US08121971B2
An information integration environment identifies the current drilling sites, and drilling equipment and processes at those current drilling sites. Based upon that identification, and upon data received from the drilling sites, servers access and configure software agents that are sent to a host client system at the drilling site; these software agents operate at the host client system to acquire data from sensors at the drilling site, to transmit that data to the information integration environment, and to derive the drilling state and drilling recommendations for the driller at the drilling site. These software agents include one or more rules, heuristics, or calibrations derived by the inference engine, and called by the information integration environment. In addition, the software agents sent from the information integration environment to the host client system operate to display values, trends, and reliability estimates for various drilling parameters, whether measured or calculated.
US08121966B2
An automated disaster recovery (DR) planning system for a computing environment is provided. A discovery module discovers servers, networks, and storage devices in a computing environment. An expert knowledge base module captures best practices in planning, and capabilities, interoperability, limitation and boundary values for different DR technologies. A match-making module determines multiple DR plans as combinations of one or more replication technologies that can be used to satisfy DR requirements. And, an optimizer configured for assessing a feasible DR plan from said multiple DR plans, to deploy for DR planning of a primary computing environment.
US08121961B2
A Hierarchical Temporal Memory (HTM) network has at least first nodes and a second node at a higher level than the first nodes. The second node provides an inter-node feedback signal to the first nodes for grouping patterns and sequences (or co-occurrences) in input data received at the first nodes at the first nodes. The second node collects forward signals from the first nodes; and thus, the second node has information about the grouping of the patterns and sequences (or co-occurrences) at the first nodes. The second node provides inter-node feedback signals to the first nodes based on which the first nodes may perform the grouping of the patterns and sequences (or co-occurrences) at the first nodes.
US08121959B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating cost estimates. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method for producing a cost estimate, comprising selecting at least one cost object included in the cost estimate. The cost object requires evaluation of a first function stored in a cost estimation system. The selected cost object is described by a mapping between the first function and a second function in a costing platform. The mapping indicates a matching of local and remote fieldnames that describe a logical storage location of the cost object within the cost estimation system and the costing platform, respectively. The method further comprises determining whether the selected cost object requires evaluation of the second function, receiving cost data for the cost object from the costing platform, calculating the cost estimate using the cost data and the first function and producing the cost estimate via a user interface.
US08121953B1
One embodiment of the present invention includes a meeting planning tool that contains information about as many different aspects of a meeting as desired, including the cost of the meeting, both in direct expenses and indirect costs to the enterprise or organization, thus allowing a meeting planner to optimize the overall cost of the meeting to the lowest point in a total-cost-of-ownership approach to planning.
US08121938B1
Method and system for conducting a commercial transaction requiring a monetary loan online to allow a consumer or borrower to access a lending institution over a network connection and apply for a monetary loan online. The loan application is processed in real time and the borrower is notified of the type of loan, loan amount, interest rate, etc., that he/she is qualified for. Upon acceptance of the loan terms, the borrower is provided with a personal identification number (PIN) and a unique lender transaction ID that serves as confirmation of the loan. The lender transaction ID may then be taken to a suitable seller and used to conduct the transaction. The seller simply accesses the lending institution over a network connection, enters the lender transaction ID, the borrower's PIN, and other transaction-related information, and the lending institution automatically sends the appropriate payment to the seller.
US08121935B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for a sponsoring organization to: (1) utilize a rules-based computer system to capture trade orders from sub-advisors (money management firms) in order to implement a pre trade compliance review process, thereby enabling the sponsoring organization to prevent the execution of trade orders by a sub advisor that violates securities laws and/or account restrictions; and (2) determine and assign, based on expected market impact of a trade order to buy or sell securities, whether responsibility (discretion over the decisions related to how, when and with whom a trade order is executed) for executing the trade order is assigned to the money management firm for an investment portfolio or to the sponsoring organization of that portfolio. Trade orders are categorized in real-time as “high touch” (significant effort and market impact) or “low touch” (insignificant effort and market impact).
US08121930B2
The present disclosure is directed towards apparatuses, systems and methods to facilitate the pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity fuel to a Customer. In one embodiment, the disclosure teaches a Fuel Offer Generator that facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers can buy these fuel offers such that they may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels (e.g., they may be set to strike prices). The Fuel Offer Generator also can establish a Premium Price that will be part of the fuel offer. The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. Ultimately, a customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator determines which metrics are relevant to pricing the fuel offering and then employs those determined metrics to establish the pricing of fuel offerings.
US08121929B2
A trading system transitions from a first state to a second state and may award a participant, when one or more criteria and/or a status of trading rights are met, with an exclusive and/or semi-exclusive right in the second state to trade on an incoming contra order.
US08121926B2
A system and method for risk analysis of a portfolio of derivative products is disclosed which is conducted based on a set of flexible rules. The system and method allow creating predefined sets of products for the purpose of future risk offsets. If a futures trade as a subset of that set of products that met a threshold level, then the subset is assigned the offset value (or a pro rata or other portion of the offset value) of the predefined set. For example, assume that the predefined set consists of one S&P 500 futures, one NASDAQ futures, one S&P Midcap 400 futures and one Russell 1000 futures and the threshold is three. If the futures trader holds any three of those four futures, the three futures can be grouped, assigned an offset value, and this group can be used as one asset for purpose of further risk offsets.
US08121919B2
Methods and systems are disclosed which relate to online banking via interface surfaces printed with information and coded data. The coded data, encoded visibly or invisibly, may be queried by an appropriate sensing device. The sensing device communicates with a computer system. Together, the interface surfaces, sensing device and computer system are capable of effecting banking transactions over a network.
US08121908B2
A system is disclosed for storing and maintaining a plurality of field orders and a corresponding plurality of invoices. This system allows a supplier and a buyer to easily view and obtain copies of one or more of the field orders and their corresponding invoices when proper security constraints are satisfied. The system includes a computer server adapted to receive input data comprising a plurality of field orders and a corresponding plurality of invoices, the field orders and the invoices being stored in a memory of the server. A processor of the server will execute a software package stored in a memory of the server called a report generation software. When the report generation software is executed by the processor of the server, a ‘special report’ is available for display on the server's recorder or display device, that ‘special report’ being adapted to be viewed by either the buyer or the supplier. On that ‘special report’, there are three columns. A first column consists of a plurality of descriptions of goods or services. A second column consists of a plurality of field orders. A third column consists of a plurality of invoices corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of field orders. The ‘special report’ can be viewed by the buyer when the buyer accesses the supplier's server via the internet and initiates an ‘automatch’ function. However, before accessing the supplier's server, the buyer must first input certain security constraints, such as username and password.
US08121905B2
Various embodiments are described herein that provide one or more of a systems, methods, software, and data structures within an Internet marketplace context that are useful to promote products that may be associated with an event occurrence. Some embodiments further utilize collaborative filtering to augment event-based product recommendations.
US08121897B2
The present invention provides a method for delivering an advertisement to a user comprising providing an advertisement by the advertiser to the service system, followed by delivering the advertisement by the service system to a mobile phone of a user through mobile phone communication network. The user determines to browse the advertisement or not. The user watches and brows the advertisement via the display of the mobile phone.
US08121886B2
A system and method for confidence-based selection of items for use in conducting a computer-implemented survey. The survey presents information about a selected plurality of items to a survey participant, to elicit survey feedback information. Information regarding the plurality of items is stored, the stored information including display information about each of the plurality of items for presentation to a survey participant. A subset of items for presentation to a survey participant is selected in accordance with a predetermined selection algorithm. Information corresponding to the selected subset of items is displayed to the survey participant via a survey user interface. Rating information is input by the survey participant via the survey user interface indicating the survey participant's preferences as to items in the presented subset of items. The rating information is utilized in various manners to affect the selection algorithm for a subsequent survey.
US08121884B1
A method for estimation of component gating risk in manufacturing operations is disclosed. The method includes generating an altered component plan by altering a component plan for a component, computing a mean production value using the altered component plan, and computing the component gating risk using the mean production value.
US08121877B2
A policy-driven approach to Business Performance Management (BPM) evolution is to capture the mechanism of BPM solution evolutions. These policies are executed by the runtime infrastructure which transforms and interprets evolution policies and allows fine granularity controls on solution evolution. At transformation time, the relationship among the event processing progress and the runtime state is derived based on the observation model. Such relationship information allows verification of freshness of migrating data and parallelization of runtime state validation and event processing. Consistent and efficient evolution of BPM solutions transit while event processing is operational.
US08121874B1
A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for displaying phases of delivery of components of a system by first displaying a pictorial representation of an existing system including a plurality of components. Next, a first set of components are presented that are to be delivered in a first phase. This is accomplished by indicia coding the first set of components in a specific manner. Further, a second set of components are presented that are to be delivered in a second phase. This is carried out by indicia coding the second set of components in a manner unique with respect to the indicia coding of the first set of components.
US08121873B1
In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for rapid categorization of data center serviceability characteristics is disclosed. The method includes identifying one or more variables of interest relating to serviceability of data centers, identifying one or more archetypal data center patterns using historical data for the one or more variables of interest, wherein the one or more archetypal data center patterns do not include mythical measurements, collecting data for the one or more variables of interest from a target data center, and determining a best match of the collected data from the target data center to one of the archetypal data center patterns. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08121869B2
A computer-implemented method for profiling medical claims to assist health care managers in determining the cost-efficiency and service quality of health care providers. The method allows an objective means for measuring and quantifying health care services. An episode treatment group (ETG) is a patient classification unit, which defines groups that are clinically homogenous (similar cause of illness and treatment) and statistically stable. The ETG grouper methodology uses service or segment-level claim data as input data and assigns each service to the appropriate episode. The program identifies concurrent and recurrent episodes, flags records, creates new groupings, shifts groupings for changed conditions, selects the most recent claims, resets windows, makes a determination if the provider is an independent lab and continues to collect information until an absence of treatment is detected.
US08121868B1
Systems and methods for providing targeted content to a patient who has received a prescription for medication. The systems and methods generally provide the content prior to the Point of Sale (POS) of the actual prescription allow patients to review the content and possibly act on it prior to actually obtaining the medication. Depending on embodiment, the content may be provided by a pharmacy at or around the time of dispensing or by a physician at or around the time of prescribing.
US08121863B2
A computer-aided detection process for interpreting body images using knowledge based SMART algorithms. The process interprets, in real time, body scan images submitted from screening centers and other certified medical practitioners around the world, and then renders an accurate, reliable and reproducible analysis of each patient's health status relative to the specific body image submitted and returns the results to the originating source.
US08121861B2
A health management system includes a computerized management site having one or more servers executing software from coupled computer-readable media, and a data repository storing information regarding a plurality of enrolled persons, including at least medications and medication schedules for individual ones of the persons, and storing information regarding a plurality of associate or partner entities comprising at least physicians. In this system persons, in enrollment, enter personal data and medication data, the service stores the data in the repository associated with each enrolling person entering the data, associates the person with one or more physicians and other partner entities whom also enter data in enrollment, and enables enrolled persons to share their individual medication data with associated physicians and other partner entities.
US08121860B2
An expected outcome data system stores data representing a plurality of different expected outcomes of patient care and treatment for use in providing healthcare to a patient. An acquisition processor acquires data representing an expected outcome of treatment associated with a medical problem for storage in a repository. A repository, electrically coupled to the acquisition processor, includes data representing a plurality of different expected outcomes; an individual expected outcome has an expected outcome name and is characterized by expected outcome attributes; an individual expected outcome has a plurality of attribute properties determining how an expected outcome attribute is represented. Expected outcome attributes include a focus term indicating a topic of an expected outcome, an expected outcome likelihood term indicating an assessment of likelihood of the associated corresponding expected outcome, and a client term indicating at least one target person for care. The attribute properties include a format attribute property indicating a format constraint of an expected outcome attribute and a content attribute property indicating a content constraint of an expected outcome attribute. A retrieval processor, electrically coupled to the repository, retrieves data representing at least one expected outcome from the repository.
US08121859B2
The present invention relates to a system to control and optimize clinical pathways of a plurality of patients within a medical facility as well as across several medical facilities. The method of controlling and optimizing pathways uses real-time localization devices for patients, resources, such as clinical images and employees of the medical facility (e.g. a service technician, a senior consultant or the like). Based on the local position of patients, staff members and/or resources, the system proposes a medical system that generates clinical pathways for patients, is adapted to change clinical pathways and to provide schedules for patients as well as the use of resources.The invention provides further means of real-time information of patients about changes in their schedule. The method provided enables a medical facility to streamline their processes and to increase patient throughput.
US08121849B2
According to some embodiments, content filtering is provided for a digital audio signal.
US08121846B2
A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands.
US08121840B2
A system and method for speech recognition includes determining active Gaussians related to a first feature stream and a second feature stream by labeling at least one of the first and second streams, and determining active Gaussians co-occurring in the first stream and the second stream based upon joint probability. A number of Gaussians computed is reduced based upon Gaussians already computed for the first stream and a number of Gaussians co-occurring in the second stream. Speech is decoded based on the Gaussians computed for the first and second streams.
US08121838B2
A visual toolkit for prioritizing speech transcription from a plurality of speech recognition tasks is provided. The toolkit can include a logger (102) for capturing information from a speech recognition system, a processor (104) for determining an accuracy rating based at least in part on information that is independent of a confidence score associated with a recognized phrase and independent of confidence scores associated with a plurality of phrases in an N-best match, and a visual display (106) for categorizing the information and prioritizing a transcription of the information based on the accuracy rating. The prioritizing identifies spoken utterances having a transcription priority in view of the recognized result. The visual display can include a transcription category (156) having a modifiable textbox entry with a text entry initially corresponding to a text of the recognized result, and an accept button (157) for validating a transcription of the recognized result. The categories can be automatically ranked by the accuracy rating in an ordered priority for increasing an efficiency of transcription.
US08121835B2
Automatic level control of speech portions of an audio signal is provided. An audio signal is received in the form of a sequence of samples and may contain speech portion and non-speech portions. The sequence of samples is divided into a sequence of sub-frames. Multiple sub-frames adjacent to a present sub-frame are examined to determine a peak value of samples in the sub-frames. A gain factor is computed for the present sub-frame based on the peak value and a desired maximum value for said speech portion, and each sample in the present sub-frame is amplified by the gain factor. In an embodiment, variations in filtered energy values of multiple sub-frames enable determination of whether a sub-frame corresponds to a speech or non-speech/noise portion.
US08121833B2
The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method and an apparatus to perform operations including dividing a sound signal into a series of successive frames, dividing each frame into a number of subframes, producing a residual signal by filtering the sound signal through a linear prediction analysis filter, locating a last pitch pulse of the sound signal of a previous frame from the residual signal, extracting a pitch pulse prototype of given length around a position of the last pitch pulse of the previous frame using the residual signal, and locating pitch pulses in a current frame using the pitch pulse prototype.
US08121830B2
Methods and apparatus to extract data encoded in media content are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a media content signal, sampling the media content signal to generate digital samples, determining a frequency domain representation of the digital samples, determining a first rank of a first frequency in the frequency domain representation, determining a second rank of a second frequency in the frequency domain representation, combining the first rank and the second rank with a set of ranks to create a combined set of ranks, comparing the combined set of ranks to a set of reference sequences, determining a data represented by the combined set of ranks based on the comparison, and storing the data in a tangible memory.
US08121824B2
Predicate checking in conjunction with distributed systems can enable an investigating user to check predicates in the context of instance states and/or distributed states of a distributed system. In an example embodiment, a method entails accepting distributed system simulation data and performing a simulation of a distributed system using the distributed system simulation data to create distributed system simulated states. At least a portion of the distributed system simulated states are exposed. The exposed portion of the distributed system simulated states is retrieved and stored as exposed states for the distributed system. The exposed states for the distributed system are compared to predicate states for the distributed system. If an inconsistency is detected between the exposed states and the predicate states based on the comparing, at least one alarm is issued.
US08121821B1
Methods and apparatuses are described that enable the design of electrically small antennas in terms of their quality factor (Q) performance or other antenna parameter. A desired charge distribution is defined and thereafter the shape of the antenna is generated, based on the corresponding solution of a quasi-static field approximation. A degree of freedom in the shaping of the antenna is incorporated into the quasi-static field approximation, via a dimensional variable. This expression has a solution set containing the minimum Q factor. By selection of an appropriate value of the dimensional variable, antennas with minimum or otherwise tailored Q values can be quickly designed.
US08121819B2
An electrical drive system includes an electrical machine controlled by an electronic controller and requires control signals representing quantities associated with the operation of the electrical machine. These signals may represent, for example, rotor position and flux or current. A controller includes an estimation routine to use the known magnetic characteristics of the machine and a rotor position signal to provide an estimate of current or of supply voltage.
US08121807B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to cost-effective defect amelioration in manufactured electronic devices that include nanoscale components. Certain embodiments of the present invention are directed to amelioration of defects in electronic devices that contain nanoscale demultiplexers. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the nanoscale-demultiplexer-containing devices include reconfigurable encoders. In one embodiment of the present invention, the table of codes within a reconfigurable encoder is permuted, and a device is configured in accordance with the permuted codes, in order to produce a permuted table of codes that, when input to an appropriately configured nanoscale demultiplexer, produces correct outputs despite defects in the nanoscale demultiplexer.
US08121803B2
A method for calibrating a communication channel coupling first and second components includes transmitting a data signal from the first component to the second component on the communication channel, and sensing a characteristic, such as phase, of the data signal on the second component. Information about the sensed characteristic is fed back to the first component using an auxiliary channel. An adjustable parameter, such as phase, for the transmitter is adjusted on the first component in response to the information. Also, a characteristic of a data signal received from the transmitter on the second component is sensed and used to adjust an adjustable parameter for the receiver on the first component.
US08121793B2
Embodiments of computer systems for visualizing information and data from samples, such as nucleic acids, proteins, or other bio-polymers, are disclosed. One embodiment of a method comprises displaying first and second display areas on a display, displaying an axis dividing the first display area into first and second sub-areas, and displaying first and second axes, wherein the axes are substantially perpendicular to each other. The method further comprises displaying a plurality of bar graphs in the first display area, wherein a length of each bar graph in the first sub-area corresponds to the scalar data information of a first biological sample, and a length of each bar graph in the second sub-area corresponds to the scalar data information of a second biological sample; displaying, in the second display area, a plurality of markers, wherein each marker is related to one of the bar graphs.
US08121785B2
A bicycle computer having position-determining functionality is described. In an implementation, an apparatus includes a housing configured to attach to a bicycle. The apparatus has one or more modules to store training metrics of a user of the bicycle as a function of geographic position.
US08121780B2
A method for offering a user reward based on a chosen navigation route includes calculating alternative routes from a starting location to a destination location by taking into consideration route segments including public transportation route segments and road network route segments. The alternative routes are presented to a user. A reward is offered for choosing a respective one of the routes. A navigation system that performs the route calculation preferably queries a network database for public transportation information.
US08121779B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus capable of communicating with an information management apparatus storing service information including place information, service content information, and start time information; the information processing apparatus including a communication portion; a position measurement portion for generating positional information; a data acquiring portion for acquiring, based on an input search condition, service information satisfying the search condition from the information management apparatus; and a list generating portion for generating a presentation list recorded with information on a service providing place capable of receiving the service at a provision start time based on the positional information, the place information and the start time information of the acquired service information, and time information defining a time the positional information is generated.
US08121778B2
A method for optimized use of the airside capacities of an airport, in which by means of electronic data processing system a current operating capacity of the airport and a current traffic demand are calculated. Information for an optimized use of the available resources is determined and outputted based on the current operating capacity and the current traffic demand. Further provided are an information system and a control system for optimum runway use and a software program for executing the method.
US08121771B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the calculation of aircraft braking friction and other relating landing parameters, including but not limited to aircraft braking action, aircraft takeoff distance, aircraft landing distance, runway surface conditions and runway surface friction based on the data collected by and available in the aircraft Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or other flight data management system, for example, the Quick Access Recorder (QAR), to provide all involved personnel in the ground operations of an airport and airline operations, including but not limited to aircraft pilots, airline operation officers and airline managers as well as airport operators, managers and maintenance crews, with the most accurate and most recent information on the true aircraft landing performance parameters to help better and more accurate safety and economical decision making.
US08121766B2
A method for operating an engine includes defining a two-dimensional search region based upon an input power transmittable between the internal combustion engine and an electromechanical transmission. The method further includes iteratively dividing the two-dimensional search region into a plurality of subregions based upon one of the input power and the input speed, iteratively determining an engine operating point within each of the subregions, iteratively calculating an operating cost to operate the internal combustion engine and the electromechanical transmission to meet the operator torque request for each engine operating point within each of the subregions, and iteratively identifying the subregion having a minimum operating cost to meet the operator torque request. A preferred engine operating point is determined based upon the engine operating point within the identified subregion having the minimum operating cost to meet the operator torque request.
US08121762B2
A method of automatically engaging a parking lock of an automatic or automated transmission of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged by way of a selector device depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and the surroundings, five different variation of an Auto-P function are proposed for automatically engaging the parking lock: two of these variations are associated with an electrically interrupted ignition circuit of the motor vehicle; two variations are associated with an electrically closed ignition circuit and a simultaneously stopped vehicle drive motor and one variations is associated with an electrically closed ignition circuit and a simultaneously operating drive motor.
US08121760B2
An adaptive steering control system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes, but is not limited to a sensor for detecting a current value of an operation quantity of a steering wheel, an actor for turning steered wheels and a controller for selecting, according to the speed of the vehicle, a map (g1, g2) assigning to a detected current value of the operation quantity a setpoint value of the operation quantity for the actor, and for issuing a setpoint signal to the actor. The controller is adapted to decide whether the vehicle is in a state of motion requiring a high level of attention from the driver or not, to inhibit a switchover of the map (g1, g2) while the vehicle is in the high attention-requiring state, and to allow such a switchover while the vehicle is not in the high attention-requiring state.
US08121748B2
The present invention provides a startup sequence control method of fuel cell-super capacitor hybrid electric vehicles, which can protect a fuel cell at the time of the starting of the fuel cell, reduce the start-up time and promote convenience of a driver in a fuel cell-super capacitor serial hybrid system which does not employ a high-voltage power converter. The startup sequence control method comprises the steps of: determining whether or not a low-voltage auxiliary battery is in a state where its voltage is less than a reference voltage or in a cold start condition after a key-on signal has been input; if the auxiliary battery is in the state where its voltage is less than a reference voltage or in the cold start condition, matching the voltage of a main bus terminal to the voltage of an auxiliary power source through the voltage boost of a power converter; turning on a relay for cutting off the voltage of the auxiliary power source and a main relay of a precharge unit for the auxiliary power source; and turning off the power converter and then driving a fuel cell auxiliary component using the auxiliary power source to thereby boost a fuel cell voltage.
US08121743B2
A power restoration method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor of a computing apparatus, a signal indicating that a power outage has ended and that an input voltage signal used for powering power consumption devices at a first specified location power will be enabled. The computer processor disables input voltage signal connections to the power consumption devices and detects that the input voltage signal is enabled. The computer processor enables a first input voltage signal connection associated with a first power consumption device and monitors a frequency signal associated with the input voltage signal. The computer processor generates frequency level data comprising a frequency level of the frequency signal and compares the frequency level to a predetermined frequency level value. The computer processor generates results data comprising results of comparing the frequency level to a predetermined frequency level value.
US08121738B2
A method of controlling a wind turbine farm includes programming at least one algorithm within at least one processor. The wind turbine farm has at least one wind turbine that includes a generator. The at least one algorithm is representative of a relationship between at least one electric power grid tolerance range and an electric power generation rating. The method also includes determining the electric power grid tolerance range. The method further includes generating at least one wind turbine farm tolerance adjustment signal representative of a wind turbine farm tolerance range. The method also includes changing the wind turbine farm tolerance range.
US08121737B2
A method for presenting saving opportunities for electronic devices is disclosed. Experience based data learned from past power behavior of one or more devices is received. One or more power saving opportunities are generated based on the experience based data. Estimated cost savings is calculated. A notification message is presented to a user that describes the power saving opportunities and associated cost savings for the opportunities.
US08121735B2
A control device is configured to control an air conditioner that includes an air conditioner outdoor unit and an air conditioner indoor unit. The control device includes a microcomputer and a storage element. The microcomputer causes a signal to be transmitted and received between an outdoor communication unit of the air conditioner outdoor unit and an indoor communication unit of the air conditioner indoor unit. The storage element stores specific information in response to command from the microcomputer. The microcomputer causes the storage element to store operation information including a state of transmission and reception of the signal of the air conditioner at a constant time interval.
US08121729B2
A remote diagnostic system for robots including a number of at least two robots, wherein a controller of each robot of the system is locally connected to a service unit provided with local processing power, a remote service center provided with a connector server is arranged, and a communications infrastructure for transferring packets of information between a controller of a robot of the system and connector server via the service unit is arranged for performing remote monitoring and diagnostics at the remote service center, wherein the communications infrastructure uses internet and/or GPRS communication lines.
US08121716B2
Software applications (A1-A6), especially MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) applications often exist in a heterogeneous form. The inventive system and method enable a user at a work station (AV1-AV3, PIW1, PIW2) to manage and monitor a number of different applications. Applications from the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) level and from the automation level can also be integrated. In addition, a user can define and monitor workflows (operations for carrying out, e.g. production orders).
US08121715B2
A radio signal transmitter for an audio source generator includes a reception antenna for receiving a plurality of broadcasting signals, a decision unit coupled to the reception antenna for determining intensities of the plurality of broadcasting signals received by the reception antenna, a selection unit coupled to the decision unit for determining an operating frequency according to a decision result of the decision unit, a modulation unit coupled to the selection unit and the audio source generator for transforming an audio signal provided by the audio source generator into a broadcasting signal according to the operating frequency determined by the selection unit, and a transmission antenna coupled to the modulation unit for emitting the broadcasting signal outputted from the modulation unit in the air.
US08121713B2
An electronic apparatus having a CPU for controlling each portion of the apparatus has a storage unit for storing at least one of firmware or data to be used by the CPU, an input terminal to which a digital signal with a predetermined format is input, a processing unit for performing a predetermined process on the digital signal input from the input terminal, an extracting unit for extracting data located at predetermined timings in one frame of the digital signal input from the input terminal, and outputting the data as extracted data, and a rewriting unit for analyzing the extracted data and rewriting at least one of the firmware or the data in the storage unit based on a result of the analysis and the extracted data. The CPU at least serves as the extracting unit.
US08121712B2
A system and method is described for determining a scoring efficiency of a team engaged in a sport, such as baseball, softball or other sport in which runners attempt to advance from a series of base positions. A memory or database stores a total number of runs scored from scoring position and a total number of individual base runners that reached base from a single at-bat, over a predetermined interval, such as an inning, a series of innings, a game or a series of games. A processor, coupled to the memory, determine scoring efficiency by determining a ratio between the number of runs scored from scoring position and the total number of individual base runners that reached base from a single at-bat. An output device operatively connected the processor receives the scoring efficiency calculated by the processor and transmits or displays the scoring efficiency for evaluation of a team's efficiency in scoring from scoring position or preventing scoring from scoring position. A team's offensive, defensive, or overall scoring efficiency can be determined.
US08121704B2
Apparatus and methods for treating skin conditions that deliver high frequency energy to a patient's tissue. The apparatus has a treatment tip configured to be removably coupled with a handpiece and a conduit inside the handpiece. The treatment tip includes an electrode configured to deliver the high frequency energy to a region of the tissue, a channel for circulating heat transfer fluid proximate to the electrode, and an inlet passage to the channel. The conduit includes a tubular sidewall with a lumen used to transfer the heat transfer fluid from the handpiece to the inlet passage of the treatment tip. When the treatment tip is coupled to the handpiece, a septum covering the inlet passage is configured to be pierced by the conduit to define an opening for coupling the conduit with the inlet passage. When the treatment tip is removed from the handpiece, the septum substantially seals the opening.
US08121701B2
An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold.
US08121691B2
An implantable medical device (IMD) is configured to operate as an automatic voiding diary for logging urinary and/or fecal voiding events. The IMD detects urinary and/or fecal voiding events and generates data that identifies detected events as voluntary or involuntary events. In particular, the IMD generates the identification data based on a patient defined action. In one embodiment, the patient defined action is the patient tapping on the skin located above the IMD. The IMD may generate the identification data based on one or more characteristics of the tapping, e.g., the number, frequency, duration, or pattern of taps. The IMD may also generate the identification data based on a lack of input during a specific range of time after a detected voiding event. In some embodiments, the identification data may be used to identify a false positive, i.e., an event that was incorrectly detected by the IMD.
US08121690B2
Methods are provided for treating a subject for a fertility condition. In accordance with the subject methods, at least a portion of a subject's autonomic nervous system is modulated to increase the sympathetic activity/parasympathetic activity ratio in a manner that is effective to treat the subject for the condition. Embodiments of the subject invention include modulating a subject's autonomic nervous system using electrical energy and/or one or more pharmacological agents. The subject methods find use in the treatment of a variety of different fertility conditions. Also provided are kits for use in practicing the subject methods.
US08121676B2
An improved device for indicating and measuring small variations in the resistance of a living body is disclosed which utilizes a central processing unit to digitally process sensed body resistances and drive a resistance-indicating display while compensating for the effects of component aging, component tolerances and component temperatures. The device includes an automatic calibration circuit that is automatically activated on each powering up of the device to measure and store measurement values for a plurality of synthesized body resistances that are used to form a compensation model against which sensed body resistances are, subsequently compared for automatic adjustment of display driving measurement values. The central processing unit additionally adjusts the gain of the meter-driving signal by a gain factor dependant on a user-selected meter-sensitivity setting to avoid previously experienced difficulties in monitoring small changes in body resistance caused by difficulty in setting the initially desired meter reading at certain meter-range values, as well as occasional false and unexpected reversals of meter reading as the meter's range was adjusted.
US08121666B2
An image observation apparatus comprising an image display unit for displaying an observation image and a supporting mechanism for supporting the image display unit movably and adjustably in the directions of three, substantially perpendicular axes. Since the supporting mechanism of this image observation apparatus can move and adjust the image display unit in three orthogonal axial directions, an operator need not select a plurality of articulates for operating them when he/she wants to move the image display unit to a desired axial direction. Further, one of the three axes can be a rotational axis for turnably supporting the image display unit around the operator. According to this configuration, the image display unit can be independently moved and adjusted in three axial directions, while the observation angle of the observer with respect to the display face of the image display unit is kept constant.
US08121650B2
A menu displaying method in a mobile terminal. When a user opens a menu function, a list of menu items is displayed on a display. Upon user selection of a menu item from the list, the selected menu item is perceivably displayed. It is determined whether a sub-menu of the menu item has been set as status information of the menu item. If the sub-menu has been set as the status information, a bubble window having the status information is displayed near the menu item.
US08121647B2
A processing unit transmits, from at least one of a plurality of antennas, data corresponding respectively to the plurality of antennas. A control unit generates request signals with which to let a second radio apparatus supply information on rates at the second radio apparatus. When transmitting the request signal, the processing unit also transmits, from a plurality of antennas which includes antennas other than the antennas that transmit the data, known signals corresponding respectively to the plurality of antennas.
US08121639B2
A system and method for wirelessly connecting a computer device to a server. The system includes a computer device and a phone number look-up device. The computer device generates location data, retrieves a server phone number from memory based on the generated location data, and generates a request that includes the generated location data if no server phone number corresponds to the generated location data. The computer device wirelessly sends the generated request to a default phone number. The phone number look-up device is associated with the default phone number. The phone number look-up device receives the request from the computer device, retrieves a server phone number from a local memory based on the received request, and sends the retrieved server phone number to the computer device. The computer device wirelessly connects to a server based on the sent server phone number.
US08121633B2
A multi-RAT capable wireless device and a method for execution in a multi-RAT capable wireless device are provided. The wireless device maintains a registration history of all wireless network,RAT combinations through which the wireless device has previously attempted to register with data communication service registration point. Upon an event triggering network registration, the wireless device identifies a set of available wireless network,RAT combinations, selects an available wireless network,RAT combination from the set of available wireless network,RAT combinations having regard to the registration history and a preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device and attempts to register with the data communication service registration point through the available wireless network,RAT combination that has been selected. If the attempt is successful, the wireless device receives an update to the preferred network,RAT combination list and updates the preferred network,RAT combination list stored at the wireless device.
US08121623B2
The invention relates to a method for reduction of the incoming delay time in network-initiated data transmission in GPRS-mobile communication networks, wherein data transmission is initiated to a mobile communication terminal device in a ready state via a requesting network node, wherein the first data packet to be sent by the requesting network node has already been transmitted to the base station subsystem together with a Paging Request message.
US08121621B2
A position of a mobile communication terminal in an environment where the terminal cannot communicate with a GPS is defined more narrowly than a sector area of a base station in which the mobile communication terminal is located so that the position of the mobile communication terminal can be estimated more accurately. Even if a mobile communication terminal is in an environment where the terminal cannot communicate with a GPS, the latitude and longitude of the center of a sector of the wireless base station in which the mobile communication terminal is located is obtained according to a predetermined calculation by a base station database device, and the obtained latitude and longitude is sent back as an estimated latitude and longitude of the mobile communication terminal to the mobile communication terminal via the wireless base station.
US08121620B2
A system, method, service and mobile device are disclosed for providing a location of the mobile device. The invention utilizes a mobile phone with a global positioning system (GPS) module which is located in a wireless network. A third party device is able to submit a location query to a mobile telephone service operator (MTSO). This location query includes the mobile phone's telephone number. Using the telephone number, the MTSO determines the base station with which the mobile phone is associated. The location query is then forwarded to the mobile phone via the base station. The mobile phone collects the GPS data from the GPS module and forwards the GPS data to the base station. The base station converts the GPS data to location information and forwards the location information to the third party device via the MTSO.
US08121614B2
A method of using radio signals transmitted for reception by mobile user equipment that includes receiving, with mobile user equipment (UE), radio signals having at least one format; monitoring, with the mobile user equipment, at least one property of the received radio signals; identifying a pattern in said monitored property or properties; and in response to identifying said pattern, triggering at least one action according to the identified pattern, and/or providing the UE with an indication of a location of the UE based at least part of the identified pattern.
US08121609B2
A system and method for determining the location of a location tracking device employs a satellite based location determining infrastructure and a wireless data communications network. A location tracking device which cannot easily obtain valid ephemeris data from the satellite based location determining infrastructure requests the necessary data from a data set stored at a tracking device hub via the wireless communications network. The tracking device hub determines and transmits an estimated position of the location tracking device to the location tracking device, along with the appropriate required valid ephemeris data, to allow the location tracking device to determine its location. If the location tracking device is still unable to make a location determination from the satellite based location determining infrastructure, then the estimated location can be provided. The base station topography is self-determined by a process executing in the system and can include base stations from different networks.
US08121608B2
A method for dynamically monitoring a group of wirelessly communicating mobile entities, characterized in that it comprises: assigning each entity a unique identifier; saving within a referring entity the list of the identifiers of all of the entities in the group; determining, for each entity, a vicinity with a predetermined radius; repeatedly, for each entity in the group: detecting the other entities located in its vicinity; transmitting a message to the detecting entities, said message containing at least the identifier of the entity, to be relayed to the referring entity; collecting, within the referring entity, the messages relayed to it; creating a list of identifiers contained within the messages; comparing this list to the saved list; if the lists are identical, determining the cohesive group; otherwise, determining the non-cohesive group.
US08121598B2
Techniques are provided herein to allow more than a fixed number of radio access point devices to be deployed within a macro cell. At a controller apparatus, a registration request is received from a radio access point device configured to operate in a wireless network to serve one or more wireless client devices in the wireless network in respective relatively small coverage areas. The registration request comprises a macro cell identifier associated with a macro base station apparatus configured to operate in the wireless network to serve one or more wireless client devices in a relatively large coverage area, a radio access point cell identifier associated with the radio access point device, and a particular primary scrambling code selected for use by the radio access point device. When the particular primary scrambling code is not available for use, methods are provided to allocate it in a shared manner but without degrading handover service.
US08121597B2
The invention comprises a method for registering and deregistering user equipment from a communications system and comprises the steps of sending a request to a first node to register or deregister the user equipment from or to the communications system, determining at the first node to determine if the request is a request to register or a request to deregister, and carrying out at one least predetermined operation at a second node only if the request is a request to register.
US08121594B2
The present invention provides a method for providing roaming services to one or more subscribers, correspondingly associated with the one or more HPMNs, while the one or more subscribers are registered with the VPMN. The method includes allocating a pool of GTs to a Gateway Location Register (GLR) that is associated with the VPMN, where the pool of Global Titles (GTs) corresponds to at least one of: one or more VLRs associated with the VPMN, one or more SGSNs associated with the VPMN, one or more HPMNs, and one or more HLRs associated with an HPMN from the one or more HPMNs. The method further includes facilitating mobile communication of the one or more subscribers in the VPMN using the allocated pool of GTs.
US08121592B2
A mobile terminal, to which a phone number of a private IP network and a phone number of a public network are allocated, detects whether the mobile terminal moves from a communication area of a IP wireless base station of a private IP network while the mobile terminal communicates with an IP terminal connected to an IP-PBX of the private IP network through an IP wireless base station of the private IP network. The mobile terminal notifies the IP-PBX that it moves from the communication area of the IP wireless base station to the communication area of the public wireless base station when the mobile terminal detects said movement. The IP-PBX sends instruction for a gateway device, which connects communication between the private IP network and the public network, to call the phone number of the public network of the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal responds to the call from the gateway device through the public wireless base station while the mobile terminal communicates with the IP terminal through the IP wireless base station. The mobile terminal and the gateway device are connected so as to communicate mutually. The IP-PBX switches a communication path between the mobile terminal and the IP terminal from a communication path through the IP wireless base station to a communication path through the public wireless base station.
US08121589B2
A mobile station receives dedicated signaling from the network to obtain measurement configuration data specified for it. The measurement configuration data stored in the mobile station include: measurement object elements each designating communication resources on which measurements are requested by the network; reporting configuration elements each defining reporting criteria to trigger a measurement report from the mobile station to the network and a reporting format indicating at least one quantity included in the measurement report; and measurement identity elements each identifying a relationship between a measurement object element and a reporting configuration element such that any measurement report sent from the mobile station in accordance with this reporting configuration element includes at least one quantity measured on communication resources designated by the corresponding measurement object element. Storage by the mobile station of at least one measurement identity element identifying a relationship between a stored element, being a measurement object element or a reporting configuration element, and an unspecified element is enabled.
US08121579B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit including an active mixer circuit that is operated at low voltage, low noise, and low power consumption. It includes a transconductance amplifier, a transformer, and a multiplier, connects a transformer between the transconductance amplifier and the multiplier, and separates between the transconductance amplifier and the multiplier with respect to direct current inside the transformer. Further, each of the tranconductance amplifier and the multiplier is configured of transistors that are single-stacked between the supply voltage terminal and ground terminal.
US08121577B1
The present invention is a controllable input impedance RF mixer, which when fed from a high impedance source, such as a current source, provides a high quality factor (Q) impedance response associated with an impedance peak. The high-Q impedance response may be used as a high-Q RF bandpass filter in a receive path upstream of down conversion, which may improve receiver selectivity and replace surface acoustic wave (SAW) or other RF filters. The present invention uses polyphase reactive circuitry, such as capacitive elements, coupled to the down conversion outputs of an RF mixer. The RF mixer mixes RF input signals with local oscillator signals to translate the impedance of the polyphase reactive circuitry into the RF input impedance of the RF mixer. The RF input impedance includes at least one impedance peak. The local oscillator signals are non-overlapping to maximize the energy transferred to the polyphase reactive circuitry.
US08121576B2
A method of increasing linearity of an RF signal receive path includes measuring a signal amplified by the receive path. The receive path has a local oscillator operating at an LO frequency and a ground. An error signal is determined from the amplified signal, the error signal being representative of the nonlinearity. An anti-spur tone is injected into the ground. The anti-spur tone has a frequency about equal to the LO frequency and an amplitude and phase that are determined to increase the linearity of the receive path.
US08121573B2
Methods and systems for coexistence in a multiband, multistandard communication system utilizing a plurality of phase locked loops (PLLs) are disclosed. Aspects may include determining one or more desired frequencies of operation of a transceiver, determining a frequency of unwanted signals such as spurs, intermodulation, and/or mixing product signals, and configuring the PLLs to operate at a multiple of the desired frequencies while avoiding the unwanted signals. The desired frequencies may be generated utilizing integer, which may include multi-modulus dividers. The wireless standards may include LTE, GSM, EDGE, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and/or WCDMA, for example. The frequencies may be configured to mitigate interference. PLLs may be shared when operating in TDD mode, and used separately operating in FDD mode. One or more digital interface signals, zero exceptions on a transmitter spur emission mask, and sampling clocks for ADCs and/or DACs in the transceiver may be generated utilizing the PLLs.
US08121572B2
A signal strength detecting device of a communication system is disclosed. The signal strength detecting device is coupled to a frequency down mixer of the communication system and the frequency down mixer is used for receiving and converting a first signal to a second signal whose frequencies are lower than frequencies of the first signal. The signal strength detecting device comprises a frequency up converter for receiving and converting the second signal to a third signal whose frequencies are higher than the frequencies of the second signal and a detecting unit for detecting strength of the third signal and generating a signal strength indicator to the communication system according to a detecting result corresponding to the strength of the third signal, wherein the signal strength indicator represents the strength of the first signal received by the frequency down mixer.
US08121570B2
A system for processing signals is disclosed and may include a single chip having an integrated Bluetooth radio and an integrated FM radio. The single chip may include at least one processor that enables selecting from a range of FM channels, a particular frequency for one of the FM channels based on an intermediate frequency (IF). The particular frequency may be selected so that it is an integer multiple of a channel spacing between neighboring allocated FM channels within the range of FM channels, and may be offset by at most one-half the channel spacing. The at least one processor may enable determining a frequency error of the selected particular frequency for the one of the FM channels. The at least one processor may also enable determining, whether the particular frequency includes an on-frequency channel based on the determined frequency error.
US08121562B2
Embodiments of a system and method for communicating over a fading channel are generally described herein. A transmitter uses a water-filling technique at lower power levels when the channel is not experiencing fading and uses channel-inversion technique at higher power levels when the channel is experiencing some fading. The transmitter refrains from communicating when the channel is experiencing deep fading. An average transmit power specification is maintained over a predetermined period of time even though transmissions using the channel-inversion technique may significantly exceed the average transmit power specification.
US08121560B1
A pre-distorter is provided for distorting an RF input signal to provide a pre-distorted radio frequency (RF) input signal to an amplifier that provides an amplified RF output signal, wherein the RF input signal has an envelope. The pre-distorter includes: a radio-frequency signal processing circuit that distorts the RF input signal according to a polynomial of powers of the envelope, each power of the envelope being weighted by a corresponding pre-distortion weight; and a performance monitor operable to compare a version of the amplified RF output signal to a delayed version of the RF input signal to provide an error signal, wherein the performance monitor is configured to iteratively adapt the coefficients based upon a gradient of a cost function, the cost function being a function of the error signal.
US08121554B2
A data rate is to be determined depending on circumstances. A control unit (30) transmits, at a predetermined frequency, a request signal by which to supply information on a data rate to a targeted radio apparatus compatible with a variable data rate. The control unit (30) receives rate information from the targeted radio apparatus. The control unit (30) sets a data rate used in the case of transmitting data, based on the information on a data rate contained in the rate information. The control unit (30) identifies the reliability level of the data rate contained in the rate information. And when the reliability level is low, the control unit (30) lowers the frequency at which the rate request signal is transmitted.
US08121548B2
A radio communication system includes a plurality of Bluetooth radio devices. Each device has a microphone, an audio output, such as a loudspeaker, and a short range radio transceiver capable of communicating digital data with a plurality of compatible neighboring radio devices. Each radio device is configured to receive outgoing audio data from a first neighboring radio device, to mix an input audio signal received at the microphone with the received outgoing audio data, and to transmit the combined audio data to a second neighboring radio device. Each radio device is further configured to receive incoming audio data from the second radio device, to output an output audio signal corresponding to the received incoming audio data to the audio output, and to re-transmit the received incoming audio data to the first radio device. The radio devices form a communication chain, and each radio device is in communication with a maximum of one first radio device and one second radio device. A start radio device which has no first neighboring radio device is configured to transmit to the second radio device audio data corresponding to only the input audio signal. An end radio device which has no second neighboring radio device is configured to re-transmit the combined audio data to the first radio device. The system provides an audio network that can include a large number of participant devices.
US08121547B2
Systems and methods for establishing conference calls using a headset are presented. The headset includes a wireless communications transceiver operable to form a first local wireless link with a first local telephone in communication with a first far end telephone user and a second local wireless link with a second local telephone in communication with a second far end telephone user. The headset further includes a processor operable to establish a conference call between the headset user, the first far end telephone user, and the second far end telephone user.
US08121543B2
An apparatus, a method and a computer program, the apparatus including: an interface configured to detect a first electrical signal, the first electrical signal being provided by a transceiver; secure transaction circuitry having a first power state and a second power state, the secure transaction circuitry being configured, when in the second power state, to perform a transaction, using the transceiver, with a further apparatus; memory circuitry having power states; and control circuitry configured, in response to detecting the first electrical signal, to control the secure transaction circuitry to switch from being in the first power state to being in the second power state, without changing a power state of the memory circuitry.
US08121536B2
A quality measure, such as a signal-to-noise ratio, of a signal arriving at a gateway for a return link is used to adjust a data rate for the link. The return link is transferred from a terminal to the gateway through a satellite, and shared by a number of user terminals at any given time, including the terminal for which the data rate is adjusted. The terminals sharing the link have a certain interference relationship. Adjusting a data rate for a message sent from one or more terminals through the return link in the presence of signal degradation or power loss does not appreciably change the interference relationship among the plurality of terminals.
US08121535B2
Methods and systems are provided to configure a frequency repeater. The frequency repeater is configured with an identity of a service provider and receives a message that defines a set of frequencies to be repeated, the frequencies are associated with a service provider that matches the preconfigured identity. A digital filter receives an incoming signal from the service provider, and filters and repeats the frequencies defined in the received message. The frequency receiver can also determine a set of frequencies to be filtered and repeated based on a cell search procedure performed with a modem that resides in the repeater. A policy established by the service provider can also be utilized to facilitate defining the set of figures to be repeated. By utilizing a signal quality metric and an isolation metric associated, with the performance of a receive and transmit antenna utilized by the repeater, the set of frequencies to be filtered and repeated can be adapted in real time.
US08121534B2
A system and method for adding images to a wireless audio service. The invention is adapted for use in a system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving an audio data stream and includes an arrangement for providing an image and a mechanism for inserting the image into the data stream prior to transmission thereof. In the illustrative embodiment, a third arrangement is provided for receiving and decoding the data stream to extract and a fourth arrangement is included for displaying the image while the audio signal is output. The fourth arrangement may be a digital radio, i.e., a radio adapted to process digital signals, such as a satellite radio, high definition radio, digital AM or other suitable primarily audio wireless communication system. In a specific embodiment, the invention includes an arrangement for automatically inserting a selected image in the stream. In the illustrative embodiment, this arrangement includes a source selector, an image editor coupled to the source selector, an image resizer, an image compressor, and an arrangement for allowing a user to add text, color, style and/or other information to an image output by the compressor. The invention further includes an arrangement for adding images from an archive to the stream and a graphical picture show composer for providing an image queue. An image server is included for feeding the image queue to the output data stream provided by a system server such as an XM or Sirius satellite radio server.
US08121530B2
In an image forming method, an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photoreceptor is developed into a developer image with a developer, and a printing paper transported on a transfer belt is brought into contact with the surface of the photoreceptor so as to transfer the developer image onto the printing paper. The printing paper is transported in a proper transport direction, in which a projection generated in one direction on the printing paper as a result of cutting the printing paper in a printing paper manufacturing process does not face a surface of the transfer belt at a leading edge of the printing paper being transported on the transfer belt. In this way, even in the presence of the projection generated when the printing paper is cut, the printing paper naturally strips off from the surface of the photoreceptor, thereby preventing toner contamination caused by a striping claw in contact with the leading edge of the printing paper.
US08121528B2
Apparatuses useful for printing and methods of treating marking material on media are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatuses useful for printing includes a roll including a first outer surface; a continuous belt including an inner surface and a second outer surface forming a nip by contact with the first outer surface, the belt being driven to rotate by rotation of the roll; a heater disposed inside of the belt and comprising a first heating surface contacting the inner surface of the belt at the nip; and a heating fin in thermal contact with the heater, the heating fin including a second heating surface extending circumferentially in contact with a pre-nip portion of the inner surface of the belt. Thermal energy is conducted from the heater to the heating fin. The second heating surface pre-heats the pre-nip portion of the belt before the pre-nip portion is rotated to the nip, and the first heating surface of the heater heats the pre-heated, pre-nip portion at the nip.
US08121527B2
An exit blade is arranged on a downstream side of a transfer nip formed between a photosensitive element and a primary transfer roller, with an intermediate transfer belt being put therebetween, and brought into contact with an internal surface of the intermediate transfer belt. A neutralizing bias of the same polarity as that of the toner is applied to the exit blade, rather than a primary transfer bias voltage.
US08121524B2
A developer supply container includes a container body, a developer conveyance member, and a clog prevention member. The container body includes an outlet port and contains developer therein. The developer conveyance member includes a rotational shaft and a conveyance-member body. The conveyance-member body is supported by the rotational shaft and has flexibility. The developer conveyance member is disposed in the container body and conveys the developer to the outlet port for discharge. The clog prevention member is formed in the conveyance-member body in a position corresponding to the outlet port. The clog prevention member goes into the outlet port to protrude to outside of the container body as the rotational shaft rotates.
US08121522B2
A transfer apparatus of the invention includes a primary transfer unit, and a secondary transfer unit that includes a transfer roller having a bearing and being capable of contacting with and separating from the primary transfer unit, the primary transfer unit includes a guide member receiving the bearing at a position opposite to the bearing, and the guide member has a protrusion on a surface with which the bearing contacts when the transfer roller contacts with and separates from the primary transfer unit.
US08121517B2
A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a driving shaft having a rotational force applying portion by moving in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the driving shaft. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a coupler engageable with the rotational force applying portion to receive a rotational force for rotating the drum and taking transmitting, pre-engagement, and disengaging positions, and a regulator regulating an inclination angle of the coupler. During cartridge mounting, the coupler moves from the pre-engagement to the transmitting position to oppose the driving shaft, and during cartridge dismounting, the coupler moves from the transmitting to the disengaging position to disengage from the driving shaft.
US08121514B2
A developing device has a housing including a toner container containing toner, and a developing unit. The developing unit includes a developing roller and a photoconductive drum, and a barrier member including a toner supply window. The barrier member is combined with the housing to separate the toner container and the developing unit from each other. The developing unit also includes a blocking film that is attached to the barrier member to block the toner supply window. An end of the blocking film is exposed outside the housing through an opening formed in a sidewall of the housing. A bottom surface and first and second side surfaces of the barrier member are attached to a bottom surface and first and second side surfaces of the housing by using a welding process, and a distance between the first and second side surfaces of the barrier member and a distance between the first and second side surfaces of the housing increase from bottom to top.
US08121510B2
For a sheet circulating transfer route that includes a sheet transfer portion of a printing mechanism provided with a transfer belt for transfer of a sheet as positioned thereto, a transfer section provided with drive rollers for transfer of a sheet as image-formed by an image former of the printing mechanism, and a sheet invert portion operable for inversion of the sheet as image-formed, there is a drive controller adapted, in conformity to a condition that a sheet to be positioned in the printing mechanism is equal in length to or longer than a path distance from the image former to the drive rollers, to set a transfer speed of the sheet as image-formed by the drive rollers up as an identical speed to a transfer speed of the sheet as positioned by the transfer belt, and in non-conformity to the condition, to set it up as a greater speed than the transfer speed by the transfer belt.
US08121506B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries a developed image that has been developed on a surface thereof using a developer; a transfer member that transfers the developed image from the image carrier to a belt-shaped member; an electric power supply unit that supplies electric power to the transfer member; a measurement unit that measures a combined resistance value of the image carrier, the belt-shaped member, and the transfer member; and a controller that controls the electric power supply unit. The controller controls the electric power supply unit such that the electric power supplied to the transfer member is changed from a predetermined first supply value to a second supply value, the second supply value being larger than the first supply value, when the combined resistance value measured by the measurement unit is lower than a predetermined combined resistance value.
US08121500B2
To provide a technology that can realize appropriate developer supply processing according to conditions within a developing unit by a simple method. In an image forming apparatus that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoconductor with a developing unit, information on an amount of consumption of a developer in the developing unit is acquired, first developer supply information indicating an amount of developer to be supplied to the developing unit is calculated based on the acquired information, information on concentration of the developer contained within the developing unit is acquired, second developer supply information indicating an amount of developer to be supplied to the developing unit is calculated based on the acquired information, and information indicating an amount of developer to be supplied to the developing unit is determined based on the calculated first and second developer supply information.
US08121499B2
An image forming apparatus corrects a development contrast for normal image formation so as to satisfy the following relationships: VcontG2=VcontG1×VcontP2/VcontP1×α, and 0.9≦α≦1.1, where VcontP1 is a development contrast for a patch image formation before a correction by a first correcting device; VcontP2 is a development contrast for the patch image formation after the correction by the first correcting device; VcontG1 is a development contrast for normal image formation before a correction by a second correcting device; and VcontG2 is a development contrast for normal image formation after the correction by the second correcting device.
US08121497B2
An image forming apparatus may include an image forming device to form and fix an image on a paper, a paper conveyer to convey the paper from a sheet feeder through the image forming device to a finisher, at least one door configured to uncover and cover a part of the paper conveyer, a jam detector to detect whether a jam occurs in the paper conveyer, at least one door sensor to detect whether each door is open or closed, a display, a memory, and a controller to control the jam detector, the door sensor and the display. The controller may be configured to execute control to display a jam detection result detected by the jam detector and jam removal guidance, corresponding to the jam detector which detects the jam occurring in the paper conveyer, based on the information of preset display orders of the jam removal guidance.
US08121487B2
An optical bench communicates light through free space in a plurality of trenches formed in the bench, each of the trenches formed by deep ion reactive etching and defined by two opposing side walls, such that the free space is between the opposing side walls. An exemplary embodiment has a first trench operable to receive the beam of light and operable to communicate the beam of light through the free space in the first trench; an angled reflection side wall operable to receive the beam of light routed through the first trench and operable to reflect at least a portion of the beam of light; and a second trench operable to receive the portion of the beam of light reflected from the angled reflection side wall and operable to route the portion of the beam of light through the free space in the second trench.
US08121481B2
A residual chromatic dispersion target value at a terminal node is set for each wavelength path, and also, candidates of a dispersion compensation amount settable in each chromatic dispersion compensation module on an optical network are set, and further, computation processing is executed for selecting the dispersion compensation amount in each chromatic dispersion compensation module from the candidates so that the sum of errors between the residual chromatic dispersion amounts and the set residual chromatic dispersion target values at the terminal nodes for all of wavelength paths becomes minimum. As a result, for each wavelength path on the optical network, the dispersion compensation amount in each chromatic dispersion compensation module can be designed in optimum so as to satisfy the desired optical signal quality at the terminal node, while considering the residual chromatic dispersion during the transmission.
US08121469B2
An autofocus system includes an image pickup unit that takes a subject image formed by an optical system; an autofocus unit that performs focus adjustment on the optical system so as to bring into focus a subject within a predetermined AF area in a photographing image taken by the image pickup unit; a tracking unit that moves an AF frame, which indicates an outline of the AF area, in accordance with the movement of the subject within the photographing image taken by the image pickup unit; a face direction detection unit that detects a face direction of the subject from the photographing image; a face direction registration unit that registers the face direction of the subject together with coordinates which represent a position of the AF frame in the photographing image; a face direction comparing unit that compares the detected face direction of the subject with the registered face direction.
US08121465B2
The aim of the invention is to improve a mobile flue gas generator and to simplify a method for testing a flue gas indicator. The invention is characterised in that a mobile flue gas generator for simulating a real flue gas is proposed, whereby the mobile flue gas generator comprises an electric heating device for generating the flue gas.
US08121463B2
Recording medium, recording method, reproduction apparatus and method, and computer-readable program
An AV Clip generated by multiplexing video and graphics streams is recorded on a BD-ROM. The graphics stream includes an interactive graphics stream. PTS(DSn[ICS]), which is a presentation time stamp of a packet containing an ICS (Interactive Composition Segment) in a n-th display set DSn, designates an end time of an active period of the ICS, and DTS(DSn+1[ICS]), which is a decoding time stamp of a packet containing an ICS in an immediately succeeding display set DSn+1, designates a start time of an active period of the ICS. PTS(DSn[ICS]) and DTS(DSn+1[ICS]) satisfy a relation PTS(DSn[ICS])≦DTS(DSn+1[ICS]).
US08121459B2
A preview method is discussed. According to an embodiment, the preview method includes calculating preview reproduction periods for respective chapters that are selected for reproduction, based on a set preview period; and reproducing each chapter for the preview reproduction period calculated for the corresponding chapter.
US08121458B2
A fiber distribution system includes one or more fiber distribution hubs (FDHs) that provide an interface at a termination panel between incoming fibers routed from a central office and outgoing fibers routed to network subscribers. Termination modules can be incrementally added to the termination panel. The FDH can include one or more optical splitter modules that split an optical signal into two or more signals. The optical splitter modules can be incrementally added along with one or more storage modules. The subscriber termination panel, optical splitters, and storage modules can be provided on a swing frame.
US08121456B2
A method for deploying a telecommunications cable includes obtaining a payout arrangement including a length of cable, selecting one of the first end and the second end of the length of cable to access; accessing the selected end of the length of cable; and pulling the selected end to unwind the length of cable from the payout arrangement. In some embodiments, the cable is arranged around adjacent spools. In other embodiments, the cable is arranged within a container with access opening on the top and bottom. In still other embodiments, the cable is wound around a spool and at least one spacer.
US08121435B2
Systems and methods are provided for switching a resolution of an image, wherein the image includes at least one block. In some embodiments, the image is compressed. At least one compressed block in the compressed image is tagged, if the data size of the compressed block exceeds a threshold. A non-transition region is grown based on the at least one compressed block that is tagged until a safe-transition block is reached, wherein the non-transition region includes the at least one compressed block in the compressed image. The resolution of each compressed block in the non-transition region is reduced.
US08121434B2
Multi-pass image resampling technique embodiments are presented that employ a series of one-dimensional filtering, resampling, and shearing stages to achieve good efficiency while maintaining high visual fidelity. In one embodiment, high-quality (multi-tap) image filtering is used inside each one-dimensional resampling stage. Because each stage only uses one-dimensional filtering, the overall computation efficiency is very good and amenable to graphics processing unit (GPU) implementation using pixel shaders. This embodiment also upsamples the image before shearing steps in a direction orthogonal to the shearing to prevent aliasing, and then downsamples the image to its final size with high-quality low-pass filtering. This ensures that none of the stages causes excessive blurring or aliasing.
US08121429B2
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a characteristic parameter indicating the characteristics of a filter process; a detection unit configured to detect, on the basis of the characteristic parameter input by the input unit, a phase shift amount between the image-captured signal and an obtained signal; a first forming unit configured to form a first prediction tap composed of a plurality of obtained pixels used to predict a target image-captured pixel value; a coefficient obtaining unit configured to obtain a first prediction coefficient generated in accordance with the characteristic parameter and the phase shift amount in order to predict the target image-captured pixel value by product-sum computation with the value of the first prediction tap; and a first computation unit configured to generate a first output signal corresponding to the image-captured signal by performing product-sum computation between the first prediction coefficient.
US08121424B2
A system, computer program product and associated methodology for video motion detection combines a series of images of a video sequence into an image volume having vertices of X, Y and t. The image volume is sliced in either the (X,t) or (Y,t) planes, filtered with a spatio-temporal filter and thresholded to reduce the amount of information. Then a search algorithm searches along search lines in a subset of the video sequence to locate motion. Motion can be detected by identifying lines that are not parallel to any of the vertices. Stationary subjects and lighting changes appear as lines parallel to one of the vertices. Thus, true motion can be distinguished from lighting changes.
US08121420B2
A system and method for rendering images, and performing operations such as windowing and leveling, when the parameters of a client appliance are known and rendering images when the parameters of a client appliance are unknown. The invention also considers the rendering from the client appliance perspective and the server appliance perspective.
US08121413B2
Browser controlling method and system using an image are provided. The method includes inputting an image; recognizing the image; and executing a command based on the recognized image. Accordingly, the command based on the user's input image can be executed in the browser. Also, since the browser does not need to display various function buttons, the screen can be utilized more efficiently.
US08121410B2
In a system for providing an illegal use research service for image data, the image data received from a terminal apparatus is registered as a research subject, a research condition for research whether or not the image data being registered is illegally used by a Web site on the network is set, image data that are identical or similar to the image data being the research subject from a web site on the network are searched for based on a feature amount and the research condition, and a search result is informed as a research report to the research client using said terminal apparatus.
US08121396B1
A method for constructing an error map for a lithography process, by constructing a first error map using spatial error data compiled on a lithography tool used in the lithography process, and constructing a second error map using spatial error data compiled on a mask used in the lithograph process, and then combining the first error map and the second error map to produce an overall error map for the lithography process. In this manner, the spatial error is determined prior to committing product to the process, and excessive error can be corrected or otherwise resolved prior to such commitment. In various embodiments, the spatial error data includes lens error data and stage movement error data. In some embodiments the spatial error data compiled on the mask is constructed by comparing mask pattern placement data to mask pattern source files. Some embodiments include the step of adjusting process variables to reduce errors represented in the overall error map.
US08121394B2
A method for manufacturing an electronic device is provided. The method includes: pressure-bonding a plurality of terminals of an electronic component to a plurality of electrodes formed on a surface of a transparent substrate, respectively, via an anisotropic conductive film to mount the electronic component on the transparent substrate; obtaining an image of the electrodes by imaging the transparent substrate with the electronic component mounted thereon from backside of the transparent substrate; measuring the number of indentations for each said electrode using the image of the electrode, the indentation being formed when the electrode is pressed by a conductive particle in the anisotropic conductive film; calculating an average and a standard deviation of the number of indentations per electrode throughout the transparent substrate; and calculating a probability that the number of indentations per electrode is less than a reference value on basis of the average and the standard deviation.
US08121389B2
A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for evaluating an object disposed on an upper surface of an object holder. At least one first frame representing a captured portion of the object is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of a plurality of locations. At least one second frame representing a captured portion of at least one other surface of the object holder besides the upper surface is acquired, while the object holder is positioned at each of the plurality of locations. At least one spatial characteristic associated with the captured portion of the object is determined, based on at least one of the acquired frames. A three-dimensional representation of the object can be formed based on the first frames and at least one spatial characteristic.
US08121388B2
A method for automated determination of an individual three-dimensional shape of particles includes: a) dosing, alignment, and automated delivery of the particles; b) observation of the aligned particles and image acquisition, and c) evaluation of the images. A device for automated determination of the individual three-dimensional shape of particles includes: a) a mechanism for dosing, alignment, and automated delivery of the particles; b) at least two cameras for observation of the aligned particles, and c) a mechanism for evaluation of the images. The device can be used for automated determination of individual three-dimensional shape of particles.
US08121360B2
A system for computer aided detection and decision support includes an ontology of image representations for injecting meaning into and adding relationships among image contents, an image understanding and parsing module in communication with the ontology of image representations for extracting structures from an image including the image contents, and a reasoning engine based in communication with the ontology and the image understanding and parsing module for classifying the image contents, wherein the system receives the image and corresponding descriptive information.
US08121354B2
A compact authentication device that prevents user from feeling pressure and is strong against external light, when capturing an image of a finger blood vessel pattern with transmitted light. The device includes a guidance part for determining the finger position, a light source disposed on at least one side of the guidance part to emit light to be transmitted though the finger, an image capture part for capturing the transmitted light, a shading unit for limiting an irradiation region of the light, a finger thickness measuring unit, a unit for controlling a light amount of the light source based on a result of the measurement, a unit for recording registered image patterns of the finger, a unit for collating a captured image pattern from the image capture part with the registered patterns, and a unit for controlling different processing according to the collation result.
US08121348B2
An object detection apparatus for detecting an object from an image obtained by taking a front view picture of a road in a traveling direction of a vehicle includes a camera unit for taking the front view picture of the road and inputting the image; a dictionary modeling the object; a search unit for searching the image with a search window; a histogram production unit for producing a histogram by comparing the image in the search window with the dictionary and counting a detection frequency in a direction parallel to a road plane; and a detection unit for detecting the detection object by detecting a unimodal distribution from the histogram.
US08121346B2
A method and system are disclosed for tracking a target imaged in video footage. The target may, for example, be a person moving through a crowd The method comprises the steps of: identifying a target in a first frame; generating a population of sub-templates by sampling from a template area defined around the target position; and searching for instances of the sub-templates in a second frame so as to locate the target in the second frame. Sub-templates whose instances are not consistent with the new target position are removed from the population and replaced by newly sampled sub-templates. The method can then be repeated so as to find the target in further frames. It can be implemented in a system comprising video imaging means, such as a CCTV camera, and processing means operable to carry out the method.
US08121345B2
A system and method of identifying a position of a crop row in a field, where an image of two or more crop rows is transmitted to a vision data processor. The vision data processor defines a candidate scan line profile for a corresponding heading and pitch associated with a directional movement of a vehicle, for example, traversing the two or more crop rows. The candidate scan line profile comprises an array of vector quantities, where each vector quantity comprises an intensity value and a corresponding position datum. A preferential scan line profile in a search space about the candidate scan line profile is determined, and the candidate scan line profile is identified as a preferential scan line profile for estimating a position (e.g., peak variation) of one or more crop rows if a variation in the intensity level of the candidate scan line profile exceeds a threshold variation value. In addition, a template scan line profile may be utilized, where a candidate scan line profile is identified to be a preferential scan line profile if it is consistent with the template scan line profile.
US08121344B2
Systems and methods for sorting, scanning and routing imaged documents are described. In one configuration, incoming mixed white mail is sorted and coded, then extracted and scanned using the code to separate items. The separate imaged documents are then routed using the code. In another configuration, the documents are automatically extracted from the envelopes. In yet another configuration, the intended recipient is sent an identifier used to reference the code and retrieve the imaged document.
US08121335B2
An article of accentuated headwear includes an attire portion configured for attachment to a wearer's head. An electronic visual display and an audio output device are operatively coupled to the attire portion. The headwear includes an electronic memory. A processor is in data communication with the electronic visual display, the audio output device, and the electronic memory. The processor includes programming to actuate the electronic visual display and the audio output device. The headwear includes a user interface for controlling the processor. The headwear includes a power source for powering the processor, the electronic visual display, the audio output device, and the electronic memory.
US08121325B2
An ear module, which can be selectively worn on either left or right ear, comprises an interior lobe, adapted to fit within the concha, comprising a speaker and a compressive member/cover assembly. The compressive member/cover assembly is positionable, typically rotatable, relative to the remainder of the inner lobe between left and right ear orientations to permit the ear module to be worn on either the left or the right ear. A method for improving the quality of sound emanating from an ear module includes selecting the sound bore within the ear module to help improve the frequency response of the ear module so that the ear module has a resonant peak near 2.7 kHz and a maximum 20 dB decrease in high frequency response as measured at 5 kHz from the average frequency response as measured at 500 Hz, 800 Hz, and 1600 Hz.
US08121324B2
The capabilities of a helix hearing instrument may expanded with a behind-the-ear accessory module. The module accommodates additional batteries and a variety of accessory functions including an external volume control.
US08121314B2
A mixing apparatus which makes it possible to monitor an internally-generated audio signal and an audio signal from an external apparatus not only in response to turning-on/off of a monitor switch but also in flexible and various manners when mixing those signals. The mixing apparatus is connected to at least one external apparatus, for inputting and mixing a plurality of audio signals and outputting a resulting mixed audio signal. The input audio signals are mixed into a mixed audio signal. The mixed audio signal and an audio signal input from the external apparatus are mixed using a predetermined monitor mix balance into a monitor output signal. A monitor switch is operated to switch between a plurality of monitor states. The predetermined monitor mix balance is changed according to a monitor state after switching by the monitor switch.
US08121312B2
A Wide-band Equalization System (“WBES”) based on near- and far-field measurement data. The WBES includes a subwoofer equalizer having an FIR filter together with decimator and interpolator filters for processing low frequency signals. The WBES may also include satellite channels for processing mid- and high-frequency signals, where each satellite channel includes cascaded IIR filters that process mid-frequency and high-frequency signals, respectively. The WBES may also include a DSP that performs the functions required by the IIR and FIR filters.
US08121304B2
An anti-tangling device includes a headphone cord having a distal end, a male signal plug at the distal end, a proximal end, and at least one earphone at the proximal end. Each of the plug and the earphone has first or second parts of a two-part connection device. The two-part connection device removably secures the plug and the earphone to one another. In an embodiment, the plug is the first part and the earphone has a plug-in portion as the second part. The plug-in portion defines a female port shaped to removably secure the plug therein and, when secured, forms a continuous loop with the cord, the plug, and the earphone. The plug-in portion can be integral with or removably attached to the earphone. The first and second parts can be a magnet and a magnetized piece, a hook-and-loop type fastener, or parts of a press-fit snap fastener.
US08121300B1
A drum accessory comprising a housing for attaching to a drum; a microprocessor disposed in the housing; an audio gate circuit disposed in the housing and operatively connected to the microprocessor and operatively connected to a microphone; and a drum trigger sensor operatively connected to the microprocessor, the drum trigger positioned to touch an edge of the drumhead of the drum; wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive a first input signal from the drum trigger sensor when the drum trigger sensor detects that the drum is hit, wherein upon receipt of the first input signal the microprocessor generates a first output command to the audio gate circuit to activate the audio gate circuit to allow transmission of an audio signal from the microphone to an output location; wherein the audio gate circuit is set to automatically deactivate after a predetermined amount of time.
US08121297B2
A signal processing device includes a filter that is set to frequency characteristics in which a dip existing in an intermediate and high frequency range is smoothed in the frequency characteristics of a virtual characteristic applying filter for applying transfer characteristics of a space transfer path to a sound signal, the space transfer path extending from a virtually set orientation of a sound image to an ear of a listener, an equalizer that forms the dip by cutting a part of the intermediate and high frequency range, and an adjusting unit that adjusts at least a central frequency of the dip. An input signal is passed through the filter and the equalizer.
US08121293B2
During connection setup with a first radio access network, a multimode mobile station sends an unprotected initial signaling message that includes information about those encryption algorithms that the multimode mobile station supports when it communications in a second radio access network. The first radio access network saves some or all the information. Then it composes and sends an integrity-protected message that includes information about the encryption algorithms supported by the multimode mobile station in the second radio access network.
US08121282B1
In one embodiment, a method can include: when performing a park operation: (i) receiving a first message from a park call phone; (ii) providing a second message having a park code to the park call phone; and (iii) receiving a third message having call information from the park call phone; and when performing a retrieve operation: (iv) receiving a fourth message having the park code from a retrieve call phone; (v) providing a fifth message having the call information to the retrieve call phone; (vi) forwarding a sixth message having the park code from the retrieve call phone to a parked device; (vii) forwarding a seventh message from the parked device to the retrieve call phone; and (viii) receiving an eighth message having the park code from the retrieve call phone.
US08121270B2
The present invention is directed to an improved media communication device for communicating over a communication network. The communication device includes an encoder, a time-shifting buffer and a transmitter to progressively encode, store in a time-based format, and transmit over the network locally created media created using the communication device. The communication device also includes a receiver and a rendering element to receive and progressively render media received over the network from a remote source. The received media is also stored in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer. By storing media in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer, the received media may be rendered in a near real-time mode and the received and locally created media may be rendered in a time-shifted mode. In various embodiments, the locally created and received media may be streaming media. In yet other embodiments, the media may be segmented into messages that are transmitted to and from the communication device over the network.
US08121258B2
The invention relates to X-ray analytical instruments (RX), more precisely a device for providing a high energy X-ray beam, typically above 4 keV, for X-ray analysis applications. The device comprises an X-ray tube with a turning anode and an X-ray lens for shaping the beam.
US08121256B2
Offset correction based on offset correction data is performed on radiographic image data that have been read out from a radiation image detector, and the offset correction data are updated. In the offset correction method, correction data for low-frequency components and correction data for high-frequency components, as the offset correction data, are generated based on offset image data that have been read out from the radiation image detector while the radiation image detector is not irradiated with radiation. Further, the correction data for low-frequency components and the correction data for high-frequency components are separately updated.
US08121252B2
A method for determining a radiation treatment plan for a patient includes determining a reference plan, the reference plan including information regarding a reference region that has a different configuration from that of a region in the patient, and using the reference plan to determine the treatment plan for the patient. A method for use in a treatment planning process includes determining a reference plan that includes information regarding a reference region, determining a deformation field that registers the reference region in the reference plan with a region for a patient, and determining a result of using the reference plan as it applies for the patient.
US08121251B2
Methods for post-processing raw detector signals of an x-ray or gamma detector are disclosed. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, raw detector signals are filtered, an associated filtered signal is determined at least for a subset of the raw detector signals, and those filtered signals whose signal value is less than zero are then respectively replaced by a signal value greater than zero.
US08121247B2
In a method for measuring mechanical workpieces by tomography, a workpiece and radiation penetrating the workpiece are moved relative to one another step-by-step. A two-dimensional image of the workpiece is generated in an imaging plane from the interaction of the workpiece and the radiation in each movement position of the workpiece. In addition, a three-dimensional representation of the workpiece is computed from the two-dimensional images. From at least two two-dimensional images showing a regular actual structure existing within the workpiece, points at a high-contrast transition are registered. A three-dimensional equivalent body is determined from the position of the points, and said equivalent body is compared to a predefined nominal structure.
US08121246B2
A radiographic apparatus according to this invention includes a back projection arithmetic processing unit which, when carrying out a back projection arithmetic process on projection data detected by a flat panel X-ray detector (FPD) 3 to reconstruct a sectional image, reconstructs the image using data R derived from an addition average according to a width L (of a range at which X rays for a thickness w arrive) determined by a point P, which is a reconstruction position, and a projection angle θ. Thus, image blurring due to the reconstruction position and projection angle θ can be reduced.
US08121241B2
A method and apparatus for processing a radio frequency (RF) signal is provided. The method includes generating a periodic square wave local oscillator (LO) signal of a first phase, a periodic square wave LO signal of a second phase, and a chopping signal. The method further includes coding the periodic square wave LO signal of the first phase and the periodic square wave LO signal of the second phase synchronously with the chopping signal to generate a first set of synchronized signals (116, 118) and a second set of synchronized signals (120, 122), respectively. A phase difference between the first phase and the second phase is a predefined value. The RF signal is processed with the first set of synchronized signals (116, 118) and the second set of synchronized signals (120, 122) to obtain an in-phase intermediate frequency (IF) signal (132) and a quadrature-phase IF signal (142), respectively.
US08121228B2
A detector (109) and corresponding method is configured for detecting presence of a data frame. The detector includes a first correlator (123) that is configured to provide a first plurality of correlations corresponding to similarity between data as received and first information, e.g., an ordered set of coefficients, that denotes the data frame and a second correlator (125) that is configured to provide a second plurality of correlations corresponding to similarity between the data as received and second information, e.g., another ordered set of coefficients, that denotes the data frame, where the second information includes a portion of the first information. Further included is decision logic (129) coupled to the first correlator and the second correlator, where the decision logic is configured to provide an indication (111) that the data frame is present based on the first plurality of correlations and the second plurality of correlations.
US08121227B2
It is possible to demodulate a plurality of modulated signals transmitted from a plurality of antennas by using a comparatively small-size circuit with a preferable error ratio characteristic. Partial bit judgment units (509, 512) demodulates partial bits of the 64QAM-modulated signal by modifying which of the bits in the 6-bit strings constituting a symbol is to be demodulated depending on in which region of the IQ plane the reception signal point exists. This improves the partial bit error characteristic judged by the partial bit judgment units (509, 512), which in turn improves reliability of the reduced candidate signal point for use by a likelihood detection unit (518). As a result, it is possible to improve the error ratio characteristic of the final reception digital signals (322, 323).
US08121224B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for media defect detection. For example, a data receiving system is disclosed that includes a data signal provided from a medium that may include a defective portion. An absolute value circuit receives the data signal and provides an output corresponding to an absolute value of the data signal. The output corresponding to the absolute value of the data signal is input to a filter that filters it and provides a filtered output. In some cases, the filter is a digital filter operable to integrate the absolute value of the data signal. A comparator receives the output from the filter and compares it with a threshold value. The result of the comparison indicates a defect status of the medium.
US08121213B2
A modulation apparatus is disclosed that enables significant improvements in signal transmission rate in a limited frequency band as compared with conventional modulation schemes. The modulation apparatus has first and second frequency-increasing single side band (SSB) modulators. The modulators are configured to have respective carrier frequencies with a difference by a frequency corresponding to the symbol frequency (i.e. fundamental frequency of the input symbol). An adder combines a lower side band (LSB) signal obtained from the SSB modulator set for a higher carrier frequency, and an upper side band (USB) signal obtained from the SSB modulator set for a lower carrier frequency to obtain a modulation signal.
US08121209B2
Systems and methods are provided for decoding signal vectors in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where the receiver has received one or more signal vectors from the same transmitted vector. The receiver combines the received vectors by vector concatenation The concatenated vector may then be decoded using, for example, maximum-likelihood decoding. In some embodiments, the combined signal vector is equalized before decoding.
US08121207B2
A method for transforming data to reduce an amount of data in a communication system equipped with several sub-carriers, and a data transmission method using the same are disclosed. The method for transmitting data using a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) in a communication system based on a plurality of sub-carriers includes: a) performing a Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) on first data; b) selecting a predetermined number of data from among the DCT-processed first data, and performing data processing on the selected data; and c) transmitting the data-processed resultant data to a reception end. A method for reducing an amount of overhead of transmission data for use in the multi-antenna communication system is disclosed.
US08121206B2
Provided is an apparatus for estimating a delay spread of a multi-path fading channel in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system. The apparatus is applied to an OFDM receiver including a channel equalization unit compensating channel distortion by estimating channel distortion at pilot locations with respect to output signals of an FFT unit.
US08121204B2
A method and apparatus for filtering a received Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal to reduce noise. The ODFM signal includes a plurality of symbols n in the time direction, each symbol including a plurality of sub-carriers k in the frequency direction, each a-th sub-carrier of each symbol being transmitted as a pilot sub-carrier with known amplitude and phase, and each symbol having its pilot sub-carriers spaced by b sub-carriers relative to the adjacent symbol. An m-tap filter is utilized for producing a filtered version of a selected pilot sub-carrier to be used in subsequent interpolation, by inputting into respective taps of the m-tap filter, m pilot sub-carriers surrounding the selected pilot sub-carrier. The m pilot sub-carriers each satisfy a relationship between n and k, wherein the relationship defines a diagonal line in the n-k plane.
US08121192B2
A process and system for improving a digital image of an object defined by pixels, acquired at the instant t and generated from an X-ray detector receiving X-rays emitted by a source. The process includes: determining a predicted image of the object at the instant t as a function of the images of the object acquired at the instants t−i, i being a positive whole number greater than or equal to 1, and moving of each of the layers constituting the image acquired at the instant t, the number of layers being previously fixed and the moving of each of the layers being previously determined; and generating a visualized image corresponding to a weighted sum of the predicted image and the image of the object acquired at the instant t, so as to attenuate the noise of the image of the object acquired at the instant t.
US08121190B2
The invention relates to a method for video coding a sequence of digitized images comprising predicting the contents of each image taking into account a rate distortion optimization criterion being dependent on a Lagrange multiplier; transforming the prediction error resulting from predicting step into a plurality of transformed residual coefficients in each image; quantizing the transformed residual coefficients in each image; wherein the Lagrange multiplier is determined for each image based on a probability distribution of the transformed residual coefficients of the respective image, the probability distribution having its maximum probability at its mean zero and being formed such that the probabilities decrease to zero from the mean to large absolute values of the transformed residual coefficients, whereby the variance of the probability distribution is calculated from the plurality of transformed residual coefficients in the respective image.
US08121176B2
This invention teaches to the details of an interference canceling receiver for canceling intra-cell and inter-cell interference in coded, multiple-access, spread spectrum transmissions that propagate through frequency selective communication channels to a multiplicity of receive antennas. The receiver is designed or adapted through the repeated use of symbol-estimate weighting, subtractive cancellation with a stabilizing step-size, and mixed-decision symbol estimates. Receiver embodiments may be designed, adapted, and implemented explicitly in software or programmed hardware, or implicitly in standard RAKE-based hardware either within the RAKE (i.e., at the finger level) or outside the RAKE (i.e., at the user or subchannel symbol level). Embodiments may be employed in user equipment on the forward link or in a base station on the reverse link. It may be adapted to general signal processing applications where a signal is to be extracted from interference.
US08121162B2
A structure including a grating and a semiconductor nanocrystal layer on the grating, can be a laser. The semiconductor nanocrystal layer can include a plurality of semiconductor nanocrystals including a Group II-VI compound, the nanocrystals being distributed in a metal oxide matrix. The grating can have a periodicity from 200 nm to 500 nm.
US08121158B2
A light projection optical system is presented. The system comprises a cooling chamber containing: a light source operative at a cool temperature being lower than 240K; a cooler unit capable of cooling said light source to said cool temperature during the light source operation,- an optical window permitting light emergence outside from the cooling chamber; and an optical unit accommodated in the optical path of light emitted by said light source and enabling emergence of this light through said optical window outside from the cooling chamber.
US08121146B2
A method, apparatus and system enable a mobile device to roam while maintaining a persistent IP tunnel. Specifically, a mobile router may be utilized to enable a mobile device to maintain a persistent IP tunnel while the device roams. In one embodiment, the mobile device is a virtual host and the mobile router is a virtual mobile router.
US08121140B2
A method for transmitting messages over a datalink communication system is disclosed. The method comprises assigning each message a cost index value based on prescribed factors for at least one message transmission attribute of the message and transmitting each message that satisfies a select transmission attribute over at least one mobile communications sub-network associated with a datalink communication system.
US08121139B2
A communication module mounted on a communication apparatus which includes plural communication modules, plural apparatus side signal processing circuits for processing a communication signal which is transmitted to and received from the communication modules by a predetermined communication speed, and a switch LSI for changing a destination of the communication signal, includes a switching portion for at least one of dividing the communication signal transmitted and received in a communication speed of the communication modules and combining the communication signals transmitted and received in a communication speed of an external apparatus, and a connector comprising a plurality of ports, the connector being connected to the switching portion.
US08121134B2
A label switching router (LSR) is described that spoof checks Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) packets to prevent malicious or inadvertent injection of MPLS packets within a label switched path (LSP). The LSR ensures that MPLS packets received from an upstream label switching router (LSR) contain labels that were advertised to that upstream LSR. A software module associated with a signaling protocol, such as the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP), the Label Distribution Protocol (LDP), or the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), is extended to utilize an MPLS forwarding table, and MPLS interface table, and a remote autonomous system table. A set of interfaces for which the label was advertised may be checked to determine whether an interface on which a packet was received is contained in the set of interfaces. The MPLS forwarding table may contain a spoof-check field used to specify one of several different types of spoof checks and to specify the set of interfaces.
US08121126B1
The invention is directed towards techniques for forwarding subscriber frames through a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) aggregation network using MPLS labels. Layer two (L2) network devices, such as access nodes, of a service provider (SP) network implement MPLS functionality in the data plane, but do not implement an MPLS signaling protocol in the control plane. The L2 network devices include an interface for configuring a static pool of labels applied in the data plane of the L2 network device to output MPLS communications to the MPLS network. The access nodes may be configured by an administrator to maintain static pools of subscriber labels and MPLS labels. The access nodes autonomously allocate the subscriber labels to subscriber devices that request broadband services from a Broadband Services Router (BSR), and distribute the subscriber labels and MPLS labels as upstream assigned labels.
US08121123B2
A method for multicasting packets in a passive optical network (PON) residential gateway. The method comprises storing a payload portion of an input packet in a memory; duplicating a header of the input packet to create duplicate headers as the number of destination end-point devices; modifying each of the duplicated header to uniquely designate an output interface of an Ethernet medium access (MAC) adapter coupled to at least one of the destination endpoint devices; passing to the Ethernet MAC adapter its respective modified header together with a pointer to a location of the payload portion in the memory; generating a multicast packet by retrieving the payload portion from the memory and attaching the modified header to the payload portion; and transmitting the multicast packet to the destination endpoint device coupled to the Ethernet MAC adapter.
US08121122B2
A method for scheduling unicast and multicast traffic in an interconnecting fabric performs within each time slot the following steps. First a multicast cell scheduling (61) and independently thereof a unicast cell scheduling (62) is performed. Then, the unicast cell schedule and the multicast cell schedule are merged to a merged schedule (63), wherein in the case a scheduled connection cannot be included in the merged schedule the scheduled connection is included in the merged schedule in a later time slot (66, 63).
US08121113B2
Both a connection server and a relay connection server are installed in an IP transfer network; a function similar to a line connection control of a subscriber exchanger is applied to a connection server; a function similar to a line connection control of a relay exchanger is applied to the relay connection server; and a terminal-to-terminal communication connection control method with using the IP transfer network is realized in such a manner that a telephone set and a terminal such as an IP terminal and a video terminal transmit/receive an initial address message, an address completion message, a call pass message, a response message, a release message and a release completion message, which can be made in a 1-to-1 correspondence relationship with line connection control messages of the common line signal system. Furthermore, while an address administration table is set to a network node apparatus of an IP transfer network, means for registering addresses of the terminals into this address administration table is employed, so that an IP packet communication by a multicast manner can be realized with improving information security performance.
US08121110B2
A method and apparatus for locationing an object in a communication network. The method includes transmitting by a wireless transceiver fixed to the object of unknown location a plurality of radio frequency (RF) packets to a plurality of locationing receivers (LRs) in the communication network. The method further includes determining by each locationing receiver the local time of arrival of the RF packet and places a time stamp on the received RF packet based on a corresponding local clock, wherein the local clocks of the locationing receivers are synchronized based on a plurality of RF beacon packets transmitted by at least one reference transmitter at a known location.
US08121095B2
A method for adjusting a time offset of GPS signals in a CDMA mobile phone includes: generating periodic waves and transmitting to the GPS simulator; generating CDMA RF signals and transmitting to the combiner; clocking a first delay time starting when the periodic waves are transmitted to a time the CDMA RF signals are transmitted; receiving the periodic waves; generating GPS RF signals and transmitting the signals to the combiner; clocking a second delay time starting when the periodic waves are received to a time the GPS RF signals are transmitted; generating combined signals and transmitting to the CDMA mobile phone; clocking a third delay time starting when the CDMA RF signals are received to a time the GPS RF signals are received; and calculating a time offset between CDMA signals and GPS signals according to the first delay time, the second delay time, and the third delay time.
US08121092B1
Methods and systems are provided for selecting a low-cost Internet base station (LCIB) for a macro-network-to-LCIB handoff of an active mobile station. In one embodiment, a handoff request is received from a mobile station, the handoff request indicating that the mobile station is requesting that a first pseudorandom number (PN) offset be added to an active set for the mobile station, the active set comprising one or more macro-network sectors. It is determined that the first PN offset is associated with an LCIB pilot beacon, and a candidate set of LCIBs is responsively identified, the candidate set consisting of substantially all of the LCIBs that are located in the one or more macro-network sectors in the active set. It is determined whether the mobile station is an authorized mobile station of exactly one LCIB in the candidate set and, if so, the mobile station is directed to handoff to that LCIB.
US08121087B2
A method of providing neighbor base station information via a mobile subscriber station in a broadband wireless access system is disclosed. In providing neighbor base station information (S316) to a serving base station from a mobile subscriber station in a broadband wireless access system, the present invention includes the steps of performing a scanning and a synchronization (S312, S313) on a mobile base station based on information provided from the serving base station (S311) and transmitting the neighbor base station information acquired from the scanning and the synchronization to the serving base station (S316) regardless of a presence or non-presence of a request from the serving base station. Accordingly, the present invention can efficiently transmit the neighbor base station signal intensity and frame information acquired by the mobile subscriber station.
US08121076B2
A mobile phone includes a code division multiple access (CDMA) chip and a first user identity module (UIM) card. A network listening method of the mobile phone burns identification information of a second UIM card into the mobile phone, and executes a first network listening method to listen to a communication network, if a first listening frequency equals to a second listening frequency and a first listening channel equals to a second listening channel. The network listening method further executes a second network listening method to listen to the communication network, if the first listening frequency does not equal to the second listening frequency and/or the first listening channel does not equal to the second listening channel.
US08121072B2
A mobile communication system for transmitting or receiving a signal among a user equipment and a base station, includes the user equipment and the base station. The user equipment includes a unit operable to measure a received signal quality, and a unit operable to report the measuring received signal quality to the base station or a selected modulation and coding scheme to the base station. The base station includes a unit operable to receive the measuring received signal quality at the user equipment or an information indicating a selected modulation and coding scheme at the user equipment.
US08121071B2
A gateway adapted to receive data from a device of a local area network is described herein. In some embodiments, the gateway may be adapted to multiplex received data to another device among multiple wide area networks, wherein at least one of the wide area networks is a wireless wide area network. The gateway may have a wireless wide area networking interface and at least one of one or more other wireless wide area networking interfaces and/or one or more wired wide area networking interfaces, the wired and/or wireless networking interfaces each adapted to transmit data to at least one of the multiple wide area networks. In other embodiments, the gateway may be adapted to transmit the received data to the other device through a preferred wide area network, and, if that network is unavailable or operating conditions determine otherwise, transmit the received data to the other device through a back-up wide area network.
US08121070B2
A portable computer searches for preprogrammed wireless stations when it boots, and if it does not recognize any, stops booting the O.S. so that data cannot be accessed. In this way, should the portable computer be stolen and removed from its intended vicinity, data on the computer cannot be accessed by the thief.
US08121063B2
A communications device utilized in a wireless communications system has an RLC entity with a transmitting side and a receiving side. Handling timers during re-establishment of the receiving side includes only re-establishing the receiving side in the RLC entity of the communications device, stopping a first timer corresponding to the receiving side, and prolonging and not stopping a second timer corresponding to the transmitting side.
US08121057B1
A system and method is described for establishing a homogenized communications infrastructure that enables a variety of disparate communication devices to communicate transparently with each other over a computer data network. The system and method allow for such communications to take place by converting all communications from all participants in the form of audio, video, textual, and binary data messages into discrete data units that are carried over a computer data network. These communications are propagated to other participants by relay to their particular devices in such a way that individual participants are insulated from the type and implementation of all other participants' devices.
US08121054B2
A method for gap analysis for topology inspection to recognize a topology of a deep segment through gap discovery in an Ethernet network, includes: a gap division process of dividing a gap into atomic gaps that are no longer divided through path crossing test (PCT); and a gap interpretation process of analyzing a final result of the PCT when the atomic gap is generated, to interpret a topology of the gap.
US08121049B2
A method and an arrangement in a service assurance module for controlling service level agreements for communication services in a mobile services access network. A network performance rule is created for a service level agreement, and is based on an associated performance indicator indicating the current network performance with respect to the fulfillment of the service level agreement. The performance indicator is then monitored, and the network performance rule is evaluated on a regular basis based on the performance indicator. If the network performance rule is not satisfied, an agreement violation is registered and/or measures are taken to improve the network performance.
US08121048B2
A repeat control method in enhanced uplink asynchronous hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) includes the following steps: (1) the network side adding a repeat timer parameter in the HARQ attribute of each dedicated media access control (MAC-d) entity flow, the user terminal setting the repeat timer value in the enhanced media access control (MAC-e) entity protocol data unit (PDU) according to the repeat timer parameter; (2) the user terminal performing the repeat control utilizing the repeat timer value in cooperation with the maximum repeat number. The wireless bearer QoS requirement and the cooperation working between the sender and the receiver are implemented.
US08121045B2
A user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE includes a processor configured to begin channel quality indicator (CQI) transmissions using an assigned periodic CQI reporting resource before the start of the on-duration of a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation mode.
US08121042B2
A computer-based method for determining a probability that no path exists from a specified starting node to a specified target node within a network of nodes and directional links between pairs of nodes is described. The nodes and directional links form paths of a reliability graph and the method is performed using a computer coupled to a database that includes data relating to the nodes and the directional links The method includes selecting a set of paths, from the set of all paths, between the starting node and the target node that have been determined to be reliable, calculating a reliability of the union of the selected path sets, setting an upper bound for the unreliability of the set of all paths, based on the calculated reliability, selecting a set of minimal cutsets from all such cutsets that lie between the starting node and the target node, calculating the probability of the union of the minimal cutsets, and setting a lower bound for the unreliability of the set of all cutsets.
US08121025B2
A method for switching multicast traffic includes: entering, by a second router, a waiting state after receiving a packet indicative of recovery of a first router; and deleting, by the second router, the egress interface of MFIB entries on the second router after receiving a data packet or an Assert packet from the first router. A router and a system for switching multicast traffic are also provided herein.
US08121023B2
A coaxial network communication node receives multimedia content with one or more other nodes in a coaxial network. The node determines a delay-spread of a coaxial channel based on receipt of a probe from a transmitting node and configures a channel-shortening time-domain equalizer (TEQ) filter to effectively shorten the channel based on the delay spread. The node instructs the transmitting node to shorten a length of a cyclic prefix for subsequent packet-based transmissions to be received from the transmitting node. The probe is stored and reused until the channel-shortening TEQ filter converges. The nodes may be configured to communicate in accordance with the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA®) specifications.
US08121022B2
A MIMO OFDM system includes a plurality of space-time encoders for encoding respective data blocks with independent space-time codes. The transformed data block signals are transmitted by a plurality of transmit antennas and received by a plurality of receive antennas. The received data is pre-whitened prior to maximum likelihood detection. In one embodiment, successive interference cancellation can be sued to improve system performance. Channel parameter estimation can be enhanced by weighting the channel impulse response estimates based upon a deviation from average.
US08121020B1
A method for deriving a bound on communications capacity with ideal quadrature layered communications QLM and a set of demodulation algorithms for QLM. Communications links using QLM can approximate this bound and support higher data rates than allowed by the Shannon bound. Demodulation algorithms can be grouped into symbol algorithms and bit algorithms. Bit algorithms support higher data rates than symbol algorithms with lower computational complexities at the expense of demodulation loss which can be reduced with bit correlation error correction decoding which is orthogonal to the channel error correction decoding. Representative symbol and bit implementation algorithms are derived. Modulation performance is compared with phase-shift-keying PSK and quadrature amplitude modulation QAM. The invention describes how QLM can be used with PSK, QAM and with gaussian minimum shift keying GMSK, orthogonal frequency division multiple access OFDMA, code division multiple access CDMA, and wavelet division multiple access WDMA.
US08121018B2
A signal transmitting method, a signal receiving method, and a signal receiving device are adapted to an OFDM system. In the signal transmitting method and signal receiving method, double asymmetric training symbols are used for performing time-varying channel response estimation. In the transmitting method, asymmetric pilot sub-carriers are added in data sub-carriers to form a plurality of first and second training symbols. The pilot symbols in the first and second training symbols are asymmetrically configured. In the receiving method, a channel response corresponding to each pilot sub-carrier is estimated by using two adjacent asymmetric pilot symbols. The received data sub-carrier is then restored through the channel response. Through the signal transmitting method and signal receiving method, even in a transmitter or a receiver moving at a high speed, more bandwidths can be used to transfer data, and contents of the transferred data can be correctly estimated.
US08121013B2
An optical pickup apparatus changes a propagation direction of luminous fluxes, out of a laser light reflected by a disc, in four luminous flux regions set about a laser optical axis so as to mutually disperse these luminous fluxes. A signal light region in which only a signal light is present appears on a detection surface of a photodetector. A plurality of sensors for a signal light are placed at positions irradiated with the signal light within the region. When an arithmetic process is performed on a detection signal outputted from each sensor, a DC component occurring in a tracking error signal is suppressed.
US08121012B2
An optical information recording/reproducing apparatus for an optical disc using a light beam having a wavelength of λ including: an objective lens that converges the light beam onto a recording surface of the optical disc and satisfies a condition: 0.40 < d · ( n - 1 ) f 2 < 0.70 ( 3 ) where f represents a focal length (unit: mm) of the objective lens with respect to the wavelength λ, d represents a thickness (unit: mm) of the objective lens along an optical axis of the objective lens, and n represents a refractive index with respect to the wavelength λ; a photoreceptor to receive the beam reflected from the optical disc; a detector to detect quality of a signal, and an objective lens driving unit to tilt the objective lens in a direction to improve the quality of the signal based on a result of detection by the detector.
US08121001B2
A device for protecting a servo in reading signals on a defect disc from disturbance and instability is provided. The device includes a defect detection unit and a logic combination unit. The defect detection unit receives a plurality of defect detection signals to detect various defects for setting a plurality of defect flag signals, wherein the plurality of defect detection signals at least include an envelope signal of a RF signal and bit modulation signals. The logic combination unit performs logic operation on the defect flag signals in order to detect a specified defect. The logic combination unit indicates a servo control unit generating low-pass output signals according to said plurality of defect flag signals for controlling related electromechanical devices to prevent from disturbance and instability when the specified defect is detected. A method for protecting a servo in reading signals on a defect disc is also provided.
US08121000B2
In an optical disk apparatus, an optical pickup includes an actuator for driving an object lens, and a sensed signal output part for making it possible to generate a tracking error signal and a lens error signal by addition/subtraction, and a signal processor includes a servo signal generator for generating a tracking error signal and a lens error signal on the basis of a signal supplied from the sensed signal output part, and a tracking offset correction quantity signal generator supplied with the lens error signal to output a tracking offset correction quantity signal. DC (direct current) offset correction is conducted by conducting addition/subtraction between the tracking error signal and both the lens error signal and the tracking offset correction quantity signal.
US08120995B2
An electronic timer graphically displaying programmed ON/OFF settings includes a microprocessor; a time setting unit electrically connected to the microprocessor for a user to set at least one programmed ON/OFF setting for at least one selected day; a memory unit electrically connected to the microprocessor for storing the programmed ON/OFF setting; a clock signal generating unit electrically connected to the microprocessor for generating a clock signal to the microprocessor; and a graphic time scale display unit electrically connected to the microprocessor and including a plurality of time scale segments, each of which represents a predetermined time period. The microprocessor calculates based on the programmed ON/OFF settings to derive all the time scale segments that are corresponding to the programmed ON/OFF settings, and drives the graphic time scale display unit to show the time scale segments corresponding to the programmed ON/OFF settings.
US08120991B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for converting coordinate systems for representing image data such as for example seismic data, including accepting a first set of seismic data, mapping the first set of seismic data to a second set of seismic data, where the dimensionality of the second set of seismic data is less than the dimensionality of the first set of seismic data, and generating image data by processing the second set of seismic data.
US08120970B2
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to data storage and computer memory, and more particularly, to systems, integrated circuits and methods for accessing memory in multiple layers of memory implementing, for example, third dimension memory technology. In a specific embodiment, an integrated circuit is configured to implement write buffers to access multiple layers of memory. For example, the integrated circuit can include memory cells disposed in multiple layers of memory. In one embodiment, the memory cells can be third dimension memory cells. The integrated circuit can also include read buffers that can be sized differently than the write buffers. In at least one embodiment, write buffers can be sized as a function of a write cycle. Each layer of memory can include a plurality of two-terminal memory elements that retain stored data in the absence of power and store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles.
US08120967B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises applying a program voltage to a selected wordline to program selected memory cells, and performing a verify operation by applying a verify voltage to the selected wordline to determine the programming status of the selected memory cells. The verify operation applies the verify voltage to the selected wordline at least two different times to divide the selected memory cells into at least three regions corresponding to different threshold voltage ranges.
US08120955B2
A push-pull non-volatile memory array includes memory cells with an n-channel non-volatile pull-down transistor in series with a p-channel volatile pull-up transistor. A non-volatile transistor row line is associated with each row of the array and is coupled to the control gates of each n-channel non-volatile pull-down transistor in the row. A volatile transistor row line is associated with each row of the array and is coupled to the control gates of each p-channel volatile pull-up transistor in the row with which it is associated. A column line is associated with each column in the array and is coupled to the source of each p-channel volatile pull-up transistor in the column with which it is associated.
US08120952B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating memory cells. One method embodiment includes applying sensing voltages to selected access lines for sensing selected memory cells. The method also includes applying a dynamic pass voltage to unselected access lines while the sensing voltages are applied.
US08120949B2
A flash-RAM memory includes non-volatile random access memory (RAM) formed on a monolithic die and non-volatile page-mode memory formed on top of the non-volatile RAM, the non-volatile page-mode memory and the non-volatile RAM reside on the monolithic die.
US08120948B2
A data writing method for a magnetoresistive effect element of an aspect of the present invention including generating a write current in which a falling period from the start of a falling edge to the end of the falling edge is longer than a rising period from the start of a rising edge to the end of the rising edge, and flowing the write current through the magnetoresistive effect element which comprises a first magnetic layer having an invariable magnetizing direction, a second magnetic layer having a variable magnetizing direction, and a tunnel barrier layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, to change the magnetizing direction of the second magnetic layer.
US08120945B2
Circuitry and methods for restoring data in memory are disclosed. The memory may include at least one layer of a non-volatile two-terminal cross-point array that includes a plurality of two-terminal memory elements that store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles and retain stored data in the absence of power. Over a period of time, logic values indicative of the stored data may drift such that if the logic values are not restored, the stored data may become corrupted. At least a portion of each memory may have data rewritten or restored by circuitry electrically coupled with the memory. Other circuitry may be used to determine a schedule for performing restore operations to the memory and the restore operations may be triggered by an internal or an external signal or event. The circuitry may be positioned in a logic layer and the memory may be fabricated over the logic layer.
US08120943B2
A memory employs a low-level current source to access a phase change memory cell. The current source charges an access capacitor in order to store sufficient charge for an ensuing access. When a memory cell is accessed, charge stored on the capacitor is discharged through the phase change memory, supplying a current to the phase change memory cell that is sufficient for the intended access operation and greater than that provided directly by the current source.
US08120934B2
A voltage converter comprises a first, a second and a third capacitor (11, 12, 13) which are switched in series in at least one operating state, an input (1) for supplying an input voltage (VIN), an output (2) for providing an output voltage (VOUT), and a compensation circuit (5). The input (1) of the voltage converter is coupled to a capacitor from a group comprising the first, the second and the third capacitor (11, 12, 13). The output (2) of the voltage converter is coupled to a capacitor from the group comprising the first, the second and the third capacitor (11, 12, 13). The compensation circuit (5) is coupled to the first, the second and the third capacitor (11, 12, 13) and adapts a first voltage (V1) of the first capacitor (11), a second voltage (V2) of the second capacitor (12) and a third voltage (V3) of the third capacitor (13) to one another.
US08120931B2
A control circuit for use in a power converter has a multi-function terminal, a current comparator circuit, and an under-voltage detection circuit. The current comparator circuit compares current flowing through a power switch of the power converter with a reference value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is on, and turns the power switch off when the current reaches the reference value. The under-voltage detection circuit determines whether an input voltage of the power converter is less than a predetermined value through the multi-function terminal when the power switch is turned off.
US08120926B2
A backplane has through holes for conductors to project through the backplane in arrays corresponding to respective circuit boards arranged along the front side of the backplane. The through holes include ground holes for receiving ground conductors in connection with a ground plane, and signal holes for receiving signal conductors free of connections with the ground plane. In accordance with a principal feature, the backplane is free of circuitry configured to interconnect signal conductors in the signal holes. This avoids problems associated with circuit density within the structure of a backplane. In accordance with another principal feature, each signal hole is wide enough to provide clearance for a respective signal conductor to extend fully through the signal hole free of contact with the backplane. The clearance contains air that serves as a dielectric to increase the impedance between adjacent signal holes, and thereby to reduce crosstalk and other problems associated with close proximity between signal holes. Additional through holes provide additional impedance at locations between adjacent conductor through holes. Such additional through holes for impedance control can be included in the circuit boards as well as the backplane.
US08120924B2
A reprogrammable subscriber terminal of a subscription television service which can have the control program code of its control processor modified by downloading new program code from the headend. The control processor stores a boot program in an internal read only memory. Upon start up and resets, the boot program determines whether the control program should be changed from a command sent from the headend. The command, termed a parameters transactions, includes the number of expected download program code transactions required to complete the control code modification, the memory space areas where the code is to be loaded, and the channel over which the download program code transactions are to be transmitted. The channel is tuned and when the boot program receives all the download program code transactions accurately and stores them, the boot program will cause the control program to be restarted at a selected address of the new or modified control program code which has been downloaded. The boot program may download code to different configurations of subscriber terminals including those with Flash EPROM or extended memories from plug-in expansion modules.
US08120915B2
A heat sink is provided for directly cooling at least one electronic device package having an upper contact surface and a lower contact surface. The heat sink comprises a cooling piece formed of at least one thermally conductive material, where the cooling piece defines at least one inlet manifold configured to receive a coolant and at least one outlet manifolds configured to exhaust the coolant. The inlet and outlet manifolds are interleaved and are disposed in a spiral arrangement. The cooling piece further defines a number of millichannels disposed in a radial arrangement and configured to receive the coolant from the inlet manifolds and to deliver the coolant to the outlet manifolds. The millichannels and inlet and outlet manifolds are further configured to directly cool one of the upper and lower contact surface of the electronic device package by direct contact with the coolant, such that the heat sink comprises an integral heat sink.
US08120904B2
A chassis mounting system includes a support section that is operable to be coupled to a structure. The support section includes a first arm extending from the support section. A second arm extends from the support section and is moveable relative to the first arm such that the distance between the first arm and the second arm may be varied in order to apply a gripping force on the structure when the structure is located between the first arm and the second arm. A locking device is operable to restrict the movement of the second arm relative to the first arm in order to secure the support section to the structure when the gripping force has been applied. A coupling section support member is located on the support section. A coupling section is operable to be mounted to a chassis. The coupling section includes a coupling member that is operable to engage the coupling section support member in order to couple the coupling section to the support section such that the support section supports the coupling section.
US08120891B2
In a capacitor body of a multilayer capacitor, one second capacitor portion is sandwiched between two first capacitor portions. An ESR is controlled by setting a width of lead portions of third and fourth internal electrodes disposed in the second capacitor portion to be less than that of lead portions of first and second internal electrodes disposed in the first capacitor portions and by changing ratios between the first and second capacitor portions in the width of the lead portions and in the number of stacked internal electrodes. In the first capacitor portions, current paths from the internal electrodes to an external terminal electrode are widely distributed so that the first capacitor portions have a relatively low ESL, and accordingly, the ESL of the entire multilayer capacitor is reduced.
US08120884B2
A voltage protection circuit that has a protection transistor coupled between a voltage supply pin of an integrated circuit and a voltage output terminal of the integrated circuit. A biasing circuit is coupled to a control node of the protection transistor and configured to cause the protection transistor to turn on to form a low impedance path between the voltage supply pin and the voltage output terminal when a positive supply voltage is coupled to the voltage supply terminal and to cause the protection transistor to turn off when a negative supply voltage is coupled to the voltage supply terminal. An electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuit may also be connected between the voltage supply pin and a reference node that is configured to conduct a negative static discharge current for period of time, and to not conduct a negative current continuously.
US08120883B2
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. A fault detection circuit is coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals and configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition in the electrical distribution system. A circuit interrupter assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter assembly is configured to couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals to form a conductive electrical path in a reset state, and decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to a fault detection signal in a tripped state. A voltage transient suppression circuit is connected between the plurality of line terminals, the voltage transient suppression circuit including a movistor differentially coupled relative to the at least one sensor circuit such that one lead of the movistor is coupled to a first line conductor disposed on a line side of the at least one sensor circuit and another lead of the movistor is coupled to a second line conductor disposed on a load side of the at least one sensor circuit. A movistor protection circuit is coupled in series to the movistor, the movistor protection circuit being configured to limit an amount of electrical energy applied to the movistor as a function of at least one electrical parameter.
US08120872B2
A stator portion of a spindle motor includes a substantially cup-shaped base member including a bottom portion expanding in a radial direction, and a wall portion extending upwards from an outer edge portion of the bottom portion. A circuit board is fixed to a lower surface of the base member in a position on the outer side in the radial direction and on the upper side than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the thickness of the spindle motor in the axial direction can be reduced. The base member has a through hole formed axially through the bottom portion. An opening edge portion of the base member is covered with the insulating layer. A conducting wire from a coil is drawn through the through hole, led out along the surface of the insulating layer, and connected to the circuit board positioned on the outer side in the radial direction than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the conducting wire can be led to the circuit board while the electric connection between the conducting wire and the opening edge portion can be prevented.
US08120869B2
A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic pattern magnetically partitioning a magnetic layer, formed on a non-magnetic substrate, wherein the magnetic pattern is comprised of magnetic regions and non-magnetic regions surrounding each of the magnetic regions, the non-magnetic regions form depressions, the magnetic pattern comprises data areas and servo information areas, and the difference between the areal ratio of the depressions in the data areas and the areal ratio thereof in the servo information areas is within ±10%. The magnetic areas preferably comprise a magnetic layer having a granular structure comprised of magnetic grains each surrounded by an oxide, or a two-layer structure comprising the granular structure and a non-granular structure formed on the granular structure. The magnetic recording medium exhibits stable head-floating characteristics, and thus, the largest floating height can be reduced, and a high recording density can be obtained.
US08120864B2
A display filter including a base portion having a recess, a first part disposed in the recess and having a first refractive index different from a refractive index of the base portion, and a second part disposed in the recess and having a second refractive index different from at least one of the first refractive index of the first part and the refractive index of the base portion.
US08120856B2
A method for manufacturing a polymer miniature lens on a substrate with the lens forming pattern, and the liquid polymer is dispensed therein. The lens forming pattern having a periphery area and an interior area, most portion of the periphery area having a property of confining liquid polymer, while the interior area having at least one portion exposing the surface of the substrate; depositing liquid polymer onto the lens forming pattern; and curing the liquid polymer after the liquid polymer reaches equilibrium shape and is confined to the periphery area. The invention also discloses a collimator including the polymer miniature lens.
US08120852B2
The diffractive optical element includes a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating, which are formed of materials different from each other, the first diffraction grating and the second diffraction grating are stacked so as not to provide any air layer therebetween. The diffractive optical element satisfies conditions of nd1
US08120845B2
An optical system includes an optical assembly frame having an input portion, an output portion, and an objective lens assembly disposed at the input portion of the optical assembly frame. The objective lens assembly has an objective lens central optical axis. An eyepiece lens assembly is disposed at the output portion of the frame. The eyepiece lens assembly has an eyepiece lens central optical axis parallel to the objective lens central optical axis and offset from the objective lens central optical axis by a distance. An inverting image intensifier is disposed between the objective lens assembly and the eyepiece lens assembly. The image intensifier has an image intensifier optical axis parallel to the objective lens central optical axis and parallel to the eyepiece lens central optical axis. The image intensifier optical axis is offset from both the objective lens central optical axis and the eyepiece lens central optical axis by about half the distance.
US08120838B2
The present invention in one aspect relates to a solar cell formed on a substrate, a bottom electrode member formed on the solar cell, an electrophoretic display panel formed on the bottom electrode member, having a plurality of electrophoretic cell structures spatially arranged in a matrix form, each electrophoretic cell structure containing a plurality of charged particles movable in the electrophoretic cell structure responsively to applied fields, and a top electrode member formed on the electrophoretic display panel, where at least one of the bottom electrode member and the top electrode member includes a plurality of in-plane switching (IPS) electrodes. Each IPS electrode is positioned in relation to a corresponding electrophoretic cell structure for controlling movements of the charged particles therein along a horizontal direction parallel to the electrophoretic display panel.
US08120836B2
The present invention is directed to luminance enhancement structures for reflective display devices. The structure comprises columns and grooves, wherein each of said grooves has a cross-section comprising an apex angle and two edge lines. The structure increases the overall reflectance by reducing the total internal reflection, and as a result, the brightness of a display device is increased.
US08120833B2
A variable space shutter includes: a first frame having vertically spaced slats forming vertical openings; a second frame having a horizontal indented channel, the second frame being affixed to the first frame around a periphery of the first frame; and a shutter part having vertically spaced slats forming vertical openings, the shutter part being sandwiched between the first and second frames such that a portion of the shutter part rests within the horizontal indented channel to permit selective sliding movement of the shutter within the channel between a first position, wherein the vertical openings of the first frame line up with the vertical openings of the shutter part, to permit light to pass through the variable space shutter, and a second position, wherein the vertical openings of the first frame line up with the vertical slats of the shutter part, to block light from passing through the variable space shutter.
US08120832B2
An electromechanical shutter device comprising a base member and a shutter assembly comprising: an electrical current source member; a shutter member movable between a light beam blocked position and a light beam passed position; a light beam blocking member associated with the shutter member; a shutter coil associated with the shutter member which generates an electromagnetic force when energized; at least one magnet which generates a magnet flux directed towards and intersecting the shutter coil; electrically conductive means connecting the electrical current source member to the shutter member for passing electrical current to energize the shutter coil and to control movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and passed positions; wherein when the shutter coil is energized, an electromagnetic force is generated that interacts with the magnetic flux to thereby cause movement of the shutter member between the light beam blocked and light beam passed positions.
US08120830B2
An optical scanning apparatus includes a first optical member for receiving a plurality of light beams with an interval and for causing a first group of beams to emerge with a narrower interval, the first optical member being rotatable to adjust the interval of the beams emergent therefrom; a second optical member for receiving a second light beam and the first group of beams emergent from the first optical member with an interval and for causing a third group of beams to emerge with a narrower interval, the second optical member being rotatable to change the interval between the first group of beams and the second beam; and deflecting means for scanningly deflecting a third group of beams emergent from the second optical member.
US08120827B2
A holographic storage system for reading a hologram stored on a holographic storage medium. The system comprises: storage medium holding means; a spatial light modulator (SLM) for encoding a reference beam with a code pattern; a detector; and a servo control unit for determining a misalignment of the reference beam and the storage medium from the detected image and for acting upon the SLM to shift the code pattern. A method of reading a hologram stored on a holographic storage medium comprising: a) encoding a reference beam with a code pattern created by a spatial light modulator (SLM); b) detecting an image of the reconstructed hologram; c) determining a misalignment of the reference beam and the storage medium from the detected image; and d) shifting the code pattern on the SLM based at least in part on the misalignment.
US08120818B2
An image processing apparatus includes an input part to input data which is a target of an image processing, an output part to output a result of the image processing, a first filter to control an input process of data from the input part depending on the input part, and a second filter to control an output of data to the output part depending on the output part. A marking type information which is to be added to a predetermined image is specified with respect to the second filter, a marking image is created based on the marking type information, and the marking image is synthesized with respect to an image which is output from the output service. The second filter instructs output of an image with respect to the output service. An application is formed by connecting the first filter and the second filter.
US08120817B2
A halftone revision apparatus includes a screening unit to screen an input image, and a revision unit to detect edge pixels in the input image, and to add a dot to a detected edge pixel according to a number of white pixels adjacent to the detected edge pixel. Therefore, edges in the halftoned image can be improved.
US08120815B2
An image processing method is provided. The image processing method includes: generating profiles for color reproduction, classified for each of recording papers, from at least one of particular characteristic data of the each recording paper, which is generated on the basis of factors that affect color reproduction and particular generation information of the each recording paper, which is obtained by printing plural patch patterns at the recording paper and performing colorimetry of the printed patch patterns; and when implementing basic extraction control for extracting a profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information, if no profile that matches in at least one of the characteristic data and the generation information is extracted, extracting a profile that approximates in accordance with a pre-specified order of priority determination procedure to be a candidate.
US08120813B2
A method is described for managing a print shop system in which a plurality of printers are connected to and managed by a server. When a document to be printed contains both color and black and white pages, the server splits the print job into a color and a black and white sub-job. Each print job includes a job ticket containing a plurality of parameters and the document to be printed. The server splits the original print job by generating a color sub-document and a black and white sub-document based the color characteristics of the pages of the original document, and generating a color sub-job ticket and a black and white sub-job ticket based on the original job-ticket parameters, by suitably retaining some original parameters, overriding some, deleting some, retaining some with page shifting, and adding some parameters. The two sub-jobs are printed by two different printers and then merged.
US08120810B2
A system for adjusting scanned images for printing. In response to scanning one or more objects, one or more bounding boxes are calculated for the scanned image. The scanned image is cropped to a size of the one or more bounding boxes. The cropped image is rotated to align with a scanner bed and other cropped images if necessary. The cropped image is centered. It is determined if more scanned image data can fit within a selected page size. In response to determining that more scanned image data can fit within the selected page size, it is determined if more objects need to be scanned in a print job. In response to determining that more objects do not need to be scanned in the print job, a print layout is determined for the print job. Then, the print job is printed on the selected page size.
US08120807B2
An information processing apparatus stores therein selected to-be-transmitted image data and the predetermined transmission order of image data, and displays a list of the stored to-be-transmitted image data according to the predetermined transmission order. When receiving an instruction to edit the transmission order of a displayed list of image data, the information processing apparatus displays stored to-be-transmitted image data according to an edited transmission order, and stores the edited transmission order. When receiving an instruction to fax, the information processing apparatus combines to-be-transmitted image data into a single image data to transmit the combined image data to an image transmitting apparatus, based on the stored edited transmission order.
US08120799B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for providing access to remote, descriptor-related data at an imaging device user interface. Some aspects relate to accessing a service or product provider resource based on a descriptor that is sent from an imaging device to the selector. Some aspects relate to a selection between multiple providers when multiple providers match criteria defined by the descriptor.
US08120795B2
This invention relates to a method for preventing a copy of document, belonging to a technical field of entire copy protection of document. In the prior art, for some important documents, specially the secret ones, the reproduction of this kind of document is usually prohibited by its owner because of the security. But the technique in the prior art can not solve the problem of preventing unauthorized reproduction. The method of the present invention is intended to embed a shading pattern under the original image of anti-copy document by an application program installed in the copy device, and decide whether the document can be copied legally or not. By the method of present invention, it is possible to detect the watermark information of the anti-copy document accurately and quickly, and prevent the reproduction of the anti-copy document thoroughly. Moreover, an additional memory space is no need.
US08120793B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for sending content to an imaging device display using a browser and an embedded application. Some aspects relate to an interruptive process whereby a browser process is interrupted in order to display new browser content. Some aspects relate to an interruptive process whereby alarm or error content is pushed to the browser.
US08120790B2
A print compression method and system reduces the amount of space required to print a document such that less paper is used during the printing of a document. A user defines criteria, which is used to perform document compression. However, the document compression only applies to the form of document being printed. This compression does not affect the document being edited.
US08120785B2
The invention provides a system and method for inspecting a three-dimensional sensor. According to the invention, a light source is controlled to emit a light of a known phase, and the known phase of the emitted light is altered by at least two known phase values. The three-dimensional sensor is driven in sensing the light reflected by the inspecting space to capture an image. In accordance with the captured image and the relative angle and the active brightness of each pixel thereof and the plurality of reference data, at least two quality data relative to the three-dimensional sensor are calculated.
US08120781B2
In certain aspects, interferometry methods are disclosed that include providing one or more interferometry signals for a test object, wherein the interferometry signals correspond to a sequence of optical path difference (OPD) values which are not all equally spaced from one another because of noise, providing information about the unequal spacing of the sequence of OPD values, decomposing each of the interferometry signals into a contribution from a plurality of basis functions each corresponding to a different frequency and sampled at the unequally spaced OPD values, and using information about the contribution from each of the multiple basis functions to each of the interferometry signals to determine information about the test object.
US08120780B2
A laser based coordinate measuring device measures a position of a remote target. The laser based coordinate measuring device includes a stationary portion, a rotatable portion, and at least a first optical fiber. The stationary portion has at least a first laser radiation source and at least a first optical detector, and the rotatable portion is rotatable with respect to the stationary portion. The first optical fiber system, which optically interconnects the first laser radiation source and the first optical detector with an emission end of the first optical fiber system, has the emission end disposed on the rotatable portion. The emission end emits laser radiation to the remote target and receives laser radiation reflected from the remote target with the emission direction of the laser radiation being controlled according to the rotation of the rotatable portion.
US08120775B2
A sensor device for determining a physical value using a laser, whose emission behavior can be affected by the physical value is described. The laser is arranged to emit at least two concurrent modes lying above a laser threshold and the physical value is determined using a comparison of changes of the at least two modes occurring under the influence of the physical value.
US08120774B2
There is provided an evanescent wave multimode optical waveguide sensitive to a chemical species or to a physical parameter. The optical waveguide comprises a core and a cladding having a cladding refractive index lower than that of the core for guiding light to be propagated in the optical waveguide. The cladding defines with the core an optical waveguide providing mode coupling. A chemical indicator is provided in the cladding for causing a variation of the optical absorption of the cladding as a function of the chemical species or the physical parameter. The cladding is interrogated by the evanescent wave of the propagated light. The mode coupling causes unabsorbed light power to be redistributed among the multiple modes while light propagates along the optical waveguide.
US08120771B2
By means of an improved configuration method, mathematical transport models can be fitted to correlations determined by means of scanning fluorescence spectroscopy with few errors. With improved methods for carrying out or evaluating a raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement (RICS) measurement, the amount of data to be stored can be reduced and RICS correlations of high statistical quality can be determined within a short period of time. For a raster image correlation spectroscopy measurement, a best value for a sampling value is determined and is specified for a subsequent scanning process on a sample. In order to carry out or evaluate a RICS measurement, sampling values are acquired or a correlation is determined exclusively in a sample region within which a pixel time (ΔP) changes along a harmonically controlled scan axis (X) by less than, or at most by, a predetermined or predeterminable value.
US08120766B2
Scattered light that originates from the surface roughness of silicon or other metallic films is distributed more strongly at positions closer to the starting position of the scattering. Of all scattered-light detection signals obtained during multi-directional detection, therefore, only a detection signal of forward scattered light can be used to detect micro-defects, and only a detection signal of backward scattered light can be used to detect the surface roughness very accurately.
US08120759B2
The invention relates to a broad band optical strain sensing system for a wind turbine. The strain sensing system includes an optical fiber with an input at one end and an output at the opposite end. The optical fiber is provided with Bragg sensors between the input and the output. By injecting light at the input of the fiber, measuring the spectral intensity distribution of at the output of the fiber and determining spectral locations of intensity notches in the spectral intensity distribution, it is possible to determine strain values at the locations of the Bragg sensors from the transmitted light.
US08120756B2
Disclosed is a laser doppler velocity system that can easily change a focal length of laser beam, in order to measure the velocity of fluid. As the fluid lens is used in order to focus the laser beam, the lens aperture is rapidly and accurately changed at a low power to easily measure the flow-velocity and shear stress of the boundary layer of the structure within the flow field. As the optical array including the fluid lens is integrated using a diode laser as a laser light source, the laser doppler velocity system can be made in small-size. Also, as the laser doppler velocity system is inserted into the surface of the structure, it can be used as a surface flow field measurement sensor.
US08120755B2
The subject matter of the invention is a method of correcting a volume imaging equation for more accurate determination of a velocity field of particles in a volume, said volume being captured from different directions by at least two cameras, a coarse calibration of the position of the cameras relative to each other and relative to the volume of concern being carried out first by determining an imaging equation that associates with the coordinates (X, Y, Z) of a point in the volume the corresponding camera picture coordinates xi, yi of each camera i, all the cameras then capturing simultaneously in the same unchanged position particles in a volume, the position (X, Y, Z) of a particle in the volume being approximated by means of a known triangulation method using the calculated position xi, yi of a particle in the camera pictures, this position (X, Y, Z) being imaged through the original imaging equation onto a position xi′, yi′ in the camera images of the at least two cameras, a correction factor for the imaging equation being calculated from the difference (dxi, dyi) between the coordinates (xi, yi) and (xi′, yi′) so that, thanks to the amended imaging equation, the point (xi, yi) becomes identical with the point (xi′, yi′) for all the cameras i, this correction occurring for many particles in the volume.
US08120753B2
A method of generating a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system having a pupil. The method includes the steps of defining the optical imaging system and a process to be utilized by the optical imaging system; and defining a model equation representing the imaging performance of the optical imaging system and the process, where the model equation including a calibrated pupil kernel. The calibrated pupil kernel representing a linear model of the pupil performance.
US08120745B2
A method of fabricating a substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes: disposing a transparent substrate on a stage of a laser apparatus; irradiating a laser beam having a predetermined power onto the transparent substrate to form a light shielding region in the transparent substrate surrounding first to third light transmitting regions; and forming a color filter layer including red, green and blue sub-color filters respectively in the first to third light transmitting regions, wherein boundaries of the red, green and blue sub-color filters correspond to the light shielding region.
US08120736B2
A liquid crystal display is provided that includes first and second panels facing each other, an alignment layer disposed on at least one of the first and second panels, a fixing member disposed on the surface of the alignment layer to fix the alignment structure of the alignment layer, and liquid crystal materials disposed between the first and second panels. The liquid crystal materials include liquid crystal molecules that have a pre-tilt angle and are disposed on the alignment layer.
US08120733B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on the first substrate crossing each other to define pixel regions, a black matrix layer on the second substrate in regions corresponding to the gate lines and the data lines, color filter layers on the second substrate covering at least the pixel regions, a plurality of column spacers on respective portions of the black matrix layer excluding the color filter layers, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08120731B2
An article having a color pattern formed therein comprises a substrate, banks on the substrate, and a colored layer provided between the banks. The colored layer has a thickness of 80-120% of an average thickness thereof. In addition, the banks have an ink repelling agent or the upper apex portion of the banks has ink repelling ability.
US08120727B2
The present invention relates to an array substrate of TFT-LCD and Method for manufacturing the same. The array substrate includes: gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes and TFTs formed on a substrate; and a grid graph formed on each of the pixel electrode to make each of the pixel electrodes be simultaneously a built-in polarizer and change natural lights into linear polarized lights. The method for manufacturing an array substrate includes: forming a graph including gate electrodes and gate lines on a substrate; depositing continuously a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer and a doped semiconductor layer, and forming graphs of semiconductor layers and doped semiconductor layers above the gate electrodes; forming graphs of source electrodes, drain electrodes, data lines and pixel electrodes, in which a grid graph formed on each of the pixel electrode to make each of the pixel electrodes be simultaneously a built-in polarizer and change natural lights into linear polarized lights. In the present invention, there is no need to attach polarizer of absorption type to the array substrate after being disposed with the color filter substrate as a cell, thereby reducing the production cost of the TFT-LCD, and which is propitious to reduce the thickness of the TFT-LCD and increase the power utilization efficiency greatly of LCD.
US08120720B2
A pixel structure includes a scan line, a data line, a gate electrode electrically connected to the scan line, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate electrode, a drain electrode, an extending electrode, and a pixel electrode. The scan line and the data line cross each other, and are insulated. The drain electrode includes a contact part disposed outside the gate electrode, an electrode part disposed on the semiconductor pattern and a connecting part extending from the contact part along a direction to connect the electrode part, and partially overlapping the gate electrode. The pixel electrode is connected to the contact part. The extending electrode is connected to the scan line. A first end of the extending electrode points to the semiconductor layer along the direction, and overlaps the drain electrode. A first width of the connecting part is equal to the second width of the extending electrode.
US08120719B2
A photo-addressable display medium is provided, the photo-addressable display medium including: a pair of electrodes having transparency; a photoconductive layer disposed between the pair of electrodes and having a laminated structure of a first charge generation layer, a charge transport layer and a second charge generation layer in this order from an exposing light irradiation side; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between an electrode of the inverse side to the exposing light irradiation side and the second charge generation layer and having memory performance, wherein the first charge generation layer and the second charge generation layer contain a phthalocyanine compound, and the charge transport layer contains a stilbene compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein, R1 to R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group.
US08120716B2
An automobile includes a video system mounted within a ceiling of the automobile. The video system is moveable between a use position and a storage position. The video system includes a rear facing surface from which a video monitor displays images for viewing by passengers of the automobile. The video system also includes a front facing surface having a forward facing video monitor wherein the forward facing video monitor is in alignment with a rearview mirror for viewing by the driver when the video system is in its use position. A video camera is provided for viewing that which would be seen out a rear window of the automobile. The video camera is linked to the forward facing video monitor for displaying an image of the environment in the rear of the automobile a driver would see as the driver looks through a rearview mirror. A mechanism is further provided for linking activation of the video camera and the forward facing video monitor to rotation of the video system between its use position and its storage position.
US08120712B2
Disclosed is a receiver for terrestrial digital television broadcasting including: a receiving circuit for receiving terrestrial digital television broadcasting to output a video signal and an audio signal of a predetermined channel and an information signal of information related to a channel being received; a data table in the receiving circuit on which channel data for selecting channels of the terrestrial digital television broadcasting is registered; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured such that: first data for identifying a channel, second data for identifying a broadcast service area and third data for identifying a transport stream are taken out of the information signal to be supplied to the control circuit; if the first data is normally obtained, the receiving circuit selects a channel based on the first data with reference to the data table; and if the first data is not normally obtained, the receiving circuit selects a channel based on the second and the third data with reference to the data table.
US08120711B2
A display system and a method of controlling a display system are provided. The display system may include a receiving device to transmit a power control signal across a wireless communication link according to a power on/off command inputted from a user, to receive an audio/video (A/V) signal, to display the A/V signal, and to transmit an acknowledgment signal of the A/V signal. The display system may further include a transmitting device to turn on/off in response to a power control signal received from the receiving device, to transmit the A/V signal to the receiving device, and to control a power thereof according to whether the acknowledgement signal of the A/V signal has arrived.
US08120694B2
A lens barrel includes: a plurality of lenses disposed in an outer enclosure; and an imaging device that converts image light introduced as an image capturing signal through the plurality of lenses into an image signal. The outer enclosure has a unit assembling portion in which an imaging unit is disposed. The imaging unit includes a centering lens disposed in the bottom portion of the unit assembling portion, a pressing plate that presses the centering lens from the side opposite the bottom portion, a packing disposed on the opposite side of the pressing plate, and an imaging module having the imaging device and disposed on the opposite side of the packing to the pressing plate and pressing the packing against the pressing plate. A working hole through which an adjustment jig is inserted is formed in the peripheral side portion of the unit assembling portion.
US08120691B2
Provided are an image capturing apparatus and method for use in a mobile terminal. The image capturing method includes when an image capturing menu is selected during a preview operation, pausing the preview operation; releasing an image sub-processing of the preview operation; and resuming the preview operation and capturing the image. Accordingly, the mobile terminal can minimize the difference between the preview operation stop time and the capture time, which may be generated by the data processing time increased during capturing the image at high pixel resolution. Therefore, the mobile terminal can provide the captured image naturally.
US08120689B2
Data is encoded on an image sensor that has a plurality of pixels including one or more bio-sensing pixels and one or more data encoding pixels. The method includes applying a covering material selectively to the data encoding pixels depending on the data to be encoded, the covering material having a detectable difference in opacity relative to having no covering material present. The method includes reading the data encoding pixels, in the presence of light, and decoding data according to a pre-determined scheme depending on the presence of the covering material on the data encoding pixel. As bio-reagents are typically applied after manufacture of the image sensor, the image sensor can have information encoded for electronic detection subsequent to manufacture.
US08120686B2
A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a first antireflection coating film formed on a light-receiving surface of a first photoelectric conversion element and a second antireflection coating film formed on a light-receiving surface of a second photoelectric conversion element. A total length of first photoelectric conversion element facing portions of gate lines adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion element is shorter than a total length of second photoelectric conversion element facing portions of gate lines adjacent to the second photoelectric conversion element. An area of the first antireflection coating film is larger than that of the second antireflection coating film.
US08120682B2
A solid-state image pickup device comprises for each pixel a photoelectric converter PD, an input terminal FD of a signal amplifier and a transfer switch TX for transferring an optical signal from the photoelectric converter to the input terminal. The device additionally comprises means for resetting the photoelectric converter by opening the transfer switch TX under a condition of holding the voltage of the input terminal FD to a fixed high level before storing the optical signal in the photoelectric converter PD. With this arrangement, any residual electric charge in the photoelectric converter can be eliminated without paying the cost of reducing the manufacturing yield and degrading the chip performance.
US08120681B2
An image sensing apparatus includes a pixel array, a readout unit and an output unit having an output line group, a plurality of difference circuits, a first dummy line and a second dummy line. The output line group is interposed between the first dummy line and the second dummy line. The readout unit includes a plurality of memory circuits, each including a first holding capacitance and a second holding capacitance. A gain determined by a ratio of a capacitance value of the first holding capacitance and a capacitance value of a first output line is applied to the first signal output to the first output line, and a gain determined by a ratio of a capacitance value of the second holding capacitance and a capacitance value of a second output line is applied to the second signal output to the second output line.
US08120664B2
This invention includes an imaging device that photographs a subject, a display device that has a display screen displaying image data photographed by the imaging device, a zoom device that varies the display screen, an extraction device that extracts a predetermined feature portion from image data photographed by the imaging device, a directive device that directs the display device so as to display a predetermined feature portion extracted by the extraction device in a predetermined form, and a controller that controls the directive device so as not to direct a display on the display device in accordance with the varying magnification of the zoom device. Namely, an icon of the extraction result is not displayed while the zoom is in action, so that it can avoid an inappropriate display in which the icon display does not correspond to a photographed subject due to the subject's quick movement or a sudden change in its size within a picture frame.
US08120663B2
An image sensing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a driving unit that drives the image sensor so as to output electrical signals through multiple readout modes including at least a full pixel readout mode and a thinning readout mode, an acquisition unit that acquires lens magnification chromatic aberration correction information, a correction coefficient calculation unit that obtains a coefficient for a first magnification chromatic aberration correction method during full pixel readout and a coefficient for a second magnification chromatic aberration correction method during thinning readout, and a digital signal processor that corrects the electrical signals using the obtained coefficients. In the second magnification chromatic aberration correction method, the thinned and read-out electrical signals are corrected based on positions in the image sensor of pixels corresponding to the electrical signals.
US08120661B2
A method for digital video image stabilization, the method including: estimating, from at least one portion of a frame, global frame displacement between an initial reference digital video frame and a current frame in a video sequence of frames; verifying, for the entire frame, the validity of the estimated frame displacement; and compensating for the estimated frame displacement by aligning at least one frame in the sequence with respect to the initial reference frame; wherein the step of aligning includes producing a corrected motion vector for the frame to be aligned and displacing the frame within the video frames sequence in accordance with the corrected motion vector.
US08120658B2
A camera system in normal mode and hand jitter reduction (hjr) mode may comprise generating a first exposure time-gain product by multiplying the normal mode exposure time with the normal mode gain. It may further comprise modifying the normal mode exposure time and gain and multiplying these modified parameters to generate a second exposure time-gain product for a hjr mode that reduces the difference between the first exposure time-gain product and the second exposure time-gain product. To reduce the difference the normal mode frame rate may also be modified. Operation of a camera in normal mode may be in response to a sensed light level being above a threshold. The hjr mode may be selected by the user while the camera is operating. The hjr mode may be used in response to a sensed light level being lower than the threshold.
US08120648B2
The invention discloses a method for displaying a stereoscopic image, wherein the stereoscopic image includes a first-eye image and a second-eye image. The method is to firstly calculate a shift of the first-eye image with respect to the second-eye image. Then, the method moves the first-eye image for a length of a shift. Afterward, the method outputs the moved first-eye image and the second-eye image to display the stereoscopic image. Thereby, the parallax of the stereoscopic image is adjusted, so as to enhance the synthesizing effect of the stereoscopic image created.
US08120646B2
The invention relates to arrangements for spatially displaying a scene or object, in which a great number of individual pixels αij in a grid of rows (j) and columns (i) are made visible simultaneously, with the pixels (αij) presenting bits of partial information from several views Ak (k=1 . . . n) of the scene or object, and in which propagation directions for the light radiated by the pixels (αij) are established by means of a structured plate. The structured plate contains a great number of optical imaging elements (βpq) arranged in a grid of rows (q) and columns (p). According to the invention, at least two of the following kinds of optical imaging elements (βpq) are simultaneously provided on the structured plate, viz. wavelength or gray level filter, lens or cylinder lens, and/or prism.
US08120645B2
An adjuster plate is provided between a front rail and a camera unit body having cameras. Pre-dimensioned positioning pins protrude from upper and lower surfaces of the adjuster plate. The positioning pins protruding from the upper surface of the adjuster plate are positioned by being fitted in pin fitting holes provided in the front rail. The positioning pins protruding from the lower surface of the adjuster plate are positioned by being fitted in pin fitting holes provided in the camera unit body. Even when the positions of the pin fitting holes in the front rail are changed, it is possible to cope with the change by only changing the protruding positions of the positioning pins.
US08120642B2
A swept distance between a subject and a plurality of cameras provides a plurality of raw images. Focused portions of the raw images are fused to generate a synthetic image and a distance image. A projection of the synthetic image and the distance image yields a panoramic image.
US08120631B2
Thermal printers and methods for operating thermal printers are provided. In one method, a sequence of thermal print head control signals is generated that is adapted to cause an array of thermal elements to cause the donor material to transfer from a donor ribbon in a manner that is modulated in accordance with image data and attenuated in accordance with an attenuation pattern. A receiver medium is urged through the printing nip while the thermal print head control signals are transmitted to the thermal print head to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor web in an image modulated pattern having a longitudinal length that is larger than a longitudinal length of the receiver medium. The attenuation pattern provides a relatively high level of attenuation at a portion of the printing wherein there is greater risk that the receiver medium will not be within the printing nip.
US08120622B2
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for an overlaying requester to send graphics commands to a game connected to the overlaying requester via a dummy graphics application programming interface (API) object that the game will render over normal game-play graphics. In addition to allowing the overlaying requester to send graphics commands to the game in general, the dummy graphics API object can also limit the extent of the interaction between the overlaying requester and the computerized gaming system.
US08120614B2
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a technique for compressing and storing display data and optionally compressing and storing cursor data in a memory that is local to a graphics processing unit to reduce the power consumed by a mobile computing device when refreshing the screen. Compressing the display data and optionally the cursor data also reduces the relative cost of the invention by reducing the size of the local memory relative to the size that would be necessary if the display data were stored locally in uncompressed form. Thus, the invention may improve mobile computing device battery life, while keeping additional costs low.
US08120612B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently and intelligently communicating characteristic information in video graphics switcher environments. An intelligent video graphics switcher obtains display device characteristic information associated with multiple display devices and maintains updated characteristic information. When an event such as a connection/disconnection or switching event occurs between the video graphics switcher and a display device, the characteristic information is communicated to an appropriate host by triggering a connection/disconnection event with the host.
US08120609B2
For ray tracing systems, described methods, media, apparatuses provide for accounting of light energy that will be collected at pixels of a 2-D representation without recursive closure of a tree of ray/primitive intersections, and also provide for adaptivity in ray tracing based on importance indicators of each ray, such as a weight, which may be carried in data structures representative of the rays. Examples of such adaptivity may include determining a number of children to issue for shading an identified intersecting primitive, culling rays, and adding rays to achieve more accurate sampling, if desired. All such adaptivity may be triggered with goal-based indicators, such as a threshold value representative of rendering progress to a time-based goal, such as a frame rate.
US08120608B2
Embodiments of systems and methods for managing a constant buffer with rendering context specific data in multithreaded parallel computational GPU core are disclosed. Briefly described, one method embodiment, among others, comprises responsive to a first shader operation, receiving at a constant buffer a first group of constants corresponding to a first rendering context, and responsive to a second shader operation, receiving at the constant buffer a second group of constants corresponding to a second context without flushing the first group.
US08120604B2
The present invention provides a snap function that can move an object smoothly, without deteriorating the user operability. According to the present invention, there is provided an object editing system, including: an arrangement system for arranging an object and a snap target in a given display area; a moving system for moving the object in the display area; a snap system for causing the object to snap the snap target on a basis of a distance between the object and the snap target; and a restriction system for inhibiting the object from snapping the snap target on a basis of a direction in which the object is moving. According to the object editing system of the invention, the snap system causes the object to snap the snap target once the distance between the object and the snap target has become smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
US08120602B2
The plasma display panel device according to the present invention includes a the data driver that includesa data IC applying a driving signal to at least one address electrode and a data driver applying a driving data signal to the data IC to reduce EMI and ensure timing margin according to high rate switching operations of the plural switches included in the data IC, wherein the data driver generates a first synchronization signal if N−1th data is different from Nth data and maintains and applies the first synchronization signal to the data IC if the Nth data is different from N+1th data.
US08120601B2
A display drive apparatus for driving a display pixel including a light-emitting element and a drive element in which one end of a current path is connected to the light-emitting element. The display drive apparatus has a specific value detection section detecting a difference value between a measured voltage detected at one end of a data line when a reference current is applied via the data line and a standard voltage corresponding to the reference current so as to obtain a specific value corresponding to variation of an element characteristic of the drive element, and a gradation signal correction section generating a corrected gradation signal by correcting a gradation signal according to display data based on the specific value so as to apply the corrected gradation signal from the one end of the data line to the display pixel.
US08120592B2
A touch sensing substrate includes a substrate, first and second sensing series, a first dielectric layer, first and second dummy sensing series, a second dielectric layer, and a common electrode. The first sensing series are electrically insulated from each other, and so are the second sensing series. The first and the second sensing series are covered by the first dielectric layer. The first and the second dummy sensing series are disposed on the first dielectric layer. The first and the second dummy sensing series are disposed above the first and the second sensing series, respectively, and the dummy sensing series and the sensing series corresponding thereto have the same potential. The first and the second dummy sensing series are covered by the second dielectric layer. The common electrode is disposed on the second dielectric layer. A touch sensing liquid crystal display having the above-mentioned touch sensing substrate is also provided.
US08120588B2
A sensor assembly includes a coordinate input surface and, under a region thereof, a first and second switch assembly. Each assembly includes at least a first and second conductive element. When a force smaller than a first threshold is exerted on the surface, the first and second element of both assemblies are not in contact with each other. When a force larger than the first threshold and smaller than a second threshold is exerted, the first and second elements of the first assembly are in contact with each other, while the elements of the second assembly are not. When a force larger than the second threshold is exerted on the region, the elements of both assemblies are in contact with each other. A display including a sensor assembly is also disclosed.
US08120587B2
Provided is a touch panel using a zinc oxide (ZnO) nano wire. The touch panel may include a first transparent substrate, a first transparent electrode layer on the first transparent substrate, a light transmissive nano wire layer including a plurality of piezoelectric nano wires that may be arranged on the first transparent electrode layer so as to be perpendicular to the first transparent electrode layer, a second transparent electrode layer on the nano wire layer, and a second transparent substrate on the second transparent electrode layer.
US08120578B2
A controller for controlling a cursor includes an identifying module for identifying at least one of a first period when a cursor is in motion and a second period when the cursor is not in motion, and a calibrating module for calibrating an input parameter signal using a first hands-off test during the first period and a second hands-off test, different than the first hands-off test, during the second period.
US08120576B2
An input display device, and a cursor shift record concerning a cursor shift operation which is carried out on the display unit in connection with the selection of the processing target candidates, a timer for counting the time from a previous processing target search/select operation till a latest cursor shift operation, and a cursor shift controller for judging on, the basis of the processing target search/select record, the cursor shift record and the time counted by the timer whether the latest cursor shift operation is carried out in connection with the same processing to be executed on processing targets, and allowing the cursor to shift to a selectable position of a next processing target candidate if it is judged that the latest cursor shift operation is carried out in connection with the same processing.
US08120567B2
The present invention provides a solid state image sensor and a camera using such a solid state image sensor, in which all of stage registers of the shift register can be reset efficiently without increasing the number of pads and/or sensor pins. The solid state image sensor comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 31 arranged in a two-dimensional array, a vertical shift register 503 disposed in a column direction and a horizontal shift register 504 disposed in a row direction and is characterized in that a timing for controlling resetting means for a first stage register of the shift register differs from a timing for controlling a second stage register and subsequent stage registers. Further, as a concrete example, the second stage register and subsequent stage registers are rest by a pulse for driving the shift register and the first stage register is reset by a pulse in which a high level is reached only upon power ON.
US08120564B2
By a low power consumption driving method for an image display apparatus, unusual display may be prevented even if gate driving is not enough. When a rising edge of an output enable pulse is detected, a logic LOW gate driving signal is discharged to GND. When a falling edge of the output enable pulse is detected, the gate driving signal at GND is charged to logic HIGH. When a rising edge of the next output enable pulse is detected, the gate driving signal at logic HIGH is discharged to GND. When a falling edge of the next output enable pulse is detected, the gate driving signal at GND is charged to logic LOW. The image display apparatus is driven by the generated gate driving signals.
US08120563B2
A display ON sequence for preventing problems in a display at the starting time of a liquid crystal display device is prevented from having malfunctions, which might otherwise be caused in a scanning line drive circuit by applying a voltage to scanning signal lines. In the display ON sequence at the starting time of the liquid crystal display device of an active matrix type, all the scanning signal lines of a liquid crystal panel are brought into a selected state thereby to release the electric charges in the liquid crystal capacity and the auxiliary capacity in each pixel forming portion through data signal lines. After this, the scanning signal lines are stepwise brought into an unselected state by dividing them several times, before their sequential selections (or scans) for the display are started. Thus, the electric current to flow through the bulk of the scanning signal line drive circuit is made lower than that of the prior art, in which the scanning signal lines were simultaneously brought into the unselected state.
US08120553B2
An organic light emitting diode display device and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display device comprises: a display panel having an m-number of first data lines and an n-number of gate lines crossing each other, an m-number of second data lines and the n-number of gate lines crossing each other, pixels formed at common crossing regions, and an n-number of reset lines arranged corresponding to the n-number of gate lines one by one and connected to the adjacent pixels; a data driving circuit for converting input digital data into a real data voltage and an inverse data voltage and selectively supplying the real data voltage and the inverted data voltage to the first and second data lines; a gate driver for sequentially supplying scan pulses to the gate lines; and a reset pulse supply unit for sequentially supplying reset pulses to the reset lines.
US08120547B2
A method displaying information for viewing by a user characterised by the steps of: peripherally displaying primary information (5) on a first focal plane (3), and displaying secondary information (6) on at least a second focal plane (2) to said primary information (5), wherein said secondary information (6) exhibits at least one characteristic capable of augmenting the effect of the primary information (5) on the viewer.
US08120546B2
A compensating multi layer material includes two compensating layers adjacent to one another. A multi-layer embodiment of the invention produces sub-wavelength near-field focusing, but mitigates the thickness and loss limitations of the isotropic “perfect lens.” An antenna substrate comprises an indefinite material.
US08120544B2
A compact continuous ground plane system is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an assembly for forming a continuous ground plane for an antenna having at least two elements configured to move relative to one another, the ground assembly including a first element having a housing, a plunger disposed within the housing, a second element, a wear plate coupled to the second element, and a spring disposed between the plunger and the housing, the spring configured to urge the plunger toward the wear plate, where the plunger is configured to be moved within the housing and to make electrical contact with the wear plate.
US08120539B2
There are provided an antenna integrally formed with a case and a method of manufacturing the same. An antenna integrally formed with a case according to an aspect of the invention includes: a case unit forming an exterior of an electronic device, a radiator comprising a radiation unit tightly fixed to an outer surface of the case unit and terminal units each extending from an end portion of the radiation unit, passing through the case unit, and exposed on the inside of the case unit, and contact pins provided on a board disposed in an interior space of the case unit and electrically connected to the individual terminal units.
US08120536B2
A dual polarized antenna element having improved antenna isolation is disclosed by the present invention. The antenna element includes a first feeder for feeding the antenna element in a first polarization direction, and a second feeder for feeding the antenna element in a second polarization direction. According to the present invention, a compensation line is arranged between the first and the second feeders for compensating for an imbalance caused by an essentially capacitive coupling between the first and second feeders. The compensation line is connected to the first and second feeders in close proximity to a radiating part of said antenna element, and has a short electrical length θ and a high impedance relative to an impedance of the first and second feeders, respectively, thereby giving the compensation line an essentially inductive character.
US08120527B2
A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver.
US08120526B2
Measurements of the differential and/or absolute time-of-arrival of separable signals transmitted from a set of spatially-distributed (SD) transmitters are obtained by one or more receivers. The signals transmitted by each transmitter are made separable by encoding them in a manner that enables each signal to be distinguished from the others by the receiver or receivers. An accurate time-of-arrival of each signal at the receiver is determined, from which the path lengths from the transmitters to the receiver and from the receiver to the object are determined based on the known propagation speed of the signals. Any Doppler frequency shifts in each signal can also be determined from this information. From all of this information, the receiver is able to determine its own position, motion and orientation (roll, pitch and yaw), as well as the position and motion of the moving object being tracked by the receiver.
US08120520B2
A successive approximation analog/digital converter includes a sample & hold part sampling and holding an intensity of an analog input signal using a single clock cycle of a clock signal; a first comparator comparing the intensity of the analog input signal with comparison voltages determined according to estimated digital values per clock cycle following an operating clock cycle of the sample & hold part; a second comparator comparing the intensity of the analog input signal with a value equal to ½ of a preset reference voltage in the latter half of the operating clock cycle of the sample & hold part; a successive approximation register determining a value of an MSB of a digital value to be converted according to the comparison result of the second comparator and values of bits successive to the MSB according to the comparison result of the first comparator, and generating the estimated digital values by applying estimated values to undetermined bits; and a digital/analog converter generating the comparison voltages using the estimated digital values and the reference voltage.
US08120513B2
A system for monitoring and tracking vehicles in parking locations, public roadways and highway entrances and exits and other public vehicle access areas is provided, such as to monitor and track vehicles in parking spaces, public roadways and highways without the need for parking or traffic personnel. The system includes a meter system that generates image data of a vehicle in a parking space, public roadway and highway entrances and exits such as by creating an array of pixel data in a predetermined field of view that includes a vehicle identification tag and facial imaging. An enforcement and tracking system receives the image data and generates a vehicle license number, vehicle tag identification number and facial image from the image data, such as by analyzing the image data to identify the vehicle license number, vehicle tag identification number and facial image based on the expected location of the license tag, identification tag and field of view image data characteristics of the license tag, facial image or other suitable data. From the image data acquired, monitoring of parking spaces is performed and violation citations or notices are generated for errant vehicles in parking locations as well as notification to law enforcement and homeland security agencies of vehicles and facial images identified as being on a watch list.
US08120512B2
Spaced first and second signposts transmit wireless signals containing different signpost identifications. A first path of travel passes through the transmission range of the first signpost, and a second path of travel passes through the transmission range of the second signpost but not the transmission range of the first signpost. A different configuration includes plural hallways extending away from a common intersection in respective directions, with a respective signpost in each hallway that transmits wireless signals containing a respective different signpost identification. Another configuration includes a hallway with first and second portions of different width, a first signpost in the first portion transmitting wireless signals containing a first signpost identification, and spaced second and third signposts in the second portion each transmitting wireless signals containing a second signpost identification different from the first signpost identification, and having a transmission range less than a width of the second portion.
US08120506B2
Provided is a display unit that incorporates a dial, a central display device, and an indicating needle. The indicating needle includes a substrate provided beneath the display device, a light source on a surface of an end of the substrate; and a light guide. The light guide includes a first light-guide portion extending vertically with its lower end facing the light source of the substrate, a second light-guide portion extending horizontally from the first light-guide portion, a third light-guide portion extending vertically from the second light-guide portion, and a needle portion extending horizontally such that the dial is pointed to by the end of the needle portion. The display unit may include a light-guide cover that prevents leakage of light and a regulation portion that restricts undesirable movement of a lead wire which might obstruct with rotation of the indicating needle.
US08120505B2
A base computer that, under normal conditions receives and stores individual ingress/egress data transmitted from at least one card reader and that maintains a current occupancy census of a facility. Under emergency conditions, individual exit from the facility is registered at a plurality of card readers located at evacuation assembly areas and such egress data are transmitted by wireless means to a portable computer that is in communication with the base computer thereby allowing a real time, current occupancy census to be generated and displayed. Egress can also be registered by telephone to a preestablished phone number.
US08120503B2
A worn brush monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of brushes of an electrical machine comprises a plurality of mounted flags configured to be in moveable communication relative to a wear of each of the plurality of brushes and an electrical recording circuit. The electrical recording circuit includes at least one impedance device configured to provide impedance data, at least one switch having a contact plate interactable with at least two of the plurality of mounted flags at different points along a length of the contact plate and an impedance dependent on the length of the contact plate, and a recording device configured to detect changes in electrical characteristics in the electrical recording circuit resulting from changes in a switch state, the switch state defined by the interaction between the mounted flags and the electrical recording circuit, as a result of brush wear.
US08120499B2
The present invention, in one embodiment, is a belt like device comprised of two sections connected together with magnets. The free ends of the two sections can be equipped with clips for securing each section to either child or caregiver. When the caregiver gets out of the vehicle the magnets and their respective sections separate, and a tune, tone, song, or some other audible signal is played through a speaker on the device. The audible signal could be activated by the use of a magnetic sensor or magnetic switch. The audible signal would alert and remind the caregiver that a child is still in the vehicle.
US08120495B2
An RFID system according to the present invention includes an RFID antenna system including: a first antenna that can communicate with an external reader/writer; an antenna selector for connecting with the first antenna; and a plurality of second antennas that can connect with the first antenna in order via the antenna selector, each of the second antennas can communicate with an IC tag that is attached to an article placed in a region defined by the second antenna.
US08120490B2
An RFID tag information system comprises a transmission/reception antenna configured to carry out information transmission/reception via radio communication with a RFID circuit element. An access information processing device configured to carry out predetermined processing relating to information for access that accesses the RFID circuit element or access acquisition information. And a selection processing portion for select and process one transmission path among a plurality of transmission paths that transmit the information for access from the access information processing device or that transmit the access acquisition information to the access information processing device.
US08120487B2
A power-saving wireless input device and an associated system are included. The wireless input device comprises an antenna, an RFID transponder, an energy-storing unit, and a sensing unit. The RFID transponder receives an AC signal via the antenna, and converts the AC signal into a DC signal. The energy-storing unit receives the DC signal for charging. The sensing unit, which is powered by the energy-storing unit, generates an input signal to the RFID transponder. The RFID transponder demodulates the AC signal to generate a request signal, and performs load modulation according to the input signal to generate a reply signal in response to the request signal. The reply signal is then transmitted via the antenna.
US08120481B2
When a person believes that he/she is having a heart attack, a pendant (or other communications device) can be activated to communicate an emergency services request signal to an emergency services notification station (e.g., that houses an AED). Once the emergency services notification station receives the emergency services request signal, the emergency services notification station can notify anyone in the area of the pending emergency (e.g., by sounding a siren and/or flashing a light and/or vibrating). The emergency services notification station can utilize an address display such that someone passing by is informed of the address of the person that needs assistance.
US08120480B2
Methods, devices, and systems for electronic wireless communication in circuits for monitoring one or more activities of an individual are disclosed. One circuit board assembly embodiment includes a carrier board portion having a module contact pattern to electrically connect a module, selected from a plurality of different module types each having a contact pattern that corresponds to the module contact pattern of the carrier board portion, to a number of electrical components attached to the carrier board portion; a sensor portion for sensing one or more activities of an individual, the sensor portion electrically connected to the carrier board portion; and a communications module portion selected from the plurality of different module types, wherein the module portion has a contact pattern that corresponds to the module contact pattern and wherein the communications module portion is electrically connected to the carrier board portion via the module contact pattern.
US08120479B2
A vehicular display device that includes a transmissive first liquid crystal display unit having a plurality of display elements; a transmissive second liquid crystal display unit superposed on the first liquid crystal display unit and having a plurality of display elements; and a controller for controlling the display elements of the first second liquid crystal display units, so as to display information required by a driver of the vehicle. The information displayed by the display elements includes at least first information indicative of a status of the vehicle, second information for confirming an operating setting of a vehicle-mounted device on the vehicle, and third information for indication to the driver. The controller controls the display elements to selectively display the information by selectively energizing and de-energizing the display elements, and further controls the display elements to simultaneously display the information in a non-overlapping manner.
US08120476B2
A rear-view system for a vehicle has a camera disposed on the vehicle. An electronic control unit receives and processes the image information from the camera. A display displays the processed image information from the electronic control unit. An alarm is operated by the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is used to detect an object from the processed image information. If the distance between the vehicle and the object is less than a predetermined distance, the electronic control unit will activate the alarm.
US08120474B2
A communication system for a vehicle includes a portable identification device including a portion for receiving an interrogation signal and a portion for transmitting an indication indicative signal responsive to the interrogation signal, multiple tire sensor devices each of which includes a portion for receiving an initiation signal and a portion for transmitting a condition indicative signal responsive to the initiation signal, multiple transmitting devices each of which emits the interrogation signal and the initiation signal for different conditions within a communication area, a receiving device for receiving the indication indicative signal and the condition indicative signal, and a central controller for unlocking a door lock device when the portable identification device is determined to be in an overlapped area based on a condition of the portable identification device, the overlapped area being defined between two adjacent communication areas and in which the door lock device is involved.
US08120472B2
A portable alarm device (100) for guarding a car (200) or another mobile object having a lockable compartment against theft or burglary, comprising: a housing (1) having at least one opening (2) and a microphone (4) therein for detecting infrasound; electrical circuitry (5) within housing (1) for processing signals and for transmitting an alarm signal on the detection of a forced entry; and a built-in power supply (7), i.e. batteries. The housing (1) is provided with steering features (2,9,11) for ensuring the existence of an unobstructed air path to opening(s) (2) regardless of the orientation and position assumed by the alarm device (100) being put rapidly into the coupe of the car by a staff member. The steering features may be legs (9) proximate to opening (2), a grating (10) surrounding opening (2), or alternatively surrounding the entire housing (1), or may be comprised of a number of openings in housing (1), spaced around the housing.
US08120467B2
A mobile portal for RFID applications includes an RFID reader for reading identifications of proximately located RFID tagged items in the environment. A communicator is coupled to the RFID reader to receive the read identifications and then communicate the received read identifications over the wireless interface, through one of the gateways, to the central data processing system. Each mobile portal may be actuated for RFID read operations in response to information sensed concerning operation of the mobile asset/vehicle. Additionally, the central data processing system may issue instructions concerning mobile asset/vehicle operation, with those instructions communicated over the wireless interface to the mobile portal. Responsive to implementation of those instructions, the mobile portal actuates the RFID reader and compares the read identifications to identifications of certain RFID tagged items to be manipulated which were identified in the received instruction.
US08120462B2
A method and system for determining the absence and presence of items in an RFID interrogation zone. At least one RFID reader transmits interrogation signals in an interrogation zone. Each RFID reader transmits interrogation signals having a forward amount of RF energy and receives response signals from the items in the interrogation zone having a reflected amount of RF energy. A detection circuit determines the presence and absence of items within the interrogation zone based at least in part on the reflected amount of RF energy.
US08120454B2
An electromagnetic actuating device comprising an armature unit which can be moved along a longitudinal axis relative to a stationary core by passing a current through a coil device, said armature unit being designed to form or define a fluid flow channel, wherein the armature unit has at one end an axially elongate cylindrical section, to which an annular groove-shaped section of reduced outer diameter is connected in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the fluid flow channel extends into the annular groove-shaped section, wherein the fluid flow channel runs through the elongate cylindrical section in the manner of a through-channel, in particular a through-bore, running obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis, so that a first opening at the end side and/or an opposite second opening of the through-channel are provided outside the cylindrical outer wall of the elongate section.
US08120447B2
A multilayer balanced filter includes a first coil including a first straight line electrode and via electrodes. A first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a third capacitor are provided respectively between a ground electrode and a first capacitor electrode, between the ground electrode and a second capacitor electrode, and between the ground electrode and a third capacitor electrode. The first coil and the first capacitor constitute an LC resonator. A second straight line electrode is arranged in parallel or substantially in parallel with the first straight line electrode, and a second coil and a third coil, each having a loop plane perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the loop plane of the first coil, are provided. A second capacitor and a third capacitor are respectively connected between balanced output terminals and the ground.
US08120446B2
An electronic component includes a layered substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers stacked, and three resonators provided within the layered substrate. One of the three resonators includes resonator-forming conductor layers of a first type and a second type that each have a short-circuited end and an open-circuited end, relative positions of the short-circuited end and the open-circuited end being reversed between the first and second types. The resonator-forming conductor layers of the first type and the second type are arranged to be adjacent to each other in a direction in which the plurality of dielectric layers are stacked.
US08120443B2
A circulator with at least three ports (p1, p2, p3) comprises two identical electromechanical micro-switches of the series type (MEMS1, MEMS2) formed on the same substrate, a first micro-switch being disposed in order to allow the transmission of a radiofrequency or microwave signal from an input port (p1) to a port (p2) designed to be connected to an antenna, a second micro-switch being disposed in order to allow the signal transmission between the port (p2) designed to be connected to an antenna and said output port. Application to a radiofrequency or microwave telecommunications system.
US08120440B2
The invention relates to a voltage controlled oscillator for generating a variable frequency. The oscillator comprises an oscillator core and a transconductive portion for compensating current losses in the oscillator core. The oscillator core comprises an inductive portion with at least one inductive element and a capacitive portion whose capacitance can be continuously varied by means of a control voltage for varying said frequency. The capacitive portion comprises multiple variable capacitive elements whose capacitance is continuously variable by means of said control voltage, each variable capacitive element being switchable for being added to or removed from the capacitive portion.
US08120430B1
A semiconductor device having a phase-locked loop (“PLL”) (100) drives a VCO (114) of the PLL circuit with a first control voltage (VCTRL) produced by a loop filter (112) when a first clock signal (clk_ref) is present. The VCO produces an output frequency while the PLL circuit is operating off the first clock signal. When the first clock signal is lost (ref_lost), a control voltage maintenance circuit (120) produces a second control voltage maintaining the VCO output frequency. In one device, the control voltage maintenance circuit includes a phase-frequency detector (104) that can operate off of either the clock reference signal or a master clock signal. In an alternative device, the control voltage maintenance circuit includes a voltage generator (334, 362) that produces a generated voltage that drives the loop filter when lock is lost.
US08120415B2
An embodiment of a circuit is described for the generation of a temperature-compensated voltage reference of the type comprising at least one generator circuit of a band-gap voltage, inserted between a first and a second voltage reference and including an operational amplifier, having in turn a first and a second input terminal connected to an input stage connected to these first and second input terminal and comprising at least one pair of a first and a second bipolar transistor for the generation of a first voltage component proportional to the temperature. The circuit also comprises the control block connected to the generator circuit of a band-gap voltage in correspondence with at least one first control node which is supplied with a biasing voltage value comprising at least one voltage component which increases with the temperature for compensating the variations of the base-emitter voltage of the first and second bipolar transistors and ensure the turn-on of a pair of input transistors of the operational amplifier. The circuit has an output terminal suitable for supplying a temperature-compensated voltage value obtained by the sum of the first voltage component proportional to the temperature and of a second component inversely proportional to the temperature.
US08120406B2
A pulsed latch circuit with conditional shutoff prevents an input node, such as a node receiving data, of the pulsed latch circuit, from latching data based on a delayed input control signal, such as an internal clocking signal, and based on a feedback latch state transition detection signal indicating that a current state of input data is stored in the latch. As such, two control conditions are used to shut down the latch. In one example, a condition generator detects when the latch has captured data correctly and outputs a signal to disable the input node. In addition, a variable delay circuit is used to adjust the width of the allowable input signal to set a worst case shutoff time. If data is latched early, a feedback latch state transition detection signal causes the input node to be disabled. If data is not latched early, the maximum allowable latch time is set by the variable delay circuit.
US08120392B2
A frequency dividing circuit performs a frequency dividing operation on N input clock signals to obtain N output clock signals, wherein N is a natural number greater than 1. The frequency dividing circuit includes a frequency divider and a flip-flop. The frequency divider samples an initial signal according to a first input clock signal of the N input clock signals to accordingly generate a first output clock signal of the N output clock signals. The initial signal corresponds with an inverse signal of the first output clock signal. The flip-flop samples the first output clock signal to accordingly generate a second output clock signal of the N output clock signals according to a second input clock signal of the N input clock signals.
US08120386B2
A circuit comprises a control line and a two terminal semiconductor device having first and second terminals. The first terminal is coupled to a signal line, and the second terminal is coupled to the control line. The two terminal semiconductor device is adapted to have a capacitance when a voltage on the first terminal relative to the second terminal is above a threshold voltage and to have a smaller capacitance when a voltage on the first terminal relative to the second terminal is below the threshold voltage. The control line is coupled to a control signal and the signal line is coupled to a signal and is output of the circuit. A signal is placed on the signal line and voltage on the control line is modified (e.g., raised in the case of n-type devices, or lowered for a p-type devices). When the signal falls below the threshold voltage, the two terminal semiconductor device acts as a very small capacitor and the output of the circuit will be a small value. When the signal is above the threshold voltage, the two terminal semiconductor device acts as a large capacitor and the output of the circuit will be influenced by both the value of the signal and the value of the modified voltage on the control line and therefore the signal will be amplified.
US08120381B2
An impedance adjusting device includes a calibration unit configured to generate an impedance code for adjusting a termination impedance value, a plurality of termination units configured to be enabled by resistance selection information and terminate an interface node in response to the impedance code, a resistance providing unit coupled in parallel to the plurality of termination units and configured to provide a resistance in response to the resistance selection information, and a selection signal generation unit configured to generate the resistance selection information according to a target impedance value.
US08120373B2
A stiffener assembly for use with testing devices is provided herein. In some embodiments, a stiffener assembly for use with testing devices can be part of a probe card assembly that can include a stiffener assembly comprising an upper stiffener coupled to a plurality of lower stiffeners; and a substrate constrained between the upper stiffener and the plurality of lower stiffeners, the stiffener assembly restricting non-planar flex of the substrate while facilitating radial movement of the substrate with respect to the stiffener assembly.
US08120372B2
The present invention is provided to quickly and efficiently inspect a plurality of CCD sensors. In the present invention, a plurality of openings is formed in a circuit board of a probe card. A plurality of vertical-type probe pins is connected to a lower surface of the circuit board. A guide board is installed at the lower surface of the circuit board, and respective probe pins are inserted into respective guide holes of the guide board. The guide board is made of a transparent glass board. During an inspection, inspection light emitted from a test head passes through the openings of the circuit board and the guide board, so that it is irradiated onto the plurality of CCD sensors on the substrate. Since the plurality of probe pins can be arranged at a narrow pitch without blocking the inspection light, adjacent CCD sensors on the substrate can be inspected simultaneously.
US08120371B2
An object position sensing apparatus including a substrate, a conductive crossbar, and a plurality of resistive elements coupled to the crossbar is described. The resistive elements are coupled to circuitry that can apply an excitation signal, such as a voltage change, to the resistive elements. For each resistive element, an electrical effect responsive to the excitation signal, such as a change in charge flowing to the resistive element, is determined. When an object is proximate to the plurality of resistive elements, the electrical effects change, and a position of the object in one or multiple dimensions can be determined from changes in the electrical effects.
US08120370B2
The surface of a signal electrode is treated as substrate treatment. An oxide film on the surface of the signal electrode is removed by roughing. The roughened surface is used as a surface treated face. A coating of fluororesin is provided on the surface treated face for lining or thermal welding to the lining material. A signal electrode is provided in the resin lining. Since the oxide film was removed from the surface of the signal electrode for roughening, the adhesive force of the coating of the fluororesin is increased. The fluororesin coating and the resin lining melt each other, and the fluororesin coating is strongly bonded to the resin lining. The adhesion between the signal electrode and the resin lining is increased without opening a hole in the signal electrode. A method uses a primer film formed by substrate treatment on the surface of the signal electrode.
US08120367B2
An analog input device including a scanning circuit including a first insulation transformer insulating an analog signal inputted from a thermocouple, a power supply section charging a test voltage used for disconnection detection of the thermocouple, a second insulation transformer in which the scanning circuit and the power supply section are connected in parallel, and a control circuit for outputting a pulse signal to be inputted to the second insulation transformer. The second insulation transformer insulates and transfers a drive pulse for switching the scanning circuit and a power supply pulse for feeding power to the power supply section. The control circuit carries out a timing control so that the drive pulse and the power supply pulse are not outputted at the same time. Accordingly, an insulation transformer for application of a test voltage is not required, and thus the total number of the components is reduced to a great extent and reductions in costs and size thereof are realized.
US08120354B2
A self-calibrating magnetic field monitor is disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic field sensor repeatedly generates an electronic signal related to the magnetic field. In addition, a calibration module generates a relative baseline signal based on an average value of the electronic signals for a given time period. A comparator compares the electronic signal with the relative baseline signal and generating an output signal if a difference in the comparing is greater than or equal to a threshold.
US08120353B2
A method for detecting a damaged magnetoresistive sensor in one embodiment includes measuring a resistance of a first sensor upon application thereto of a positive bias current; measuring the resistance of the first sensor upon application thereto of a negative bias current; determining a difference in the measured resistances at positive and negative currents of the first sensor; measuring a resistance of a second sensor upon application thereto of a positive bias current; measuring the resistance of the second sensor upon application thereto of a negative bias current; determining a difference in the measured resistances at positive and negative currents of the second sensor; and outputting at least one of the differences, or a derivative of the at least one of the differences. Additional methods are also presented.
US08120349B2
A waveform measuring apparatus includes: a digital filter for removing a large-amplitude changing component from an input signal and for outputting a resultant output signal with a small-amplitude noise component left therein; a window generating section for receiving a differential signal between this input signal and the resultant output signal of the digital filter and for generating a window indicating a position of an edge portion of the differential signal; and a ringing measurement section for extracting, from the resultant output signal of the digital filter, a portion of waveform which is indicated by the window generated by the window generating section and for measuring at least a peak-to-peak amplitude of the portion of waveform.
US08120345B2
A semiconductor device for control applied to a constant-voltage power supply device includes a digital-analog converter circuit which outputs a reference voltage corresponding to a value of a first register with taking an output voltage of a reference voltage source as a criterial reference voltage, and generates a control signal for driving a power semiconductor device based on an output voltage of an error amplifier which differentially amplifies a feedback voltage obtained by resistive-dividing on an output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply device and the reference voltage. An analog-digital converter circuit which converts the feedback voltage to a digital value with taking the output voltage of the constant-voltage power supply device as a reference voltage is provided, and based on the output, a value of a first register is corrected so as to offset an effect of an error in voltage dividing ratio of a voltage dividing resistor circuit.
US08120344B2
A power supply unit, adapted to provide a predetermined output voltage from its output circuit, compares a feedback voltage associated with the output voltage of the output circuit with a reference voltage so as to control the output circuit. The power supply unit is enabled and disabled in response to an externally supplied operation command signal. The reference voltage is generated by a reference voltage generation circuit, which is operable on the voltage of the operation command signal, and is controllably enabled when the voltage of the operation command signal exceeds a predetermined level, but otherwise disabled. Thus, the reference voltage is stabilized to improve the ripple rejection characteristic of the power supply unit without increasing its current consumption.
US08120332B2
The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging a capacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communication with a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The load switch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to the radiofrequency component.
US08120331B2
A power supply device accumulates charges generated by a photovoltaic unit. The power supply device includes a first capacitor having a first capacitance, in which the charges generated by the photovoltaic unit are charged; a second capacitor having a second capacitance that is larger than the first capacitance; and a switching unit that switches between a first connection of connecting the photovoltaic unit to the first capacitor and a second connection of connecting the first capacitor to the second capacitor.
US08120327B2
The present invention is a system and method for temporarily storing electrical energy to power sensitive measurement circuits. In one embodiment, a switch-mode power converter is operable to charge an energy storage device. After the energy storage device is sufficiently charged, the switch-mode power converter is powered off so that sensitive measurements may be made without being affected by noise or interference caused by the switch-mode power converter. Once the measurement has been made, the switch-mode power converter is powered on and provides power to the energy storage device to recharge the energy storage device so that a subsequent measurement may be made.
US08120316B2
A wireless charging system charging an electronic device wirelessly via electromagnetic induction between a number of transmitting coils formed in the wireless charging system and a receiving coil formed in the electronic device. The wireless charging system selects the transmitting coil aligned with the receiving coil most accurately for transmitting electromagnetic energy in order to improving the energy conversion efficiency between the transmitting coil and the receiving coil.
US08120310B2
A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle that includes a charging controller and a battery. The method includes coupling a trailer to the electric vehicle, and electrically coupling a portable solar charging assembly to the charging controller, wherein the solar charging assembly is mounted to the trailer and includes at least one solar panel. The method also includes converting solar energy into electrical energy using the at least one solar panel, and transmitting the electrical energy to the charging controller.
US08120305B2
An electronic relay for single phase induction motor, the electronic relay including a triac located between a start winding and a start capacitor of the single phase induction motor to control current flow of the start winding and an induced voltage detection circuit to detect an induced voltage of the start winding proportional to an angular velocity of the motor. The electronic relay is adapted to detect a zero-point voltage of a motor line voltage before start of the motor and to calculate an acceleration torque during start of the motor. The electronic relay is programmed to turn on the triac when the zero-point voltage of the motor line is detected and to turn off the triac when the acceleration torque begins decreasing.
US08120304B2
Methods and systems for, in one embodiment, accelerating a stage through a clearance height in a first direction and decelerating the stage in the first direction while accelerating in a second direction are shown. The stage is moved in a third direction and a determination is made whether the stage movement in the second direction is below a threshold value before continuing to move the stage further in the third direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction and is parallel and opposite to the third direction.
US08120286B2
A ballast module regulates power output to a fluorescent light. The ballast module includes a component. A temperature sensor senses temperature of the component. A control module adjusts power output to the fluorescent light based on the temperature of the component sensed by the temperature sensor. The control module adjusts power to the fluorescent light by reducing the power output to the fluorescent light or increasing the power output to the fluorescent light.
US08120284B2
A light emitting diode (LED) driving device and an LED driving method thereof are provided. The LED driving device includes a voltage generator, a circuit and a compensation circuit. The voltage generator is used to provide a positive voltage and a negative voltage, and the circuit is coupled to the positive voltage and the negative voltage. Herein, the circuit includes a load and an LED which are coupled to each other in series. The compensation circuit is used to sense voltages of two ends of the load, so as to generate a compensation signal and adjust the positive voltage and the negative voltage through the compensation signal. Therefore, voltage stress of the LED driving device is reduced by using the provided positive voltage and the provided negative voltage.
US08120280B2
A driving circuit for controlling a light source includes a frequency controller and a switch module. The frequency controller is operable for receiving a first dimming signal for controlling the light source to achieve a predetermined brightness, and for generating a second dimming signal having a frequency out of one or more predetermined ranges according to the first dimming signal when the frequency of the first dimming signal is within the predetermined ranges. The switch module coupled to the frequency controller is operable for switching on and off alternately to achieve the predetermined brightness of the light source according to the second dimming signal when the frequency of the first dimming signal is within the predetermined ranges and according to the first dimming signal when the frequency of the first dimming signal is out of the predetermined ranges.
US08120279B2
A color adjustable lamp may be controlled using a TRIAC dimmer circuit and includes a lamp driving circuit and two or more light sources. Each light source may output light having a different color. By setting an output intensity of each light source, light having a desired color may be output. A circuit or a processing unit of the lamp driving circuit may detect a set phase angle of the TRIAC dimmer circuit by determining a shape of the supplied alternating voltage. According to the determined shape, the circuit or processing unit controls a lamp driver circuit for each light source in order to control the intensity of the light output by each light source and set the color of the color adjustable lamp by adjusting the intensity of the light emitted by each light source.
US08120278B2
The present invention provides an LED driving circuit including: an inverter unit for switching an input power source; a plurality of transformers including a plurality of primary windings connected to the inverter unit and connected to each other in series and a plurality of secondary windings each of which is coupled with each of the primary windings; a plurality of rectification units each of which is connected to each of the secondary windings; and a plurality of LEDs each of which is connected to each of the rectification units.
US08120273B2
A light control system having a light emitting device to produce a pre-determined light output is disclosed. The light control system includes a power circuit in electrical communication with the light emitting device for transmitting an electrical current to the light emitting device for controlling the light output, a timing circuit in electrical communication with the power circuit, wherein the timing circuit generates a pre-determined timing sequence and regulates a duty cycle of the power circuit in response to the timing sequence, and a feedback circuit in communication with the light emitting devices and the timing circuit, wherein the feedback circuit is adapted to monitor an electrical characteristic of the light emitting devices and control the timing sequence of the timing circuit in response to the electrical characteristics of the light emitting devices.
US08120272B2
A control circuit for a lamp. The control circuit is used in conjunction with an alternating current (AC) variable voltage power source to energize the lamp. The control circuit includes a voltage sensing component for sensing the voltage of an voltage input signal from the power source for energizing the lamp. The control circuit includes a controller configured to estimate a delay angle as a linear function of the sensed voltage. The control circuit includes an AC converter for modifying the voltage input signal according to the estimated delay angle to generate an AC voltage output signal having a constant root mean square voltage for energizing the lamp.
US08120270B2
A circuit arrangement for operating a discharge lamp (LA) with preheatable electrodes comprising: an input terminal for applying an input voltage (UE); an output terminal for providing an output voltage (UA) to a lamp generator (LG) for operating the discharge lamp (LA); a switching unit (14) for power factor correction which is coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal; a monitoring apparatus (20) which is adapted to switch off the lamp generator (LG) in the event of the presence of at least one switch-off criterion; an integrated circuit (16), which is adapted to drive the switching unit (14) for power factor correction, the integrated circuit (16) having a disable input; and a blocking apparatus (18), which is adapted to generate a blocking signal at its output when the lamp generator (LG) is switched off, the output of the blocking apparatus (18) being coupled to the disable input of the integrated circuit (16).
US08120268B2
A lighting device is generally illustrated having a light body having forward facing light sources including a visible white light source, visible colored light source and an infrared light source. Additionally, a side facing light source is provided. The light body also includes switches for activating the visible light sources and a three-position switch for activating the IR light source and the side facing light source. The light source of the lighting device may further be controlled based on a detected chemistry composition of the power source.
US08120264B2
A discharge lamp lighting circuit for supplying an AC power to a discharge lamp includes first and second converters for receiving a DC voltage and stepping up the voltage. A controlling circuit drives the first and second converters CON1, CON2 alternately at a first frequency and stops an operation of a side that is not driven such that the AC power is supplied to the discharge lamp to execute a lighting operation.
US08120259B2
Provided are an impedance matching method and a matching system performing the same. The method includes: measuring an electrical characteristic of the power transmission line; determining a pulse mode of the power source; extracting a control parameter for impedance matching from the electrical characteristic of the power transmission line; and controlling the matching system through the control parameter, wherein the matching system is controlled differently according to the pulse mode.
US08120255B2
A plasma display panel (PDP) includes a front panel having a front glass substrate, a display electrode formed on the substrate, a dielectric layer formed to cover the display electrode, and a protective layer formed on the dielectric layer. Further, the PDP includes a rear panel facing the front panel so that a discharge space is formed, wherein the rear panel includes an address electrode in a direction intersecting the display electrode, and includes a barrier rib partitioning the discharge space. The PDP also includes a seal material providing a seal between the front panel and the rear panel at outer peripheries thereof. In the protective layer, a base film is formed on the dielectric layer and aggregated particles of metal oxide crystal particles are attached to the base film and distributed over a surface of a region inside the seal material.
US08120252B2
A plasma display panel (PDP) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the PDP includes i) a front substrate and a rear substrate spaced apart from and facing each other and ii) a barrier rib portion dividing a space between the front substrate and the rear substrate into a plurality of discharge cells, wherein the barrier rib portion comprises first barrier ribs and second barrier ribs formed on the first barrier ribs, wherein the second barrier ribs are less in width than the first barrier ribs, wherein the widths of the first and second barrier ribs are defined along a first direction substantially parallel with one of the front and rear substrates, and wherein the second barrier ribs are closer to the first substrate than the first barrier ribs. The PDP may further include i) an anti-reflection layer formed on the second barrier ribs, ii) a plurality of discharge electrodes separately disposed on the front substrate substantially in parallel with each other across the front substrate, iii) a plurality of address electrodes formed on the rear substrate to cross the discharge electrodes, iv) phosphors formed in the discharge cells and v) a discharge gas filled in the discharge cells.
US08120243B2
A material for an organic photoelectric device, the material including a compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1: wherein, in Chemical Formula 1, HTU and HTU′ are independently hole transporting units, and R1 to R3 are independently a substituent selected from the group of hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C30 aryl, a substituted or unsubstituted C2 to C30 heteroaryl, and a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C30 alkyl, wherein the term “substituted” refers to one substituted with a halogen, a C1 to C30 alkyl, a C1 to C30 haloalkyl, a C6 to C30 aryl, a C2 to C30 heteroaryl, a C1 to C20 alkoxy, or combinations thereof.
US08120242B2
A transistor capable of modulating, at low voltages, a large current flowing between an emitter electrode and a collector electrode. A process of producing the transistor, a light-emitting device comprising the transistor, and a display comprising the transistor. The transistor comprises an emitter electrode and a collector electrode. Between the emitter electrode and the collector electrode are situated a semiconductor layer and a sheet base electrode. It is preferred that the semiconductor layer be situated between the emitter electrode and the base electrode and also between the collector electrode and the base electrode to constitute a second semiconductor layer and a first semiconductor layer, respectively. It is also preferred that the thickness of the base electrode be 80 nm or less. Furthermore, a dark current suppressor layer is situated at least between the emitter electrode and the base electrode, or between the collector electrode and the base electrode.
US08120238B2
A large-area and high-luminance deep ultraviolet light source device is provided under circumstances where the scales of existing mercury lamps used as ultraviolet light sources cannot be reduced and light-emitting diodes of 365 nm or less do not reach the practical level. The deep ultraviolet light source device comprises at least an anode substrate having an ultraviolet phosphor thin film doped with rare-earth metal ions such as gadolinium (Gd) ions and containing with aluminum nitride as the host material, a cathode substrate having a field electron emission material thin film, a spacer for holding the anode substrate and the cathode substrate opposite to each other and maintaining the space between the substrates in a vacuum atmosphere, and a voltage circuit for applying an electric field to the space between the anode substrate and the cathode substrate. Light is emitted by injecting electrons from the field electron emission material thin film into the ultraviolet phosphor thin film by applying the electric field to the space between the substrates and maintaining the space between the anode substrate and the cathode substrate as a vacuum channel region.
US08120233B2
Methods are disclosed for manufacturing piezoelectric vibrating pieces and devices including such pieces. According to an embodiment of the method, a piezoelectric vibrating piece is produced from a piezoelectric wafer. To form the piece, a profile of the piezoelectric vibrating piece is formed in a piezoelectric wafer. A first metal film (chromium; Cr) is formed on the surface of the piezoelectric piece. The chromium film is surface-oxidized to form a film having Cr foundation layer and an oxidized surface. A second metal film (gold; Au) is formed on the oxidized surface. Then, in selected regions not destined to become electrodes, the second metal film is removed, leaving electrode patterns at designated regions of the piezoelectric vibrating piece.
US08120227B2
A rotor of a rotary electric machine comprising a rotor shaft, a stack of laminations, which is coaxial to the rotor shaft and which comprises at least two radially-projecting poles, a field coil which is wound around each pole, such that the ends of the coil project out axially in relation to each external axial end radial face of the lamination stack and two plates for supporting the lamination stack, which are disposed axially on either side of the stack, housings being provided in the internal radial face of each plate for receiving the coil ends. At least one of the housings comprises a contact surface with the external radial face of the associated coil end.
US08120226B2
A squirrel cage rotor structure used in connection with an electrical machine is formed from a high-strength, high-conductivity, and heat-treatable aluminum alloy, e.g., a T61 tempered aluminum alloy, such as A6101-T61. The resulting structure has improved strength compared to conventional pure aluminum structures, while at the same time limiting the reduction in electrical conductivity.
US08120220B2
To provide a fluid dynamic pressure bearing device that achieves high rigidity against moment without degradation in assembly precision and bearing performance, bearing sleeves are arranged in an axial direction and coaxiality of radial bearing surfaces formed on inner peripheral surfaces of the bearing sleeves is set to 3 μm or less. This secures width precision between the radial bearing gaps to prevent a degradation in bearing performance and a failure such as wear etc. caused by contact between a shaft member and the bearing sleeves. Further, a first radial bearing surface and a second radial bearing surface are provided on at least one sleeve, and this allows a sleeve assembly constructed from the bearing sleeves to be supported at least three positions in the axial direction in a process of assembling the sleeve assembly. As a result, assembly work can be carried out with two bearing sleeves prevented from being bent at a midway thereof, and highly accurate coaxiality between both the bearing sleeves is secured.
US08120215B2
A motor and a control unit therefor comprise: salient rotor poles and salient stator poles, which are arranged along circumferences of phases A, B and C with an even interval therebetween; magnetic paths for passing magnetic fluxes, the paths permitting the magnetic fluxes passing through the salient rotor and stator poles of each phase to return to the rotor side; and substantially looped windings arranged between the salient stator poles of individual phases and the magnetic paths for passing magnetic fluxes, wherein currents are supplied to the windings in synchronization with the rotational position of the rotor to thereby output torque. Since the structures of the stator, the rotor and the windings are simple, productivity is enhanced, whereby high quality, small size and low cost can be realized.
US08120206B2
A method of detecting a parallel source condition includes calculating a reactive power, comparing the reactive power to a predetermined threshold, and determining a parallel source condition in response to the reactive power exceeding the predetermined threshold.
US08120204B2
A load sharing device for load balancing among a plurality of power supply modules connected in parallel to a single load includes a common voltage control signal output unit and output voltage control units corresponding to the power supply modules, respectively. The common voltage control signal output unit generates a common voltage control signal from output voltages of the power supply modules and outputs the common voltage control signal to the power supply modules. The output voltage control units detect output currents of the power supply modules and control the output voltages of the power supply modules to be in a predetermined voltage range according to the common voltage control signal and the detected output currents.
US08120199B2
Disclosed is a power inverter for use in converting 12VDC to 115VAC, the power inverter is adapted for securement to a conventional trailer hitch connector. The power inverter provides remote power to 115 volt accessory items by use of a conventional 115 volt output receptacle positionable at the rear of a vehicle by use of the trailer hitch connector so as to eliminate the need for extension cords commonly used when powering 115 volt accessories from a conventional vehicle.
US08120198B2
A wind power turbine has a fixed assembly; a mobile assembly fitted to the fixed assembly to rotate about an axis with respect to the fixed assembly; and a locking device for making the mobile assembly and the fixed assembly integral with each other; the locking device has at least one groove formed on the fixed assembly or the mobile assembly and coaxial with the axis, and angular locking means that can be activated to pressure engage the groove.
US08120197B2
An array 22 of water turbine assemblies 10 is positioned between two I-beams driven into the bed of a flowing water system. Each water turbine assembly 10 comprises a modular box-shaped housing 12 having an inlet and outlet for accelerating the flow of water therethrough. Turbine 14 has a ring gear 18 positioned about the periphery thereof in mechanical communication with a plurality of generators 20 for converting the kinetic energy of flowing water into electricity. Receiving means 16 are positioned and attached to the inlet and outlet of the housing 12 for collecting, concentrating, directing and accelerating water through the turbine 14 in the throat section 19 of each water turbine assembly 10. Each box-shaped modular housing 12 is structurally communicated with other housings 12 by interlocking mating surfaces 26.
US08120196B1
A Styrofoam-filled plastic cylinder that has collapsible paddle wheel fins attached about the circumference. Two shafts extend from the ends of the cylinder. The shafts are held by bearings. The bearings are attached to a frame structure that is embedded into the seabed. The shafts then extend past the bearings and are connected to a gear drive system that, in turn, connected to generators or other mechanical devices. When installed in the sea, the cylinder will turn in the swells/tidal action for as long as the ocean produces waves. Platforms on either side of the cylinder rise and fall with tidal action to maintain effective contact with the water at all times. Moreover, because the structure is positioned at or near the water surface, maintenance is much simpler for this device.
US08120191B1
In various embodiments, an apparatus for producing electricity includes a plurality of hydraulic-to-electric converters with each hydraulic-to-electric converters including a hydraulic motor coupled to a common high-pressure hydraulic line and a common low-pressure hydraulic line, a controllable hydraulic switch hydraulically coupled to each respective hydraulic motor, each controllable hydraulic switch being capable of controllably placing the respective hydraulic motor on-line by allowing flow of hydraulic fluid from the common high-pressure hydraulic line through its respective hydraulic motor or off-line by preventing flow of hydraulic fluid from the common high-pressure hydraulic line through its respective hydraulic motor, and an electric generator mechanically coupled to each respective hydraulic motor and configured to generate electricity when hydraulic fluid flows through the respective hydraulic motor. The apparatus further includes a control system coupled to each controllable hydraulic switch configured to place individual hydraulic motors on-line or off-line as a function of available energy provided by the high-pressure line.
US08120180B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulation pattern on the semiconductor substrate, and an etch stop layer on the insulating pattern, the insulation pattern and the etch stop layer defining a contact hole that exposes the substrate, a first plug filled in a portion of the contact hole, a diffusion barrier layer formed above the first plug and in a bottom portion and on sidewalls of a remaining portion of the contact hole, a second plug fainted on the diffusion barrier layer and filled in the contact hole, and a storage node coupled to and formed on the second plug.
US08120161B2
A component includes a first semiconductor chip attached to a first carrier and second semiconductor chip attached to a second carrier. The first carrier has a first extension, which forms a first external contact element. The second carrier has a second extension, which forms a second external contact element. The first and the second carriers are arranged in such a way that the first and the second extension point in different directions.
US08120152B2
A semiconductor package and related methods are described. In one embodiment, the package includes a die pad, a first plurality of leads disposed in a lead placement area around the die pad, a second plurality of leads disposed in corner regions of the lead placement area, a semiconductor chip on the die pad and coupled to each lead, and a package body. Each lead includes an upper sloped portion and a lower sloped portion. An average of surface areas of lower surfaces of each of the second plurality of leads is at least twice as large as an average of surface areas of lower surfaces of each of the first plurality of leads. The package body substantially covers the upper sloped portions of the leads. The lower sloped portions of the leads at least partially extend outwardly from a lower surface of the package body.
US08120148B2
A package structure with an embedded die includes a core layer, a first build-up wiring structure, and a second build-up wiring structure. The core layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto. Besides, the core layer includes a first dielectric layer, a leadframe, a die, a first signal layer, and a second signal layer. The die is disposed on and electrically connected to the leadframe. The die and the leadframe are embedded in the first dielectric layer. The first signal layer is disposed on an upper surface of the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the leadframe. The second signal layer is disposed on a bottom surface of the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the leadframe. The first and the second build-up wiring structures are disposed on the first and the second surfaces of the core layer, respectively.
US08120147B1
A process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, and improvement thereof, and method of making and method of using the same, as well as necessary intermediates, generally relating to the field of semiconductor devices, the structure of transistors, and the structure of compound semiconductor heterojunction bipolar transistors.
US08120146B2
The semiconductor device (100) comprises at least one semiconductor element (20), a metallization structure comprising a first (31) and a second line (32) and extending thereon a resistor. An electrically insulating protection layer (36) is present on the resistor (35) and is defined in a pattern that is substantially identical to the resistor pattern and has a temperature stability up to a temperature that is at least equal to a deposition temperature of a passivation layer (37) to be deposited thereon so as to cover the metallization structure. Both the resistor (35) and the protection layer (36) are deposited conformally on the metallization structure and any underlying substrate.
US08120141B2
An integrated circuit and method of fabricating the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit, including: one or more power distribution networks; one or more ground distribution networks; one or more data networks; and fuses temporarily and electrically connecting power, ground or data wires of the same or different networks together, the same or different networks selected from the group consisting of the one or more power distribution networks, the one or more ground distribution networks, the one or more data networks, and combinations thereof.
US08120138B2
A structure for aligning a first set of features of a fabrication level of an integrated circuit chip to an electron beam alignment target. The structure including a first trench in a semiconductor substrate, the first trench extending from a top surface of the substrate into the substrate a first distance; an electron back-scattering layer in a bottom of the first trench; a dielectric capping layer in the trench over the back-scattering layer; and a second trench in the substrate, the second trench extending from the top surface of the substrate into the substrate a second distance, the second distance less than the first distance.
US08120127B2
A domain wall motion type MRAM 100 has: a magnetic recording layer 10 that is a ferromagnetic layer; and a magnetic coupling layer 20 that is a ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization direction is fixed. The magnetic recording layer 10 has: a first region 10-1; a second region 10-2; and a magnetization switching region 10-3 connecting between the first region 10-1 and the second region 10-2. The first region 10-1 is magnetically coupled to the magnetic coupling layer 20 and its magnetization direction is fixed in a first direction by the magnetic coupling layer 20. The second region 10-2 is not magnetically coupled to the magnetic coupling layer 20 and its magnetization direction is a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
US08120123B2
A semiconductor device, and a method of forming the same, includes forming a cell bit line pattern and a peripheral gate pattern on a semiconductor substrate. The cell bit line pattern may be formed on an inactive region adjacent to a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate. The peripheral gate pattern may be disposed on a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate. A cell contact plug may be formed between the cell bit line pattern and the cell active region. A peripheral contact plug may be formed on the peripheral active region on a side of the peripheral gate pattern. An insulating layer may be formed to expose top surfaces of the cell bit line pattern, the peripheral gate pattern, and the cell and peripheral contact plugs at substantially the same level.
US08120122B2
A method of forming a pattern includes forming a first layer on a substrate, forming a second layer on the first layer, depositing a multi-temperature phase-change material on the second layer, patterning the second layer using the multi-temperature phase-change material as a mask, reflowing the multi-temperature phase-change material, and patterning the first layer using the reflowed multi-temperature phase-change material as a mask.
US08120115B2
A tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) is disclosed. In one aspect, the transistor comprises a gate that does not align with a drain, and only overlap with the source extending at least up to the interface of the source-channel region and optionally overlaps with part of the channel. Due to the shorter gate, the total gate capacitance is reduced, which is directly reflected in an improved switching speed of the device. In addition to the advantage of an improved switching speed, the transistor also has a processing advantage (no alignment of the gate with the drain is necessary), as well as a performance improvement (the ambipolar behavior of the TFET is reduced).
US08120113B2
A metal line in a semiconductor device includes an insulation layer having trenches formed therein, a barrier metal layer formed over the insulation layer and the trenches, a metal layer formed over the barrier metal layer, wherein the metal layer fills the trenches, and an anti-galvanic corrosion layer formed on an interface between the metal layer and the barrier metal layer.
US08120110B2
A first field effect transistor includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode located over a first portion of a top semiconductor layer in a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate. A second field effect transistor includes a portion of a buried insulator layer and a source region and a drain region located underneath the buried insulator layer. In one embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is a remaining portion of the top semiconductor layer. In another embodiment, the gate electrode of the second field effect transistor is formed concurrently with the gate electrode of the first field effect transistor by deposition and patterning of a gate electrode layer. The first field effect transistor may be a high performance device and the second field effect transistor may be a high voltage device. A design structure for the semiconductor structure is also provided.
US08120105B2
A method of forming a lateral DMOS transistor includes performing a low energy implantation using a first dopant type and being applied to the entire device area. The dopants of the low energy implantation are blocked by the conductive gate. The method further includes performing a high energy implantation using a third dopant type and being applied to the entire device area. The dopants of the high energy implantation penetrate the conductive gate and is introduced into the entire device active area including underneath the conductive gate. After annealing, a double-diffused lightly doped drain (DLDD) region is formed from the high and low energy implantations and is used as a drift region of the lateral DMOS transistor. The DLDD region overlaps with the body region at a channel region and interacts with the dopants of the body region to adjust a threshold voltage of the lateral DMOS transistor.
US08120100B2
An overlapping trench gate semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of shallow trenches disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive layer disposed in the shallow trenches, a plurality of deep trenches respectively disposed in each shallow trench, a second conductive layer disposed in the deep trenches, a source metal layer and a gate metal layer. Each of the deep trenches extends into the semiconductor substrate under each shallow trench. The source metal layer is electrically connected to the second conductive layer, and the gate metal layer is electrically connected to the first conductive layer.
US08120094B2
A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure has a top portion tapering in width from wide to narrow in a direction from a substrate surface, from a first width at a top of the first portion to a second width at a bottom of the first portion. The STI structure also includes a bottom portion below the top portion, which expands from the bottom of the top portion to a substantially widened lateral distance having a third width. The third width is, in general, substantially larger than the second width. The inventive STI structure can provide desired isolation characteristics with a significantly reduced aspect ratio, thus suitable for device isolations in advanced processing technology.
US08120092B2
First gate electrodes of memory cell transistors are formed in series with each other on a semiconductor substrate. A second gate electrode of a first selection transistor is formed adjacent to one end of the first electrodes. A third gate electrode of a second selection transistor is formed adjacent to the second electrode. A fourth gate electrode of a peripheral transistor is formed on the substrate. First, second, and third sidewall films are formed on side surfaces of the second, third, and fourth gate electrodes, respectively. A film thickness of the third sidewall film is larger than that of the first and second sidewall films. A space between the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than a space between the first electrodes, and a space between the second electrode and the third electrode is larger than a space between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08120091B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a substrate and a tunnel insulation layer pattern, such that each portion of the tunnel insulation pattern extends along a first direction and adjacent portions of the tunnel insulation layer pattern may be separated in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A non-volatile memory device may include a gate structure formed on the tunnel insulation layer pattern. The gate structure may include a floating gate formed on the tunnel insulation layer pattern along the second direction, a first conductive layer pattern formed on the floating gate in the second direction, a dielectric layer pattern formed on the first conductive layer pattern along the second direction, and a control gate formed on the dielectric layer pattern in the second direction.
US08120068B2
A three-dimensional non-volatile memory system is disclosed including a memory array utilizing shared pillar structures for memory cell formation. A shared pillar structure includes two non-volatile storage elements. A first end surface of each pillar contacts one array line from a first set of array lines and a second end surface of each pillar contacts two array lines from a second set of array lines that is vertically separated from the first set of array lines. Each pillar includes a first subset of layers that are divided into portions for the individual storage elements in the pillar. Each pillar includes a second subset of layers that is shared between both non-volatile storage elements formed in the pillar. The individual storage elements each include a steering element and a state change element.
US08120054B2
A light emitting diode package having heat dissipating slugs is provided. The light emitting diode package comprises first and second heat dissipating slugs formed of a conductive material and spaced apart from each other; a package main body coupled to the first and second heat dissipating slugs to support the first and second heat dissipating slugs; and a light emitting diode die electrically connected to the first and second heat dissipating slugs, wherein the respective first and second heat dissipating slugs are exposed to the outside through lower and side surfaces of the package main body. As such, the first and second heat dissipating slugs can be used as external leads.
US08120043B2
The disclosed subject matter is directed to a reliable surface mount device using a ceramic package, and includes LED devices that are simply composed and incorporate the use of the surface mount device. The surface mount device can include a ceramic package, a semiconductor optical chip mounted in the package, two soldering pads electrically connected to the chip electrodes and at least one dummy soldering pad located on either side of the soldering pads. Thermal fatigue located at or in the soldering connections connecting the chip electrodes to a mounting board can be reduced because the distance between the soldering pads can be reduced. The dummy soldering pad that is electrically insulated can allow the device to maintain a desirable location with poise during the reflow soldering process that occurs during manufacture, and can also reduce shear stress present at the soldering connections. Thus, the surface mount device and the LED device using the disclosed structure can maintain a high reliability even under harsh environmental conditions.
US08120041B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device has an n-type DBR layer (3), an n-type cladding layer (4), an active layer (5), a p-type cladding layer (6), a p-type intermediate layer (7), a p-type contact layer (8), a p-type transparent substrate (9), ohmic electrodes (10 and 11), and a reflecting layer (12). The n-type DBR layer (3) has reflectivity for the emission wavelength of the active layer (5).
US08120026B2
The invention provides a testing wiring structure of a thin film transistor (TFT) motherboard for applying signals to a plurality of signal lines in a pixel region on the motherboard and a method for forming the same. The testing wiring structure comprises a gate layer metallic testing wiring and a drain layer metallic testing wiring that is over and intersects the gate layer metallic testing wiring. The gate layer metallic testing wiring are connected to a portion of the plurality of signal lines and the drain layer metallic testing wiring both are connected to remaining portion of the plurality of signal lines. A pixel electrode layer testing wiring is further provided over the drain layer metallic testing wiring in an intersecting region where the drain layer metallic testing wiring intersects the gate layer metallic testing wiring. The pixel electrode layer testing wiring is electrically connected to the drain layer metallic testing wiring to be a redundant testing wiring of the drain layer metallic testing wiring.
US08120022B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device material characterized by containing a specific fluorine compound. This light emitting device material enables to obtain a light emitting device having high luminous efficiency, excellent color purity and excellent durability. Also disclosed is a light emitting device using such a light emitting device material.
US08120020B2
An organic light emitting device (OLED) including: a substrate; a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a first blue light emitting layer, a green light emitting layer, a red light emitting layer, and a second blue light emitting layer all interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a color filter disposed in a path of light emitted from the light emitting layers, wherein the first blue light emitting layer includes a deep blue dopant, and the second blue light emitting layer includes a sky blue dopant.
US08120010B2
A quantum dot electroluminescent device that includes a substrate, a quantum dot light-emitting layer disposed on the substrate, a first electrode which injects charge carriers into the quantum dot light-emitting layer, a second electrode which injects charge carriers, which have an opposite charge than the charge carriers injected by the first electrode, into the quantum dot light-emitting layer, a hole transport layer disposed between the first electrode and the quantum dot light-emitting layer, and an electron transport layer disposed between the second electrode and the quantum dot light-emitting layer, wherein the quantum dot light-emitting layer has a first surface in contact with the hole transport layer and a second surface in contact with an electron transport layer, and wherein the first surface has an organic ligand distribution that is different from an organic ligand distribution of the second surface.
US08120009B2
Nano-engineered structures are disclosed, incorporating nanowhiskers of high mobility conductivity and incorporating pn junctions. In one embodiment, a nanowhisker of a first semiconducting material has a first band gap, and an enclosure comprising at least one second material with a second band gap encloses said nanoelement along at least part of its length, the second material being doped to provide opposite conductivity type charge carriers in respective first and second regions along the length of the of the nanowhisker, whereby to create in the nanowhisker by transfer of charge carriers into the nanowhisker, corresponding first and second regions of opposite conductivity type charge carriers with a region depleted of free carriers therebetween. The doping of the enclosure material may be degenerate so as to create within the nanowhisker adjacent segments having very heavy modulation doping of opposite conductivity type analogous to the heavily doped regions of an Esaki diode. In another embodiment, a nanowhisker is surrounded by polymer material containing dopant material. A step of rapid thermal annealing causes the dopant material to diffuse into the nanowhisker. In a further embodiment, a nanowhisker has a heterojunction between two different intrinsic materials, and Fermi level pinning creates a pn junction at the interface without doping.
US08120008B2
A carbon nano-tube based photoelectric device includes a substrate and a carbon nanotube (CNT) over the substrate. The CNT comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the CNT has a CNT work function. A high work-function electrode over the substrate is in electric contact with the first end of the CNT. The high work-function electrode has a first work function higher than the CNT work function. A low work-function electrode over the substrate is in electric contact with the second end of the CNT. The low work-function electrode has a second work function lower than the CNT work function. The CNT can form a conductive channel between the high work-function electrode and the low work-function electrode. The carbon nano-tube based photoelectric device also includes a dielectric material is in contact with a side surface of the CNT and a conductive material in contact with the dielectric material.
US08120006B2
Provided is a non-volatile memory device having a stacked structure that is easily highly integrated and a method of economically fabricating the non-volatile memory device. The non-volatile memory device may include at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode that cross each other. At least one data storage layer may be disposed on a section where the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode cross each other. The at least one first electrode may include a first conductive layer and a first semiconductor layer.
US08119999B2
Provided is a radiation-shielding glass, including a glass composition in % by mass of 10 to 35% SiO2, 55 to 80% PbO, 0 to 10% B2O3, 0 to 10% Al2O3, 0 to 10% SrO, 0 to 10% BaO, 0 to 10% Na2O, and 0 to 10% K2O, in which the radiation-shielding glass has a total light transmission at a wavelength of 400 nm at a thickness of 10 mm of 50% or higher. Also provided is a radiation-shielding glass which has the similar glass composition and can be used for a gamma-ray shielding glass for a PET examination.
US08119996B2
A sample that is an object whose quantum efficiency is to be measured, and a standard object having a known reflectance characteristic are each attached to a sample window provided in a plane mirror. Based on respective spectrums measured by a spectrometer in respective cases where the sample is attached and the standard object is attached, the quantum efficiency of the sample is measured. The plane of an opening of an observation window is made substantially coincident with the exposed surface of the sample or standard object, so that direct incidence, on the observation window, of the fluorescence generated from the sample receiving an excitation light and the excitation light reflected from sample is prevented.
US08119995B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for detection of excitation (110) using a multiple spot arrangement (60), in which a multiple spot generator (50) is matched to the multiple spot arrangement (60) in such a way that light (100) entering the multiple spot generator (50) will be guided to defined areas on the multiple spot arrangement (60).
US08119991B2
A calibration technique is provided that utilizes a standard sample that allows for calibration in the wavelengths of interest even when the standard sample may exhibit significant reflectance variations at those wavelengths for subtle variations in the properties of the standard sample. A second sample, a reference sample may have a relatively featureless reflectance spectrum over the same spectral region and is used in combination with the calibration sample to achieve the calibration. In one embodiment the spectral region may include the VUV spectral region.
US08119988B2
A filter 2 for collecting PMs, a microwave transmitter 30 for emitting electromagnetic waves whose frequency is dozens of GHz-a few of THz onto the filter 2, a microwave receiver 31 for detecting an intensity of the electromagnetic waves that have transmitted through the filter 2, and a computing means for computing a collection amount of PMs from the intensity that has been detected with the microwave receiver 31 are included. Since it is possible to detect the distribution of the collection amount of PMs with good accuracy, it is possible to carry out a recycling process in a state where the collection amount does not become too much, and thereby it is possible to make a reducing-agent supply amount into exhaust gases minimum at the time of the recycling process.
US08119982B2
In the process of identifying a protein by analyzing and processing mass spectrum data obtained for each micro area (pixel) created by subdividing a two-dimensional area on a sample, mass windows including a peak or peaks on the mass spectrum of each pixel are set (S10), and an integrated value of the ion intensities of the peaks included in each mass window is calculated (S11). For each mass window, a mapping image is created by collecting the integrated intensity values of the pixels (S12), and the mass windows are grouped by evaluating the similarity of the mapping images (S13 and S14). The peaks included in the mass windows belonging to the same group are regarded as originating from the same kind of substance, and those peaks are collected to create a mass spectrum (S15). Based on this spectrum, a protein is identified by a PMF method or the like. The present method can achieve a high level of identifying accuracy even if two or more kinds of proteins are mixed together.
US08119981B2
A fault detection system for protecting a mass spectrometer from the effects of temperature extremes. The system comprises an ion block, a thermal source for providing thermal energy to the ion source block, a temperature sensor providing a reading for the temperature of the ion source block, a temperature regulation means for controlling the thermal source in dependence of the reading and a control system for monitoring the temperature change produced by the energy source. The control system is adapted to monitor the rate of change of the reading provided by the temperature sensor relative to the thermal energy provided to the ion block.
US08119977B2
An aerodynamic lens includes a cylindrical hollow body having an inlet and an outlet, and first and second focusing parts formed in the body. The first focusing part includes a plurality of orifice lenses of which inner diameters (df) are gradually decreased in an advancing direction of particle. The second focusing part includes a plurality of orifice lenses of which inner diameters (df) are gradually increased in the advancing direction of particle.
US08119973B2
A light receiving circuit in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a photodiode 6 that converts an optical input signal into a current signal, and an I-V conversion circuit 8 that converts the current signal into a voltage signal. The light receiving circuit further includes a transient current processing circuit 21 that process a transient current from the I-V conversion amplifier 8 when the I-V conversion amplifier 8 is changed from an operating state to a non-operating state, and a clipping circuit 24 that keeps the voltage of the input terminal of the transient current processing circuit 21 at a predetermined value.
US08119971B2
A pulse data recorder system and method are provided. Upon the arrival or occurrence of an event or signal, the state of a digital switch is set. Upon receiving a pulse from a readout clock, the state of the switch is stored in a buffer memory, and the state of the switch is reset. As the readout clock is run, a time history of the state of the switch is obtained. The pulse data recorder can feature a plurality of unit cells, for use in imaging or other multiple pixel applications.
US08119970B2
In a radiation image detection apparatus having a radiation image detector that includes the following stacked in the order listed below: a bias electrode, a photoconductive layer, a substrate side charge transport layer, and an active matrix substrate, the radiation image detector does not include an area adjacent to the interface between the substrate side charge transport layer and photoconductive layer having an oxygen or chlorine element density not less than two times the average density of oxygen or chlorine element in the substrate side charge transport layer.
US08119967B2
A method of using a line-scan sensor device to scan an image includes determining and removing. The device includes sensor cells arranged in a matrix of rows and columns. The determining includes determining when a pixel signal value from a pixel in a first row and in a column deviates from a pixel signal value from a pixel in a second row and in said column. The removing includes removing the pixel signal value of the pixel in the first row and in said column when the pixel signal value from the pixel in the first row and in said column deviates from the pixel signal value from the pixel in the second row and in said column. The pixel in the first row and in said column images a portion of the image and the pixel in the second row and in said column images the same portion of the image.
US08119960B2
Light emitter excitation light (108) of a wavelength λ1 emitted by a light source (101) is collected on a light emitter (107) by a collective lens (102). The light emitter (107) is held on a substrate (104), and emits fluorescent light of a wavelength λ2 when the light emitter excitation light (108) of the wavelength λ1 is irradiated. A diameter of the light emitter (107) being formed to be smaller than the wavelength λ2, this fluorescent light includes evanescent waves, and advances through the substrate (104) as an object illuminating light (109) having the light emitter (107) as a point light source. A negative refraction lens (105) is disposed such that an image of the light emitter (107) is formed on a surface of an object 106, and accordingly, not only a propagating-light component included but also a evanescent-wave component in the object illuminating light (109) is also collected simultaneously, and a minute beam spot of a size almost same as of the light emitter (107) is formed on the surface of the object (106).
US08119956B2
A multi-stage hyper-velocity kinetic energy missile (HVKEM) uses a ‘missile in a missile’ architecture in which the HVKEM includes a 1st stage flight missile and a 2nd stage kill missile that includes a KE-rod penetrator. The flight missile cruises at a relatively low velocity (less than Mach 1.5, typically less than Mach 1) to conserve propellant (weight) and to allow for effective guidance and maneuvering until the missile is in close proximity to the target. When the missile is within the lethal range of the KE-rod penetrator, the kill missile separates and boosts to a much higher velocity (greater than Mach 3, typically greater than Mach 5) and flies unguided to impact the target in less than a second. Waiting to boost the KE-rod until “the last second” reduces the total propellant (weight) needed to deliver the KE-rod on target and simplifies the guidance. The missile may be configured for use with different platforms and different guidance systems but is particularly well suited for use with the existing base of TOW launch containers and platforms satisfying all of the physical, operational and CLOS guidance constraints while maintaining the performance of the KE-rod penetrator.
US08119953B2
A heating control system for controlling heating of a fluid contained in a fluid vessel using a fluid level sensor as a heating control element. The system includes a control circuit coupled with an electrical power system of a heating unit. The control circuit includes switching elements that are selectively activated or deactivated responsive to a low fluid level in a corresponding fluid vessel such that heating of the fluid is terminated as the level of fluid becomes less than a predetermined value.
US08119947B2
A circuit breaker includes a pivoting arc barrier that is interposed between the moving contact arm axis of motion and the moving contact, so that arc gasses are deflected away from the contact arm structure. The pivoting arc barrier pivots in a complimentary motion path with that of the moving contact arm so that an arc shield face is interposed between the contact separation arc generated around the moving contact and the remaining arm structure to which the moving contact is affixed throughout the range of contact arm operational motion. The pivoting arc barrier moves independently of the moving contact arm and advantageously does not increase the contact arm mass or bulk swept volume through its range of motion.
US08119944B2
An electronic device adapted to be mounted on a circuit board is disclosed. A housing is made of an insulative material. The housing includes a first face adapted to oppose the circuit board, a second face and a third face which respectively intersect with the first face. A cover covers a part of the housing and is made of a conductive material. An earth contact member is made of a conductive material and integrally molded with the housing. The earth contact member has a first terminal extending from the first face to the second face and a second terminal disposed on the third face and being in contact with the cover. The first terminal is adapted to be soldered on an earth circuit on the circuit board.
US08119940B2
The present invention includes a contact block for a safety switch that has a support structure and a pair of electrical contacts that are fixed in position on the support structure. The contact block includes a contact block plunger provided with a bridging contact. The bridging contact extends through the contact block plunger, from one side to another, and protrudes from the sides of the contact block plunger. The contact block plunger is moveable in-between the fixed pair of electrical contacts to move the bridging contacts into and out of contact with the fixed pair of electrical contacts. A contact block guide extends along the support structure and between the pair of fixed electrical contacts and cooperates with the contact block plunger such that the contact block plunger is restricted to movement along the contact block guide.
US08119939B2
The invention relates to an on-load tap changer having an energy storage mechanism for changing over, without any interruptions, between different winding taps of a tap-changing transformer on load. According to the invention, the energy storage mechanism has one or more compression springs, which are tensioned at the beginning of a changeover operation. In comparison with the tensile springs used to date with such energy storage mechanisms, the compression springs have markedly greater long-term strength.
US08119932B2
First, a structure is fabricated by directly bonding a first base material and a second base material. The first base material has a recessed portion formed in a desired patterning layout on one surface thereof, and the bonding is performed in such a manner that the surface having the recessed portion of the first base material faces inward. Then, through holes are formed at desired positions in the structure in such a manner that the through holes pierce the structure in a direction of thickness thereof and communicate with the corresponding recessed portions. Further, an insulating layer is formed on the surface of the structure, and thereafter, a conductive material is filled into the through holes and the recessed portions.
US08119928B2
In a multi-layered wiring substrate according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a conductor formed in an edge face area functions as a pad for mounting a connector.
US08119927B2
In a wiring board, a plurality of wiring layers and a plurality of insulating layers are alternately stacked. The wiring layers are electrically connected to one another through via holes formed in the insulating layers. The wiring board includes: a connection pad which is disposed on one of the wiring layers that is on the inner side of an outermost wiring layer; and an external connection terminal which is disposed on the connection pad, and which is projected from the surface of the wiring board. The external connection terminal is passed through the outermost wiring layer.
US08119924B2
Stress concentration at the connecting portion of the electronic component and the curved board and the area around the connecting portion is suppressed. In a flexible wiring board, insulation layers (11, 13) and wiring layers (12, 15) are piled up alternately and wiring layers (12, 15) are via-connected each other. The board comprises reinforced area (10a) reinforced against external stress, bending area (10c) bending easier than the reinforced area (10a) by external stress, and a stress relaxation area (10b) provided in area between the reinforced area (10a) and the bending area (10c), bending easier than the reinforced area (10a) but not easier than the bending area (10c) by the external stress, and relaxing the stress carried from the bending area (10c) to the reinforced area (10a).
US08119920B2
An IC chip for a high frequency region, particularly a packaged substrate in which no malfunction or error occurs even if 3 GHz is exceeded. A conductive layer on a core substrate is formed at a thickness of 30 μm and a conductor circuit on an interlayer resin insulation layer is formed at a thickness of 15 μm. By thickening the conductive layer, the volume of the conductor can be increased and resistance can be reduced. Further, by using the conductive layer as a power source layer, the capacity of supply of power to an IC chip can be improved.
US08119916B2
A flexible multi-conductor cable and a method of manufacturing a flexible multi-conductor cable, wherein the cable is adapted for use, particularly, in a mechanical cable track type lifting device. The cable includes two or more insulated conductors surrounded by a dual layer jacket. The dual layer jacket includes an inner layer having a TPE material with a higher tensile modulus, and an outer layer having a TPE material with a lower tensile modulus. The material of the cable is selected so that the cable is capable of surviving the external physical requirements of a mechanical cable track, as well as to prevent the transfer of the wiping effect onto the conductors.
US08119911B1
An electrical connection enclosure cover plate for use during drywall installation, texturing and painting processes, may include a single and unitary body having a rectangular and planar outer wall adapted to be affixed to an existing electrical box. The outer wall has a plurality of pins extending outwardly from an anterior face thereof. The pins are statically situated at opposed corners of the anterior face, and suitably sized and shaped to penetrate through an existing dry wall. The body has a plurality of primary panels directly connected to a posterior face of the outer wall. The primary panels may be adapted to frictionally engage the existing electrical box. The body may be adapted to be detachably coupled to the existing electrical box such that the outer wall may be adapted to cover and shield a front opening of the existing electrical box from undesirable debris and fluids.
US08119904B2
A multi-junction photovoltaic device includes a silicon substrate and a dielectric layer formed on the silicon substrate. A germanium layer is formed on the dielectric layer. The germanium includes a crystalline structure that is substantially similar to the crystalline structure of the silicon substrate. A first photovoltaic sub-cell includes a first plurality of doped semiconductor layers formed on the germanium layer. At least a second photovoltaic sub-cell includes a second plurality of doped semiconductor layers formed on the first photovoltaic sub-cell that is on the germanium layer that is on the dielectric layer.
US08119901B2
A solar cell module is discussed. The solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells each including a plurality of first current collectors and a plurality of second current collectors, a first protective layer positioned on incident surfaces of the solar cells, a transparent member positioned on the first protective layer, and a conductive pattern part positioned on non-incident surfaces of the plurality of solar cells. The conductive pattern part includes a first pattern having a plurality of first protrusions connected to first current collectors of one solar cell and a second pattern having a plurality of second protrusions connected to second current collectors of the one solar cell. The plurality of first current collectors and the plurality of second current collectors are positioned on a surface of each solar cell on which light is not incident.
US08119897B2
Exemplary embodiments include an apparatus and process of forming species-specific music. The means and method for carrying out the process include: (1) recording sounds created by a specific species in emotional states; (2) identifying elemental sounds of the specific species; (3) associating specific elemental sounds with presupposed emotional states of the specific species; (4) identifying sounds of at least one musical instrument that has a characteristic approximating at least one aspect of at least one elemental sound associated with the specific species; and (5) selectively generating at least one sound identified among sounds of musical instruments that mimic at least one aspect of at least one elemental sound associated with said specific species, but the generated sound is not a recording or recreation of the detected sounds of the specific species. If the actual calls of a species were to be used in the music for that species the clear identification by the listening members would make the emotional response to the music subject to habituation.
US08119896B1
A method is provided for progressive musical instruction using a media system with processor-executable software modules storing musical performances each having a plurality of segments. A first set of audiovisual signals is generated to simulate a predetermined musical instrument from a selected performance during host segments. The audiovisual signals are adjusted to mute the predetermined instrument during user segments (non-host segments) of the performance. During the host segments a second set of audiovisual signals is generated for demonstration of a preferred user operation of the instrument. The number of user segments may be maintained or increased for successive iterations of the performance, as the user becomes more proficient. The determination to maintain or increase user segments, and which segments are added to the user segments, may be user selectable or programmable by the system based on various criteria.
US08119893B2
Improved bridges and tailpieces for stringed instruments, such as guitars and banjos. The bridge and tailpiece each include a void at each end of their respective base pieces, near the vertical hole or slot, into which is fixedly set a permanent magnet. The magnet attracts to the ferromagnetic metal bridge posts or tailpiece posts to retain the bridge or tailpiece on the posts and keep them from falling off when the strings are removed from the instrument.
US08119891B2
A wood support member for attaching a first wood member to a wood side structure defining an interior peripheral edge, the wood support member is attachable to the peripheral edge, comprising a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a front face and a rear face. The wood support member can comprise a first plurality of kerfs in the front face and a second plurality of kerfs in the rear face, the plurality of kerfs each extending from the top to the bottom. The kerfs in the first plurality of kerfs can be spaced equidistant from each other and the kerfs in the second plurality of kerfs can be spaced equidistant from each other, and each kerf in the first plurality of kerfs can be spaced equidistant from each kerf in the second plurality of kerfs. The wood support member can have an uninstalled state, in which each kerf in the first plurality of kerfs is parallel to the other kerfs, and an installed state, in which each kerf in the first plurality of kerfs is not parallel to the other kerfs. The distance between the front face and the rear face has a measurement of D1 and the kerfs of the first plurality of kerfs and the kerfs of the second plurality of kerfs can extend into the wood support member by a measurement of D2, wherein D2 can be greater than half of D1.
US08119882B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH990185. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH990185, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH990185 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 CH990185.
US08119875B2
A soybean cultivar designated 90362556 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 90362556, to the plants of soybean 90362556, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 90362556, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 90362556 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 90362556, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 90362556, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 90362556 with another soybean cultivar.
US08119873B2
A soybean cultivar designated 93143074 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 93143074, to the plants of soybean 93143074, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 93143074, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 93143074 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 93143074, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 93143074, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 93143074 with another soybean cultivar.
US08119862B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the watermelon line designated WNV142-1115. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of watermelon line WNV142-1115, and to methods for producing a watermelon plant produced by crossing a plant of watermelon line WNV142-1115 with itself or with another watermelon plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of watermelon line WNV142-1115, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08119852B2
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing neohexene, comprising contacting isobutene with a supported catalyst comprising a tungsten compound chosen from tungsten hydrides, organometallic tungsten compounds and organometallic tungsten hydrides, and a support comprising an oxide of aluminum, so as to form a reaction mixture comprising neohexene, and preferably separating neohexene from the reaction mixture, so as to isolate it. The contacting leads to the direct production of neohexene, in particular in a single (reaction) stage and with a high molar selectivity for neohexene. The contacting can be performed at a temperature of 50 to 600 ° C., under a total absolute pressure of 0.01 to 100 MPa.
US08119846B2
Described is a process for separating an organic phase comprising mainly propyl bromide from a crude reaction mixture formed by free-radical catalyzed hydrobromination of propylene with hydrogen bromide. The process comprises (A) feeding cold water into an upper or mid-portion of a packed column; (B) concurrently feeding the crude reaction mixture into an upper portion and/or mid-portion of the column so that the water contacts the crude reaction mixture; to form a mixture of (i) an acidic aqueous phase comprising aqueous hydrogen bromide and (ii) an organic phase comprising propyl bromide; (C) withdrawing the resultant phases from said column, at a rate comparable to the feeds being made into the column; and (D) separating the phases to form an upper acidic aqueous phase comprising aqueous hydrogen bromide superposed on a lower liquid organic phase comprising propyl bromide, and separating these upper and lower phases from each other.
US08119844B2
The invention relates to methods for the production of alcohols by microbial fermentation, particularly microbial fermentation of substrates comprising glycerol and/or acetate, to butanol.
US08119843B2
A reaction apparatus which is used for conducting a gas-liquid chemical reaction in a state that a liquid is in a continuous phase, wherein its reactor has therein a shear type stirring impeller for dispersing a raw reaction gas or a carrier gas and a film-formed catalyst, which apparatus is capable of producing a target reaction product; and a process for producing a tertiary amine in such reaction apparatus.
US08119829B2
The present invention is directed to compositions of specific carboxylic acid, fatty acid or oil derivatives containing nitrile groups and methods of their preparation. The preparation involves a hydrocyanation reaction. A method of hydrogenating the nitrile containing carboxylic acid acids obtained by above hydrocyanation to produce amine containing carboxylic acids is also disclosed in this invention.
US08119824B2
As means for producing a biodiesel oil from a feed oil containing a free fatty acid at high efficiency, the following processes (1) to (3) are provided: (1) a process for producing a higher fatty acid ester, comprising reacting a lower alcohol with a higher fatty acid in the presence of an amorphous carbon having a sulfonate group introduced therein, thereby producing the higher fatty acid ester; (2) a process for producing a higher fatty acid ester, comprising reacting a lower alcohol with a higher fatty acid and a higher fatty acid triglyceride in the presence of an amorphous carbon having a sulfonate group introduced therein, thereby producing the higher fatty acid ester by both of the reaction between the lower alcohol and the higher fatty acid and the reaction between the lower alcohol and the higher fatty acid triglyceride; and (3) a process for producing a higher fatty acid ester, comprising: reacting a lower alcohol with a higher fatty acid and a higher fatty acid triglyceride in the presence of an amorphous carbon having a sulfonate group introduced therein, thereby producing the higher fatty acid ester by both of the reaction between the lower alcohol and the higher fatty acid and the reaction between the lower alcohol and the higher fatty acid triglyceride; and reacting the unreacted lower alcohol with the unreacted higher fatty acid triglyceride in the presence of an alkali hydroxide, thereby producing the higher fatty acid ester.
US08119821B2
The present invention provides compositions comprising sucralose and 4-amino-5,6-dimethylthieno [2,3-d]pyrimidine-2(1H)-one or salts, solvates, and/or esters thereof and methods of making the compositions by spray drying. The present invention also provides ingestible compositions comprising compositions of the present invention and methods of making such foods. The present invention also includes a process of preparing 2-amino-thiophene derivatives, which are key intermediates for preparing 4-amino-5,6-dimethylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2(1H)-one.
US08119820B2
A method of preparing a sultine from a dihalogeno compound. The method comprises the steps of reacting the dihalogeno compound with a hydroxymethanesulfinate salt in a DMSO solvent so as to prepare the sultine.
US08119817B2
Process for separating the diastereomers of RSS-and SSS-N- α [1-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl] lysylproline
A process for separating the diastereomers of RSS— and SSS—N-α[1-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl]lysylproline is described. Previous chromatographic processes for separating the diastereomers of this peptide active substance, such as for example adsorption chromatography, exhibited disadvantages with regard to the solvents used and throughput. These disadvantages do not occur if basic ion exchangers are used in the chromatographic separation of the diastereomers. In particular, purely aqueous solutions may be used as the eluent.
US08119816B2
The present invention provides a blue laser light-absorbent substance, which is suitably used in organic photo conductor, laser optical data carrier or organic light-emitting diodes. The blue laser light-absorbent substance includes a merocyanine compound of the general formula (1) wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 3; R1 is unsubstituted or phenyl-, halogen-, ester-, siliy-substituted linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, benzyl or naphthyl; N and R1R2 together represent aromatic-fused N-containing heterocyclic group (NR1R2); Y1 is unsubstituted or substituted alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; Y2 is cyano, nitro, halogen or carboxylate; or O and Y1Y2 together represent epoxy or N-containing heterocyclic hydrocarbonyl ketone (OY1Y2).
US08119802B2
This invention relates to process for preparing fluorinated dyes selected from the group consisting of compounds of the general formulae (I) and (III) and mixtures thereof by reacting the corresponding compounds which do not have R12 or R30 as substituents with compounds of the general formula R12A or R30A where A is selected from the group consisting of I and Br, the compounds obtained from said process and the use of these fluorinated dyes in electrophoretic displays.
US08119800B2
Compounds of Formula (I): can be prepared by a multi-step process from compounds of Formula (II): wherein G is Cl, Br or I.
US08119793B2
A process is described for preparing budesonide which comprises the steps of: a) preparing an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution; b) reacting 16α-hydroxyprednisolone and butyraldehyde within the solution prepared in step a), in an inert atmosphere; c) quenching the reaction of step b) with water. The process of the invention enables the ratio between the A and B epimers of budesonide to be controlled.
US08119792B2
The invention relates to novel transglycosylation products and their preparation. The transglycosylation products according to the invention are prepared from starch derivatives, such as esters or ethers of starch. The products are obtained by reacting a starch derivative with an alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst. The forming product is separated by precipitation or by removing any unreacted alcohol by evaporation. In the products according to the invention the good properties of starch derivatives, such as the excellent water resistance of esters, are combined with the versatility of transglycoside products. The products can be used as adhesives, in which case they are formulated, for example as hot-melt adhesives, and as comonomers, prepolymers or macroinitiators in the preparation of polymers.
US08119791B2
The present invention describes compositions and methods for treating, preventing and improving hyperpigmentation, or other unwanted pigmentation of the skin, or other unwanted skin condition, such as age spots, aged skin, skin discoloration, etc., wherein the compositions include siRNA-gene silencing oligomers specific for tyrosinase. The compositions are used to treat a broad variety of pigmentation conditions, and are preferably applied to the skin, or are delivered by directed means to a site in need thereof.
US08119789B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing of a cell and/or tissue and/or disease phase specific medicament against against chronic inflammatory diseases.Disease, cell type, tissue and/or stage specific proteins and nucleic acids are identified with regard to their modified expression pattern and the corresponding nucleic acids are analyzed as possible attack targets for DNAzymes or siRNA. What follows is a design of active specific DNAzymes and siRNA which bind to the target sequence and cleave it such that a medicament against chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmune diseases is provided.
US08119786B2
Novel CC chemokines from human, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies and nucleic acids encoding these chemokines are provided. Also provided are methods of making and using said reagents and diagnostic kits.
US08119783B2
The present invention provides fibroblast growth factor variants demonstrating enhanced receptor subtype specificity and/or affinity. Preferred embodiments include both variants having enhanced activity that act as improved agonists and variants having reduced activity that act as antagonists. Methods of utilizing preferred FGF variants in preparation of medicaments for the treatment of skeletal disorders including skeletal dysplasia, osteoporosis and enhancing bone fracture healing and cartilage healing processes are provided.
US08119779B2
The present invention provides a phosphoramidate compound having the structure (I) wherein X comprises a monosaccharide group comprising the structure (II) or (III) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or salt of such ester. The present invention also provides processes for the production of (I) and uses thereof.
US08119778B2
A reversible thermochromic system comprising a) a compound of the formula (I) or a tautomer thereof (I) wherein R1 is C1-C18alkyl, C2-C18alkenyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl, C3-C12cycloalkyl substituted by 1, 2 or 3 C1-C4alkyl; or C7-C12phenylalkyl; R2 and R3 are hydrogen or R2 and R3 together form a group —CH═CH—CH═CH—; and R4 is hydrogen, —NO2, —SO2—R1 or (4-nitrophenyl)azo; and b) a compound containing a group of the formula (II).
US08119777B2
Magenta chromophore dyes which are stabilized by adding steric hindering groups to protect the imino carbons; nonlimiting examples of the steric hindering groups being phenyl, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide groups.
US08119771B2
Products for altering IL-33 activity including antibodies that specifically bind to an epitope with the polypeptide sequence of IL-33 such as antibodies that specifically bind to a protease cleavage region of IL-33 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 17, or SEQ ID NO. 16, or SEQ ID NO. 10; isolated IL-33 polypeptide(s); and compositions comprising a soluble IL-33 receptor linked to an enzyme capable of cleaving IL-33 or an antibody that binds to IL-33 linked to an enzyme capable of cleaving IL-33. The invention also relates to methods of altering IL-33 activity using the products described herein.
US08119767B2
The present invention discloses modified neurotoxins with altered biological persistence. In one embodiment, the modified neurotoxins are derived from Clostridial botulinum toxins. Such modified neurotoxins may be employed in treating various conditions, including but not limited to muscular disorders, hyperhidrosis, and pain.
US08119765B2
A crosslinkable fluorine-containing compound, which is an adduct compound having a crosslinkable group, wherein the adduct compound is an adduct of a fluorine-containing compound having, per molecule, 2 or more terminal fluorine-containing vinyl groups each directly bonded to an oxygen atom, and a compound having 2 or more groups represented by —XH, where X represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
US08119761B2
Described are polyester compositions comprising at least one polyester which comprises terephthalic acid residues in the amount from 80 to 100 mole %, 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3- cyclobutanediol in the preferable amount from 30 to 40 mole % and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol in the preferable amount from 60 to 70 mole % , wherein the total mole % of the dicarboxylic acid component is 100 mole %, and the total mole % of the glycol component is 100 mote %; and the inherent viscosity of polyester is from 0.55 to 0.68 dL/g as determined in 60/40 (wt/wt) phenol/tetrachtoroethane at a concentration of 0.5 g/100 ml at 25° C., polyester has a Tg from 110 to 160° C. and polyester composition comprises no polycarbonate. The polyesters may be manufactured into articles such as fibers, films, bottles or sheets.
US08119755B2
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by neutralizing the monomer and cooling it by means of an indirect heat exchanger, wherein the specific cooling performance of the heat exchanger is less than 10 W/m2.
US08119753B2
A silicone hydrogel comprising monomeric units of one or more amino monomers, wherein the amino monomers are of formula IA, IB, IIA or IIB and monomeric units of one or more silicone monomers wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl or CH2OH; R4 is a C1-C10 alkyl optionally substituted with hydroxyl or carboxylic acid; E is a polymerizable group; X is an anion suitable for quaternary nitrogen; and n is 0, 1, 2, or 3 and m is an integer from 1 to 8.
US08119750B2
A process comprising polymerizing tetrafluoroethylene in an aqueous emulsion in the presence of a non-telogenic surfactant having an anionic portion with the general formula (I): Rf—O-L-CO2— (I) wherein Rf is selected from a partially fluorinated alkyl group, a perfluorinated alkyl group, a partially fluorinated alkyl group interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms, and a perfluorinated alkyl group interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms, wherein Rf has from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and L is an alkylene group having the general formula (CX2)n wherein each X is independently selected from Rf, fluorine, and hydrogen and n is selected from 1 to 5, with the proviso that the surfactant contains at least one unit selected from a —CH2— unit and a —CHF— unit. Also provided are aqueous dispersions comprising these surfactants and methods of coating substrates with the aqueous dispersions.
US08119746B2
This application relates to polysiloxane compositions grafted with improved heat curable, moisture curable, or heat/moisture curable groups. In particular, the polysiloxane compositions have reactive groups on the terminal or pendent areas of the siloxane backbone, which once reacted provide improved heat and/or moisture curable polysiloxanes.
US08119742B2
The invention describes families of compounds that utilize multihydroxyl phenyl groups to provide adhesive properties. Selection of the multihydroxy phenyl group along with linkers or linking groups and the linkages between the linkers or linking groups with polyalkylene oxides, provides materials that can be engineered to afford controllable curing time, biodegradation and/or swelling.
US08119741B2
Copolymers having linked internal polyether blocks and internal polyamide blocks have advantageous physical properties and solvent-gelling abilities. The copolymer may be prepared from a reaction mixture that contains 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) and poly(alkyleneoxy)diamine (PAODA). Optionally, the reaction mixture contains no monofunctional compound reactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups, however some of this monofunctional compound may be present. Dimer diamine and/or dimer acid may be present in the reaction mixture. A copolymer may also be prepared from a reaction mixture containing dimer acid and at least two diamine compound(s) including PAODA and short-chain aliphatic diamine having 2-6 carbons (SDA), wherein: a) the reaction mixture comprises x grams of PAODA and y grams of SDA, and x/(x+y) is 0.8-0.98; b) the reaction mixture weighs z grams, and x/z is at least 0.25; and c) the reaction mixture contains either no co-diacid, or comprises a small amount of co-diacid, wherein, if the reaction mixture comprises a small amount of co-diacid, then acid equivalents from co-diacid contribute less than 25% of the total acid equivalents present in the reaction mixture.
US08119732B2
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of applying an adhesive to a paper substrate, the method comprising applying a liquid, water-soluble adhesive composition to the paper substrate, said liquid, water-soluble adhesive composition comprising an adhesive polymer dissolved in water and said adhesive polymer comprising a polyethyloxazoline. In another aspect, the invention also provides A liquid, water-soluble adhesive composition comprising adhesive polymer dissolved in water, wherein the adhesive polymer comprises one or more polyethyloxazolines in an amount of more than 50 wt % and up to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the water-soluble adhesive composition.
US08119724B1
The present invention provides moisture curable polyacrylate compositions, which cured elastomers thereof demonstrate improved resistance to shrinkage when exposed to hydrocarbon fluids such as transmission fluids and oil and fuel based fluids. Such compositions include: a) a moisture curable silyl functionalized polyacrylate; and b) at least one hydrocarbon fluid-absorbing component, wherein the hydrocarbon-fluid absorbing component is present in an amount sufficient to reduce shrinkage of the cured composition when exposed to a hydrocarbon fluid.
US08119718B2
The present invention relates to thermoplastic molding compositions, comprisingA) from 19.9 to 69.99% by weight of a thermoplastic polyamideB) from 30 to 80% by weight of an aluminum oxideC) from 0.01 to 30% by weight of diatomaceous earthD) from 0 to 30% by weight of further additives,where the total of the percentages by weight of A) to D) is 100%.
US08119708B2
The invention relates to a method for the production of protective colloid-stabilized polymer products by means of emulsion polymerization in a reactor having an external cooling circuit, which is equipped with a pump and a heat exchanger, characterized in that the reaction mixture present in the reactor is delivered to a cooled static mixer-heat exchanger having stationary fixtures and is subsequently returned to the reactor. The invention further relates to a device for the production of protective colloid-stabilized polymer products by means of emulsion polymerization, comprising a reactor and an external cooling circuit, characterized in that the external cooling circuit is equipped with a pump and a cooled static mixer-heat exchanger having stationary fixtures.
US08119707B2
A composite material includes a polymer matrix and a particulate material dispersed within the polymer matrix. The particulate material includes metal oxide coated alumina hydrate. The particulate material has a 500 psi Compaction Volume Ratio of at least about 4.0 cc/cc. The metal oxide coating may include precipitated silica. The particulate material may have a Hg Cumulative Pore Volume of at least 1.65 cc/g.
US08119699B2
A method of recycling a laminate shaped product, including the steps of: breaking a shaped product having a laminate structure including at least one layer of aliphatic polyester resin in addition to a principal resin layer, storing resultant broken pieces in a moisturizing environment to adjust a moisture content of the aliphatic polyester resin (layer) to at least 0.5 wt. %, and then washing the broken pieces with alkaline water to remove the aliphatic polyester resin layer, thereby recovering the principal resin. As a result, it becomes possible to shorten an induction period in the alkaline water washing step that is a principal process step, thereby rationalizing the entire process.
US08119686B2
A novel spiroquinone derivative having a high ABCA1 stabilization effect and being useful for prophylactic and/or therapeutic agents for various diseases developing hypo-high density lipoproteinemia is obtained. The novel spiroquinone derivative is a compound represented by the following formula: wherein R1a, R1b, R1c and R1d each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, or an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, and R2a and R2b each represents a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group which may have a substituent (e.g., a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, and an N-substituted carbamoyl group), the groups R2a and R2b may bond together to form a hydrocarbon ring with an adjacent carbon atom, provided that compounds in which all of the groups R1a, R1b, R1c and R1d are t-butyl groups, and both of the groups R2a and R2b are hydrogen atoms or both of the groups R2a and R2b are methyl groups are excluded; or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof.
US08119679B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing 2,4-dinitroimidazole, wherein separation of 1,4-donitroimidazole in powder form is avoided so that it is possible to eliminate allergy problems in workers and simplify the process, thereby improving process economy.
US08119678B2
Compounds useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases and disorders by modulating the activity of KSP are disclosed.
US08119669B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), methods for preparing these compounds, compositions, intermediates and derivatives thereof and for treating a condition including but not limited to ankylosing spondylitis, artherosclerosis, arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, childhood arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis), bone-related diseases (including those related to bone formation), breast cancer (including those unresponsive to anti-estrogen therapy), cardiovascular disorders, cartilage-related disease (such as cartilage injury/loss, cartilage degeneration, and those related to cartilage formation), chondrodysplasia, chondrosarcoma, chronic back injury, chronic bronchitis, chronic inflammatory airway disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, disorders of energy homeostasis, gout, pseudogout, lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, multiple myeloma, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteogenesis imperfecta, osteolytic bone metastasis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, Paget's disease, periodontal disease, polymyalgia rheumatica, Reiter's syndrome, repetitive stress injury, hyperglycemia, elevated blood glucose level, and insulin resistance.
US08119665B2
The invention provides packaged pharmaceutical preparations of Aryl substituted imidazoles, pyrazoles, pyridizines and related compounds of the Formula where the variables are defined herein. Such compounds are ligands of C5a receptors. Preferred compounds of the invention act bind to C5a receptors with high affinity and exhibit neutral antagonist or inverse agonist activity at C5a receptors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. It further relates to the use of such compounds in treating a variety of inflammatory and immune system disorders.
US08119645B2
The present invention relates to hydroximoyl-tetrazole derivatives of formula (I) wherein T represent a tetrazolyl substituent, A represents a carbo- or heterocycle, L1 and L2 represent various linking groups and Q represents a 5-membered heterocycle, their process of preparation, their use as fungicide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US08119644B2
Compounds of the formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein, R1 is optionally substituted thiadiazolyl, and R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using the compounds for treating diseases associated with P2X3 and/or a P2X2/3 receptor antagonists and methods of making the compounds.
US08119628B2
The disclosure provides compounds of formula I, including their salts, as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US08119619B2
Steroid compounds possessing a hydrogen donor in 3beta position, either in the form of a hydroxy- or a sulfate group, function as efficient blockers of the 3alpha-hydroxy-pregnan-steroid action and thus have utility as therapeutic substances for the prevention and/or treatment of steroid related CNS disorders. Treatment methods based on the administration of these substances are disclosed, and these substances either alone or in combination are also suggested for the manufacture of pharmaceuticals for the treatment of many specific steroid induced CNS disorders.
US08119612B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods for modulating the expression of alpha-ENaC, and more particularly to the downregulation of alpha-ENaC expression by chemically modified oligonucleotides.
US08119609B2
A method of preventing or treating diabetic retinopathy is disclosed including administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of retinal pericyte apoptosis. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition which treats and/or prevents diabetic retinopathy comprising as an active agent a therapeutically effective amount of at least one inhibitor of retinal pericyte apoptosis and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08119606B2
A process for making pure crystalline D-isoglutamyl-D-tryptophan is provided which includes the step of deprotecting essentially pure N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-D-isoglutamyl-D-tryptophan or its diester to yield essentially pure D-isoglutamyl-D-tryptophan. A process is also provided for the preparation of pure mono ammonium salt of D-isoglutamyl-D-tryptophan from essentially pure N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-D-isoglutamyl-D-tryptophan. D-isoglutamyl-D-tryptophan, ammonium salt (1:1) is a stable pharmaceutical solid.
US08119596B2
A composition for treating damaged tissue and promoting healthy tissue growth, healing and tissue regeneration, wherein said composition comprises an extracellular matrix compound, a surface-active lipid, one or more enantiomerically pure L-amino acids or glycine, a hydrophilic surfactant with a high HLB, as well as vitamins, minerals or trace elements. Not only does it maintain good health, but the components are non-intrusive, bio-safe, non-coalescent and can mimic normally occurring stem-cells within a body. When applied to diseased tissues, the subject compositions can stimulate, facilitate, and accelerate protein synthesis for the regeneration of diseased organs and tissues. The healing efficacy of these tissue components gives us further appreciation of the protective action of human tissue over and above and other than the immune protective system or perhaps an integral component part of the immune system.
US08119595B2
The present invention provides an aqueous formulation of human erythropoietin having the storage stability over a long period without serum albumin, in which the formulation comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of human erythropoietin; non-ionic surfactant, polyhydric alcohol, neutral amino acid and sugar alcohol as stabilizers; isotonic reagent; and buffering reagent.
US08119587B2
Microcapsules comprising a core of fragrance and a shell of aminoplast polymer, the composition of the shell being from 75-100% of a thermoset resin comprising 50-90%, preferably from 60-85%, of a terpolymer and from 10-50%, preferably from 10-25%, of a polymeric stabilizer; the terpolymer comprising: (a) from 20-60%, preferably 30-50% of moieties derived from at least one polyamine, (b) from 3-50%, preferably 5-25% of moieties derived from at least one aromatic polyol; and (c) from 20-70%, preferably 40-60% of alkylene or alkylenoxy moieties having 1 to 6 methylene units, preferably 1 to 4 methylene units and most preferably 1 methylene unit; the microcapsules additionally optionally comprising up to 25%, preferably up to 10% of a cationic polymer. The microcapsules are useful for the storage and dissemination of fragrance in various products, such as laundry products and fabric care products.
US08119580B2
The present invention relates to a lubricant concentrate containing the following components (i) at least one amine, (ii) at least one phosphate according to the general formula (I), (iii) at least one acid, (iv) optionally at least one ether carboxylic acid compounds with the general formula (II) R20—(O(CH2)m)nOCH2COO−M+ (II), (v) optionally at least one further aid or additive.
US08119571B2
Novel articles and methods to fabricate same with self-assembled nanodots and/or nanorods of a single or multicomponent material within another single or multicomponent material for use in electrical, electronic, magnetic, electromagnetic and electrooptical devices is disclosed. Self-assembled nanodots and/or nanorods are ordered arrays wherein ordering occurs due to strain minimization during growth of the materials. A simple method to accomplish this when depositing in-situ films is also disclosed. Device applications of resulting materials are in areas of superconductivity, photovoltaics, ferroelectrics, magnetoresistance, high density storage, solid state lighting, non-volatile memory, photoluminescence, thermoelectrics and in quantum dot lasers.
US08119548B2
Nanosilver for use as a biocide in coated fibrous substrate facers and other construction and/or building substrates, for protection against bacteria (particularly cyanobacteria), fungi, molds, algae and other bio-organisms known to deface and/or adversely affect such building materials. Facers referred to are commonly used in the construction industry as exposed surfaces for insulation and sheathing boards.
US08119536B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the semiconductor device. The method may include forming a semiconductor pattern on a substrate, forming an interlayer insulating layer including an opening exposing the semiconductor pattern, forming a semiconductor ohmic pattern on the semiconductor pattern, forming an electrode ohmic layer on the semiconductor ohmic pattern, performing a wet etching on the electrode ohmic layer, and forming an electrode pattern on the etched electrode ohmic layer.
US08119530B2
A pattern forming method includes preparing a target object including silicon with an initial pattern formed thereon and having a first line width; performing a plasma oxidation process on the silicon surface inside a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus and thereby forming a silicon oxide film on a surface of the initial pattern; and removing the silicon oxide film. The pattern forming method is arranged to repeatedly perform formation of the silicon oxide film and removal of the silicon oxide film so as to form an objective pattern having a second line width finer than the first line width on the target object.
US08119523B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device using a dual damascene process is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over a conductive layer, forming a via hole exposing the conducting layer by selectively etching the dielectric layer, projecting a portion of the dielectric layer at an edge of the via hole by selectively etching the dielectric layer to a first depth, and forming a trench by selectively etching the dielectric layer to a second depth, wherein the trench is overlapped with the via hole to form a dual damascene pattern.
US08119508B2
In a metal gate replacement process, a stack of at least two polysilicon layers or other materials may be formed. Sidewall spacers may be formed on the stack. The stack may then be planarized. Next, the upper layer of the stack may be selectively removed. Then, the exposed portions of the sidewall spacers may be selectively removed. Finally, the lower portion of the stack may be removed to form a T-shaped trench which may be filled with the metal replacement.
US08119499B2
A semiconductor substrate fabrication method according to the first aspect of this invention is characterized by including a preparation step of preparing an underlying substrate, a stacking step of stacking, on the underlying substrate, at least two multilayered films each including a peeling layer and a semiconductor layer, and a separation step of separating the semiconductor layer.
US08119498B2
A wafer bonding process that compensates for curvatures in wafer surfaces, and a wafer stack produced by the bonding process. The process entails forming a groove in a surface of a first wafer, depositing a bonding stack on a surface of a second wafer, aligning and mating the first and second wafers so that the bonding stack on the second wafer contacts a bonding site on the first wafer, and then heating the first and second wafers to reflow the bonding stack. The groove either surrounds the bonding site or lies entirely within the bonding site, and the heating step forms a molten bonding material, causes at least a portion of the molten bonding material to flow into the groove, and forms a bonding structure that bonds the second wafer to the first wafer. Bonding stacks having different lateral surface areas can be deposited to form bonding structures of different heights to compensate for variations in the wafer gap.
US08119494B1
A method includes providing a semiconductor substrate formed of a first semiconductor material; and forming a plurality of insulation regions over at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate, with a plurality of trenches separating the plurality of insulation regions apart from each other. A first epitaxial growth is performed to epitaxially grow a plurality of semiconductor regions in the plurality of trenches, wherein (111) facets are formed and exposed during the step of the first epitaxial growth. When the (111) facets of neighboring ones of the plurality of semiconductor regions touch each other, a second epitaxial growth is performed to continue grow the plurality of semiconductor regions to form (100) planes between the neighboring ones of the plurality of semiconductor regions.
US08119492B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming a bottom electrode material layer containing aluminum and cupper over the substrate. An insulating material layer and a top electrode material layer are sequentially formed on the surface of the bottom electrode material layer. A photoresist pattern is formed on the top electrode material layer, and then the top electrode material layer is patterned to form a top electrode by using the photoresist pattern as mask. The photoresist pattern is removed by plasma ash and then an alloy process is performed to the bottom electrode material layer. Thereafter, the insulating material layer, and the bottom electrode material layer are patterned to form a patterned insulating layer and a patterned bottom electrode layer.
US08119485B2
Disclosed herein is a fabrication method of a semiconductor device to order to increase an operation liability of the semiconductor device. A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a recess in a semiconductor substrate, forming a word line in a lower part of the recess, oxidizing a top portion of the word line, and depositing an insulating material in a remained part of the recess.
US08119483B2
Some embodiments include methods of utilizing polysilazane in forming non-volatile memory cells. The memory cells may be multi-level cells (MLCs). The polysilazane may be converted to silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, or silicon oxynitride with thermal processing and exposure to an ambient that contains one or both of oxygen and nitrogen. The methods may include using the polysilazane in forming a charge trapping layer of a non-volatile memory cell. The methods may alternatively, or additionally include using the polysilazane in forming intergate dielectric material of a non-volatile memory cell. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells of a NAND memory array.
US08119482B2
This invention discloses a new MOSFET device. The MOSFET device has an improved operation characteristic achieved by manufacturing a MOSFET with a higher gate work function by implementing a P-doped gate in an N-MOSFET device. The P-type gate increases the threshold voltage and shifts the C-Vds characteristics. The reduced Cgd thus achieves the purpose of suppressing the shoot through and resolve the difficulties discussed above. Unlike the conventional techniques, the reduction of the capacitance Cgd is achieved without requiring complicated fabrication processes and control of the recess electrode.
US08119476B2
In a method of forming a capacitor, a first mold layer pattern including a first insulating material may be formed on a substrate. The first mold layer pattern may have a trench. A supporting layer including a second insulating material may be formed in the trench. The second insulating material may have an etching selectivity with respect to the first insulating material. A second mold layer may be formed on the first mold layer pattern and the supporting layer pattern. A lower electrode may be formed through the second mold layer and the first mold layer pattern. The lower electrode may make contact with a sidewall of the supporting layer pattern. The first mold layer pattern and the second mold layer may be removed. A dielectric layer and an upper electrode may be formed on the lower electrode and the supporting layer pattern.
