silicon nitride may be formed on the tunnel insulating layer to trap electrons from the channel region. A heat treatment may be performed using a first gas including nitrogen and a second gas including oxygen to remove defect sites in the charge trapping layer and to densify the charge trapping layer. A blocking layer may be formed on the heat-treated charge trapping layer, and a conductive layer may then formed on the blocking layer. The blocking layer, the conductive layer, the heat-treated charge trapping layer and the tunnel insulating layer may be patterned to form a gate structure on the channel region. Accordingly, data retention performance and/or reliability of a non-volatile memory device including the gate structure may be improved.
US08114721B2
A method of forming a FinFET device is provided. In one embodiment, a fin is formed on a substrate. A gate structure is formed over the fin, the gate structure having a dielectric layer and a conformal first polysilicon layer formed above the dielectric layer. An etch stop layer is formed above the first polysilicon layer and thereafter a second polysilicon layer is formed above the etch stop layer. The second polysilicon layer and the etch stop layer are removed. A metal layer is formed above the first polysilicon layer. The first polysilicon layer is reacted with the metal layer to silicide the first polysilicon layer. Any un-reacted metal layer is thereafter removed and source and drain regions are formed on opposite sides of the fin.
US08114719B2
An easy-to-use and inexpensive memory device is provided while maintaining product specifications and productivity even when a memory is formed on the same substrate as other functional circuits. The memory device of the invention includes a memory cell formed on an insulating surface. The memory cell includes a semiconductor film having two impurity regions, a gate electrode, and two wirings connected to the respective impurity regions. The two wirings are insulated from each other by applying a voltage between the gate electrode and at least one of the two wirings to alter the state of the semiconductor film.
US08114717B2
A fluorine treatment that can shape the electric field profile in electronic devices in 1, 2, or 3 dimensions is disclosed. A method to increase the breakdown voltage of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors, by the introduction of a controlled amount of dispersion into the device, is also disclosed. This dispersion is large enough to reduce the peak electric field in the channel, but low enough in order not to cause a significant decrease in the output power of the device. In this design, the whole transistor is passivated against dispersion with the exception of a small region 50 to 100 nm wide right next to the drain side of the gate. In that region, surface traps cause limited amounts of dispersion, that will spread the high electric field under the gate edge, therefore increasing the breakdown voltage. Three different methods to introduce dispersion in the 50 nm closest to the gate are described: (1) introduction of a small gap between the passivation and the gate metal, (2) gradually reducing the thickness of the passivation, and (3) gradually reducing the thickness of the AlGaN cap layer in the region close the gate.
US08114712B1
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device package is provided. The method includes providing a laminate comprising a dielectric film disposed on a first metal layer, said laminate having a dielectric film outer surface and a first metal layer outer surface; forming a plurality of vias extending through the laminate according to a predetermined pattern; attaching one or more semiconductor device to the dielectric film outer surface such that the semiconductor device contacts one or more vias after attachment; disposing an electrically conductive layer on the first metal layer outer surface and on an inner surface of the plurality of vias to form an interconnect layer comprising the first metal layer and the electrically conductive layer; and patterning the interconnect according to a predetermined circuit configuration to form a patterned interconnect layer, wherein a portion of the patterned interconnect layer extends through one or more vias to form an electrical contact with the semiconductor device. A semiconductor device package is also provided.
US08114711B2
A method of treating a component can include providing a component including a plurality of metallic posts extending generally parallel to one another. The providing step can be performed so that the posts have solder on the tips of the posts but not covering other portions of the posts. The method can include reflowing the solder provided on the posts so that the solder coats the posts. The providing step may be performed so that, prior to the reflowing step, the solder covers only the tips of the posts. The providing step can include depositing portions of the solder on a surface of a metallic sheet and etching the sheet from the surface. The plurality of posts may comprise elongated posts.
US08114710B2
The radiation performance of a resin sealed semiconductor package is enhanced and further the fabrication yield thereof is enhanced. A drain terminal coupled to the back surface drain electrode of a semiconductor chip is exposed at the back surface of an encapsulation resin section. Part of the following portion and terminal is exposed at the top surface of the encapsulation resin section: the first portion of a source terminal coupled to the source pad electrode of the semiconductor chip and a gate terminal coupled to the gate pad electrode of the semiconductor chip. The remaining part of the second portion of the source terminal and the gate terminal is exposed at the back surface of the encapsulation resin section. When this semiconductor device is manufactured, bonding material and a film member are placed between the drain terminal and the semiconductor chip. At the same time, paste-like bonding material and a film member are placed between the source terminal 3 and gate terminal and the semiconductor chip. The paste-like bonding material is cured and turned into bonding material. As the result of use of the film members, variation in the thickness of the bonding material is suppressed.
US08114707B2
A temporary substrate having an array of first solder pads is bonded to the front side of a first substrate by reflowing an array of first solder balls. The first substrate is thinned by removing the back side, and an array of second solder pads is formed on the back side surface of the first substrate. The assembly of the first substrate and the temporary substrate is diced to form a plurality of stacks, each including an assembly of a first semiconductor chip and a handle portion. A second semiconductor chip is bonded to an assembly through an array of the second solder balls. The handle portion is removed from each assembly by reflowing the array of the first solder balls, while the array of the second solder balls does not reflow. The assembly is subsequently mounted on a packaging substrate employing the array of the first solder balls.
US08114706B2
A method of packaging an integrated circuit, including providing a lead frame having lead fingers, where the lead frame has a gold layer thereon on a top surface and a bottom surface. An integrated circuit die is attached to the lead frame. The gold layer is substantially removed from portions of the top surface of the lead frame. The integrated circuit die is wire bonded to the lead fingers with a plurality of wire stitches subsequent to substantially removing the gold. The die is encapsulated in a mold compound to form a packaged integrated circuit.
US08114696B2
Provided is a CMOS image sensor with an asymmetric well structure of a source follower. The CMOS image sensor includes: a well disposed in an active region of a substrate; a drive transistor having one terminal connected to a power voltage and a first gate electrode disposed to cross the well; and a select transistor having a drain-source junction between another terminal of the drive transistor and an output node, and a second gate electrode disposed in parallel to the drive transistor. A drain region of the drive transistor and a source region of the select transistor are asymmetrically arranged.
US08114694B2
A method of manufacturing a back side illumination image sensor according to an embodiment includes: forming an ion implantation layer by implanting ions throughout the front side of a first substrate; defining a pixel region by forming a device isolation region on the front side of the first substrate; forming a photosensitive device and a readout circuit on the pixel region; forming an interlayer dielectric layer and a metal line on the front side of the first substrate; bonding a second substrate with the front side of the first substrate where the metal line is formed; removing a lower part of the first substrate under the ion implantation layer; applying wet etching to a back side of the first substrate after removing the lower part; and forming a microlens on the photosensitive device at the back side of the first substrate.
US08114677B2
A chemical sensor for assessing a chemical of interest. In typical embodiments the chemical sensor includes a first thermocouple and second thermocouple. A reactive component is typically disposed proximal to the second thermal couple, and is selected to react with the chemical of interest and generate a temperature variation that may be detected by a comparison of a temperature sensed by the second thermocouple compared with a concurrent temperature detected by the first thermocouple. Further disclosed is a method for assessing a chemical of interest and a method for identifying a reaction temperature for a chemical of interest in a system.
US08114671B2
A method for quantifying the permanganate-reducing compounds (PRCs) in an acetic acid sample is disclosed. The method comprises establishing a correlation between permanganate absorbances of standard samples and their PRC contents and determining the PRC content of the acetic acid sample by measuring its permanganate absorbance of a reaction mixture containing a standard permanganate solution and the acetic acid sample. The permanganate absorbance is obtained by subtracting the manganese dioxide absorbance from the absorbance of the mixture.
US08114667B2
The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
US08114666B2
The present invention relates to the field of animal health and in particular to Lawsonia intracellularis. In particular, the invention relates to a method of diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infection and a diagnostic test kit using Lawsonia intracellularis-specific antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the method or test kit for diagnosing Lawsonia intracellularis infections.
US08114644B1
Biomass is converted to short chain alcohols such as butanol by a process which comprises (1) reacting biomass with an oxidizing agent to produce unoxidized aromatic and/or phenolic compounds and C1-6 linear and branched, saturated and unsaturated carboxylic acids; (2) separating the unoxidized aromatic and/or phenolic compounds from the C1-6 carboxylic acids; (3) anaerobically fermenting the C1-6 carboxylic acids in the presence of an anaerobic bacterium in its solventogenesis phase to produce a solvent comprised of butanol and non-fermentable carboxylic acids. The products of the process can be used as fuel and/or fuel additives.
US08114638B2
Stable and active arabinitol dehydrogenases (LAD) from Neurospora crassa and mutants thereof are disclosed. Arabinitol dehydrogenases are useful in the production of xylitol and ethanol from an arabinose containing substrate. Recombinant and heterologously expressed arabinitol dehydrogenases are useful in converting biomass into biofuels and other industrial food products.
US08114637B2
In the absence of substantial sequence overlap between a recombinant adenoviral vector and the genome of a packaging cell, helper-dependent E1-containing particles (HDEP) can be formed at low frequency. Provided are means and methods for reducing or preventing the generation of HDEP. To this purpose, novel packaging cells and methods of making these are provided.
US08114635B2
The present invention relates to microbial trypsin variants having chymotrypsin-like activity, comprising: (a) a one or more substitutions corresponding to positions 144, 193, 198, 201, 218, 223, 227, 228, 229, 230, and 231 of amino acids 25 to 248 of SEQ ID NO: 2, (b) one or more deletions corresponding to positions 192, 197, and 226 of amino acids 25 to 248 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and (c) an insertion between positions corresponding to positions 224 and 225 of amino acids 25 to 248 of SEQ ID NO: 2. The present invention further relates to nucleotide sequences encoding microbial trypsin variants having chymotrypsin-like activity; nucleic acid constructs, expression vectors, and recombinant host cells comprising such nucleotide sequences; and methods of producing microbial trypsin variants having chymotrypsin-like activity or a precursor thereof.
US08114630B2
Modified interferon beta polypeptides and uses thereof are provided.
US08114629B2
Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal tRNAs, orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of tRNAs/synthetases, which incorporate keto amino acids into proteins are provided. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins with keto amino acids using these orthogonal pairs.
US08114613B2
Methods are provided for the detection and quantitation of proteins generally and apolipoprotein A-I and oxidized derivatives thereof in particular. Further provided are methods for the assessment of the risk cardiovascular disease in a subject, wherein the assessment is based on the amount of oxidized and unoxidized apolipoprotein A-I in a biological sample obtained from a subject.
US08114611B2
The invention provides methods of coupling protein ligands to a solid support. The invention also provides affinity chromatography matrices and methods of using affinity chromatography matrices to purify a target molecule.
US08114607B2
A type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide and an antibody thereof which are useful for detecting nephritis, a method for selecting a type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide, a method for screening an immunoreactive antibody and an immunoreactive peptide, a nephritis model, a method for detecting chronic nephritis, a vaccine, and a therapeutic agent for nephritis are provided.A type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide immunologically reacts with an isolated, chronic nephritis-derived biological sample. Preferably, the type IV collagen-like immunoreactive peptide includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of at least one chain selected from alpha 1 to alpha 6 chains as a constituent alpha chain, at least one region selected from 7S, the central helical domain, and NC1 as a constituent region, and a peptide having 3 to 35 amino acids as a constituent peptide.
US08114606B2
This invention provides antibodies immunologically specific for human ARL-1 (also referred to AKR1B10), a species of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily of proteins. The invention also provides methods of making and methods of using said antibodies.
US08114602B2
A method and assay are described for measuring the interaction between a ligand and an analyte. The assay can include a suspension of colloidal particles that are associated with a ligand of interest. The colloidal particles are maintained in the suspension at or near a phase transition state from a condensed phase to a dispersed phase. An analyte to be tested is then added to the suspension. If the analyte binds to the ligand, a phase change occurs to indicate that the binding was successful.
US08114601B2
Four highly conserved genes, encoding translation elongation factor Tu, translation elongation factor G, the catalytic subunit of proton-translocating ATPase and the RecA recombinase, are used to generate species-specific, genus-specific, family-specific, group-specific and universal nucleic acid probes and amplification primers to rapidly detect and identify algal, archaeal, bacterial, fungal and parasitical pathogens from clinical specimens for diagnosis. The detection of associated antimicrobial agents resistance and toxin genes are also under the scope of the present invention.
US08114597B2
The present invention is directed to detection and measurement of gene transcripts in blood. Specifically provided is a RT-PCR analysis performed on a drop of blood for detecting, diagnosing and monitoring diseases using tissue-specific primers. The present invention also describes methods by which delineation of the sequence and/or quantitation of the expression levels of disease-associated genes allows for an immediate and accurate diagnostic/prognostic test for disease or to assess the effect of a particular treatment regimen.
US08114583B2
A target and methods for specific binding and inhibition of RNA polymerase from bacterial species are provided, including methods for identifying agents that bind to a bacterial RNA polymerase, and that inhibit an activity of a bacterial RNA polymerase, through interactions with a bacterial RNA polymerase homologous switch-region amino-acid sequence. The methods can include preparation of a reaction solution comprising the compound to be tested and an entity containing a bacterial RNAP homologous switch-region amino-acid sequence, and detection of binding or inhibition. Applications in control of bacterial gene expression, control of bacterial viability, control of bacterial growth, antibacterial chemistry, and antibacterial therapy are also provided.
US08114579B2
Instances of data-storage media having pits and lands, such as individual DVDs or CDs, are manufactured by selectively illuminating a light-curable material to form cured regions corresponding to the lands. The selective illumination of the light-curable material can be implemented using mask-based illumination or selective laser illumination or both. The mask used in mask-based illumination can have one or more extra opaque portions and/or one or more extra transparent portions corresponding to false pits and/or false lands, respectively, where selective laser illumination is used to convert one or more false pits/lands produced during mask-based illumination into true pits/lands for the competed medium.
US08114577B2
An exemplary method for making a plurality of light blocking plates is provided. Firstly, a photoresist layer is formed on a substrate. Secondly, the photoresist layer is exposed using a gray scale photomask. Thirdly, the photoresist layer is developed to form a plurality of conical frustums on the substrate, and each of the conical frustums tapers in a direction away from the substrate. Fourthly, an opaque to-be-solidified film is formed on the substrate, and each of the conical frustums extends through the to-be-solidified film. Fifthly, the to-be-solidified film is solidified. Sixthly, the solidified film is separated from the substrate and the conical frustums, thus obtaining a light blocking plate module including a plurality of light blocking plates. Lastly, the light blocking plate module is cut into a plurality of individual light blocking plates.
US08114576B2
In accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of forming high-density metal interconnects on flexible, thin-film plastic includes laminating a dry photoresist layer to a substrate. The photoresist-laminated substrate is baked. An assembly is formed by laminating a plastic film to the baked, photoresist-laminated substrate. One or more electrically conductive interconnect layers are processed on a first surface of the laminated plastic film. The processing of the one or more electrically conductive interconnects includes photolithography. The assembly is baked and soaked in a liquid. The processed plastic film is then separated from the substrate.
US08114572B2
A laser-ablatable element for direct laser engraving has a laser-ablatable, relief-forming layer that has a relief-image forming surface and a bottom surface. This relief-forming layer includes a laser-ablatable polymeric binder and an infrared radiation absorbing compound that is present at a concentration profile such that its concentration is greater near the bottom surface than the image-forming surface. This arrangement of the infrared radiation absorbing compound provides improved ablation efficiency, particularly when laser exposure is carried out adiabatically.
US08114571B2
Photoacid generators generate sulfonic acids of formula (1a) or (1b) upon exposure to high-energy radiation. R1—COOCH2CF2SO3−H+ (1a) R1—O—COOCH2CF2SO3−H+ (1b) R1 is a monovalent C20-C50 hydrocarbon group of steroid structure which may contain a heteroatom. The bulky steroid structure ensures adequate control of acid diffusion. The photoacid generators are compatible with resins and suited for use in chemically amplified resist compositions.
US08114570B2
Photoacid generators generate sulfonic acids of formula (1a) upon exposure to high-energy radiation. ROC(═O)R1—COOCH2CF2SO3−H+ (1a) RO is OH or C1-C20 organoxy, R1 is a divalent C1-C20 aliphatic group or forms a cyclic structure with RO. The photoacid generators are compatible with resins and can control acid diffusion and are thus suited for use in chemically amplified resist compositions.
US08114563B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, including: an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer located overlying the electroconductive substrate; and a crosslinked surface layer located overlying the photosensitive layer, including: a tri- or more functional radical polymerizable monomer having no charge transport structure; and a radical polymerizable compound having a charge transport structure, wherein the crosslinked surface layer has a surface roughness (Ra) not greater than 0.2 μm and a peel strength not less than 0.2 N/mm when measured by the SAICAS method.
US08114562B2
A two-component developer containing a yellow toner and a magnetic carrier, wherein the yellow toner has the characteristics: (i) when the concentration of the yellow toner in a solution of the yellow toner in chloroform is represented by Cy (mg/ml) and the absorbance of the solution at a wavelength of 422 nm is represented by A422, a relationship between Cy and A422 satisfies the relationship of 6.00
US08114548B2
A fuel cell is disclosed. The fuel cell in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a membrane-electrode assembly, which has an electrolyte membrane, an anode being formed on one surface of the electrolyte membrane and a cathode being formed on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane; and an auxiliary electric power supply having a flow path formed on the surface thereof and being laminated on the membrane-electrode assembly such that the flow path faces the membrane-electrode assembly.
US08114547B1
A fuel cell system has a compressor delivering compressed gas to a fuel cell stack and a control valve affecting the flow of compressed gas. A load dump condition is determined for the fuel cell stack. The flow through the compressor is increased and the additional flow diverted away from the fuel cell stack by the control valve to provide additional load for the fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack may then be operated at a higher output power for the purpose of generating more waste heat to more rapidly warm itself.
US08114544B1
A method and an apparatus is provided for increasing biofilm formation and power output in microbial fuel cells. An anode material in a microbial fuel cell has a three-dimensional and ordered structure. The anode material fills an entire anode compartment, and it is arranged to allow fluid flow within the anode compartment. The power output of microbial fuel cells is enhanced, primarily by increasing the formation and viability of electrogenic biofilms on the anodes of the microbial fuel cells. The anode material in a microbial fuel cell allows for the growth of a microbial biofilm to its natural thickness. In the instance of members of the Geobacteraceae family, the biofilm is able grow to a depth of about 40 microns.
US08114543B2
A lithium ion secondary battery, having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode each having a collector and an active material layer provided over the collector, and the relationship Ts≧4Tc being satisfied, where Ts is the puncture strength of the separator, and Tc is the puncture strength of the collector of the positive electrode and/or the negative electrode.
US08114537B2
Disclosed herein are a frame member including an upper frame member having one major surface to which a protection circuit module (PCM) is mounted, and a lower frame member coupled with the upper frame member, the upper and lower frame members being provided at opposite major surfaces thereof with semi-cylindrical battery receiving parts corresponding to outer surfaces of the cylindrical unit cells mounted between the upper and lower frame members, a spacer provided at opposite major surfaces of a rectangular frame with pluralities of semi-cylindrical battery receiving parts corresponding to outer surfaces of the cylindrical batteries, the battery receiving parts being partially open such that the battery receiving parts communicate with neighboring battery receiving parts on the same plane, and a battery pack including the frame member and the spacer.
US08114533B2
An organic light emitting device having an anode, a cathode and an organic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode is provided. In one aspect, the organic layer comprises a carbene compound having the following structure:
US08114532B2
Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device having high external quantum efficiency and long life. Also disclosed are an illuminating device and, a display device. The organic electroluminescent device is characterized by containing at least one compound having a partial structure represented by the following general formula (1). [chemical formula 1] (1) In the formula, R1 represents a group (preferably an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group) having 4-20 carbon atoms in total and a substituent having a formula weight of 70-350 (preferably an alkyl group or an alkoxy group); R2-R4 independently represent a substituent; n2 represents a number of 0-4; n3 represents a number of 0-2; n4 represents a number of 0-8; and Q represents an atomic group necessary for forming an aromatic hydrocarbon ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring.
US08114530B2
Provided is a material containing at least one phosphorescent metal complex, and a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein at least one of R1 to R3 is a 9-carbazolyl group which is optionally substituted or an azacarbazolyl group having 2 to 5 nitrogen atoms which is optionally substituted. The material for the organic electroluminescence device may be used as a host material or a hole transporting material. Also provided is an organic electroluminescence device which has an organic thin film layer that contains the material, and exhibits a high emitting efficiency, causes little pixel defects, is excellent in heat resistance, and has a long lifetime.
US08114526B2
A composite substrate for superconductors and methods for making the same are described. The composite substrate of the present invention includes at least a core layer having and a sheath layer having a cube texture on at least a portion its surface. In certain embodiments, the core layer can include a nickel-tungsten-molybdenum alloy having about 2-10 atomic percent tungsten and 2-15 atomic percent molybdenum. In some embodiments, the sheath layer can include nickel or a nickel-tungsten alloy having about 0 to 6 atomic percent tungsten. Generally, the core layer is stronger than the sheath layer and an interdiffusion zone can exist between the core layer and the sheath layer.
US08114520B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a laser dicing sheet which is capable of preventing cutting of dicing sheet by laser beam, damage of the chuck table and fusion of the dicing sheet to the chuck table.A laser dicing sheet according to the present invention comprising a base material comprising a polyurethane acrylate; and an adhesive layer formed on one surface thereof.
US08114516B2
Solar-reflective roofing granules having deep-tone colors are formed by coating base mineral particles with a coating composition including an infrared-reflective pigment. Color is provided by colored infrared pigment, light-interference platelet pigment, or a metal oxide.
US08114514B1
The present invention relates generally to a reinforcement composition and a method of reinforcing an asphalt cement concrete composition. The reinforcement composition includes a core and an outer container. The core includes a plurality of fibers, and the outer container includes a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and mixtures thereof.
US08114510B2
The invention is directed to a method for fabricating a mesoporous carbon material, the method comprising subjecting a precursor composition to a curing step followed by a carbonization step, the precursor composition comprising: (i) a templating component comprised of a block copolymer, (ii) a phenolic compound or material, (iii) a crosslinkable aldehyde component, and (iv) at least 0.5 M concentration of a strong acid having a pKa of or less than −2, wherein said carbonization step comprises heating the precursor composition at a carbonizing temperature for sufficient time to convert the precursor composition to a mesoporous carbon material. The invention is also directed to a mesoporous carbon material having an improved thermal stability, preferably produced according to the above method.
US08114509B2
A gas permeable membrane for the optical measurement of the partial pressure and/or the concentration of a gas species, the membrane comprises a porous light-transmissible membrane matrix containing a metal oxide, wherein the membrane matrix is at least partially charged with at least one gas-selective compound whose optical characteristics change upon an interaction with a corresponding gas species.
US08114502B2
The present application is directed to substrates comprising light shielding areas and light transmitting areas. In one embodiment, the present application is directed to a substrate comprising a film comprising a light shielding additive. The film comprises a structured surface resulting in thick light shielding areas and relatively thin light transmitting areas. In another embodiment, the present application is directed to a substrate comprising a film comprising a first major surface that is structured with a series of microstructure features and he substrate has light shielding layer is on the first major surface in the light shielding areas. In another embodiment, the light transmitting areas are series of holes through the film having at least two lateral dimensions less than 1.4 mm.
US08114495B1
A sticker assembly includes an indicia-bearing sticker (30) having an adhesive layer (34). A polyester film (20) is provided having a first side (22) and a second side (24), the second side (24) having a low-tack adhesive (25) thereon. The first side (22) of the polyester film (20) is adhered to the adhesive layer (34) of the sticker (30). The second side (24) of the polyester film (20) is applied to a receiving surface (12) and held against the surface (12) by the low-tack adhesive (25) wherein the polyester film (20) and the sticker (30) are releasably adhered to the receiving surface (12) and wherein the indicia-bearing sticker (30) is displayed for viewing. In one embodiment, the sticker (30) is a vehicle windshield sticker (30) and the receiving surface (12) is a vehicle windshield.
US08114491B2
A film comprises a skin layer, a base layer, and an intermediate layer between the skin and base layers. The skin layer comprises polyester. The base layer comprises styrenic block copolymer having a styrene monomer content of at least about 50 wt. %. The intermediate layer comprises: (i) one or more polymers selected from alpha-olefin/cyclic-olefin copolymer and alpha-olefin/vinyl aromatic copolymer and (ii) one or more polymers selected from ethylene/unsaturated ester copolymer and styrenic block copolymer having a styrene monomer content of at most about 50 wt. %. The film has a free shrink at 100° C. in at least one direction of at least about 10%. The film may be useful in shrink sleeve applications.
US08114484B2
Methods for forming a film stack suitable for transistor fabrication using a low temperature plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a substrate in a PECVD chamber, depositing a dual layer SiNx film on the substrate, depositing a dual layer amorphous silicon film on the SiNx film, and depositing a n-doped silicon film on the dual layer amorphous silicon film. The aforementioned films are deposited at a temperature less than about 300 degrees Celsius in the same PECVD chamber.
US08114483B2
The preferred embodiments provide a method for forming at least one metal comprising elongated nanostructure on a substrate. The method comprises exposing a metal halide compound surface to a photon comprising ambient to initiate formation of the at least one metal comprising elongated nanostructure. The preferred embodiments also provide metal comprising elongated nanostructures obtained by the method according to preferred embodiments.
US08114478B1
A method for making dual-sided membrane sheet comprises the steps of: a) forming a microporous polymer sheet including a plurality of capillary channels and b) forming a semi-permeable discriminating layer upon at least a portion of the opposing outer surfaces of the sheet, wherein the sheet is advanced along a production pathway during at least a portion of: step a), step b), or while transferring the sheet from step a) to step b) by engaging the sheet along one or more of its edge sections.
US08114470B2
Aspects include recording media with enhanced areal density through reduction of head media spacing, head keeper spacing, or head to soft underlayer spacing. Such aspects comprise replacing currently non-magnetic components of devices, such as interlayers and overcoats with components and compositions comprising magnetic materials. Other aspects relate to magnetic seed layers deposited within a recording medium. Preferably, these aspects, embodied as methods, systems and/or components thereof reduce effective magnetic spacing without sacrificing physical spacing.
US08114466B2
A method of applying a coating material to a stent includes the steps of providing a generally tubular stent having an inside surface and an outside surface and applying a coating material to the inside surface of the stent without applying that coating material to the outside surface of the stent. The method may comprise providing a mandrel having a diameter less than an interior diameter of the stent, providing the coating material around the mandrel, placing the stent around the mandrel and crimping the stent so that the inside surface of the stent contacts the coating material. Alternatively, the method may comprise providing an expandable device, providing the expandable device with the coating material such that the coating material is deliverable from the expandable device, placing the stent around the expandable device and expanding the expandable device such that the expandable device contacts the inside surface of the stent. Alternatively, the method may comprise providing an elongated material that is capable of having its diameter reduced under the application of a tensile force, providing the coating material around the elongated material, applying a tensile force to the elongated material, placing the stent around the elongated material and reducing or releasing the tensile force, thereby allowing the diameter of the elongated member to increase so that the coating material contacts the inside surface of the stent. The coating material may comprise an endothelial cell growth promoter.
