US08209234B2
A spectacle lens selection system includes a manufacturer side terminal and a store side terminals installed in a store and is connected to the manufacturer side terminal via a network. The store side terminal transmits a wearing condition parameters including a downward rolling length of eyes and a lateral gaze length of a spectacle wearer to the manufacturer side terminal, and the manufacturer side terminal selects a most suitable product based on the wearing condition parameters, and transmits the result to the store side terminal.
US08209231B2
An image of at least one object (14) is captured. An object class selection is received from a menu (70) of a plurality of object classes. At least one task menu specific to the object class selection is provided. A task selection is received from the at least one task menu. A task associated with the at least one object (14) is facilitated based on the image and the task selection.
US08209229B1
A system and method for determining the actual cost of a product and/or service includes a process for determining the actual cost of a product and/or service whereby financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources. The financial data includes data associated with specific financial transactions. The financial data, and/or specific financial transactions are categorized and/or associated with a specific purchase of a product and/or service. The financial data obtained from one or more contributing consumers is then aggregated, processed, and/or categorized, according to the identified and specific product and/or service associated with the financial data. A “user consumer” then initiates a request for financial data associated with the purchase of a specified product and/or service. The financial data obtained from one or more contributing consumers is then searched and actual price paid data associated with the purchase of the specified product is presented to the user consumer.
US08209228B2
A method and system that allows a user to report fraud and submit a request for compensation related to a transaction completed over a network-based transaction facility. For example, a method can include the following operations conducted via the network-based transaction facility: receiving a complaint from a first party, communicating information about the complaint to a second party, enabling an exchange of information regarding the complaint, receiving a request for compensation related to the complaint, and determining whether a criterion required for approval of the request for compensation has been satisfied.
US08209223B2
An indication of an object included in a frame of a video content item is received. A tag is associated with the object, the tag including a reference to a media content item. An additional frame that includes the object is identified in the video content item. The tag is associated with the additional frame in the video content item.
US08209218B1
Embodiments of the present invention relates to a method, apparatus and computer program product for processing, analyzing and/or display data related to performance metrics, for example, predicted performance metrics. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes one or more computers, a user input device(s), and a display device(s). In some embodiments, the one or more computers are operative, to compute, from historical KPI-related data, predicted future KPI-related behavior. In some embodiments, the display device is operative to display indications of predicted KPI values and/or predicted influencer values and/or a predicted future influencer-ranking-hierarchy and/or calculated deviating influencer values and/or one or more of the deviating future KPI values. In some embodiments, one or more user input devices are configured to receive indications of user-proposed influencer values and/or any other relevant data.
US08209214B2
An arrangement for providing targeted content includes data repositories storing information from which targeted content may be selected. The data repositories store at least one contextual relationship graph. The arrangement also includes an input/output interface through which a request for targeted content is made. The arrangement further includes a controller that receives the request for targeted content and selects targeted content using the contextual relationship graph. The controller further provides the selected targeted content through the input/output interface. An arrangement for determining the relative strength of a classification for a group of words includes memory for storing a contextual relationship graph for a given classification and a processor that receives the contextual relationship graph and a plurality of words to be analyzed by the processor, identifies occurrences of the relationships identified in the contextual relationship graph and determines the relative strength of classification based on the identified occurrences.
US08209200B2
A system and method are provided for maintaining updated passenger travel records across multiple system platforms. A network server is adapted to receive input data from a passenger including an indication that the passenger desires to purchase tickets or make reservations for travel related services. A booking engine acts to purchase the ticket or book the reservation and request and receive a copy of a passenger name record created by a global distribution system. The booking engine then forwards a copy of the received passenger name record to the database. The database is adapted to form an association between the received copy of the passenger name record and the input data received from the passenger, and store the copy of the passenger name record. The database may further perform a comparison between the input data and the received passenger name record to identify discrepancies.
US08209197B2
A computer implemented data processing system and method administers a deferred variable annuity contract during the accumulation phase for a relevant life. The annuity contract has a payment base value and a contract value. The system has a processor for determining a present payment base value, for determining a present contract value, for determining a withdrawal percent, and for calculating a lifetime benefit payment responsive to a request; wherein the maximum lifetime benefit payment withdrawal is Greater of ((Present Payment Base×Withdrawal Percent) or (Present Contract Value×Withdrawal Percent)).
US08209195B2
A system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a processor, a device interface, a user interface, a data relay transceiver, and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions. The processor executes the instructions in the memory to receive data from a medical device through a wired connection using the device interface, and transmits the data to an intermediary device using the data relay transceiver. This system can be implemented in a small, portable unit that is easy for a patient to transport. The system's user interface may include a microphone and speaker to allow the communication of audible information between the system and a user. Aspects of the system can be practiced automatically to allow a medical device for a patient or other subject to be monitored without requiring the patient to manually enter information.
US08209193B2
A system, software and related methods of enhanced pharmaceutical operations in long term care facilities are provided. An embodiment of a system includes a long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, long-term care facility pharmacy management software associated with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server to manage pharmacological operations in a plurality of long-term care facilities, a plurality of pharmaceutical storage and electronic dispensing carts each positioned in a long-term care facility remote from the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server and in communication therewith, a remote pharmacy group server in communication with the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server, and a plurality of pharmaceutical prescription document processors each positioned in a long-term care facility and in communication with the remote pharmacy group server or the long-term care facility pharmacy group management server.
US08209186B2
The invention relates to a method for sentence planning (120) in a task classification system that interacts with a user. The method may include recognizing symbols in the user's input communication and determining whether the user's input communication can be understood. If the user's communication can be understood, understanding data may be generated (220). The method may further include generating communicative goals (3010) based on the recognized symbols and understanding data. The generated communicative goals (3010) may be related to information needed to be obtained form the user. The method may also include automatically planning one or more sentences (3020) based on the generated communicative goals and outputting at least one of the sentence plans to the user (3080).
US08209184B1
A system and method of operating an automatic speech recognition application over an Internet Protocol network is disclosed. The ASR application communicates over a packet network such as an Internet Protocol network or a wireless network. A grammar for recognizing received speech from a user over the IP network is selected from a plurality of grammars according to a user-selected application. A server receives information representing speech over the IP network, performs speech recognition using the selected grammar, and returns information based upon the recognized speech. Sub-grammars may be included within the grammar to recognize speech from sub-portions of a dialog with the user.
US08209180B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for generating a synthesized speech that has an utterance form that matches music. A musical genre estimation unit of the speech synthesizing device estimates the musical genre to which a received music signal belongs, an utterance form selection unit references an utterance form information storage unit to determine an utterance form from the musical genre. A prosody generation unit references a prosody generation rule storage unit, selected from prosody generation rule storage units 151 to 15N according to the utterance form, and generates prosody information from a phonetic symbol sequence. A unit waveform selection unit references a unit waveform data storage unit, selected from unit waveform data storage units 161 to 16N according to the utterance form, and selects a unit waveform from the phonetic symbol sequence and the prosody information. A waveform generation unit generates a synthesized speech waveform from the prosody information and the unit waveform data.
US08209175B2
Repetition of content words in a communication is used to increase the certainty, or, alternatively, reduce the uncertainty, that the content words were actual words from the communication. Reducing the uncertainty of a particular content word of a communication in turn increases the likelihood that the content word is relevant to the communication. Reliable, relevant content words mined from a communication can be used for, e.g., automatic internet searches for documents and/or web sites pertinent to the communication. Reliable, relevant content words mined from a communication can also, or alternatively, be used to automatically generate one or more documents from the communication, e.g., communication summaries, communication outlines, etc.
US08209174B2
A text-independent speaker verification system utilizes mel frequency cepstral coefficients analysis in the feature extraction blocks, template modeling with vector quantization in the pattern matching blocks, an adaptive threshold and an adaptive decision verdict and is implemented in a stand-alone device using less powerful microprocessors and smaller data storage devices than used by comparable systems of the prior art.
US08209173B2
A method and system for automatically generating a scoring model for scoring a speech sample are disclosed. One or more training speech samples are received in response to a prompt. One or more speech features are determined for each of the training speech samples. A scoring model is then generated based on the speech features. At least one of the training speech samples may be a high entropy speech sample. An evaluation speech sample is received and a score is assigned to the evaluation speech sample using the scoring model. The evaluation speech sample may be a high entropy speech sample.
US08209171B2
This invention relates to a method of searching spoken audio data for one or more search terms comprising performing a phonetic search of the audio data to identify likely matches to a search term and producing textual data corresponding to a portion of the spoken audio data including a likely match. An embodiment of the method comprises the steps of taking phonetic index data corresponding to the spoken audio data, searching the phonetic index data for likely matches to the search term, wherein when a likely match is detected a portion of the spoken audio data or phonetic index data is selected which includes the likely match and said selected portion of the spoken audio data or phonetic index data is processed using a large vocabulary speech recognizer. The large vocabulary speech recognizer may derive textual data which can be used for further processing or may be used to present a transcript to a user. The present invention therefore combines the benefit of phonetic searching of audio data with the advantages of large vocabulary speech recognition.
US08209169B2
A method and system for synchronizing words in an input text of a speech with a continuous recording of the speech. A received input text includes previously recorded content of the speech to be reproduced. A synthetic speech corresponding to the received input text is generated. Ratio data including a ratio between the respective pronunciation times of words included in the received text in the generated synthetic speech is computed. The ratio data is used to determine an association between erroneously recognized words of the received text and a time to reproduce each erroneously recognized word. The association is outputted in a recording medium and/or displayed on a display device.
US08209166B2
A concept obtaining unit obtains, for each example set stored in an example storage unit, a first concept of a phrase included in an example in the first language and a second concept of a phrase included in an example in the second language from a concept storage unit. A determining unit determines that an example set including an unmatched concept between first concepts and second concepts is not applicable. An example set searching unit searches for an example set that includes an example in the first language that is analogous to or matches an input sentence. An output controlling unit outputs an example in the second language of the example sets from which the example set that is determined as inapplicable is deleted, as a translation result.
US08209162B2
A method of translation includes uploading a source text portion to a back end processor. The back end processor identifies a subset of translation knowledge associated with the source text portion. The back end processor downloads the subset to a front end processor. A translation engine runs on the front end processor. The translation engine generates a translation of the source text portion as a function of the subset.
US08209161B2
Disclosed are improved methods, systems, and computer program products for lithographic simulation of an electronic circuit design. Various embodiments of the present invention identifies a mask pattern, performs offline precharacterization for the mask pattern by solving an equation which models a solution for the mask pattern and an interaction between the mask pattern and one or more effects, performs online evaluation based at least upon a parameterized form of the equation, determines a field around the mask pattern based at least upon the act of performing the online evaluation, and stores a result of the act of determining an electromagnetic field around the mask pattern in a tangible computer readable or usable medium
US08209147B2
An example geolocation system for mounting on a mammal incorporates simple sensing sleeves on the calves of the body support members, combined with an accelerometer based gravity direction and force sensing at the center of mass of the body. The example system is connected to a digital processing unit and a battery power supply to integrate the sensing to determine kinetic and potential energy of the body locomotion over time in a method that integrates out the aperiodic motion of the body about the center of mass, and uses the residual motion to measure the center of mass locomotion from a known point.
US08209146B2
A system and method is described for determining a distance to a desired target via correlating a pulse modulated signal with its corresponding reflected signal, while compensating for noise error in the reflected signal to allow for a more precise distance determination. Further details and features are described herein.
US08209142B2
A device for triggering a recording of a measured signal dependent upon at least one triggering event identifiable in a occurrence distribution of parameter pairs from two mutually-dependent parameters of the measured signal includes a discriminator for the identification of triggering events in each case with one frequency (NofTreffer) determined for the respective parameter pair and, in a first embodiment, disposed outside, and in a second embodiment, disposed inside, an upper and lower threshold value (UpperNofTreffer, LowerNofTreffer) associated with the respective parameter pair and for marking each occurring triggering event with the assistance of an activated first trigger marker (TrigMerk1) associated with the respective parameter pair. A memory is used for buffering at least the upper and lower threshold value (UpperNofTreffer, LowerNofTreffer) for every parameter pair.
US08209138B1
Methods and apparatus for analysis and design of radiation and scattering objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, unknown sources are spatially grouped to produce a system interaction matrix with block factors of low rank within a given error tolerance and the unknown sources are determined from compressed forms of the factors.
US08209136B2
A line locator includes a signal detector to detect signals from an underground line; an error modeler that models a phase error in the signal from neighboring underground lines; and an enhanced electromagnetic field modeler that provides a location of the underground line based on the signal and a result from the error modeler.
US08209135B2
A defect detected by a wafer inspection tool is reliably captured by a defect review tool. A defect review condition in the defect review tool is varied depending on defect attributes provided by the wafer inspection tool so as to optimize the review process. For example, review magnification is varied depending on the size of the defect, or the frame addition number is varied depending on the maximum gray level difference.
US08209129B2
Single copy sequences suitable for use as DNA probes can be defined by computational analysis of genomic sequences. The present invention provides an ab initio method for identification of single copy sequences for use as probes which obviates the need to compare genomic sequences with existing catalogs of repetitive sequences. By dividing a target reference sequence into a series of shorter contiguous sequence windows and comparing these sequences with the reference genome sequence, one can identify single copy sequences in a genome. Probes can then be designed and produced from these single copy intervals.
US08209120B2
Method and arrangement for providing map information to an operator of a vehicle includes forming a map database to reside on the vehicle, e.g., after installation on the vehicle, and which includes for example, data about lanes that the vehicle can travel on locations of a boundary or edges of the travel lanes, data about traffic control devices in the database, data about guard rails along travel lanes and/or data about inanimate objects such as poles and trees alongside the travel lanes. The database is managed to ensure that it has current information about a travel lane on which the vehicle is currently situated. This may entail establishing wireless communications to the vehicle to enable data to be provided to the database, e.g., from other vehicles and/or from infrastructure.
US08209112B2
A method and a device are provided for operating an internal combustion engine which allow for an improved diagnosis of the valve mechanism of cylinders of the internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a variable characteristic of a suction performance of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is ascertained. The variable characteristic of the suction performance is ascertained as a function of the mass flow flowing into an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine and of a change of the intake manifold pressure during an intake phase of the cylinder.
US08209111B2
A device dedicated to processing analog knock signals delivered by a sensor of an internal combustion engine coupled to an engine monitoring unit, includes processing elements for converting values of the analog signals acquired by the sensor at known instants into representative digital samples, then for temporarily storing the samples whose acquisition instants are contained in a chosen time window, and for applying chosen digital processing operations to these stored samples so as to deliver a digital output signal representative of the knock of the engine during this time window. The processing elements are responsible i) for applying a chosen digital preprocessing operation to the stored samples whose acquisition instants coincide with instants of occurrence, and ii) for adapting at least one of the digital processing operations according to the number of stored samples that are the subjects of a coincidence.
US08209107B2
An electric motor for a fuel pump is provided with a shutdown switch positioned intermediate an inverter, and its control coil. In this location, the shutdown function can be achieved without heavy components. In another feature, when the fuel pump is shut down, a signal is sent upstream to a voltage regulator associated with a generator, such that the voltage supplied downstream by the generator can be reduced to eliminate any potential voltage spike due to the shutdown of the electric motor. The electric motor with shutdown switch enables low weight fault tolerant flux regulated machines.
US08209103B2
The drive control of the invention adopted in a hybrid vehicle specifies an operation line L to give a greater torque in a low rotation speed area of an engine with an increase in vehicle speed and controls the operation of the engine according to the specified operation line L. The engine can thus be driven at a higher-efficiency drive point, while the driving-related background noise effectively masks some abnormal noise or muffled noise, which may be caused by the operation of the engine in a low rotation speed-high torque area. This arrangement desirably prevents the driver and the other passenger from feeling odd and uncomfortable due to the abnormal noise or muffled noise and enhances the energy efficiency of the hybrid vehicle.
US08209097B2
An electro-mechanical transmission is operative to transmit mechanical torque originating from an engine and first and second electric machines to an output member. The electric machines are electrically-operatively connected to an energy storage system for electrical power flow therebetween. A Method for operating the electro-mechanical transmission includes operating the electro-mechanical transmission in a fixed gear operating range state, determining a minimum power flow between the energy storage system and the first and second electric machines to meet an operator torque request based upon electrical power constraints and motor torque constraints, commanding a motor torque from the first electric machine based upon the minimum power flow, and commanding a motor torque from the second electric machine based upon the minimum power flow, a torque input from the engine and the commanded motor torque from the first electric machine to meet the operator torque request in the fixed gear operating range state.
US08209092B2
An optical sensing system detects pressure through attenuation of light in an optical fiber. The weight and position of a load on a mat including multiple optical fibers may be determined; for example, such a mat may be used in an automobile seat to determine theses parameters for a passenger in the seat. This information can be presented to an airbag deployment system to easily enable the airbag to be deployed or suppressed in a manner sensitive to the weight and position of the occupant. This methodology allows loads, load movement, and load position to be detected in vehicles. In applications for vehicles such as aircraft or boats, sensing weight, position and movement of cargo can warn an operator or pilot in sufficient time to correct dangerous shifts in weight within the cargo portion of the vehicle or to modify the operation of the vehicle to compensate for such shifts.
US08209089B2
A vehicular steering apparatus can accurately detect occurrence of a disturbance even where steering torque is limited, and can achieve a low cost and simple construction. The apparatus includes a road surface reaction torque detector that detects an actual road surface reaction torque received by tires of a vehicle from a road surface, a vehicle speed detector that detects a vehicle speed, a steering wheel angle detector that detects a steering angle of a steering wheel, a target road surface reaction torque calculation section that calculates a target road surface reaction torque based on the vehicle speed and the steering wheel angle, and a disturbance occurrence detection section that detects occurrence of a disturbance to the vehicle and outputs a disturbance state signal. The disturbance occurrence detection section includes a sign comparison section that compares signs of the actual and target road surface reaction torques.
US08209066B2
Outside air enters a ram air scoop on an aircraft frame, and is ducted to a ram air control valve. The air control valve outputs a desired air mass flow to a cyclone air-water separator which removes moisture and produces a dry air flow. A heater assembly heats the dry air to a desired temperature and directs the heated air into an equipment bay enclosure on the aircraft. The relative humidity of the heated air is sensed by an air moisture sensor which produces a corresponding signal. Other sensors disposed near a payload in the bay enclosure produce corresponding air temperature and air pressure signals. All the sensor signals are input to a processor or controller configured to activate the air control valve and the heater assembly according to set points for temperature and humidity that are specified for the payload in the bay enclosure.
US08209065B2
Spacecraft control modules can steer a spacecraft during a slew maneuver. The spacecraft control modules can receive a target attitude for the spacecraft slew maneuver. An angle between a current attitude and the target attitude may be determined. A smooth attitude offset profile with respect to a steering frame may be established from the current attitude to the target attitude. A smooth attitude command may be generated from the smooth attitude offset profile. The smooth attitude command may be applied to an attitude control module of the spacecraft.
US08209060B2
A method and system to update a syringe pump is provided. The pump supports a syringe having a plunger and includes a piston drive to couple to the plunger, a processor to control movement of the piston drive, and a memory to store syringe profiles for different syringes. Each syringe profile contains data for the processor to control the piston drive to expel fluid from a respective syringe at a rate. The method includes, with a computing system containing a database of data correlated to an array of syringes for which the pump could be used, culling from the database a syringe profiles for the syringes to be used by the pump within the facility or portion thereof, and updating the memory of the pump while in the facility with the culled syringe profiles whereby to update the pump for operation with syringes to be used with the syringe pump.
US08209058B2
According to a controller for a cooling system, when an optimum value of a low-pressure side pressure set value corresponding to an operation environmental condition to be generated is registered in a data base 15, the optimum value of the low-pressure side pressure set value is used. In a case where the optimum value of the low-pressure side pressure set value is not registered in the data base 15, when an optimum value of a low-pressure side pressure set value Ps corresponding to an operation environmental condition adjacent to the operation environmental condition to be generated is registered, the optimum value of the low-pressure side pressure set value Ps is used.
US08209053B2
An improved cleaning robot that uses a simple structure to sense an obstacle is provided. The cleaning robot includes a robot main body comprising a driving unit to drive the cleaning robot, and a cleaning unit to remove dust, a bumper unit which is movably mounted in the robot main body to protect the robot main body from collision with an obstacle, a sensor unit which supports the bumper unit movably in a plurality of directions to sense the collision of the bumper unit and the obstacle, and a control unit which controls the driving unit on the basis of a signal sensed by the sensor to avoid the obstacle.
US08209052B2
The mechanical differential actuator according to the present invention comprises a mechanical differential having three mechanicals ports. A first transducer with a low impedance is coupled to a first port, a second transducer with a high impedance is coupled to a second port, and the mechanical load is coupled to the third port. The mechanical differential actuator enables controlling a force and a speed at a load coupled thereto through a known relation between the force and the speed. Moreover, the mechanical differential actuator presents a compact structure enabling the transfer of a large force relative to its volume.
US08209050B2
A method for classification of defects and running of grinding of lamination cylinders includes identifying defect areas in a map illustrating a plurality of surface measurements of a cylinder. The method includes calculating, for each area identified, a plurality of parameters. The method includes identifying a type of defect associated with the areas identified, on the basis of the parameters calculated. The method includes determining an acceptability threshold of a specific defect for each type of defect identified. The method includes defining a corrective action for each area on the basis of a comparison between the acceptability threshold associated with the type of defect of the area, and a measurement of the surface measurements of the cylinder associated with the area. The method includes determining grinding parameters on the basis of the surface measurements of the cylinder, if the corrective action is a grinding operation to remove the defects.
US08209041B2
A system and methods for conveying private information to a player in a multiplayer game being viewed by multiple players on a single screen. Each player is provided with a controller, which in one embodiment, includes a first input device and a second input device. The game system displays instructions on the screen prompting each player to select the first input device on the controller to ask a first question or select the second input device of the controller to ask a second question. Based on which input device each player selects, the game system displays an answer on the screen. The answers are viewable by all players. However, only each player knows what question they asked the game system to answer.
US08209035B2
A lead having an extendable and retractable fixation mechanism has a rotating terminal pin at the terminal end which rotates the fixation mechanism at the distal end. As the terminal pin is rotated, the fixation mechanism is extended or retracted from the distal end of the lead. A threaded collar allows for the fixation mechanism to smoothly extend and retract from the lead, and allows for a 1:1 turn ratio between the terminal pin and the fixation mechanism. A fluoroscopic ring disposed at the distal end of the lead provides information during the implantation process.
US08209032B2
An elongate medical electrical lead conductor includes a layer of hydrolytically stable polyimide formed thereover.
US08209017B1
A connector for an electrostimulation lead includes a connector housing defining a fastener aperture, a septum disposed over the fastener aperture, and a fastener for mating with the fastener aperture to secure a received lead to the connector housing so that at least one terminal disposed on the received lead electrically couples with at least one conductor contact disposed in the connector housing. The septum includes a septum flap and an attachment cuff. The septum flap is configured and arranged for extending over the fastener aperture and for receiving a tool for folding the septum flap open to expose the fastener aperture. The attachment cuff is configured and arranged for coupling the septum flap to the connector housing. The fastener is configured and arranged to be disposed in the fastener aperture and to be tightened against the lead to hold the lead within the connector housing.
US08209013B2
Energy parameters for electrical stimulation pulses that produce a desired activation, and avoid an undesirable activation, are determined. A strength-duration relationship for at least one desired activation produced by therapeutic electrical stimulation is measured. A strength-duration relationship for at least one undesirable activation produced by the therapeutic electrical stimulation is provided. A medical device selects, based on the desired and undesirable strength-duration relationships, one or more energy parameters for the therapeutic electrical stimulation that produce the desired activation and avoid the undesirable activation.
US08209011B2
A minute ventilation sensing device in which transthoracic impedance is measured with voltage sense electrodes during injection of current by excitation current electrodes. The device is capable of operating with different configurations of voltage sense and excitation current electrodes. By computing a signal and/or noise level for a number of available configurations, the electrodes resulting in the highest signal-to-noise ratio may be selected for use by the device.
US08209010B2
Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device equipped for multi-site left ventricular (MSLV) pacing using a multi-pole LV lead. In one example, referred to herein as QuickStim, cardiac pacing configurations are optimized based on an assessment of hemodynamic benefit and device longevity. In another example, referred to herein as QuickSense, cardiac sensing configurations are optimized based on sensing profiles input by a clinician. Various virtual sensing channels are also described that provide for the multiplexing or gating of sensed signals. Anisotropic oversampling is also described.
US08208994B2
A device and a method are for operating a computer tomograph and an injector, wherein an injector is used to control injection of a contrast medium and a computer tomograph to control a scanning process. Data regarding operation are transmitted between the computer tomograph and the injector via a data interface, especially in a reciprocal manner. The two devices reciprocally influence their operation, thereby reducing the strain imposed on a patient to be examined, increasing operational reliability and simplifying handling.
US08208991B2
An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data.
US08208983B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for using StO2 values to predict an outcome of a subject's health status.
US08208970B2
A wireless communication system based on a directional speaker is disclosed. The system can include an interface unit and a base unit. The audio signals from the speaker can be generated by transforming ultrasonic signals in air. This allows the production of directional audio signals even when the aperture of the speaker has dimensions in the order of a few centimeters. The audio signals from the speaker can be heard hands-free. Further, privacy protection is enhanced. In one embodiment, the interface unit can be attached or integrated to a piece of clothing at the shoulder of the user, with the audio signals from the speaker directed towards one of the user's ears. The wireless communication system can be applied to a number of different areas, including a communication device, such as a cell phone; a hearing aid; an entertainment system; and a computation system, such as a personal digital assistant or a computer. The wireless communication system can be personalized to the hearing characteristics of the user, or to the ambient noise level of the environment.
US08208967B2
A mobile communication terminal including a display module configured to display a portion of a display object; and a control module configured to control the display module to display screen location information using a first box and a second box, the screen location information indicating a relative location of the portion of the display object with respect to an entire portion of the display object. Further, the control module is further configured to control the display module to move or enlarge/reduce the second box by moving or enlarging/reducing the display object in response to a touching manner of the display module, and the second box is disposed inside the first box and represents the relative location and a size of the portion of the display object with respect to the entire portion of the display object.
US08208960B2
A wireless device, system and method that receive a downloadable file from a wide area network are described. The system comprises a wireless device, a computer and a computer software module. The computer is communicatively coupled to a modem that communicates with a wide area network. The computer further comprises a computer wireless communications module that communicates with at least one wireless device that is in proximity to the computer. The wireless device comprises a device memory, a first wireless device communications module that is configured to communicate with the computer wireless module, and a device display that displays a link that corresponds to a downloadable file accessible using the wide area network. The computer software module resides on the computer and receives the link from the wireless device. The computer software module requests the downloadable file from the wide area network and forwards the downloadable file to the wireless device without storing the downloadable file on the computer.
US08208959B2
Disclosed is an anti-blinding device having a wireless communication function to allow a user to conveniently use a wireless communication cellular phone during operation. The anti-blinding device includes a main control device, a light transmission control device, first and second receiving/transmitting unit to perform signal conversion and transmission between a cellular phone and the main control device, and voice input and output devices. The main control device outputs alarm light and a ringtone using a lamp and the voice output device if it is determined that a digital signal transmitted from the second receiving/transmitting unit is an incoming call signal, and if the digital signal is a voice signal, transmits the digital voice signal to the voice output device. Also, the main control device transmits the digital voice signal from the voice input device to the second receiving/transmitting unit to enable a voice call.
US08208954B1
A communication device which implements a TV phone pausing function, wherein, while a TV phone function is implemented, a pausing audiovisual data is output from another device when a TV phone pausing command is input via the input device.
US08208950B2
A method and apparatus for transitioning states or modes on a user equipment, the method having the steps of receiving, at a network element, a transition indication; checking a radio resource profile for the user equipment; and making a transitioning decision at the network element based on the received transition indication and the radio resource profile.
US08208949B2
A navigation system for portable communications devices may comprise computer programs for providing a geographical context for display in the portable device. The portable device periodically interacts with at least one of a telecommunications network and a GPS network to update an information portal with current location information. The navigation system includes displaying information on the portable communications device representative of a change in location of the mobile telephone device or a change in location of another tracked device. The information representative of the change in location can be overlaid on the geographical context and both displayed in the mobile telephone device. The combined geographical context and specific location data is scaled to fit a display on a portable communications device. Other embodiments provide means for obtaining information representative of a location of some object or of another object for display in the mobile telephone device.
US08208947B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to transmit to a media server a request for distribution of media content to one or more targeted recipients according to a user profile associated with the communication device that is stored in the media server. The format of the media content can be adjusted by the media server based at least in part on the user profile. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08208936B2
Methods and apparatus for adaptively transmitting data in a wireless communication network are disclosed, in which channel conditions between a mobile terminal and two or more base stations in an active set are evaluated and used to select a transmission mode from a set of available downlink transmission modes including a non-interference-coordinated point-to-point transmission mode as well as at least one of a multi-cell single-frequency-network transmission mode and an interference-coordinated point-to-point transmission mode. Using the dynamic transmission mode selection described herein, a higher cell-edge throughput in HSDPA systems may be achieved.
US08208926B2
In a cellular wireless system, power thresholds used for determining whether or not to add or drop servers held in a set of servers, such as an active set, for serving a user equipment are determined on the basis of the motion of the respective user equipment. A lower threshold may be used with respect to the adding or dropping of a given server to or from a set of servers for serving a fast moving user equipment than would be used for the same server with respect to its adding or dropping to or from a set of servers for serving a slow moving user equipment, while maintaining a given quality of service. As a result, the average number of servers held in sets is reduced in a typical network that comprises a plurality of user equipments moving at different speeds, compared to a situation in which the threshold is set irrespective of the motion of a user equipment. A reduction in the average number of servers held in sets of servers for serving the user equipment has the benefit of reducing data traffic loading in a backhaul network, since the need to send duplicated data to each member of sets of servers is reduced and/or increasing network capacity, since the radio resource is used more efficiently because the proportion of servers sending duplicate data is reduced.
US08208925B2
An inter-system handover system for a wireless communication system supports hand-down and hand-up of user equipment (UE) to different radio access technologies, including synchronous and asynchronous systems. Latency and handover connection failures are reduced by an access node (nodeB) broadcasting information about neighboring systems (targets) when the UE reception (RX) capability is both inside or outside the reception range of the target. A single RX chain is sufficient, although transitioning between a wireless wide area network (WWAN) to a wireless local area network may (WLAN) may advantageously benefit from simultaneous operation on two Rx chains. Optimized list of neighboring RAT systems (targets) are broadcast from the network, including measurement parameters and reporting instructions. Thereby, UE-driven reporting minimizes latencies. UE reports other-system searches to network only if needed for a handover. In addition, handover requests can be bundled with other-system measurement information, if necessary, for additional efficiencies.
US08208918B2
The present invention discloses a system and method for realizing mobile management of fixed network switching node. The method comprises the following steps: setting a subscriber attribute register (SAR) in the fixed network, connecting the subscriber attribute register to each switching node via signaling link; distributing an unique logic number and physical number corresponding to the location for the subscriber, storing the subscriber attribute and location information of the switching node where the subscriber locates in the home SAR collectively, when the subscriber location changes, insetting the attribute data of the subscriber into the new location, deleting the data of the former location, and updating the location information of the subscriber in the SAR; when a call is activated, the calling office requests routing to the SAR, and SAR searching the called physical number and returning it to the calling office; when the subscriber attribute data changes, modifying the corresponding data in the SAR firstly, then insetting the data into the switching node where the subscriber locates, thus completing synchronous update of data. Through the present invention, the fixed network may have a function of a mobile network, and at the same time, the subscriber attribute data is managed collectively, thus make it easy to maintain and take full advantage of number resources.
US08208910B2
Sharing content among users of mobile devices is facilitated and controlled by a system and method that employs a content sharing application to receive and process requests to share content among users of devices such as mobile devices and personal computers. Recipients receive share content messages from the content sharing application indicating that they have been selected to access shared content. Such messages may provide direct or indirect access to the shared content via the recipient mobile device. Recipients can specify privacy management schemes to limit or control the receipt of such messages. The content sharing application may also provide various spam filtering techniques that prevent users from abusing the system, including restricting the number or type of requests to share content that may be effectuated over time.
US08208907B2
A method and electronic device which provide a calendar having availability status options based on a type of remote server are described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method comprising: determining, by an electronic device, a type of a remote server in communication with the electronic device; and setting, by the electronic device, availability status options for an availability status field for calendar events based on the type of the remote server.
US08208905B2
A user profile is used to assist a user in identifying events of interest and to provide context to users regarding events that matches user preferences. The user profile may be based on behaviors exhibited on a mobile device, on input by the user or on data on the mobile device. The user profile is analyzed to provide notification of events of interest to the user based upon the analysis of the user profile. The user profile may include anything that contributes to a state on the device.
US08208896B2
A method for implementing a policy and charging control (PCC) is provided. The method includes: acquiring user location information; and determining a PCC rule of a user according to the acquired user location information. The PCC rule is for a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF) to perform the corresponding PCC. Corresponding PCEF, policy control and charging rules function (PCRF), gateway, and system for implementing a PCC are also provided. Thus, the PCC based on fine-granularity location information is implemented.
US08208895B2
A telecommunications system in which subscribers are provided with accounts against which services are billed, the system being of the type in which calls are normally billed to calling parties, wherein the system has a mode in which, before a usable voice channel is established between a caller and a callee, the callee is presented with a charging option whereby the callee may unilaterally opt to pay some or all of the cost of a particular incoming call from their subscriber account, a charging instruction being sent to a billing system associated with the subscriber account of the callee if the callee accepts the charging option and otherwise to a billing system associated with the caller.
US08208894B2
A communication device and method for managing communication data include acquiring communication data of the communication device, searching the storage system for communication data of a selected contact according to an inputted name of the selected contact. The communication device and method further include generating a communication report of the selected contact according to the searched communication data of the selected contact, displaying the communication report on a display of the communication device.
US08208889B2
An enhanced directory assistance system includes a database for storing at least one subscriber emergency profile. The subscriber emergency profile has one or more instructions to be carried out in the case of an emergency and also has an identifier for identifying a mobile device of a corresponding subscriber. An operator terminal receives an incoming communication from one or more callers from the mobile device of the subscriber, such that when the communication is received, the operator terminal recalls the subscriber emergency profile and carries out the one or more instructions.
US08208875B2
A method for automatically calibrating output power from a power amplifier of a communication device is provided. The method includes acquiring present output power values corresponding to preset current power calibration values by testing, and the theoretical values from calculation corresponding to the auto-power calibrate (APC) values not obtained from testing. Using the present output power and the theoretical values, the output power values from the power amplifier under different APC values can be further calibrated automatically.
US08208870B2
A wireless communication device having an antenna area includes at least a first component, a second component and a connector. The connector is made of ceramic material and is disposed in the antenna area for fixing and connecting the first component and the second component so as to avoid interference with the antenna. Adopting the ceramic connecters enables the wireless communication device to have the advantages of good locking performance, good antennal transmission efficiency and elegant appearance simultaneously and to provide an electrostatic shielding function.
US08208855B2
Provided is a method for transitioning between a distributed transmission mode and a localized transmission mode, including transmitting, by a Base Station (BS), a measurement control message to a User Element (UE), wherein the UE makes corresponding measurement and transmits a required measurement report message to the BS and the BS transmits a transition indicator message of new mode to the UE based on measurement report message sent from the UE; and commencing CQI reporting and a downlink transmission of a new mode between the UE and the BS. The BS can choose a more appropriate transmission mode for the downlink transmission based on changing characteristics of the channel in the time domain and the frequency domain.
US08208853B2
An authentication controller coupled to a first communication port of a portable computing device is allowed to provide authentication on behalf of an accessory device coupled to a second communication port of the portable computing device. In one embodiment, a dongle that includes an authentication controller can be coupled with the portable computing device. Accessory devices can also be coupled with the portable computing device through other ports, including wireless ports. The dongle can provide cross-transport authentication for accessories that do not include authentication controllers. Once the dongle had been properly authenticated, the permissions granted to the dongle port can be transferred to a communication port coupled with an accessory.
US08208852B2
A casing contains a circuit substrate. A signal electrode for transmitting and/or receiving an electronic field signal is arranged on a first surface side of the casing. The signal electrode is electrically connected to a conductor, which is an apparatus component, of the circuit substrate. A battery and a reference electrode having an electric field reference potential, which are apparatus components, are arranged on the second surface side of the casing. The sum (Cst) of a capacitance between the signal electrode and the transmission medium and a capacitance between the apparatus component and the transmission medium generated while the first surface is facing the transmission medium is approximately equal to the sum (Cgt) of capacitances between the apparatus components and the transmission medium generated while the second surface is facing the transmission medium.
US08208850B2
A system and method for use with a portable device, includes but is not limited to a method including accessing of one or more entities computationally capable of being networked to one or more of the portable device and/or a computing device operable via a user interface, querying of the one or more entities to determine one or more interaction capabilities between the portable device and the one or more entities and actuating user enhancement data in association with one or more of multimedia data, multimedia streams and/or multimedia content on the portable device retrieved from the one or more entities and/or a source operably coupled to the one or more entities.
US08208845B2
A rotary member includes a rotary shaft with a flange that projects radially out from a position near an end of the rotary shaft. A shaft end portion of the rotary shaft projects longitudinally beyond the flange and has a lubricant filling hole for receiving a lubricant. The rotary member also includes a bearing with a wall surface that has a recess. The recess has an opening and a closed depth end. The shaft end portion is accommodated in the recess so that the flange contacts the wall surface and closes off the recess to define a substantially closed space that can retain lubricant.
US08208834B2
A first body houses a photoconductor is provided with a second body openably and closably attached to the first body. Additionally, a unit is provided to be swingable with respect to the second body such that an exposure surface of the unit is disposed at an exposure position opposing the photoconductor when the second body is closed. The exposure surface of the unit is disposed at a retreated position facing toward the rotary shaft of the second body when the first body is opened. Since the exposure surface of the unit faces toward the rotary shaft of the second body when the second body is opened, the exposure surface is not exposed to outside of the second body.
US08208832B2
A toner-collecting device includes a toner-collecting unit, a shaft member, and a guide member. The toner-collecting unit is configured to be detachably attachable. The shaft member is rotatably arranged in the toner-collecting unit. The guide member includes a sliding portion that allows the shaft member to slide while the shaft member is being inserted from one end to an opposite end of the toner-collecting unit.
US08208831B2
An image forming apparatus that includes a main body housing formed with an opening, a main body frame coupled to the main body housing, an image forming cartridge mounted to the main body frame via the opening, and a cartridge supporting member which includes a supporting member main body formed integrally with the main body frame, and a supporting part formed in the supporting main body to elastically support the image forming cartridge with respect to the main body frame, so that the image forming cartridge can be mounted to the main body frame as the supporting member main body elastically moves to a cutting part formed in a part of the main body frame adjacent to the supporting member main body when the supporting part is pressed by the image forming cartridge.
US08208828B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with a job storage portion that stores a print job relating to an image forming process and a command job relating to a control process of operation of the image forming apparatus, a job management portion that registers the print job and the command job in the job storage portion and manages the print job and the command job, an image formation portion that executes the print job, a command execution portion that executes the command job, and a controller that performs control such that the print job stored in the job storage portion is executed ahead of the command job.
US08208827B2
An image forming apparatus equipped with an image forming unit capable of image formation using color toner and transparent toner includes, a determining unit to determine whether each pixel of image data belongs to an image region or a text region; a control unit to control the image forming unit by switching between transfer of a toner image to the image region and transfer of a toner image to the text region; a fixing unit to fix the toner image formed on recording material; and a transport unit to discharge the recording material on which the toner image is fixed or re-feed the recording material to the image forming unit.
US08208821B2
A control unit separately drives an image carrier driving unit that drives an image carrier motor, a developing roller driving unit that drives a developing roller motor, a developer stirring member driving unit that drives a developer stirring member motor, and a fan driving unit that drives a fan motor. The control unit causes the fan driving unit to operate if the image carrier driving unit or the developer stirring member driving unit is operating.
US08208814B2
An optical transceiver calibration system and manufacturing method to fabricate a dual closed loop control transceiver are provided. The calibration system and method includes measuring an operating temperature and determining operational parameters based upon the operating temperature. The operational parameters may include, for example, a target power for transmitting a digital one, a target power for transmitting a digital zero, a modulation current, and a bias current. A bias may be added to the temperature to account for the difference between the temperature at the temperature sensor and the optical equipment. The operational parameters are preferably calculated independently of each other and are used as initial values during operating modes and allow the control loop to converge more quickly. The optics data is may be scanned electronically via bar code or some other electronic format prior to test. The software residing on the module then calibrates and configures the transceiver.
US08208806B2
A camera module includes an image capturing member, a movable member, a first magnet, a second magnet, and an electromagnetic coil. The image capturing member is configured for capturing images, and has an optical axis. The movable member receives the image capturing member, and is rotatable about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the image capturing member. The first magnet and a second magnet are respectively fixed to opposite sides of the movable member. The first magnet and the second magnet are respectively arranged at opposite sides of the optical axis and at opposite sides of the rotation axis. The electromagnetic coil is wrapped around the first and second magnets for acting upon the first and second magnets, thereby producing a magnetic force to drive the movable member to rotate about the rotation axis.
US08208804B2
An imaging apparatus includes a light metering unit, a setting unit configured to set an exposure condition including exposure time and an aperture value at a time of flash photography based on a result of light metering by the light metering unit, and a first calculation unit configured to calculate an amount of light emission by a light emission unit to perform flash photography under the set exposure condition based on the result of light metering, wherein, when a first amount of light emission to perform flash photography under a first exposure condition is larger than a maximum amount of light emission that can be achieved by the light emission unit, the setting unit sets a second exposure condition having shorter exposure time and a smaller aperture value than the first exposure condition, and the first calculation unit calculates a second amount of light emission smaller than the maximum amount of light emission.
US08208802B2
Provided are a focusing position determining apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and a focusing position determining method, the method including setting an aperture to a first aperture value; driving a focus lens through a first range of positions as a first drive; during the first drive, obtaining images periodically, and calculating a first sampling of contrast values from the obtained images; calculating a first focus position from the first sampling of contrast values; setting the aperture to a second aperture value; driving a focus lens through a second range of positions as a second drive, the second range of positions being based on the first focus position; during the second drive, obtaining images periodically, and calculating a second sampling of contrast values from the obtained images; calculating a focusing position from the second sampling of contrast values; and driving the focus lens to the calculated focusing position.
US08208780B2
The invention relates to a strain relief apparatus (50) for cables, in particular for fiberoptic cables with Kevlar fibers, the strain relief apparatus (50) being designed to have at least two parts and having an outer part (30) and an inner part (10), the inner part (10) having a receptacle for inserting at least part of the cable, in particular the Kevlar fibers, and a winding region (12), the inner part (10) being designed to be capable of rotating with respect to the outer part (30), the strain relief apparatus (50) having a stop (43, 44; 45, 46) for the cable.
US08208778B2
A channel is created within a planar layer. At least a portion of an optical path is formed within the channel. An optical core medium may be deposited into the channel. In various embodiments, reflective layers are deposited within and over the channel to form the optical path. In another embodiment, a photosensitive sheet is exposed to an optical path mask in the presence of an optical source to define an optical path lying within the plane of the sheet.
US08208775B2
A silica-based multi core optical fiber and a fabrication method for the same are provided, and include two or more cores of GeO2—SiO2 glass including an fluorine concentration not less than about 15 w % and a germanium concentration about 0.05 wt % to 2 wt %, in a core. A relative refractive index difference of a cladding and a core is not less than about 3%; and a ratio of a cladding diameter to a core diameter is about 1.02 to 3.0. A silica-based single core optical fiber is also provided, and includes a core having a germanium concentration not less than about 15 wt % and an fluorine concentration about 0.05 wt % to 2 wt %.
US08208766B2
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, an input unit, a reading unit, a controller, and an output unit. The storage unit stores article images embedded with mark data. The input unit is used to input a search information element for searching an article image. The reading unit reads mark data of each article image stored in the storage unit. The controller controls an analysis function, a determination function, and a selection function. In the analysis function, the mark data read by the reading unit is analyzed. In the judgment function, the read mark data is compared with the search information element and checked whether the read mark data includes an information element matching the search information element. In the selection function, an article image having the read mark data matched to the search information element is selected. The output unit outputs the selected article image.
US08208759B2
An image system comprises a light valve and an image capturing unit. The light valve comprises an array of individually addressable pixels capable of generating an image. The image capturing unit comprises a detector having an array of detector pixels capable of capturing images. The detector pixels are correlated with the light valve pixels.
US08208757B2
A recognition system of this invention has feature point detection means (120), Hough transform means (130), and specific pattern output means (140). In the Hough transform means (130), a Hough space is designed so that a magnitude relation of a distance between points in the Hough space is equivalent to a predetermined magnitude relation of an inter-specific-pattern distance indicative of a difference between specific patterns. The recognition system detects the specific patterns using the Hough space. By adopting such a structure to express more similar specific patterns in an image as closer points also in the Hough space, it is possible to achieve an object of this invention.
US08208753B2
A system determines the noise level of image data by high pass filtering image data. Absolutes values of the high pass filtered image data are determined. Thereafter, multiple mean values for absolute values less than a predetermined number of threshold values are determined. Based upon the determined mean values, a plurality of estimated mean values is calculated, each estimated mean value being calculated from a combination of two determined mean values. The noise of the image is determined from a combination of the minimum estimated mean value and the maximum estimated mean value. This noise can be optionally used by a sigma filter, at Step S740, to sigma filter the image data.
US08208748B2
An apparatus and method for image interpolation based on low pass filtering are provided. The apparatus includes an edge direction detector detecting an edge direction for a pixel nearest to a to-be-interpolated pixel among pixels and determining the edge direction of the to-be-interpolated pixel as the detected edge direction, a pixel value calculator calculating pixel values of interpolation points located in a lattice filtering window having a predetermined size by using pixel values of pixels located adjacent to the interpolation points, and a filtering unit performing low pass filtering on the to-be-located pixel according to a low pass filter corresponding to the determined edge direction of the to-be-interpolated pixel, the low pass filter being one of low pass filters corresponding to predetermined vertical, horizontal, left diagonal and right diagonal directions respectively. Accordingly, a process of calculating the pixel value of the to-be-interpolated pixel can be simplified and a processing speed can be increased. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a high-quality image without having image deterioration such as blocking effect caused by an error in a pixel value even for a region with an uneven edge.
US08208737B1
The present invention relates to systems and methods for identifying captions associated with images in media material. A captioner includes a selector module and a caption identifier module. The selector module identifies text-blocks potentially associated with images in the media material. The caption identifier module identifies which text-blocks are captions associated with images in the media material, based on the textual and proximity features of the text-block and the images. The captioner may also include a caption feedback module to modify the determining of the caption identifier module.
US08208721B2
Signals are provided which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT.709. A color signal converter converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals.
US08208710B2
An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.
US08208701B2
The invention relates to a method for high-resolution display of vessel implants in angiographic images, featuring the steps: recording at least two images of an object-catheter combination including catheter markers with a medical imaging method; detection of an region of interest created in the form of an area between the balloon markers which completely contains the object to be registered for each recorded image; coarse registration of the region of interest images by registration of the respective pairs of balloon markers of all recorded images; fine registration of the region of interest image content/of the region of interest image by registration of the region of interest content; and arithmetic averaging across the fine-registered images.
US08208700B2
The present invention provides an algorithm to detect and trace the spicules of a mass density in digital mammograms using an adaptive threshold edge algorithm and a flood-fill segmentation algorithm. Elongation criteria are used to remove false edges that do not radiate from a central mass margin. The algorithm works on a central mass border and spicules feature map that contains a subset of the pixels from the source image, so processing time is fast enough for use in a mammography CAD server and for real-time computation within a digital mammography workstation.
US08208697B2
A method for determining the presence or absence of malignant features in medical images, wherein a plurality of base comparison or training images of various types of lesions taken of actual patient is examined by one or more image reading experts to create a first database array. Low-level features of each of the lesions in the same plurality of base comparisons or training images are determined using one or more image processing algorithms to obtain a second database array set. The first and second database array set are combined to create a training database array set which is input to a learning system that discovers/learns a classifier that maps from a subset of the low-level features to the expert's evaluation in the first database array set. The classifier is used to determine the presence of a particular mid-level feature in an image of lesion in a patient based solely on the image.
US08208695B2
One embodiment, among others, is a method for clustering a plurality of images, wherein the plurality of images comprises faces of a plurality of individuals. The method comprises arranging the plurality of images associated with a plurality of individuals into a plurality of subgroups for each individual based on time stamps associated with the plurality of images, wherein the plurality of images are arranged according to increments of a time interval. The method further comprises determining whether adjacent subgroups are correlated and forming groups comprising correlated subgroups. Based on correlations between adjacent groups, the groups are associated with a particular individual.
US08208692B2
A method for identifying a person using their finger-joint print including the outer skin around the proximal interphalangeal joint of a finger, the method comprising: capturing (10) an image of the finger-joint print of the person; extracting (12) a region of interest (ROI) based on a local convexity property of the finger-joint print; extracting (13) features representing the orientation of the lines in a finger-joint print image from the ROI using an extended Gabor phase coding scheme and the extracted features are represented in competitive code maps; wherein angular distance between the competitive code maps is compared (14) with a reference set in a database to identify the person.
US08208670B2
A portable and wearable sound recordable and playable device comprising an electronic module that provides audio recording and playback functions and that includes at least one integrated circuit having associated memory storage, a microphone and a speaker, and a power source; a bulbous portion that substantially encapsulates the electronic module and that is configured so that the device has a substantially continuously contoured outer surface that is free of any display; and one or more exposed user controls that signally communicate with the electronic module and penetrate through the bulbous portion.
US08208666B2
A method for determining unbiased signal amplitude estimates () after cepstral variance modification of a discrete time domain signal (s(t)), wherein the cepstrally-modified spectral amplitudes () of the discrete time domain signal (s(t)) are χ-distributed with 2{tilde over (μ)} degrees of freedom. A bias reduction factor (r) is determined using the equation r 2 = μ μ ~ ⅇ ψ ( μ ~ ) - ψ ( μ ) , where 2μ are the degrees of freedom of the χ-distributed spectral amplitudes of the discrete time domain signal (s(t)) and ψ ( x ) = - 0.5772 - ∑ n = 0 ∞ ( 1 x + n - 1 1 + n ) ; then the unbiased signal amplitude estimates () are determined by multiplying the cepstrally-modified spectral amplitudes () with the bias reduction factor (r) according to the equation =r. A method for speech enhancement and a hearing aid use the method for determining unbiased signal amplitude estimates () in order to offer the advantage of spectral modification, such as smoothing, of spectral quantities without affecting their signal power.
US08208663B2
An apparatus for positioning a screen sound source, a method of generating loudspeaker set information for screen sound source positioning, and a method of reproducing a positioned screen sound source are provided. The apparatus and methods relate to a screen sound source positioning technique. A plurality of loudspeakers, each configured to have approximately the same gain, are each disposed proximate to the edge of a display, and a loudspeaker set including at least two of the loudspeakers is selected to position a virtual sound source substantially synchronized with a visual object displayed at a position on the screen of the display. Accordingly, a virtual sound source may be positioned at a certain specific position on the screen of a display without sound source distortion.
US08208657B2
A signal processing device includes a sound pickup unit configured to pick up sound and convert the sound into a sound signal; a signal recording unit including an actuator that is driven by a current supplied from a power source and that has a possibility of generating audible noise caused by the driving, the signal recording unit being configured to record the sound signal therein; a current detecting unit configured to detect the magnitude of the current and a temporal change in the current; and a signal processing unit configured to determine, on the basis of at least one of the magnitude of the current and the temporal change in the current, whether the audible noise has been generated and perform, when it is determined that the audible noise has been generated, noise removal processing for removing the audible noise from the sound signal, which contains the audible noise.
US08208650B2
An ANR circuit, possibly of a personal ANR device, monitors a sound level of environmental sounds detected by a microphone external to an earpiece in which the ANR circuit is providing feedback-based ANR, and increases or decreases the degree of feedback-based ANR provided in response to the external microphone detecting a higher or lower sound level, respectively. Increasing and decreasing the degree of feedback-based ANR provided may be carried out by changing a variable loop gain of the ANR circuit and/or a range of frequencies of environmental sounds attenuated by the feedback-based ANR.
US08208638B2
A set of equipment for secure direct information transfer over the Internet contains information transmitting terminal devices for collaborating with an information forwarding network, taking part in the information traffic. The individual information transmitting terminal devices are equipped with a sender partial unit, a receiver partial unit and a storage partial unit comprising an ID-register containing a device identification signal, a C-register for storing a coding key and a D-register for storing a decoding key. The C-register containing the coding key is connected to the sender partial unit, and a coding key and a collaborating decoding key are allocated to each individual information transmitting terminal device.
US08208636B2
A system and method for transmitting/receiving encryption information in a mobile broadcast system supporting broadcast service (BCAST) are provided. In the mobile broadcast system, a BCAST Subscription Management (BSM) manages subscriber information of a terminal, and transmits to a BCAST Service Distribution/Adaptation (BSD/A) a first delivery message including a Registration Key Material (RKM) provided for registration of the broadcast service of the terminal and including at least one service or content's identifier. The BSD/A transmits to the BSM a first delivery confirmation message including information indicating success/fail in receipt of the first delivery message, and transmits the RKM to the terminal.
US08208631B2
A group management apparatus which manages a group in which one or a plurality of information processing apparatuses connect to each other by wireless communication detects the position of an information processing apparatus and determines whether the information processing apparatus exists in a predetermined range. When determining that the information processing apparatus exists in the predetermined range, the group management apparatus notifies the information processing apparatus of an encryption key to be used in the group. Upon detecting, based on the position detection result, that the number of information processing apparatuses existing in the predetermined range has changed, the group management apparatus updates the encryption key.
US08208630B2
Examples of a system, method, and apparatus for encrypting and recording content are presented. When content is recorded to storage media, the content is encrypted with a content instance key. This content instance key is encrypted with the public key of a first set-top box and a duplicate of the content instance key is encrypted with the public key of other than said first set-top box. A private key corresponding with the public key of the first set-top box may be used to decrypt the content instance key, or a private key corresponding to the public key of other than the first set-top box may be used to decrypt the duplicate of the content instance key so that the encrypted content from the removable storage media may be made available in the clear.
US08208628B2
A system and a method for providing a secure wireless ad-hoc network in a wireless communication system having at least two transceivers coupled by a wireless transmission link are disclosed. The method includes receiving a data transmission at a first transceiver from a second transceiver, wherein the data transmission identifies a source of a signal in the data transmission and the signal is identified by a signal envelope; detecting a deep fade in the data transmission, wherein the first and second transceivers are configured to sample the source of the signal in the data transmission; determining whether the received signal exceeds a predetermined threshold for deep fades, wherein the predetermined threshold is preset by the first and second transceivers; generating a bit-string corresponding to each of the transceivers based on channel fading information relating to the wireless transmission link; and, using the bit-string, generating a key.
US08208620B2
A hand-held device that provides communication services and symbol processing is described. The device includes a case having a front side comprising a display and a lid having a transparent portion through which the display can be seen in a lid-closed state. In one version, the hand-held device comprises a QWERTY keyboard including an arrangement of digits as in a touch-tone telephone keypad arrangement. In another version, the display includes a handwriting area for data entry using a stylus or other screen data entry device. In a closed position, the lid extends over the display and the keyboard, leaving another user input device physically accessible to touch for receiving input wherein the device performs processing responsive to receiving input from the physically accessible user input device in the lid closed state.
US08208617B2
A user of a telecommunications terminal is made aware when the user's voice is disrupted by echo suppression, which notifies the user that he or she can adjust his or her speaking pattern, or move closer to the microphone in order to stop the clipping.
US08208615B2
A teleconference server may calculate a fully qualified number (FQN), which specifies a string of numbers that, if dialed by an calling party, will establish a call with a called party. The fully qualified number may include, for example, an external access code, an international access code, a country code, a national destination code, and/or a subscriber number. In order to determine a calling party and a called party, the teleconference server may access data regarding a scheduled call. The teleconference server may determine a fully qualified number based on the relationship between the called party and the calling party. The teleconference server may send the fully qualified number to the calling party, which may then initiate a scheduled call with the called party by dialing the received fully qualified number.
US08208613B1
A telecommunications toll network system employs a central database computer to provide routing and calling rate instructions to toll switches. To allow sponsors of pay services, such as 900 number information services, to control the kinds of calls they receive and the rates charged, the central database computer employs routing plans. These routing plans contain conditional branches selected based on data provided in a query from the originating toll switch (OTS) and sent to the database computer via common channel signaling (CCS). According to embodiments, sponsors can insert objects, called rate nodes, in their routing plans to override the default rate to be applied to the call. Rate nodes are non-branching elements inserted in a routing plan that specify a rate to be used for billing. The rate is specified on the automated message accounting (AMA) record and used by a billing platform to generate bills to the callers.
US08208612B2
Systems, methods and apparatus are presented for facilitating account-based transactions. In an embodiment, the method includes associating a first person with an account, associating a second person with the account, receiving a request from a third party to authorize a transaction between the second person and the third party, determining a first communication address of the first party, and contacting the first party. The process also includes determining that the first person desires to communicate with the second person, determining a second communication address of the second person, initiating a communication between the first person and the second person, and receiving a signal from the first person that authorizes the transaction or declines the transaction.
US08208610B2
The disclosed and claimed concept describes a handheld electronic device that has the capability to process electronic messages that originate from an electronic mail service using the features that are supported by the electronic mail service.
US08208604B1
The present disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for diagnosing loop anomalies for bonded-loop communication media. In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication medium comprises a plurality of bonded loops that couple network communication equipment (e.g., communication equipment at a central office) to customer premises (CP) communication equipment residing at a customer premises. If communication occurring over one of the loops becomes significantly degraded (e.g., if the SNR of the loop falls below a predefined threshold or id communication across the loop is interrupted), then loop diagnostic logic at the customer premises performs a diagnostic test on the loop. Information indicative of the diagnostic test is then communicated to the network equipment via one of the other bonded loops. Thus, the network service provider is able to receive information indicative of the diagnostic test without having to send a technician to the customer premises.
US08208597B2
A nuclear reactor fuel bundle confinement system including: a fuel bundle with an upper tie plate; a channel enclosing the fuel bundle; a handle for the fuel bundle extending above the fuel bundle; an upper fuel particle barrier positioned over the upper tie plate and above the fuel rods, wherein the fuel particle barrier has a permeable panel at least co-extensive with an open area of the upper tie plate; a slot in the permeable panel through which passes the handle, and a closure device on the fuel particle barrier having a closed position which covers the slot and an open position that leaves the slot open; a lower fuel particle barrier positioned over the lower tie plate and below the fuel rods, wherein the lower portion of the fuel bundle assembly is grasped by the lower fuel particle barrier.
US08208584B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an oscillator circuit having a steady output frequency that is independent of the supplied voltage. This oscillator includes a Schmitt trigger circuit which may be implemented within an integrated circuit of a wireless terminal or other like portable electronic device. The Schmitt trigger circuit receives a threshold voltage input and a second voltage input. The Schmitt trigger circuit generates an output voltage equal to either a first output voltage or a second output voltage based on the results of comparing the threshold voltage input to the second voltage input. An RC network may be coupled to the output of the Schmitt trigger circuit and is operable to supply the second voltage input to the Schmitt trigger circuit. A voltage divider network also couples to the output of the Schmitt trigger circuit wherein the threshold voltage input is proportional to the first output voltage reduced by the voltage divider network based on the output voltage of the Schmitt trigger circuit.
US08208565B2
Methods for pre-processing video sequences prior to compression to provide data reduction of the video sequence. In addition, after compression of the pre-processed video sequence, the bit rate of the pre-processed and compressed video sequence will be lower than the bit rate of the video sequence after compression but without pre-processing. A temporal filtering method is provided for pre-processing of video frames of a video sequence. In the method, pixel values of successive frames are filtered when the difference in the pixel values between the successive frames are within high and low threshold values. The high and low threshold values are determined adaptively depending on the illumination level of a video frame to provide variability of filtering strength depending on the illumination levels of a video frame.
US08208560B2
A video system includes an analyzer and a bit depth predictor. The analyzer receives a first coded video signal, which is indicative of first values for pixels. The first values are associated with a first bit depth. The analyzer, for each pixel, analyzes the first values for the pixels located in a neighborhood that contains said each pixel. The bit depth predictor, based at least in part on the analysis, generates a second coded video signal that is indicative of second values for the pixels. The second values are associated with a second bit depth that is different than the first bit depth.
US08208544B2
A method and apparatus for coding an image capable of performing a prediction coding process by using a correlation degree between neighboring pixels of a current block and neighboring pixels of a reference block, and an image decoding method and apparatus. In the method, reference block candidates having neighboring pixels similar to the neighboring pixels of the current block are selected, matching errors between selected reference block candidates and the current block are calculated, and a reference block candidate having the least matching error is determined to be a predicted block of the current block.
US08208540B2
A video transcoder is disclosed. The video transcoder generally comprises a processor and a video digital signal processor. The processor may be formed on a first die. The video digital signal processor may be formed on a second die and coupled to the processor. The video digital signal processor may have (i) a first module configured to perform a first operation in decoding an input video stream in a first format and (ii) a second module configured to perform a second operation in coding an output video stream in a second format, wherein the first operation and the second operation are performed in parallel.
US08208538B2
An image signal processing apparatus for quantizing an inputted moving image signal according to a quantization step so that a code amount of one frame becomes a target code amount, and for variable-length-coding the quantized moving image signal, in which a minimum value of the quantization step is determined for each frame, and the quantization step is determined so as not to be less than the minimum value.
US08208537B2
A bit rate transcoding method includes: (a) receiving a motion vector of a current macroblock (MB); (b) retrieving an error count of a referenced previous MB for setting it as the error count of the current MB; (c) calculating a weight value; (d) calculating a new quantization parameter, and multiplying the same by the weight value so as to obtain a weighted new quantization parameter falling into a continuous distribution; (e) selectively using a transformation technique to transform the weighted new quantization parameter into one falling into a discrete distribution; (f) if the weighted new quantization parameter exhibits the continuous distribution, and if the weighted new quantization parameter is within a predetermined range, incrementing the error count by a predetermined value; and (g) if the weighted new quantization parameter exhibits the discrete distribution, and if the weighted new quantization parameter does not belong to a smallest quantization parameter cluster, incrementing the error count by a predetermined value.
US08208536B2
A method is used for specifying a bit allocation for encoding a set of images in a sequence of video images. The method computes a masking value for one or more images. The method computes a bit allocation for a current image based on the computed masking value of one or more images. The method further ascertains a total number of bits used for images that have been already encoded before computing the bit allocation. The computed bit allocation for the current image is also based on the total number of bits used. The method specifies a bit allocation for the current image by specifying a quantization parameter (QP) value for the current image. The method then adjusts the specified QP value based on a categorization of the current image.
US08208525B2
A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit.
US08208510B2
A semiconductor laser device has a heat sink of which multiple laminated plates are constituted and a semiconductor laser element mounted on upper surface of the heat sink. The heat sink has a channel in which a coolant flows inside thereof. The heat sink includes a channel-forming plate portion that forms the channel and a mounting plate portion that forms an upper surface of the heat sink that comes into contact with the channel. The mounting plate portion is made of material having a thermal expansion coefficient, which is closer to that of the semiconductor laser element than that of the channel-forming plate portion.
US08208505B2
A laser system provides harmonic generation in a laser beam pulse. In another aspect of the present invention, a laser operably remits a laser pulse, a gaseous optical medium operably creates third or greater harmonic generation in the pulse, and a controller characterizes and compensates for distortions in the pulse. A further aspect of the present invention employs multiple optical media arranged to cause cascading harmonic generations in a laser pulse.
US08208504B2
A laser system using ultrashort laser pulses is provided. In another aspect of the present invention, the system includes a laser, pulse shaper and detection device. A further aspect of the present invention employs a femtosecond laser and a spectrometer. Still another aspect of the present invention uses a laser beam pulse, a pulse shaper and a SHG crystal. In yet another aspect of the present invention, a multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan system and method characterize the spectral phase of femtosecond laser pulses. Fiber optic communication systems, photodynamic therapy and pulse characterization tests use the laser system with additional aspects of the present invention.
US08208503B2
A broadband light source configured to emit a stable broadband optical beam is provided. The broadband light source includes at least one optical pump source, an optical system including a polarization beam combiner, and a solid state laser medium. The optical system is configured to receive at least one optical pump beam from a respective one of the at least one optical pump source. The solid state laser medium receives a substantially unpolarized pump beam from a first output of the optical system. Stable broadband amplified spontaneous emission is output from a second output of the optical system.
US08208497B2
System and method for providing a timestamp packetized data interface between an RF unit and a modem. According to one embodiment, the RF unit receives an inbound RF signal, processes and demodulates the inbound RF signal to generate samples, generates a timestamp indicative of when the inbound RF signal was received, packetizes and multiplexes the samples and the timestamp, and sends the multiplexed stream to the modem. The modem generates received data from the samples. If the received data type requires a response to be sent at a particular time, the modem generates symbols from responsive outbound data, generates a timestamp which indicates when the outbound data is to be transmitted, packetizes and multiplexes the symbols and the timestamp, and sends the multiplexed stream to the RF unit. The RF unit generates an outbound RF signal from the symbols, and transmits the outbound signal in accordance with the timestamp.
US08208496B2
Systems and methods for point-to-multipoint communications with CAS are provided. In one embodiment, a method for providing CAS for a point-to-multipoint communication network comprises: providing a network having a first network interface adapted to communicate with a first fractional network interface and a second fractional network interface; mapping a first set of user-data timeslots of the first network interface to timeslots of the first fractional network interface and mapping a second set of user-data timeslots of the first network interface to timeslots of the second fractional network interface, the first set including a first N user-data timeslots and the second set including a next M user-data timeslots; mapping a first set of signaling bits associated with the first set of user-data timeslots with the first fractional network interface; and mapping a second set of signaling bits associated with the second set of user-data timeslots with the second fractional network interface.
US08208492B2
A method for transmitting a packet over a radio channel in a mobile communication system. The method includes receiving first packets from an upper layer; checking a number of and a size of the first packets to be bundled in a second packet; generating the second packet using the first packets and a header including an indicator that indicates if the number of and a size of the first packets to be bundled in the second packet satisfy a predetermined condition; and transmitting the generated second packet via a lower layer.
US08208486B2
An energy-aware home gateway based on a network protocol includes a network matching module for performing a physical network interface function on a home and an external network; a processor module for performing an operation and a control function of a system in a active state in which service traffic exists; a memory module used as a system memory of the processor module; and a service function module controlled by the processor module and performing a service function depending on a use state. The home gateway further includes a network protocol agent module for processing control traffic in an idle state in which no service traffic exists; and a power supply module for supplying power to the overall system in the normal active state and for supplying power to the network matching module, the memory module, and the network protocol agent module in the idle state.
US08208480B2
A network processing device, such as a router, is implemented in a thin form factor chassis that encloses a primary printed circuit board. The router chassis has elongated openings on its top surface that permit access to connectors mounted on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes all of the necessary electronic components that operate to receive, process, and transmit information over the network.
US08208479B1
An apparatus and method for a Generic Service locking mechanism that enables a Host to lock the Fibre Channel Switching Fabric of a storage area network while applying changes across the Switching Fabric of the network is disclosed. The apparatus includes a network interface configured to send and receive Fibre Channel frames across the Fabric, a session element, responsive to the network interface, and configured to establish sessions with the Fabric; and a locking element configured issue commands to establish a lock over the Fabric so that replicated information across the Fabric can be consistently updated when the session element establishes a session with the Fabric. In one embodiment of the invention, the network interface, session element and the locking element are all implemented on each Switch of the Fabric.
US08208477B1
A data-dependent overlay network includes a plurality of data clouds. Each data cloud includes related data stored in a plurality of nodes in the data cloud. A peer list is maintained by each node in the data cloud. A peer list update process is used by each node in the data cloud for adding or removing nodes from peer lists for nodes in the data cloud.
US08208465B2
Disclosed is a multicast controlling apparatus and method in a multi hop network. The multicast controlling apparatus in the multi hop network includes a packet determining unit to receive a packet from a group management query device or a station, and to determine whether the received packet is a group management protocol packet, a packet type distinguishing unit to distinguish a type of the received packet when the received packet is determined as the group management protocol packet, and a packet transmitting unit to transmit the packet to a second port excluding a first port that receives the query message, when the received packet is determined as the query message.
US08208459B2
Methods and apparatus related to partitioning traffic segments are described. An access router, having concurrent connections with two access terminals, each desiring to transmit traffic signals to the access router in the same traffic segment, partitions a traffic segment. The partition is such that a first portion of the traffic segment is allocated to a first access terminal and a second portion of the traffic segment is allocated to the second access terminal. Control information, e.g., conveying partition information, is communicated to access terminals prior to the traffic segment. In some embodiments, the partition information is communicated as part of a transmission request response signal, e.g., via phase of the request response signal. An access terminal which has been allocated a traffic segment partition portion identifies is allocation from the transmitted control information, and subsequently transmits traffic signals to the access router in its allocated portion of the traffic segment.
US08208448B2
A dedicated channel entry method for a system of digital wireless communications utilizing time division multiplex access and including a base station for voice transmission with wired connection to a command console for voice input/output and with wireless connection to a plurality of mobile station, including the steps of: executing a first communication procedure for selecting an arbitrary mobile station, a second communication procedure for entry to a dedicated channel, and a third communication procedure for transmitting voices at said command station, respectively from the command console relative to the mobile station; and executing said communication procedures in a desired command to allow the designated mobile station to realize automatic entry to the dedicated channel and receive voices from the command console transmitted via the dedicated channel.
US08208446B2
The invention concerns a method for performing a scheduling algorithm in a scheduler (120) of a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of obtaining from a communication unit (200) a minimum resource parameter, wherein said minimum resource parameter indicates a minimum of resources allocated to the communication unit in a scheduling frame to meet a resource constraint and scheduling allocation units for radio access to the communication unit in a scheduling frame in accordance with the minimum resource parameter. The invention also concerns a method performed in a communication unit of a wireless communication network for generating a minimum resource parameter used in a scheduling algorithm to schedule allocation units in a scheduling frame for radio access to the communication unit (200) in accordance with the minimum resource parameter, comprising the steps of calculating the minimum resource parameter based on a determination of the power expended for processing of the scheduling frame, and signaling the calculated minimum resource parameter to the scheduler.
US08208444B2
A method, a communication system, and a network entity for group handover are provided. The method includes the following steps. A first tunnel connection is established between a mobile relay station (MRS) and a serving entity (SE). A target entity (TE) obtains group information about the group to be handed over, and the group information includes information about a first tunnel. According to the group information, the TE configures information about a second tunnel for the group, and the information about the second tunnel is required for group handover. The group nodes are handed over from the SE to the TE according to the information about the second tunnel. Thereby, the group information that needs to be transmitted in a handover process is reduced, and problems resulting from the number of handovers can be avoided.
US08208437B2
A system and method for improved scheduling for time-frequency slicing. According to various embodiments, slot allocations are made so as to guarantee time for tuning between slots. When scheduling services for multiplexes covering multiple radio frequency (RF) channels, time is provided for the receiver to tune to another radio-frequency channel between at least two of the time frequency frames. This is accomplished by arranging slots so that a service carried in a slot within the tuning time before the end of a time frequency frame k is not transmitted in a slot within the tuning time after the beginning of the next time frequency frame k+1.
US08208435B2
A base station apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store quality information indicative of channel states for different transmit antennas of a user apparatus over a predefined frequency band including multiple resource units, a scheduling unit configured to generate scheduling information indicative of assignment of resource units from the quality information, and a transmitting unit configured to transmit a lower layer control signal including scheduling information and antenna selection information to the user apparatus. The antenna selection information is configured to indicate which of the transmit antennas of the user apparatus is to be used for transmissions. The scheduling information and the antenna selection information are channel encoded together.
US08208432B2
Communication equipment allocates a communication resource region which is used for communication with equipment of a communicating party and performs scheduling of resources. A data classification unit classifies data into small-volume RTD, large-volume RTD or nRTD. Based on the result of the classification, a scheduling unit allocates a communication resource region under a first condition that the RTD has priority over the nRTD, a second condition that the small-volume RTD has priority over the large-volume RTD, a third condition that a previously used communication resource region is, if possible, allocated to the small-volume RTD, and a fourth condition that the large-volume RTD and nRTD are allocated with priority given to equipment of a communicating party for which high communication quality is ensured. A communication unit performs communication with the equipment of the communicating party according to the result of the scheduling.
US08208430B2
The current invention defines a device and a method of logically inserting the device between two other network devices, for example, in a 3GPP Radio Access Network. The device transparently monitors and interacts with one or more control protocol layers in the two neighboring devices. The invention defines methods by which the intercepting node selectively passes through or proxies (selectively modifying portions of the protocols content) in such as way that the neighbor nodes are un-aware of the intercepting device. The proxy operation implies that the intercepting node is capable of terminating some protocol elements, injecting some protocol elements, or modifying protocol elements before forwarding them in such a way that the operation is transparent to neighboring nodes. These selective insertion/modifications facilitate identifying signaling connections for specific mobile clients, and enhancing and modifying service features for dataplane accesses for those client devices, while transparently passing other protocol messages.
US08208426B2
The present invention provides for a mobile radio communications device of a mobile radio communications network arranged for delivering a non-synchronized random access preamble message such that the non-synchronized random access preamble message comprises a multi-bit message including Cause ID bits and selective bits comprising at least signature bits for collision avoidance, and in which the inclusion of CQI bits is determined responsive to signaling received from the network and indicative of cell characteristics or parameters.
US08208425B2
Systems and methods that provide remote access are described. In one embodiment, a system may include, for example, a plurality of communication devices and a media device. The plurality of communication devices may be operatively coupled to a network and may include, for example, a native communication device. The media device may be operatively coupled to the native communication device and the network. The media device may be associated with the native communication device and the network and may be capable of exchanging media content with the plurality of communication devices and the network. A profile of the media device may be stored in at least one of the media device and the native communication device. The profile may include, for example, information related to managing the media content when the media device is roaming.
US08208421B2
Systems, devices, processors, and methods are described for the transmission and reception of broadband signals between a gateway and subscriber terminals via satellite. In one set of embodiments, a wireless signal is generated and transmitted including a series of frames including a physical layer header and payload. A sub-channel identifier may be included in the physical layer header to identify the sub-channel for the payload, and allow for various novel filtering techniques at the subscriber terminal. The frames may be generated to be of substantially equal duration. Novel subscriber terminal configurations are described to leverage this formatting.
US08208415B2
An apparatus and a method for selecting a candidate channel to change an operating channel so as to minimize effect of interference in a wireless communication system using a Cognitive Radio (CR) function are provided. The method includes confirming an operating channel of at least one neighbor cell and candidate channel set to a third group by the neighbor cell; setting a candidate channel used as the operating channel of the neighbor cell among at least one candidate channels changeable to the operating channel, to a third group of lowest priority; setting candidate channels set to the third group of the neighbor cell among candidate channels not set to the third group, to a second group; and setting candidate channels set to neither the second group nor the third group, to a first group of highest priority.
US08208413B1
Provided is a method for multiple-termination routing in a wireless network environment that includes an Internet Protocol (“IP”) core. The method includes receiving a call delivery request. The call delivery request is based upon intelligent network protocols and includes a called number. The call features associated with the called number are retrieved, a determination is made whether the call features include multiple-termination routing information for a plurality of potential terminating devices, wherein at least one termination to be routed utilizes Session Initiation Protocol. When the call features include the multiple-termination routing information, call setups are initiated to each of the plurality of potential terminating devices. Upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete one of the plurality of initiated call setups, any remaining initiated call setup or setups are released. In another aspect, the call setups are initiated consecutively to each of the plurality of potential-terminating devices, in an order designated in the multiple-termination routing information. Upon detecting a first potential terminating device to complete the call setup, foregoing initiation of a subsequent call setup to the remaining potential terminating devices.
US08208404B1
A method performed by a provider edge device in a multi-autonomous system (AS) includes receiving advertisements from other PEs of the multi-AS, where one or more of the advertisements includes a destination AS parameter that indicates a destination AS of the multi-AS; generating pseudo-wire (PW) tables based on the advertisements received from the other PEs; and establishing PWs with respect to the other PEs based on the PW tables.
US08208392B2
A system and method for performing a beam discovery between peer stations is disclosed. A channel time message indicating an allocation of a first time period for a peer-to-peer beam discovery (PBD) is received, where the PBD is configured to discover a beam direction to be used for data transfer to a peer station. The PBD is executed between two peer stations during the first time period. Data is transferred to the peer station via the discovered beam direction if the PBD is successful.
US08208390B2
The invention relates to a structure of a transmission packet for a link adaptation mechanism that can efficiently transmits/receives uncompressed data using a link adaptation mechanism in a high-frequency wireless communication, and an apparatus and method of transmitting/receiving a packet using the same. According to an aspect of the invention, a structure of a transmission packet for a link adaptation mechanism includes a payload having a plurality of data units obtained through error correction encoding of uncompressed data at a predetermined coding rate, an MAC header being added to the payload and having a link adaptation field and a link adaptation extension field expressing presence/absence of the link adaptation field for transmission/reception of the uncompressed data, and a PHY header being added to the MAC header and including information about the coding rate and information about usability of an unequal error protection mode.
US08208384B2
A system is provided for connecting an alarm system to a monitoring center through a fiber optic network. The alarm signals may be transmitted through the electrical wiring within a house or other facility through a fiber optic network and the PSTN and/or Internet to the monitoring center. The connection may include a reverse polarity in a pair of ring and tip lines between an interface device of the fiber optic network and a junction element of the alarm system or between the junction element and a controller of the alarm system. The reverse polarity may be created by connecting an end of a ring line into a tip adapter and connecting an end of a tip line into a ring adapter.
US08208382B2
A method and an associated device for estimating the density of mobile node traffic in an ad-hoc network on the roads of a predetermined geographical network in which mobile nodes move. Each road is divided into coverage cells. For each cell, a principal mobile node located at the center of the cell counts the number of nodes in the cell, and inserts this number into a cell density packet (CDP) transmitted from cell to cell during a first stage.
US08208369B2
The present invention provides an Ethernet ring system and the master node and the initialization method thereof, comprising the following steps: Step 1, a master node of an Ethernet ring protection domain is generated from nodes on a ring; Step 2, the master node detects the link state of a primary port and a secondary port wherein if the master node detects that no fault occurs in the link of the primary port and the secondary port, it records the state of the ring network as the initializing state and blocks the secondary port; Step 3, the master node sends a link health check message to the ring network periodically; Step 4, it is judged whether the master node receives the link health check message in a prescribed time period wherein if receiving the message, it records the state of the ring network as intact, continues blocking the secondary port and sends a ring network restoration notification message to the ring network, informing other nodes that the state of the ring network is intact, so as to realize the initialization of the master node.
US08208356B2
An apparatus for optically checking magnetic disk defects that makes possible more accurate determination of positions of minute defects by illuminating an area greater than a checkup area with an illuminating beam having a Gaussian distribution is to be provided. The apparatus is configured of a specular reflection detecting device including a detector having a detecting face including an array of multiple pixels, and a processing device that figures out the position of each defect by using, in addition to the output signal from each of the pixels of the detector that detected a specular reflection from the checkup area, also output signals of some pixels out of the multiple pixels having detected the specular reflection from the checkup area of one turn before and the checkup area of one turn after, both adjoining in the radial direction, and determines the type of the defect.
US08208348B2
When detecting a rotational position of a seconds hand, it is determined whether data stored in a register in correspondence with a supply state of a drive current previously supplied to a coil of a stepping motor is “0”. When the data is “0”, the rotational position of the seconds hand is optically detected. When the data is “1”, the seconds hand is rotated one step, and then, the rotational position of the seconds hand is optically detected. Even though the seconds hand is shifted one second, the position detection is executed every two steps.
US08208343B2
A method and apparatus is provided for acoustic ranging by application of linear period modulated sound. In one aspect of the instant invention, an apparatus is provided for acoustic ranging by application of linear period modulated sound. The apparatus includes at least one source adapted to generate at least one modulated Doppler invariant signal and at least one receiver deployed along a seismic sensing cable, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive at least one modulated Doppler invariant signal from the at least one source. The apparatus further includes a signal processing unit adapted to determine the propagation time delay between the source and the receiver using the modulated Doppler invariant signal and the received Doppler invariant signal.
US08208339B2
A computer program product for controlling a storage device using per-element selectable power supply voltages provides energy conservation in storage devices while maintaining a particular performance level. The storage device is partitioned into multiple elements, which may be sub-arrays, rows, columns or individual storage cells. Each element has a corresponding virtual power supply rail that is provided with a selectable power supply voltage. The power supply voltage provided to the virtual power supply rail for an element is set to the minimum power supply voltage unless a higher power supply voltage is required for the element to meet performance requirements. A control cell may be provided within each element that provides a control signal that selects the power supply voltage supplied to the corresponding virtual power supply rail. The state of the cell may be set via a fuse or mask, or values may be loaded into the control cells at initialization of the storage device.
US08208336B2
A fuse circuit includes a fuse unit configured to drive an output terminal via a current path including a fuse in response to a fuse enable signal; and a comparison unit configured to be activated in response to an activation signal for comparing a reference voltage having a predetermined level with a voltage level of the output terminal to generate a fuse state signal.
US08208333B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells are arranged in a matrix, a read unit which reads out data from the memory cells in the memory cell array, a write unit which writes data in the memory cells in the memory cell array, a read voltage generating unit which generates a read voltage and supplies the read voltage to the read unit, and a voltage control unit which controls the read voltage in accordance with temperatures.
US08208331B2
Methods for determining the state of memory cells include using an asymmetric sense amplifier. The methods include sensing the voltages on bit line (BL) and bit line bar (BLB) signals by coupling the BL to a first output node of an imbalanced cross-coupled latch (ICL), the ICL outputting a logic low value if the a difference between the a voltage on the BL and a voltage on the BLB exceeds a threshold. Sensing the voltages includes providing at least a first and a second pull down field effect transistor (FET) each having a channel coupled between the first and second output nodes and a ground node, respectively, in a cross coupled arrangement, wherein the second pull down FET has a channel width that is greater than a channel width of the first pull down FET. Additional methods are disclosed.
US08208330B2
A sense amplifier comprises a sense node, a reference node, a memory input stage circuit, a reference input stage circuit, an output stage circuit, and a shielding circuit. The memory input stage circuit comprises first input node for maintaining a first sense voltage established by a cell current and establishes a second sense voltage on the sense node in response to the first sense voltage. The reference input stage circuit comprises an output node and a second input node, which is for maintaining a first reference voltage established by the reference current and establishes a second reference voltage on the reference node in response to the first reference voltage. The output stage circuit obtains a sense result in response to the second reference voltage and the second sense voltage. The first shielding circuit shields the output node from being interfered with the second reference voltage on the reference node.
US08208328B2
A semiconductor memory device including a CMOS-type local sensing amplifier circuit is provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a first input/output (I/O) line pair, a second I/O line pair pre-charged to a one-half power voltage level and receives data from the first I/O line pair, and a pull-up circuit pulling up a voltage of one of the second I/O pair to a full power voltage level.
US08208322B2
Methods and apparatus for use in a memory system having a non-volatile memory and a controller for limiting the number of non-volatile memory arrays from a plurality of available arrays accessed at one time are useful in the control of concurrent access of memory arrays. One method includes implementing a pipelining sequence for transferring data to and from the non-volatile memory arrays and limiting the number of active arrays operating at one time. The controller is configured to wait for the at least one of the arrays to complete before initiating a transfer to and from a further array.
US08208315B2
This document discusses among other things, a system comprising a host controller, an Input/Output buffer, and a memory device. The memory device is coupled to the host controller and is configured to receive a read command from the host controller. The non-volatile includes an interface control logic, which is in communication with a non-volatile memory. The interface control logic includes a latency programming circuit coupled to the non-volatile memory and the Input/Output buffer. The latency programming circuit stores at least one value corresponding to dummy byte delays to be provided at the non-volatile memory prior to transferring data from the non-volatile memory during a read operation.
US08208314B2
Integrated circuits with sequential access memory cells are provided. A sequential access memory cell may include an inverter-like circuit, an inverter, a preset transistor, an access transistor, and a read circuit. The inverter-like circuit and the inverter are cross-coupled to form a bi-stable latch that is powered by a positive power supply line and that has first and second storage nodes. The preset transistor may be connected between the positive power supply line and the first storage node. The inverter-like circuit may include a transistor in its pull-down path. The preset transistor is enabled while the transistor is disabled to write a “1” at the first storage node. The access transistor may be used to write a “0” into the cell. The read circuit may be connected to the second storage node to read data from the cell without inducing a voltage rise at the second storage node.
US08208312B1
A non-volatile memory cell and associated programming methods that allow for integration of non-volatile memory with other CMOS integrated circuitry utilizing standard CMOS processing. The non-volatile memory cell includes an antifuse element having a programming node and a capacitor element coupled to the antifuse element and configured to provide one or more voltage pulses to the programming node. The antifuse element is configured to have a changed resistivity after the programming node is subjected to the one or more voltage pulses, the change in resistivity representing a change in logic state. The antifuse element comprises a MOS transistor, its gate being coupled to one of the programming node and a control node, and its source and drain being coupled to the other one of the programming node and the control node. The MOS transistor is formed in a well and the source, drain and well are coupled to the same voltage level.
US08208309B2
A semiconductor memory device, in which flag data read of a flag data region is performed during data write, comprises: a nonvolatile memory cell array having an ordinary data region and the flag data region allocated to a one page range in which read and write are simultaneously performed; and a one page amount of sense amplifiers, each of the sense amplifiers comprising a data latch for retaining write data. During read of the flag data by the sense amplifier circuit, in the case of one of the sense amplifiers corresponding to the flag data region, read flag data is transferred to the data latch. In the case of one of the sense amplifiers corresponding to the ordinary data region, write data retained by the data latch is rewritten regardless of read cell data.
US08208306B2
Each memory cell string in a generic NAND flash cell block connects to a Common Source Line (CLS). A value for applying to the CSL is centrally generated and distributed to a local switch logic unit corresponding to each NAND flash cell block. For source-line page programming, the distribution line may be called a Global Common Source Line (GCSL). In an array of NAND flash cell blocks, only one NAND flash cell block is selected at a time for programming. To reduce power consumption, only the selected NAND flash cell block receives a value on the CSL that is indicative of the value on the GCSL. Additionally, the CSLs of non-selected NAND flash cell blocks may be disabled through an active connection to ground.
US08208301B2
Provided is a nonvolatile memory device having a common bit line structure. The nonvolatile memory device includes multiple unit elements having a NAND cell array structure, arranged in each of multiple memory strings, and each including a control gate and a charge storage layer. Multiple common bit lines are each commonly connected to ends of each of one pair of memory strings among the memory strings. Provided are a first selection transistor having a first driving voltage and multiple second selection transistors connected in series to the first selection transistors and having a second driving voltage that is lower than the first driving voltage. The first selection transistor and the second selection transistors are arranged between the common bit lines and the unit elements of the of memory strings.
US08208300B2
In a nonvolatile memory (NVM) cell, an injector having one or more layers of material with a lower potential barrier for holes is disposed between a charge storage stack and a source of holes (the gate for top injection, the substrate for bottom injection), to facilitate hole tunneling from the source of holes into the charge-storage layer of the charge storage stack. The injector has a barrier potential for holes which is less than an insulating layer of the charge-storage stack which is oriented towards the source of holes. A multi-layer crested barrier injector may have layers of increasing potential barriers for holes from the source to the charge-storage layer. Methods of operating NVM cells are disclosed. The NVM cell may be NROM, SONOS, or other oxide-nitride technology NVM cells such as SANOS, MANOS, TANOS.
US08208298B2
A flash memory system includes a multi-bit flash memory device having a memory cell array including memory cells arranged in rows and columns; a read circuit configured to read data from the memory cell array; and control logic configured to control the read circuit so as to successively read data from a selected memory cell and adjacent memory cells to the selected memory cell in response to a request for a read operation with respect to MSB data stored in the selected memory cell. A compare circuit is configured to compare data read from the adjacent memory cells to the selected memory cell provided from the multi-bit flash memory device and to correct data read from the selected memory cells based upon the comparison result.
US08208297B2
Circuits to control access to memory; for example, third dimension memory are disclosed. An integrated circuit (IC) may be configured to control access to memory cells. For example, the IC may include a memory having memory cells that are vertically disposed in multiple layers of memory. The IC may include a memory access circuit configured to control access to a first subset of the memory cells in response to access control data in a second subset of the memory cells. Each memory cell may include a non-volatile two-terminal memory element that stores data as a plurality of conductivity profiles that can be non-destructively sensed by applying a read voltage across the two terminals of the memory element. New data can be written by applying a write voltage across the two terminals of the memory element. The two-terminal memory elements can be arranged in a two-terminal cross-point array configuration.
US08208288B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a hybrid superconducting-magnetic memory cell and array. One embodiment of a memory cell includes a magnetoresistive element and at least one superconducting element wired in parallel with the magnetoresistive element. In a further embodiment, memory cells of the disclosed configuration are arranged to form a memory array.
US08208284B2
A data retention structure in a memory element that stores data as a plurality of conductivity profiles is disclosed. The memory element can be used in a variety of electrical systems and includes a conductive oxide layer, an ion impeding layer, and an electrolytic tunnel barrier layer. A write voltage applied across the memory element causes a portion of the mobile ions to move from the conductive oxide layer, through the ion impeding layer, and into the electrolytic tunnel barrier layer thereby changing a conductivity of the memory element, or the write voltage causes a quantity of the mobile ions to move from the electrolytic tunnel barrier layer, through the ion impeding layer, and back into the conductive oxide layer. The ion impeding layer is operative to substantially stop mobile ion movement when a voltage that is less than the write voltage is applied across the memory element.
US08208266B2
Shaped integrated passive devices and corresponding methodologies relate to construction and mounting of shaped passive devices on substrates so as to provide both mechanical and electrical connection. Certain components and component assemblies are associated with the implementation of surface mountable devices. Specially shaped integrated passive device are capable of providing simplified mounting on and simultaneous connection to selected electrical pathways on a printed circuit board or other mounting substrate. Shaped, plated side filter devices have plated sides which provide both mounting and grounding/power coupling functions. Thin film filters may be constructed on silicon wafers, which are then diced from the top surface with an angular dicing saw to produce a shaped groove in the top surface. The groove may be v-shaped or other shape, and is then plated with a conductive material. Individual pieces are separated by grinding the back surface of the wafer down to where the grooves are intercepted. The plated grooves serve as ground or power connection points for the filter circuit. The metallized slopes of the plated grooves are used in securing the individual pieces to a mounting surface, by soldering or using conductive epoxy.
US08208262B2
The window base material of the present invention is provided with an intermediate layer having a window section composed of transparent resin and a colored section composed of colored resin surrounding the window section, and a transparent first base material and second base material which sandwich the intermediate layer. The card with embedded module of the present invention is provided with a module having a display element, an adhesive layer covering the module, and a paired third base material and fourth base material which sandwich the module with interposition of the adhesive layer, wherein the third base material is composed of the window base material, and the display section of the display element is disposed so as to face the window section of the window base material. According to the present invention, a card with embedded module is offered, which incorporates a display element as an electronic component, which renders the display section of this display element visible from the outside, and which is easy to manufacture.
US08208261B2
An electronic device includes a chassis, a power supply, and a bracket. The power supply is capable of supplying power to electronic elements secured in the chassis. A resiliently deformable latch piece is located on the power supply. A tab is located on the latch piece. The bracket is secured in the chassis and defines a slit. The slit receives the tab of the power supply so as to secure the power supply in the bracket, and the latch piece is resiliently deformable to disengage the tab from the slit to remove the power supply from the bracket.
US08208258B2
A cooling system and method are provided for facilitating cooling of multiple liquid-cooled electronics racks. The cooling system includes a main system coolant supply loop with a plurality of system coolant supply branch lines for facilitating supply of cooled system coolant to the electronics racks, and a main system coolant return loop with a plurality of system coolant return branch lines for facilitating return of exhausted system coolant from the electronics racks. When operational, cooled system coolant circulates through the coolant supply loop and exhausted system coolant circulates through the coolant return loop. A plurality of modular cooling units are coupled to the coolant supply loop and coolant return loop. Each modular cooling unit includes a heat exchanger to facilitate cooling of a portion of the exhausted coolant circulating through the main system coolant return loop for return as cooled system coolant to the main system coolant supply loop.
US08208256B2
An air duct plate is provided on the back of a substrate on the surface of which a light emitting element group for display as well as an integrated circuit are disposed. A fan acts to send air into a space surrounded by a case body extending over and around the air duct plate and the air duct plate. A plurality of openings acting to blow a cooling air generated by the fan to a predetermined portion of the substrate are formed in the air duct plate.
US08208252B2
A computer system has a chassis, a plurality of interconnected panels mounted on the chassis in a manner defining an interior space at least partially encompassed by the panels, a circuit assembly, an electrically-powered fan within the interior space, and an energy conversion device mounted within the interior space. One or more of the panels has an airflow opening therein. The circuit assembly is mounted on the chassis within the interior space and includes a heat generating system component. The heat generating system component includes a surface from which energy in the infrared (IR) electromagnetic spectrum is emitted during operation thereof. The energy conversion device is configured for converting the emitted infrared energy to electrical energy and is electrically connected to the electrically-powered fan for providing the electrical energy thereto.
US08208248B2
A portable wireless telecommunications device has electronic computer visual display includes at least one central display screen and at least two additional screens respectively disposed foldably to the right and left of said central screen, for displaying simultaneous, multiple images to a user in a super video graphics array (SVGA). The foldable display has at least two mutually connected foldable sub-display units, and it includes a user attachable and detachable connector, for user-assembling of the sub-display units into mutual connection with each other. Each of the two sub-display units have user-deployable supports (e.g. a rigid angular support member) for maintaining the sub-display units in an upwardly projecting disposition during use.
US08208234B2
The present invention discloses a circuit with ESD protection and high voltage conversion for a switching regulator. It mainly comprises a non-overlap circuit, a power P-type MOS device, a parasitic diode, a digital logic AND gate, a pair of resistance and capacitance, a power N-type MOS device, an ESD N-type MOS device, a Lx pin and an ESD protection cell. The present invention can effectively decrease the on-resistance of MOS device and then improve the circuit efficiency.
US08208232B2
A system for automatically cutting off the energy from, and shutting down an electric generator positioned inside an aircraft engine and supplying electrical power to the aircraft. The system comprising an electric generator, a control panel and driving cabin. The generator having a sensor positioned inside the generator sensing the oil pressure and outputting a signal in response to the oil pressure reaching a predetermined level; a generator disconnect solenoid; and an automatic generator connector receiving the output of the sensor, and in response removing the electrical power supplied by the generator to the aircraft and outputting a signal to the generator disconnect solenoid causing the generator to shut down, and also outputting a control signal. A control panel receiving the control signal and in response outputting a driving cabin control signal. A driving cabin control system receiving the driving cabin control signal and activating a warning system in response.
US08208229B2
A magneto-resistance effect element, comprising a first magnetic layer, a first metallic layer, which is formed on said first magnetic layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag, a current confined layer including an insulating layer and a current path which are made by oxidizing, nitriding or oxynitriding for a second metallic layer, mainly containing Al, formed on said first metallic layer, a functional layer, which is formed on said current confined layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Hf, Ti, Mo, W, Nb, Mg, Cr and Zr, a third metallic layer, which is formed on said functional layer, mainly containing an element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag; and a second magnetic layer which is formed on said third metallic layer.
US08208218B2
Buffer member, impact absorbing device of hard disk drive, and mobile information apparatus using it
A buffer member and impact absorbing device is formed of a soft flexible part that deforms compressively, has cushion performance, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a sheet-like substrate part that has flexibility, is made of resin material, and has a substantially rectangular shape. A slit is formed by substantially vertically slotting the flexible part from its one surface to a midway so as to leave a surplus material part, and the substrate part is inserted and mounted to the slit formed in the flexible part. A relatively weak impact force is absorbed by the surplus material part of the flexible part, and a strong impact force that has not been completely absorbed by the surplus material part is absorbed by interaction between the flexible part and the substrate part.
US08208215B2
A disk drive apparatus includes at least one disk, a head-arm assembly, and a controller circuit. The head arm assembly includes at least one read/write head. The head-arm assembly is movable to enable the read/write head to access a writable surface of the disk. The controller circuit also causes the read/write head to record data on the writable surface of the disk in a write append format.
US08208212B2
A method of magnetic transfer, including placing a first medium in contact with a second medium, pressing the first and second media together to form an adhered body, applying a magnetic field to the adhered body, and moving the magnetic field relatively to the adhered body, so as to transfer information from the first medium to the second medium. Then the monitoring of the adhered body is performed to detect existence of an air bubble between the first and second media.
US08208211B2
A magnetic transfer device and method are provided. A magnetic field generating structure comprises a pair of permanent magnets connected to a return yoke. Respective magnetic poles of the magnets, of a different polarity from one another, oppose each other with a conjoined body disposed therebetween. The magnetic field generating structure is moved from a position at an outer periphery of the conjoined body, to a position at an inner periphery of the conjoined body, and then moved from the position at the inner periphery across the conjoined body toward the outer periphery, to a position outside of the conjoined body. The return yoke is positioned at a radially more outward position, toward the outer periphery, than are the permanent magnets. The movement of the magnetic field generating structure is carried out while maintaining a constant distance from the rotating conjoined body.
US08208206B2
Superzoom lenses are disclosed. The superzoom lenses include, in order from an object side to an image side on an optical axis, a first lens group, a second lens group, an aperture, a third lens group, and a fourth lens group. The first lens group has positive optical power. The second lens group has negative optical power and is consisted of a convex lens and a concave lens. The third lens group has positive optical power. The fourth lens group has positive optical power. The superzoom lenses satisfy the following relationship when the superzoom lenses are collapsed: 3≦LW/ID<5 wherein LW stands for the optical path length, and ID stands for the diameter of the image circle.
US08208204B2
The invention relates to multi-layer composites for use as a screen, having at least three layers, with an inner diffusing layer and at least one substrate layer on either side. The diffusing layer contains small particles having a narrow particle size distribution that are refractive-index mismatched with the polymer matrix. The multi-layer acrylic composition is useful as a projection screen.
US08208198B2
A catadioptric projection objective for imaging a pattern provided in an object plane of the projection objective onto an image plane of the projection objective has a first, refractive objective part for imaging the pattern provided in the object plane into a first intermediate image; a second objective part including at least one concave mirror for imaging the first intermediate imaging into a second intermediate image; and a third, refractive objective part for imaging the second intermediate imaging onto the image plane; wherein the projection objective has a maximum lens diameter Dmax, a maximum image field height Y′, and an image side numerical aperture NA; wherein COMP1=Dmax/(Y′·NA2) and wherein the condition COMP1<10 holds.
US08208196B2
Various embodiments include modelocked fiber laser resonators that may be coupled with optical amplifiers. An isolator may separate the laser resonator from the amplifier, although certain embodiments exclude such an isolator. A reflective optical element on one end of the resonator having a relatively low reflectivity may be employed to couple light from the laser resonator to the amplifier. Enhanced pulse-width control may be provided with concatenated sections of both polarization-maintaining and non-polarization-maintaining fibers. Apodized fiber Bragg gratings and integrated fiber polarizers may be also be included in the laser cavity to assist in linearly polarizing the output of the cavity. Very short pulses with a large optical bandwidth may be obtained by matching the dispersion value of the fiber Bragg grating to the inverse of the dispersion of the intra-cavity fiber. Frequency comb sources may be constructed from such modelocked fiber oscillators. In various exemplary embodiments, low dispersion and an in-line interferometer that provides feedback, assist in controlling the frequency components output from the comb source.
US08208188B2
An image display apparatus that displays an image by scanning of coherent light includes: a light source portion that emits the coherent light; a scanning portion that scans the coherent light; a concave reflection portion having a concave surface from which the coherent light is reflected; and an incident position changing unit that changes an incident position of the coherent light onto the concave surface in a curvature direction of the concave surface.
US08208185B2
The present invention relates to a method for the production of polarization holograms, an apparatus for the production of polarization holograms and the use of the polarization holograms according to the invention as data stores, security features or diffractive optical elements for performing conventional optical functions.
US08208178B2
A digital multifunction peripheral includes a communication unit which inputs document image data, a processing circuit which processes the document image data from the communication unit, a print unit which prints an image corresponding to the document image data processed by the processing circuit, and a memory which holds a ground pattern image file which is generated by converting ground pattern image data into a machine dependent format extractable only by the processing circuit and is registered from outside. The processing circuit extracts the ground pattern image data from the ground pattern image file in a case where document image data of a ground pattern print object is input from the communication unit, and embeds the ground pattern image data into the document image data.
US08208172B2
An image forming apparatus includes a resolution conversion unit that integrates n pixels that are contiguous in the sub-scanning direction, and that determines an average value of pixel values of the n pixels as a pixel value of integrated pixels, a quantization unit that quantizes the pixel value of the integrated pixels to N levels, an image analysis unit that performs first determination processing for determining whether the difference between the pixel values of the n input pixels exceeds a threshold value set in advance, and second determination processing for determining whether a direction in which the pixel values of the n input pixels becomes greater is a forward direction of the sub-scanning direction or an opposite direction, and a pixel selection unit that determines n output pixels, based on the results, from a quantization result of the integrated pixels.
US08208166B2
A reference level of data required for outputting (printing, sending and so on) in accordance with output configuration settings is set. It is determined whether or not a level of target data to be output which is stored in a storage is lower than the reference level. When the level of the target data is lower than the reference level, the data level is increased in stages. The data of the level raised to the reference level is output in accordance with the output configuration settings.
US08208165B2
An image forming apparatus spools normal print requests received from external equipment as normal print jobs which are sequentially executed by a printer, spools a private print request received from an external equipment in a spooler as a private print job executed by a printer in response to an instruction by a user who has requested the private print, and changes a normal print job in an execution waiting state of the user which is spooled in the spooler to a private print job of the user in response to a request from the user authenticated by a user authenticating portion.
US08208164B2
An image scanner might capture an image corresponding to scan region 263 which might be somewhat larger than original 262. Image processing circuitry might then enlarge an image corresponding to scan region 263 (arrow 279), converting it into enlarged image 271. Within enlarged image 271, the image of original 262 might have been enlarged so as to become image 273, which might be somewhat larger than printing paper 274. This enlarged original image 273 which would be present within enlarged image 271 might then be printed by a printer. Four-sided borderless copying is possible.
US08208159B2
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving an application identifier value associated with a printed application; receiving a media size; receiving a machine identifier value associated with a first document processing machine; determining programming instructions for a second document processing machine based on said received application identifier value, media size, and machine identifier value.
US08208154B2
A method to increase productivity on digital production press machines following an interrupt job includes sending an expected termination point with continuation data back to a digital front end when the machine terminates the original job, as opposed to waiting until the last schedule sheet exits the machine. In this manner, the digital front end may resubmit the continuation of the original job sooner, thus reducing or eliminating the skipped pitches. Final termination information is determined and compared to the continuous data. If there is a discrepancy, the machine may cycle down and recalculated to ensure job integrity.
US08208152B2
Methods and systems for permitting a rendering device, such as a printer, to be automatically configured at the time of device driver installation, regardless of the means utilized to install the driver are disclosed. In general, a device driver (e.g., a printer driver) is associated with the rendering device. The device driver includes a driver default configuration. The driver default configuration can be initially set in the rendering device via an embedded network server (e.g., an embedded web server) in the rendering device. The driver installer can then query the driver default configuration as set on the rendering device. The driver can then be automatically adjusted prior to the installation of the driver, in response to querying the driver default configuration by the driver installer. The rendering device can be implemented as a printer, a scanner, a multi-function device, a photocopy machine, and the like.
US08208142B2
The method for lung cancer detection by optical analysis of body fluids relates to analyzing samples of blood, urine and sputum by fluorescence spectroscopy in order to detect the presence of naturally occurring molecules in the fluids that serve as biomarkers indicative of cancer in the human body. The analysis can be carried out based on fluorescence emission spectra, fluorescence excitation spectra and synchronous (emission and excitation) spectra of bio-samples. The early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer may be made by comparison of ratios of fluorescence emissions and/or excitation intensities of tryptophan, tyrosine, elastin, collagen, bile pigments, NADPH, flavins and various species of porphyrins.
US08208140B2
A lithographic apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes an alignment system for aligning a substrate or a reticle. The alignment system includes a radiation source configured to illuminate an alignment mark on the substrate or on the reticle, the alignment mark comprising a maximum length sequence or a multi periodic coarse alignment mark. An alignment signal produced from the alignment mark is detected by a detection system. A processor determines an alignment position of the substrate or the reticle based on the alignment signal.
US08208132B2
A reservoir (4) for the working fluid of the saturation unit (3) is connected with a sampling section (1) by a pressure equalization line (9) of the gas that is loaded with solid particles, as a result of which a sucking back of the working fluid from the reservoir (4) into the sampling section (1) and other sections of the measurement environment that are connected with such are prevented, even in the presence of unfavorable pressure conditions.
US08208127B2
The disclosure relates to an optical projection arrangement that can be used to image a reticle onto a substrate. The projection arrangement includes reflective elements, by which a ray path is defined. A combination stop is in a pupil of the ray path. The combination stop has a first opening (aperture opening) for use as an aperture stop. The combination stop also has a second opening for allowing passage of a ray bundle of the ray path, such that the combination stop acts as a combined aperture stop and stray light stop. In addition, the disclosure relates to a corresponding combination stop for optical arrangements, as well as related systems, components and methods.
US08208122B2
A method of measuring a lithographic projection apparatus is described. The method includes imaging a verification mark of a patterning device onto a radiation-sensitive layer held by a substrate table of a lithographic apparatus, wherein the verification mark includes at least a first, a second and a third verification structure that have a mutually different sensitivity profile for a dose setting, a focus setting and a contrast setting.
US08208121B2
An alignment mark comprising a periodic structure formed by mark lines is described. In an embodiment, the alignment mark is formed in a scribe lane of a substrate, the scribe lane extending in a scribe lane direction. The alignment mark includes: a first area including a first periodic structure formed by first mark lines extending in a first direction, the first direction being at a first angle α with respect to the scribe lane direction: 0°<α<90° and a second area comprising second periodic structure formed by second mark lines extending in a second direction, the second direction being at a second angle β with respect to the scribe lane direction: −90°≦β<0°.
US08208120B2
In a lithographic projection apparatus, a structure surrounds a space between the projection system and a substrate table of the lithographic projection apparatus. Gas is used between the structure and the surface of the substrate to contain liquid in the space.
US08208117B2
An exposure apparatus exposes a substrate by projecting a pattern image onto the substrate through a liquid. The exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system by which the pattern image is projected onto the substrate, and a movable member which is movable relative to the projection optical system. A liquid-repellent member, at least a part of a surface of which is liquid-repellent, is provided detachably on the movable member, the liquid-repellent member being different from the substrate.
US08208115B2
Preferred embodiments relates to a cooling system and a method for cooling an electronic display. Embodiments include a transparent liquid cooling chamber, a reservoir tank, and a pump. The components in the system are preferably housed within the electronic display housing. The cooling chamber defines a fluid compartment that is anterior to and coextensive with the electronic display surface. Circulating coolant removes heat directly from the electronic display surface by advection. In order to view the display, the coolant fluid is transparent or at least semi-transparent. The image quality of an exemplary embodiment remains essentially unchanged, even though coolant is flowing over the visible face of the electronic display surface.
US08208114B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a drive electronics for driving a display with a matrix 101 of picture elements. The drive circuit 102x and 102y for generating signals for driving the pixels via control lines 103 is provided with signals at the input terminals 110 via contact areas 104. In addition to the contact areas used for the generation of arbitrary pictures, there exist contact areas 105 used within the framework of a testing method. These contact areas for the testing method are also connected with the input terminals 110 of the drive circuit and are used for generating a test pattern.
US08208110B2
An electro-optical apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a conductive pad formed on the outside of a display region of the first substrate. A mark portion configured of a multiple concentric-circle pattern formed upon the first or second substrate so as to overlap with the conductive pad.
US08208109B2
A display system including a first set of conductive electrodes, a second set of conductive electrodes, and a display medium. The first set of conductive electrodes is configured to receive a selection signal. The second set of conductive electrodes is configured to interact with the first set of conductive electrodes for activating the reading or writing of display data. The second set of conductive electrodes is configured to receive a data signal and to activate the reading or writing of a target area of the display device, in response to the selection signal to the first set of conductive electrodes and the data signal to the second set of conductive electrodes. The display medium is movably coupled with the first and second sets of conductive electrodes. One or both of the first and the second sets of conductive electrodes have at least two electrically independent regions having an independent signal input for each region.
US08208105B2
A long obliquely stretched film is obtained having an orientation axis in a direction with an angle θs of 10° or more and 85° or less from a width direction by grasping both side ends in the width direction of a longitudinally stretched film with an average retardation Re1 by grasping means; stretching the film under a condition that a long obliquely stretched film sample with an average retardation Re2 (Re2 is smaller than Re1) can be obtained and traveling speeds of the grasping means are substantially equal at the film both side ends through a preheating zone, a stretching zone and a fixing zone; releasing the both side ends of the film from the grasping means; and taking it up around a winding core.
US08208104B2
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention is a transflective liquid crystal display device that is provided with a backlight, a liquid crystal cell (10), and a reflective electrode (32) provided in the liquid crystal cell (10), and that displays an image through both a reflective display region (a) and a transmissive display region (b). In this liquid crystal display device, a front-side λ/4 plate (wave plate) for a reflective display is further provided on a side from which external light enters the liquid crystal cell (10), and a thin film (33) is provided, on the reflective electrode (32), for correcting a change in chromaticity caused by wavelength dispersion due to the λ/4 plate.
US08208103B2
There is provided a liquid crystal display device having a pixel electrode including a transmissive pixel electrode and a reflective pixel electrode. The liquid crystal display device includes a TFT array substrate, an opposing substrate, a sealing material that bonds the both substrates, an organic film formed on the TFT array substrate and having a thick film portion provided below the pixel electrode and a thin film portion provided outside the thick film portion, a columnar spacer formed on the opposing substrate and holding substrate gap between the both substrates, and a gap retaining pad formed in a region outside the display region and inside the sealing material to adjust the substrate gap outside the display region according to the substrate gap on the pixel electrode. The columnar spacer holds the substrate gap between the both substrates over the gap retaining pad and over the pixel electrode.
US08208097B2
Disclosed are a color compensation multi-layered member for a display apparatus, an optical filter for a display apparatus having the same, and a display apparatus having the same. The color compensation multi-layered member for a display apparatus includes a thin layer having a thickness of about 780 nm or less and a first refractive index; a first thick layer having a greater thickness than the thin layer, being formed on a surface of the thin layer, and having a second refractive index; and a second thick layer having a greater thickness than the thin layer, being formed on another surface of the thin layer, and having a third refractive index.
US08208089B2
A present liquid crystal display includes three frames, two side fasten trellises, and a plurality of tenons used to fasten the three frames and the two side fasten trellises. Each frame has a plurality of clips. The clips of at least one frame have at least one fasten component. Each side fasten trellis has grooves and second fasten portions. The tenons snap into the grooves and conjunct with the clips to assemble the three frames and the side fasten trellises, the fasten component coordinates with the second fasten portion.
US08208079B2
An optical compensator handling higher luminance, capable of achieving a higher contrast ratio while suppressing variation of the contrast ratio, and able to achieve higher definition and longer service life, a liquid crystal display system and a projection type liquid crystal display system using this optical compensator, and a production method and an adjustment method of the display systems are provided. The liquid crystal display system has a liquid crystal device optically modulating an emitted light beam by a liquid crystal layer vertically aligning liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric constant anisotropies and having a pretilt in a direction vertical to a main surface of a substrate, a first polarizer arranged on an incident side of the liquid crystal device, a second polarizer arranged on an emission side of the liquid crystal device, and an optical compensator arranged in a light path between the emission side of the first polarizer and the incident side of the second polarizer. The optical compensator has at least two compensation layers, the compensation layers being bonded to each other so that the phase difference values and in-plane optical axis directions are different from each other.
US08208078B2
On the periphery of the opening, there are formed the rib extending toward the position corresponding to the region of the video non-display region Y of the liquid-crystal panel, not covered by the metal sheet, and the rib in such a shape as to be offset on the outer side of the rib, extending toward the metal sheet, and the rib, and the rib each are at an equal distance from the display face of the liquid-crystal panel, each being in the shape gradually approaching toward the rear face from the respective corners of the opening toward the region in the vicinity of the centers of the respective sides thereof. Consequently, it is possible to form a gap of such a predetermined spacing as not to make a viewer discomfort while keeping the display panel out of contact with a view area periphery of the cabinet.
US08208074B2
An information processing apparatus includes: video-signal transmitting and receiving means for transmitting/receiving a video signal to/from one or more external apparatuses; image-quality-improvement processing means for applying image quality improvement processing based on an image quality improvement processing function of the information processing apparatus to the video signal; holding means for holding performance of the image quality improvement processing function concerning the image-quality-improvement processing means; CEC transmitting means for transmitting the performance held by the holding means to the external apparatuses; receiving means for receiving performances of image quality improvement processing functions of the one or more external apparatuses; and control means for comparing the performance of the image quality improvement processing function and the performances of the image quality improvement processing functions of the one or more external apparatuses received by the receiving means and controlling, based on a comparison result, execution of the image quality improvement processing.
US08208070B2
When a video output apparatus (100) is connected, a video display apparatus (200) obtains information of content data stored in the video output apparatus (100). Then, based on the obtained information, the video display apparatus (200) determines whether the content data is decodable with respect to itself. If it is not decodable, it requests the video output apparatus (100) to decode the content data before transferring the content data using a data transfer method specified. By doing this, an appropriate transfer protocol is selected automatically when transferring content data between the video display apparatus (200) and the video output apparatus (100).
US08208064B2
A video signal processing apparatus includes a video signal synthesis section for, when positions after and before a border position by a predetermined length are respectively set as first and second positions, taking out a first main area part corresponding to a part before the border position and a first border area part corresponding to a part from the border position to the first position from a first video signal and also a second border area part corresponding to a part from the second position to the border position and a second main area part corresponding to a part after the border position from a second video signal for synthesis, an image processing section for performing an image processing on the synthesized video signal, and a video signal output section for removing the first and second border area parts from the synthesized video signal to obtain an output video signal.
US08208044B2
Systems and methods of bad pixel cluster detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining a correlation value corresponding to a correlation coefficient between image data and at least one bad pixel cluster pattern, and detecting a bad pixel cluster corresponding to the at least one bad pixel cluster pattern based on the correlation value exceeding a threshold.
US08208042B2
A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus is provided. Also provided is a digital photographing apparatus using the method and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a computer program for executing the method. The method includes displaying a residual image of a background image; setting a partial area of an area on which the residual image is displayed; capturing an image including a subject; extracting a subject image corresponding to the partial area from the image; and generating a composite image by combining the background image and the subject image.
US08208038B2
A dynamic range is widened by effectively using an output range that is originally possessed by a solid-state image-capturing device, and an image having less color hue rotation is obtained.By using the fact that the margin until the amount of saturation electric charge is reached becomes large as a result of the amount of exposure being set to be low in a high sensitivity mode, an RGB signal having a wide dynamic range containing signal components of a subject on the high-luminance side is obtained. First, γ correction close to a power γ is performed and thereafter, the signal is color-space-converted into a luminance signal and color-difference signals. A non-linear compression process is performed on the luminance signal so as to be fit into predetermined gradations, and for the color-difference signals, color rotation is reduced using a power gamma and color-difference matrix clipping is performed.
US08208037B2
For computing a plurality of white balance gains with regard to a single image data item, a target image is first divided into a plurality of blocks. Then, a representative value of each block is computed, and a value representing the relative contribution of each light source type to a whole image is calculated based on the representative value which is obtained. Once the representative value of each block and the contribution level of each type of light source are obtained, a MWB gain and an AWB gain are computed using these results. Because the computation of the representative value of each block, which is a calculation operation performed for each pixel, is performed only once, the computation time can be greatly reduced.
US08208033B2
The present invention relates to a network enabled digital video camera arranged to be connected to a digital network. The network enabled digital video camera includes a digital network module arranged to transmit and receive digital signals, an input/output port being an electrical connector and being connected to the digital network module, and an analog video generator arranged to output an analog video signal. The input/output port connected to the digital network module is also connected to the analog video generator. The present invention also relates to an adaptor used to connect the network enabled digital video camera to an off-the-shelf video preview device.
US08208029B2
A method for calibrating a camera including (a) obtaining a two-dimensional (2D) homography that maps each of parallelograms projected onto two images taken by the camera into a rectangle, wherein the 2D homography is defined as a rectification homography and wherein new cameras that have virtual images are defined as rectified cameras and a new infinite homography is generated between the two rectified cameras, the virtual images being transformed from original images by the rectification homography; (b) obtaining an original infinite homography by using the correlations among the new infinite homography, the rectification homography and the original infinite homography; and (c) obtaining intrinsic camera parameters based on the correlation between the original infinite homography and the intrinsic camera parameters, thereby calibrating the camera.
US08208023B2
A door mirror includes an imaging unit that is pointed downward, and a redirecting mechanism, which is positioned at least in front of and to the side of, with respect to the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a lens of the imaging unit, for redirecting water droplets that would otherwise flow from the radially outer side to the radially inner side of the lens.
US08208015B2
An endoscope in accordance with the present invention provides an endoscope having an image pickup apparatus and including a first connection portion provided on one side surface of a first solid-state image pickup device to connect the first solid-state image pickup device to a first circuit board, and a second connection portion provided on one side surface of a second solid-state image pickup device to connect the second solid-state image pickup device to a second circuit board, the first solid-state image pickup device and the second solid-state image pickup device being arranged in proximity to each other so that a side surface of the first solid-state image pickup device which does not have the first connection portion lies opposite to a side surface of the second solid-state image pickup device which does not have the second connection portion.
US08208010B2
Methods for adjusting a picture of an object captured by a camera in a mobile radio communication terminal include defining a first camera angle relative to the object and capturing an image of the object by means of the camera from a second camera angle relative to the object. The second camera angle is offset from the first camera angle. The methods further include storing image data relating to the captured image, and generating an angularly adjusted image of the object in response to the image data and an angular relation between the first camera angle and the second camera angle. Corresponding mobile radio communication terminals are also disclosed. The terminals include an image processing system configured to process an image of an object captured by a camera from a second camera angle by generating an angularly adjusted image of the object in response to image data for the image, and in response to an angular relation between the second camera angle and a first camera angle.
US08208008B2
A stereoscopic image display apparatus is constituted by: an image obtaining section for obtaining a plurality of images, which are obtained by photography of a subject from different positions; a distance measuring section, for measuring the distance to the subject; a stereoscopic image generating section, for generating a stereoscopic image for three dimensional display from the plurality of images; a display region generating section, for generating display regions that display the images in manners corresponding to the distance, when the display regions are displayed overlapped in the stereoscopic image; and a display section, for displaying the stereoscopic image, on which the display regions are overlapped.
US08208006B2
A method for authoring and sending from a network element and receiving at a mobile device, rich media, the sending having the steps of checking whether the rich media includes discrete content; if yes, sending a low resolution version of the discrete content with the rich media; and subsequently sending a higher resolution version of the rich media. The receiving having the steps of receiving a low resolution version of the discrete content in the rich media; rendering the rich media; receiving a higher resolution fragment of the discrete content; and incrementally applying the higher resolution fragments to the low resolution version of the discrete content.
US08208003B2
In one embodiment, a method includes dropping an initial series of video frames received by a video conferencing system from a first endpoint that has entered a video conference session as a first participant. One or more fast video update (FVU) messages received by the video conferencing system from the first endpoint during an enabling time period are then discarded. A single FVU message is then to the first endpoint after the video conferencing system has become enabled with respect to the first endpoint. An I-frame received from the first endpoint in response to the single FVU message is then sent back to the first endpoint. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08208002B2
A distance learning scenario includes a local classroom having a local videoconferencing device communicating with a remote videoconferencing device at a remote classroom. A first local camera captures images of the local participants, a second local camera captures images of an instructor, and a local display screen displays images of remote participants. At the remote location, a first remote camera captures images of remote participants, a first remote display screen displays images of local participants, and a second remote display screen displays images of the instructor. The local display screen is situated on a side of the local presenter that is substantially opposite to the side on which the first remote display screen is situated relative to the second remote display screen at the remote location to implement video-mirroring. The local and remote display screens display life-size images of the participants and the instructor.
US08207999B2
A method and apparatus for video telephony in a mobile terminal includes: extracting, after establishment of a video call, a facial feature from a video image captured by a camera unit of the mobile terminal, comparing the extracted facial feature with that of a pre-stored reference image, and correcting the video image according to the facial feature of the reference image. The corrected video image is transmitted to a counterpart of the video call.
US08207998B1
A traffic control system selectively interfaces members of plural groups, as buyer groups and vendor groups, for video communication through a dial-up telephone system, for analyzing and compiling data, scheduling appointments, implementing conferences, consummating sales and the like. The traffic-control system comprises a telephonic interface apparatus for interfacing remote telephonic terminals of the dial-up telephone system identified with the members of plural groups, a video recording unit for recording and playing video transcriptions, a storage memory for storing data on the members, including telephonic terminal numbers and area-of-interest codes and a control computer to selectively interconnect the video recording unit with the remote telephone terminals through the telephonic interface apparatus to record and receive video communication.
US08207992B2
Medical imaging often involves the collective use of information presented in multiple images of an individual, such as images generated through different imaging modalities (X-ray, CT, PET, etc.) The use of a composite of these images may involve image registration to adjust for the variable position and orientation discrepancies of the individual during imaging. However, registration may be complicated by soft tissue deformation between images, and implementations (particularly pure software implementations) of the mathematical models used in image registration may be computationally complex and may require up to several hours. Hardware architectures are presented that apply the mathematical techniques in an accelerated manner, thereby providing near-realtime image registration that may be of particular use for the short timeframe requirements of surgical environments. The composite image generated thereby may be used to target anatomic features of interest during various medical procedures, including surgical procedures. Moreover, such techniques may be applied to computationally difficult image processing techniques, such as the display of a composite image based at least in part on a PET image, which may otherwise be difficult to utilize in a time-sensitive manner such as a surgical setting.
US08207988B2
A method of static graphics rendering in a mobile device. Panning increments are received for panning a previously rendered frame to a panned frame. A rendering region is then determined based on the panning increments. A candidate line segment or polyline is then clipped to create clipped line segments contained within the rendering region. The clipped line segments can then be rendered, and a portion of the previously rendered frame can be copied, to provide the panned frame.
US08207978B2
Apparatus, systems and methods for the simplification of 3D texture address computations based on aligned, non-perspective objects are disclosed. For example, a method is disclosed including receiving a texture address of a first pixel and determining a texture address of a second pixel by applying at least one offset to the texture address of the first pixel. Other implementations are also disclosed.
US08207974B2
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for improving switching between graphics processing units (GPUs). Some embodiments may include a display system, including a plurality of GPUs, a multiplexer coupled to the plurality of GPUs, a timing controller coupled to the multiplexer, where the timing controller may provide an indication signal to the multiplexer indicative of a period when a first GPU is experiencing a first blanking interval.
US08207969B1
Various approaches are disclosed for generating an output graphical object from an input graphical object. In one approach, vector graphics data representing the input graphical object in a memory are stored. A first subset of the vector graphics components of the vectors graphics data to leave unchanged for the output graphical object, a second subset of vector graphics components to alter for the output object, and a third subset of vector graphics components to discard from the output object are determined. Each vector graphics component in the second subset is altered, and the first and altered second subsets of vector graphics components as the output graphical object.
US08207959B2
The number of wirings between a scanning circuit and a plurality of scanning lines is decreased with a more simple circuit configuration than a conventional one. The scanning lines are grouped into kN× . . . ×k2 groups. First to Nth groups of gate wirings are included, each of the first to Nth groups being composed of kn (1≦n≦N) gate wirings. A scanning line drive circuit outputs a first selection scanning voltage which selects the scanning lines in each of the groups every horizontal scanning period to the first group of k1 gate wirings, outputs a second selection scanning voltage which selects the scanning lines in one of groups in a second stage where k2 groups constitute one unit every k1 horizontal scanning periods to the second group of k2 gate wirings, and outputs an mth selection scanning voltage which selects the scanning lines in one of groups in an mth stage where k (m−1) groups in a (m−1)th stage constitute one unit every (k (m−1)× . . . ×k1) horizontal scanning periods to an mth group of km gate wirings.
US08207949B2
A highly durable touch panel is provided. A touch panel according to the present invention includes a deformable flexible panel, and a transparent electrode film containing In2O3 as a primary component and containing Ti is exposed to a surface of a lower electrode film of a display device. Since such a transparent electrode film has a high abrasion resistance as compared to a conventional one (such as, an ITO thin film), the transparent electrode film is neither clouded nor cracked even if the lower electrode film is repeatedly pressed. Therefore, the touch panel according to the present invention is highly durable.
US08207942B2
A portable viewing and computing apparatus. In one embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a bus, a memory unit coupled to the bus, and a processor coupled to the bus. The memory unit is for storing data and instructions. The processor is for processing data and instructions. The portable viewing and computing apparatus is further comprised of a display device coupled to the bus. The display device is comprised of a viewing panel viewable from a front side and a back side. The portable viewing and computing apparatus is further comprised of a display device controller coupled to the bus. The display device controller is for sensing the orientation and rotation of the display device, and in response thereto, for controlling and rendering data on the display device.
US08207937B2
A communication protocol in a wireless network of a transceiver and a plurality of devices, in which at least one device is a bidirectional device, and in which one or more other devices can be unidirectional devices. The unidirectional device communicates with the transceiver in a unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver and the bidirectional device communicates with the transceiver either in a bidirectional mode or in an unidirectional mode from the device to the transceiver. The communication protocol is configured to determine which transmission mode is to be used for each device. Various techniques are provided in order to optimize the time and energy spent to transmit information from one peer to the other.
US08207934B2
Described herein are systems and methods that reduce power consumption for a television that includes an LCD display. Power conservation systems and methods described herein alter video information in one or more inactive portions of a display area such that the altered video information decreases power consumption.
US08207933B2
A backlight unit includes a substrate and has a plurality of light emitting areas. In each light emitting area, at least one light emitting diode and a bypass current path are connected in parallel between a connection node and a switching unit. The switching unit is configured to connect a selected one of the light emitting diode and the bypass unit to the connection node of the next light emitting area.
US08207929B2
A source driver adapted to drive a plurality of data lines on a display panel is disclosed. The source driver includes a first output buffer, a second output buffer, a multiplexer, and a first regulating unit. The first and the second output buffers respectively enhance transmission intensities of a first and a second pixel signals. The first regulating unit regulates a slew rate of the first pixel signal outputted from the first output buffer to match a slew rate of the second pixel signal outputted from the second output buffer. The multiplexer coupled to the regulating unit selectively transmits the first and the second pixel signals to one of the odd data lines and one of the even data line, or to the one of the even data lines or the one of the odd data lines, according to a control signal.
US08207926B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device is disclosed, each pixel includes first and second subpixels, each of which includes a storage capacitor. Storage capacitor counter voltages applied independently to the storage capacitor counter electrodes of the first and second subpixels are varied within each vertical scanning period of the input video signal. As a result, each vertical scanning period of the input video signal includes a first subframe in which the first and second subpixels have luminances Y_SP1_A and Y_SP2_A, respectively, and a second subframe SFB in which the first and second subpixels have luminances Y_SP1_B and Y_SP2_B, respectively, where Y_SP1_A≠Y_SP2_A, Y_SP1_B≠Y_SP2_B, and Y_SP1_A≠Y_SP1_B or Y_SP2_A≠Y_SP2_B are satisfied. As a result, the viewing angle dependence of the γ characteristic can be reduced with the decrease in the transmittance of the liquid crystal display device minimized.
US08207924B2
A display device improves brightness while minimizing an increase in the number of source drivers. When a value obtained by dividing the length of a display screen in a row direction by the number of pixels in the row direction is a length corresponding to one pixel in the row direction, one period of color arrangement in the row direction is a length corresponding to two pixels. One such period of color arrangement includes two groups of subpixels that include first subpixels of the light's three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B), that are arranged in a row and that have the same subpixel configuration; and at least one additional subpixel. Scanning lines extending in the row direction and signal lines extending in the column direction are connected to the first subpixels and the at least one additional subpixel.
US08207916B2
A light emitting device that achieves long life, and which is capable of performing high duty drive, by suppressing initial light emitting element deterioration is provided. Reverse bias application to an EL element (109) is performed one row at a time by forming a reverse bias electric power source line (112) and a reverse bias TFT (108). Reverse bias application can therefore be performed in synchronous with operations for write-in of an image signal, light emission, erasure, and the like. Reverse bias application therefore becomes possible while maintaining a duty equivalent to that of a conventional driving method.
US08207910B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for presentation of information on a display. The method performs obtaining information to be presented on an information presentation unit, presenting information on the information presentation unit, presenting a selection area on the information presentation unit, determining mode for updating information on information presentation unit, in dependence of user input, detecting a rotational motion around an axis of rotation of an information presentation device, and providing either the selected area at an updated position on the information presentation unit or the presented information at an updated position on the information presentation unit, in dependence of the detection of rotational motion and in dependence of obtained user input, enabling the selection area or the information to rotate according to detected rotational motion around an axis of rotation of the information presentation device.
US08207909B2
If an image acquired from a video camera (113) contains a two-dimensional bar code as information unique to an operation input device (116), information unique to the video camera (113) and the information unique to the operation input device (116) are managed in a shared memory (107) in association with each other.
US08207904B2
Multiple out-of-plane planar reflectors can be used to build a receive/transmit high-gain directional antenna. The driver portion and the first reflector of the antenna are formed within a metal layer of a PWB. A plurality of sets of reflector plates can be placed on the PWB, on a non-conductive low-dielectric constant material coating both opposing planar surfaces of the PWB, or on the opposing sidewalls of the product housing unit. The metal layer in the PWB is placed between the reflector plates. The plates can have either a parallel or non-parallel orientation to each another. This greatly increase the received power and thus increases the operating range of a low-power UWB system, as well as significantly improves wireless data transmission throughput. This antenna is applicable for USB communications systems.
US08207901B2
An antenna comprises first and second radiating elements for connecting to a first and second potential levels respectively. The first and second potential levels are substantially different for generating an electrostatic field from the first and the second radiating elements. The antenna further comprises first and second field shaping structures for controlling field propagation in a first and second direction respectively. The first and second field shaping structures are interdisplaced for defining a field pathway while the first and second radiating elements are disposed adjacent to the first and second field shaping structures and along the field pathway for directing the electrostatic field in a propagation direction through a liquid medium. More specifically, the propagation direction is defined by the field pathway and substantially perpendicular to at least one of the first and second directions.
US08207898B2
An antenna unit and a communication apparatus are provided, which are operable with respect to wireless systems having three, or more frequencies by employing 2 sets of antenna elements, and which can realize such an antenna structure having a high freedom degree, while the antenna structure can be applied to frequency arrangements as to the plurality of wireless systems. An antenna unit includes a first antenna element 11 connected to a first wireless system operated in a first frequency band, to which electric power is fed; and a second antenna element 12 connected to a second wireless system operated in a second frequency band and a third frequency band, to which electric power is fed; in which the first antenna element 11 and the second antenna element 12 are arranged in a predetermined interval in a substantially parallel manner; and a cut off section 16 for electrically cutting off a connection between the first antenna element 11 and the first wireless system is provided at a power feeding portion “P1 ” of the first antenna element 11.
US08207897B2
A portable communication device (100, 800, 900) has an antenna element (102, 1206). The antenna element forms a slot (104, 1208) which is used as a slot antenna. The device is configured such that the slot facilitates operation of a user interface element through the slot.
US08207892B2
Embodiments of a circuit are described. In this circuit, a transmit circuit provides signals to antenna elements during an acquisition mode, where a given signal to a given antenna element includes at least two frequency components having associated phases, and where the phase of a given frequency component in the given signal is different from phases of the given frequency component for the other antenna elements. Moreover, an output node couples the transmit circuit to the antenna elements that transmit the signals. Note that these signals establish an angle of a communication path between the circuit and another circuit.
US08207891B1
A man-portable phased array ISR system includes a multilayer panel. A first panel layer includes a subarray layer having a plurality of sensors for detecting and receiving radiofrequency information. A second panel layer includes a digital data storage system to digitize, record and store the radiofrequency information. A third panel layer includes a command and communication link. A fourth panel layer includes a nanoparticle ultra-capacitor energy storage system adapted to provide power to the subarray, to the digital data storage system and to the command and communication link. The plurality of sensors may be receive-only sensors for radio-frequency data collection. The first panel layer may include integral beamforming systems having a predetermined frequency range for transmit an receive radar signal formation and data collection.
US08207887B2
A method and system for processing radar data from a movable platform comprising passing a radar signal through a low noise amplifier; down converting the signal to a lower frequency; filtering out harmonics; sampling using A/D converter at or above Nyquist frequency; determining a scene center; performing a two stage averaging scheme of the received signals with a variable window function based upon the velocity, acceleration of the platform and scene center; coherently averaging N pulses to create an average pulse; performing an inverse Fourier transform; compensating to the scene center by multiplying by a complex exponential based upon GPS and inertial navigational system; summing the average pulses using a low pass filter; repeating the determination of an average pulse for a time period that is less than the Nyquist sample time interval to generate second average pulses; and performing a 2D inverse Fourier transform to obtain SAR image.
US08207886B2
A model-based approach to estimating wall positions for a building is developed and tested using simulated data. It borrows two techniques from geophysical inversion problems, layer stripping and stacking, and combines them with a model-based estimation algorithm that minimizes the mean-square error between the predicted signal and the data. The technique is designed to process multiple looks from an ultra wideband radar array. The processed signal is time-gated and each section processed to detect the presence of a wall and estimate its position, thickness, and material parameters. The floor plan of a building is determined by moving the array around the outside of the building. In this paper we describe how the stacking and layer stripping algorithms are combined and show the results from a simple numerical example of three parallel walls.
US08207885B2
A ground penetrating radar system is described that is able to create both low frequency, wide pulses, and high frequency, narrow pulses, to enable both deep and shallow operation of the ground penetrating radar on demand, including simultaneous operation.
US08207882B1
An A/D converter including a folding stage and a plurality of conversion stages is described. The folding stage determines a sub-range in which an input analog voltage falls and adjusts the input analog voltage by a folding voltage offset corresponding to the determined sub-ranges to produce a residue voltage. Each following converter stage determines a voltage range in which the residue voltage falls. The converter stage multiplies the residue voltage by a factor of N to produce an intermediate voltage. The conversion stage selects a cyclic voltage offset corresponding to the sub-ranges in which the residue voltage falls and adjusts the intermediate voltage by the cyclic voltage offset to produce a new residue voltage.
US08207881B2
An analog-to-digital converter comprising: first and second sets of ordered nodes, each first node having a corresponding second node; for each first node, a respective first resistor and current source pair, the resistor of each pair being connected to a first converter input and the current source of each pair being coupled to the respective first node; for each second node, a respective second resistor and current source pair, the resistor of each pair being connected to a second converter input and the current source of each pair being coupled to the respective second node; and a plurality of first comparators, each first comparator having its first input connected to a first node and its second input connected to the corresponding second node; wherein each of the first resistor and current source pairs are configured so as to provide an orderly progression of voltages at the first nodes and each of the second resistor and current source pairs are configured so as to provide an orderly progression of voltages at the second nodes.
US08207873B2
A method for input of text symbols into an electronic device having a reduced keyboard is disclosed. The reduced keyboard has keys representing a plurality of characters. The method comprises receiving character inputs from the reduced keyboard. The method also comprises identifying symbol variants based on the received character inputs. The method further comprises displaying a list of symbol variants. The method further comprises receiving a symbol selected from the list of symbol variants. The symbol is a syllable in a first language. The method further comprises identifying syllable variants in a second language corresponding to the syllable in the first language. The method further comprises receiving an input syllable selected from the syllable variants in the second language.
US08207870B2
An apparatus and method for recognizing a rotor position, and an electric power steering system using the same wherein resolution in rotor position recognition can be improved by software by adding one or more increment values, which is proportional to the rotation speed of a rotor, in an interval where the counted number of increment pulses of a pulse generator is not changed in sampling the counted number of increment pulses of the pulse generator so as to recognize a rotor position of a motor.
US08207869B1
A method of providing position estimation with a navigation device comprises periodically recording magnetic field strength of an area substantially surrounding a navigation device as a user of the navigation device traverses a select pathway. The method combines the recorded magnetic field strength with measurements from at least a dead reckoning portion of the navigation device to provide position estimates along the select pathway. The method further corrects each of the position estimates from a starting position on the select pathway, where each of the corrected position estimates have an error value below one or more previous position estimates and any intervening positions between each of the one or more previous position estimates and the starting position, with the error value corresponding to an error threshold based on the previous position estimates.
US08207867B2
A technique for landing aircraft using an aircraft landing accident avoidance device is disclosed. The technique includes determining at least two probability distribution functions; determining a safe lower limit on a separation between a lead aircraft and a trail aircraft on a glide slope to the runway; determining a maximum sustainable safe attempt-to-land rate on the runway based on the safe lower limit and the probability distribution functions; directing the trail aircraft to enter the glide slope with a target separation from the lead aircraft corresponding to the maximum sustainable safe attempt-to-land rate; while the trail aircraft is in the glide slope, determining an actual separation between the lead aircraft and the trail aircraft; and directing the trail aircraft to execute a go-around maneuver if the actual separation approaches the safe lower limit. Probability distribution functions include runway occupancy time, and landing time interval and/or inter-arrival distance.
US08207864B2
An underwater detection device for detecting underwater by transmission and reception of an ultrasonic signal is provided. The device includes a transmission module for transmitting the ultrasonic signal underwater, a reception module for receiving an echo signal of the transmitted ultrasonic signal, a bottom detection module for detecting a bottom based on the echo signal from the bottom, a bottom-sediment determination module for calculating probabilities of the bottom sediment on how much the bottom sediment contains each of predetermined bottom sediment types based on the echo signal and a bottom-sediment display module for displaying a texture representing each of the bottom sediment types below the bottom being displayed based on the probabilities.
US08207862B2
An under-voltage warning circuit includes a Zener diode, a transistor, an annunciator, and a thyristor. When the power source is within a certain range, the annunciator does not work. When the voltage level of the power source V_in is lower than the predetermined value, the annunciator works to denote that the power source is under-voltage.
US08207860B2
An automobile monitoring system to monitor user body characteristics includes at least one sensor to monitor at least one user body characteristic. The at least one sensor is operatively coupled to a body of a user to monitor the at least one user body characteristic while the user is operating an automobile. The at least one user body characteristic is at least a glucose level of the user's body. At least one transmitter is operatively coupled to the at least one sensor to communicate sensor data obtained from the at least one sensor while the user is operating the automobile. Automobile electronics are operatively coupled to the at least one transmitter to receive sensor data from the at least one sensor while the user is operating the automobile. The automobile electronics provide the sensor data to the user while the user is operating the automobile. A global positioning system (GPS) is operatively coupled to the automobile electronics to determine a current location of the user. The automobile electronics limit the user from operating the automobile to travel beyond a distance based on the sensor data received from the at least one sensor.
US08207858B2
Electronic systems and methods utilizing such systems for detecting and verifying the adequacy of personal protective equipment needed by a person in light of a potential arc flash hazard presented by an electrical power system.
US08207854B2
Disclosed is a remotely monitorable shipping container security and integrity system and radio frequency identification device. The system permits remote monitoring of shipping containers via RFID devices capable of data storage. The RFID devices are adapted to become at least partially non-functional in the event of substantial tampering.
US08207850B2
Jungle canopy surveillance apparatus and method for surveillance of human presence in a jungle canopy environment includes a plurality of sensor-relay units configured to be disposed on or near the jungle floor, and configured to detect human presence and wirelessly transmit a corresponding detection signal. At least one of the sensor-relay units is configured to receive a detection signal from another sensor-relay unit and to relay the thus-received detection signal. An artificial intelligence center is configured to be disposed on or near the top of the jungle canopy, and is configured to (i) receive at least one of the detection signal and the relayed detection signal, (ii) analyze the received at least one of the detection signal and the relayed detection signal using artificial intelligence software, and (iii) transmit a corresponding report signal to a receiving platform.
US08207845B2
An alarm system includes one or more audio stations, and an audio station network interface. The audio stations communicate wirelessly with the audio station network interface. The audio station network interface communicates with a monitoring center over a cellular network, to allow audio monitoring of the premises at the audio stations. The audio station network interface may be called by the monitoring center. Calls may optionally be placed by it in response to user interaction with one of the audio stations.
US08207844B2
Systems and corresponding methods are provided that include at least one computing device in communication with a plurality of mobile devices over a communication network. The at least one computing device is operable to track with a location service each of a plurality of mobile devices from a departure area to a destination area, collect with each of the plurality of mobile devices objective data with regard to destination area, and compute or otherwise determine an implied interest for the destination area based on the objective data collected. The objective data may include the amount of time each of the plurality of the mobile devices spends at the destination area, the distance(s) traveled by each of the plurality of mobile devices to get to the destination area, and/or the amount of money spent by each owner of the plurality of mobile devices at the destination area.
US08207842B2
There is provided a method for monitoring a building control device, the method comprising associating the building control device with an event; storing the event and at least one parameter of the building control device in a database, wherein the database is operatively connected to a plurality of operator devices, and wherein the at least one parameter at least pertains to defining the event to be one from the group of unassigned, pending, or assigned by the plurality of operator devices; traversing, by at least a first of the plurality of operator devices, the database subject to the at least one parameter.
US08207839B2
An apparatus for detecting a tire having a decreased pressure based on resonance frequency of tires attached to respective wheels of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a storage means for storing information regarding a distribution of resonance frequencies respectively corresponding to a plurality of air pressure statuses, an initialization means for estimating a frequency characteristic of the rotation speed information or the rotation acceleration information, a frequency estimation means for estimating a frequency characteristic of the rotation speed information or the rotation acceleration information of a running vehicle, and a Bayesian estimation means for subjecting a tire pressure status at a certain time to a Bayesian estimation based on the resonance frequency during the initialization, a resonance frequency at the certain time obtained from the frequency estimation means, and distribution-related information stored in the storage means.
US08207820B2
A location localization method and system. The method includes transmitting by an RFID tag reader, a request for locating a passive RFID tag in a facility. The RFID tag reader receives from a first group of active RFID tags, a first date/time associated with first data. The RFID tag reader transmits to the first group of active RFID tags, a request for retrieving the first data. The first data comprises distances between each active RFID tag of the first group and the passive RFID tag. The RFID tag reader receives the first data. The RFID tag reader receives a map of the facility and locations on the map for the first group of active RFID tags. The RFID tag reader determines a location within the facility for the passive RFID tag based on the first data, the map, and the locations on the map. The RFID tag reader transmits the first location to a user.
US08207817B2
An electronic key system which checks, using two-way communication, a key code stored in an electronic key against a key code stored in a lock device that locks an entrance to a predetermined space, and allows an unlocking operation of the lock device if the key code stored in the electronic key matches the key code stored in the lock device, is such that the key code includes an identification code unique to the electronic key and a property code indicative of a property of the electronic key (a master key or an additional key). The lock device erases a key code that includes a property code indicating that the key is an additional key, from among the key codes stored in the lock device, when a predetermined operation (including an operation using the master key) is performed.
US08207813B2
A varistor pre-assembly includes an electrode formable structure and a sinterable mass proximate to electrode formable structure. The electrode formable structure includes a material having a melting point that may be within a determined temperature relative to a sintering temperature of the sinterable mass. The electrode formable structure and sinterable mass may form a varistor when simultaneously subjected to the sintering temperature, which may be less than about 1000 degrees Celsius. A method to make the article is also provided.
US08207807B2
A coil is formed by coaxially winding a second winding so as to be in intimate contact with an outer circumferential portion of a first winding wound about a winding shaft axis. In the first winding, one side of a winding wire is wound from an inner circumferential side to an outer circumferential side, the other side of the winding wire is drawn forth from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side, while crossing the one side of the winding wire, and a thickness in a direction of the winding shaft axis in crossing portions of the one side of the winding wire and the other side of the winding wire is equal to a thickness in other portions.
US08207803B2
An electromagnetic relay includes a coil, an armature that is electromagnetically attracted by the coil when current flows through the coil, two fixed contacts, a movable spring disposed to be movable to the fixed contacts, a conductive plate that is connected to the movable spring and including two movable contacts. The movable contacts are brought in contact with the fixed contacts respectively via the movable spring by the armature attracted by the coil. When the fixed contacts and the movable contacts are in contact, the fixed contacts are electrically connected to each other via the conductive plate. The movable spring is made of an insulating material.
US08207796B2
A technique of realizing a termination circuit using coupled resonators in stripline configuration of a circuit presented. The circuit absorbs RF energy incident on its input over a frequency band of interest, and dissipates it in to the dielectric substrate, thereby acting like an effective termination in the frequency band. The resonant elements may be constructed in edge-coupled or broad-side coupled stripline configuration. The technique may be extended to build microstrip line termination with edge-coupled resonators. The technique may further be extended to realize attenuators over a narrow band.
US08207794B2
The phase locked loop has a phase-frequency detector (PFD), a loop filter (LF), a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), and a 3-stage frequency divider. The PFD receives a reference signal and a feedback signal to determine phase and frequency errors. The LF), coupled to the phase-frequency detector, filters the phase and frequency errors to generate a control voltage. The VCO, coupled to the loop filter, generates a VCO output signal according to the control voltage. The 3-stage frequency divider, coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator, divides the frequency of the VCO output signal 3 times to generate the feedback signal. The 3-stage frequency divider comprises three cascaded frequency dividers with different rangers of operating frequencies.
US08207791B2
An amplifier circuit including an amplifier to amplify a signal and to output the amplified signal in a first output, a coupling line connected to the first output line in a first connection point and having a length so that a standing electrical wave is generated in it, and a second output line coupled to the coupling line in a second connection point so that a power level of a resulting signal in the second output line is depending on the power level of the amplified signal in the first output line. The amplifier circuit a high integration of an amplifier circuit and an integrated circuit with small size.
US08207783B2
An integrated circuit includes a sensing circuit, a fuse box, and a fuse bus decoder. The sensing circuit includes an output node, and the fuse box includes a plurality of switches coupled in series with a plurality of resistive elements. The fuse box is coupled to the output node of the sensing circuit from which the fuse box is configured to receive a current. The fuse bus decoder is coupled to the fuse box and includes at least one demultiplexer configured to receive a signal and in response output a plurality of control signals for selectively opening and closing the switches of the fuse box to adjust a resistance across the fuse box. A voltage of the output node of the sense amplifier is based on a resistance the fuse box and the current.
US08207776B1
An embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include a logging transistor, a guard circuit arranged to force an input current into an input terminal of the logging transistor, and a positioning circuit arranged to maintain a voltage of the logging transistor. The guard and positioning circuits may include first and second feedback loops, respectively. Another embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include a logging transistor arranged to generate a logarithmic output in response to an input current, and a feedback loop arranged to provide adaptive compensation to the logging transistor. The feedback loop may be arranged to provide compensation in response to the magnitude of the input current. Another embodiment of a logarithmic circuit may include first and second logging transistors having collectors arranged to receive input currents, and first and second feedback amplifier arranged to drive emitters of the logging transistors.
US08207766B2
A first current source supplies a first charge amount responsive to a first pulse signal from the phase frequency detector and a second current source supplies a second charge amount according to a fixed value and a variable value. The variable value corresponds to a phase difference between a first feedback clock signal and a hypothesized feedback clock signal with reduced quantization noise. The first and second charge amounts are of opposite polarity. A single set of first and second current sources perform the functions of charge pump and noise reduction DAC.
US08207743B2
A method is provided for fault location in uncompensated power lines with two-end unsynchronized measurement, finding an application in the power industry and for overhead and overhead-cable transmission or distribution lines. The method according to the invention includes measuring the voltage and currents at both ends (A) and (B) of the section, obtaining the phasor of the positive sequence voltages (VA1, VB1) measured at the ends (A) and (B), respectively, obtaining the phasor of the positive sequence currents (IA1, IB1) measured at the ends (A) and (B), respectively, determining whether there is a three-phase balanced fault, and using either a first subroutine or a second subroutine (depending on whether or not there is a fault), determining a distance (d) to the fault.
US08207740B2
A system and method for use with a vehicle battery pack having a number of individual battery cells, such as a lithium-ion battery commonly used in hybrid electric vehicles. In one embodiment, the method evaluates individual battery cells within a vehicle battery pack in order to obtain accurate estimates regarding their average transient voltage effect, open circuit voltage (OCVCell) and/or state of charge (SOCCell) so that a cell balancing process can be performed. These cell evaluations may be performed fairly soon after the vehicle is turned off and in a manner that utilizes a minimal amount of in-vehicle resources.
US08207738B2
A downhole measurement tool includes at least one non-planar antenna configured for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation. The non-planar antenna includes at least one non-planar loop of antenna wire deployed about a tool body. In one exemplary embodiment, the non-planar antenna may be thought of as being bi-planar in that it includes first and second sections defining first and second intercepting geometric planes. In another exemplary embodiment, the axial separation between the non-planar loop of antenna wire and a circular centerline of the antenna varies substantially sinusoidally with respect to an azimuth angle about the circumference of the tool. Exemplary non-planar antennae in accordance with the invention may be advantageously configured to transceive substantially pure x-, y-, and z-mode radiation.
US08207737B2
A standing wave barrier, particularly for use in a magnetic resonance tomography device, has a body and an opening in the body that is fashioned to accommodate a cable, the opening being formed as an externally open groove along a longitudinal direction of the standing wave barrier, and is shaped so that the cable can glide in and out along the standing wave barrier through the groove.
US08207736B2
A method, system, and apparatus including a magnetic resonance (MR) coil system that includes an MR coil element, a high input Pre-amplifier having a high input impedance field-effect-transistor (FET) with an impedance of one of substantially equal to 500 ohms and greater than 500 ohms, and a conductive path. The conductive path has a first end coupled to the MR coil element and a second end coupled to the high input Pre-amplifier such that the MR coil element is coupled in series with the high input Pre-amplifier. Further, the conductive path is free of a matching network intervening between the MR coil element and the high input Pre-amplifier.
US08207731B2
A metal detector used for identifying contaminants in packages on a conveyor. The detector includes coils a search head and an analog to digital converter generating a reactive signal and a resistive signal in response to the presence of a contaminant. During a learning mode a sample product passes through the metal detector providing a representative product effect signal which is stored by the reactive learn memory and the resistive learn memory. The learn memory values provide a reference value subtracted from each product signal during a normal production cycle, canceling the product effect caused by contaminants in individual packages. The product effect is monitored during successive cycles composed of a series of packages undergoing normal inspection by the metal detector. A tracking processor averages the product effect signal produced by the individual packages and continuously updates a product effect trend signal that is subtracted from each product signal.
US08207723B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a power converter. In one aspect, a controller for use in a power converter includes a first calculator coupled to determine an end of an on time of a power switch of the power converter by integrating an input current to output an on time signal representative of the end of the on time of the power switch. The controller also includes a second calculator coupled to determine an end of an off time of the power switch by integrating a difference between an input voltage and an output voltage to output an off time signal representative of the end of the off time of the power switch.
US08207714B2
A switching regulator integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that includes a switch circuit that further includes a first switch and a second switch, a mode selector circuit controlled by external circuitry to select between a first mode and a second mode, and a control circuit. In response to a feedback signal from the switch circuit, when the first mode is selected, the control circuit toggles the first switch and the second switch ON and OFF alternately at a fixed first frequency. When a second mode is selected, the control circuit causes the second switch to turn OFF completely and the first switch to switch ON and OFF at a variable second frequency.
US08207712B2
An arrangement for exchanging power with a three-phase electric power network includes a Voltage Source Converter having three phase legs with each a series connection of switching cells. The three phase legs are interconnected in a neutral point by forming a wye-connection. The arrangement also includes a device connected to the neutral point of the converter and configured to provide a current path for a zero-sequence current. A control unit is configured to calculate a value for amplitude and phase position for a zero-sequence current for which, when added to said three phase legs upon generation of a negative-sequence current, the resulting energy stored in energy storing capacitors in each phase leg will be constant and to control semiconductor devices of said switching cells to add such a zero-sequence current to the currents of each phase leg of the converter.
US08207707B2
A battery charger with a fixed frequency charging signal at or near the resonant frequency of the battery to be charged is presented. The present invention utilizes a microprocessor to modulate a current source at or near the resonant frequency of the battery to be charged without the use of a PLL. To simplify conventional modulated battery chargers, the PLL or other methods of phase correction are removed, reducing most of the calculation requirements for adjusting the phase angle, thereby reducing the piece count and ultimately cost and complexity. The result is a solution wherein charging occurs at or near the resonant frequency of the battery, and although suboptimal, the results are superior to traditional charging methods.
US08207697B1
The present invention is a positioning work stop for use with a machine tool for and having a signaling means that operates as a placement indicator effective for providing a signal if the work piece to be machined is in its proper position for machining or for signaling if the work piece has shifted out of position for machining. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the positioning work stop comprises a stop member having a stop surface, a switch element, a signaling means, and a power supply that are electrically coupled such that the signaling means activates when the work piece makes contact with the stop surface and operates as a placement indicator effective for providing a signal if the work piece to be machined is in its proper position for machining or for signaling if the work piece has shifted out of position for machining.
US08207675B2
A vehicle lamp includes: N semiconductor light sources, wherein N is an integer of 1 or more; M fans configured to cool the N semiconductor light sources, wherein M is an integer of 1 or more; N current supply units configured to supply first current to the N semiconductor light sources, respectively; and a control unit configured to receive electric power supplied from an electric power source and supply second current to the N current supply units. The control unit includes: N switch elements that correspond to the N semiconductor light sources; M switch elements that correspond to the M fans; and a control circuit configured to control fan drive current supplied to the fans through the switch elements and the second current. The fans are coupled to the control unit.
US08207672B2
A technique for achieving both discharge voltage reduction and discharge stabilization in a PDP and the like is provided. This PDP manufacturing method includes, for a structure of a front plate structure (11) to be exposed to a discharge space (30) to be filled with a discharge gas, a step of forming a first layer (4) having an effect of discharge protective layer on a dielectric layer (3), a step of forming a second layer (5) for protecting the first layer on the first layer, and a step of forming a third layer (6) of a powder for discharge stabilization to be exposed to the discharge space (30), the steps being performed in vacuum manufacturing process. And, the structure is made such that a surface of the first layer is exposed to the discharge space (30) by a step of removing the second layer by an aging discharge in the discharge space (30).
US08207670B2
A paste composition for forming an electrode includes: Component A: a conductive powder; Component B: a glass frit having a transmittance of about 65% or less at a wavelength of 550 nm; Component C: an organic binder; and Component D: a solvent.
US08207667B2
An organic EL display includes a substrate on which pixel areas are arranged in a matrix; first and second electrodes; functional material layers each including a carrier transport layer and a non-carrier transport layer; and a barrier to define the pixel areas. The barrier includes communication recesses arranged to extend the non-carrier transport layers from respective first pixel areas to respective second pixel areas adjacent to each other in the pixel areas defined by the barrier.
US08207648B2
A dual-rotor motor in which inner slot angle φi is larger than outer slot angle φo. An inner notched portion is provided on both circumferential ends of an inner head. This inner notched portion provides a broader space between the inner head and an inner rotor toward both utmost ends of the inner head. An outer notched portion is provided on both circumferential ends of an outer head. This outer notched portion provides a broader space between the outer head and the outer rotor toward both utmost ends of the outer head.
US08207647B2
A power tool has a motor having a stator made by separately forming pole pieces, return path pieces and field coils. The field coils are placed over necks of the pole path pieces and the return path pieces are affixed to the pole pieces. An armature having an outside diameter of at least 0.625 the outside diameter of the stator is placed in the stator. The field coils may be formed so that they extend beyond pole tips of the pole pieces.
US08207646B2
To provide an indication motor rotor capable of improving motor performance by concentrating portions under magnetic saturation conditions of rotor teeth. The rotor 1 of an induction motor of this invention may include slots 3 formed approximately in the shape of a T. The slots 3 may be formed so that top slots 3a are arranged on an outer peripheral portion of a rotor core 1a, and bottom slots 3b are arranged on an inner side of the top slots 3a. The width in the circumferential direction of the top slot 3a is wider than the width in the circumferential direction of the bottom slot 3b, and the width in the circumferential direction of a rotor tooth 4 between adjacent top slots 3a is narrower than the width in the circumferential direction of the rotor tooth 4 between adjacent bottom slots 3b.
US08207639B2
A motor includes a balancing member having a surface, a shaft coupling portion and a magnetically conductive portion. A stator is coupled to the balancing member. A rotor includes a hub, a shaft, and a permanent magnet. The shaft and the permanent magnet are mounted inside the hub. The shaft is rotatably coupled to the shaft coupling portion. The permanent magnet includes a magnetically attracting face aligned with the magnetically conductive portion of the balancing member. The magnetically attracting face and the magnetically conductive portion attract each other to maintain stable rotation of the rotor while providing a simplified structure. The balancing member can be interconnected to a housing, and the hub can include a plurality of blades to form a heat dissipating fan. When the rotor rotates, air currents are drawn by the blades to a heat source for heat dissipating purposes.
US08207631B2
The power control of a transport system comprises an electric motor for moving the transport appliance as well as a power supply appliance of the motor, which comprises an intermediate circuit. The power supply appliance of the motor is fitted between the power source and the electric motor. The transport system further comprises a network rectifier, which is fitted between the power source and the intermediate circuit of the power supply appliance of the motor for supplying braking power returning from the motor of the transport appliance to the power source.
US08207624B2
The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a rotor shaft (11), a multiplier (3) with at least one planetary-type stage and a generator inside a frame (1). The inventive turbine also comprises a first tubular casing (13) which is solidly connected to the frame (1) and which houses the rotor shaft (11). According to the invention, one end of the rotor shaft is solidly connected to the hub of the rotor, while the other end thereof is solidly connected to the planet carrier (21) of the multiplier unit. The aforementioned first casing includes a bearing (15) for supporting the rotor shaft (11). The invention also comprises a second casing (17) which is equipped with a bearing (19) for supporting the planet holder (21), one end of said second casing being solidly connected to the crown gear of the first planetary stage of the multiplier unit (3) and the other end thereof being solidly connected to the first casing (13) and to the structure of the frame (1).
US08207621B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to energy generating modules. More particularly, embodiments relate generally to energy generating modules that comprise energy generating devices and pluralities of modular panels comprising fuel chambers. The modular panels respectively comprise one or more multi-functional inter-panel coupling ports positioned to facilitate multi-purpose modular interconnection of complementary modular panels and exhibit a degree of structural rigidity sufficient to contribute to immobilization of interconnected complementary modular panels relative to each other. The complementary modular panels are interconnected via the multi-functional inter-panel coupling ports to form an enclosure such that the fuel chambers of the interconnected complementary modular panels are disposed between an exterior of the enclosure and an interior of the enclosure. The energy generating device is in fluid communication with one or more of the fuel chambers and is configured to generate an energy output with fuel received from the fuel chambers.
US08207619B2
The extent of a bow of a semiconductor device is suppressed in a case where the fillet width of an underfill resin is asymmetrical. The center position 12 of a chip 1 is caused to deviate from the center position 13 of a wiring substrate 2 in a direction (the direction of the arrow B) reverse to the deviation direction (the direction of the arrow A) of the center position 11 of an underfill resin 4 from the center position 12 of the chip 1. The center position 14 of a resin for encapsulation 6 is caused to deviate from the center position 13 of the wiring substrate 2 in the same direction (the direction of the arrow A) as the deviation direction (the direction of the arrow A) of the center position 11 of the underfill resin 4 from the center position 12 of the chip 1.
US08207615B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package, which includes a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a chip disposed in or on the substrate, a pad disposed in or on the substrate and electrically connected to the chip, a hole extending from the lower surface toward the upper surface, exposing the pad, wherein a lower opening of the hole near the lower surface has a width that is shorter than that of an upper opening of the hole near the upper surface, an insulating layer located overlying a sidewall of the hole, and a conducting layer located overlying the insulating layer and electrically connected to the pad.
US08207607B2
An electronic device includes: a substrate having first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface; a first electronic element mounted on the first surface of the substrate; a second electronic element mounted on the second surface of the substrate; and a resin mold sealing the first electronic element and the first surface of the substrate. The resin mold further seals the second electronic element on the second surface of the substrate. The second surface of the substrate has a portion, which is exposed from the resin mold. The second electronic element is not disposed on the portion of the second surface.
US08207604B2
A microelectronic package includes a mounting structure, a microelectronic element associated with the mounting structure, and a plurality of conductive posts physically connected to the mounting structure and electrically connected to the microelectronic element. The conductive posts project from the mounting structure in an upward direction, at least one of the conductive posts being an offset post. Each offset post has a base connected to the mounting structure, the base of each offset post defining a centroid. Each offset post also defines an upper extremity having a centroid, the centroid of the upper extremity being offset from the centroid of the base in a horizontal offset direction transverse to the upward direction. The mounting structure is adapted to permit tilting of each offset post about a horizontal axis so that the upper extremities may wipe across a contact pad of an opposing circuit board.
US08207601B2
An electronic component includes a lead frame assembly, an insert, a semiconductor chip and an encapsulation compound. The lead frame assembly includes a mounting hole, a die pad, a plurality of bonding fingers and a plurality of lead fingers. The insert includes a hollow center and is provided at the mounting hole of the lead frame assembly. The semiconductor chip is arranged on the die pad and includes contact areas on its surface. A plurality of electrical contacts respectively links the contact areas of the semiconductor chip to the bonding fingers of the lead frame assembly. An encapsulating compound encloses the insert, the semiconductor chip, and the electrical contacts, however, leaves the hollow center of the insert uncovered.
US08207594B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit memory device includes a gate line that extends in a first direction, an active region adjacent to a first end of the gate line and that extends in a second direction, a silicide layer formed on a top surface of the active region, on a top surface of the gate line, on both sidewalls of the first end of the gate line, and on a transverse endwall of the first end of the gate line. A spacer may be formed on sidewalls of the gate line, excluding the first end of the gate line, and a contact shared by the active region may be formed on the first end of the gate line.
US08207593B2
A memristor includes a first electrode having a first surface, at least one electrically conductive nanostructure provided on the first surface, in which the at least one electrically conductive nanostructure is relatively smaller than a width of the first electrode, a switching material positioned upon said first surface, in which the switching material covers the at least one electrically conductive nanostructure, and a second electrode positioned upon the switching material substantially in line with the at least one electrically conductive nanostructure, in which an active region in the switching material is formed substantially between the at least one electrically conductive nanostructure and the first electrode.
US08207588B2
An analytical system-on-a-chip can be used as an analytical imaging device, for example, for detecting the presence of a chemical compound. A layer of analytical material is formed on a transparent layer overlying a solid state image sensor. The analytical material can react in known ways with at least one reactant to block light or to allow light to pass through to the array. The underlying sensor array, in turn, can process the presence, absence or amount of light into a digitized signal output. The system-on-a-chip may also include software that can detect and analyze the output signals of the device.
US08207581B2
Provided is a semiconductor device in which the first trench isolation regions is placed between a substrate potential-fixing P-type diffusion region of an ESD protection NMOS transistor and source and drain regions of the ESD protection NMOS transistor, and has a depth greater than a depth of the second trench isolation region that is placed between a substrate potential-fixing P-type diffusion region of an NMOS transistor for internal circuit and source and drain regions of the NMOS transistor for internal circuit.
US08207579B2
A semiconductor device where a plurality of DMOS transistors formed in a distributed manner on a semiconductor substrate can operate without being destroyed and a method of manufacturing the same. The on/off threshold voltage of a DMOS transistor at the innermost position from among three or more DMOS transistors formed in a distributed manner on a semiconductor is greater than the on/off threshold voltage of a DMOS transistor at the outermost position.
US08207576B2
Differently-sized features of an integrated circuit are formed by etching a substrate using a mask which is formed by combining two separately formed patterns. Pitch multiplication is used to form the relatively small features of the first pattern and conventional photolithography used to form the relatively large features of the second pattern. Pitch multiplication is accomplished by patterning a photoresist and then etching that pattern into an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are then formed on the sidewalls of the amorphous carbon. The amorphous carbon is removed, leaving behind the sidewall spacers, which define the first mask pattern. A bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is then deposited around the spacers to form a planar surface and a photoresist layer is formed over the BARC. The photoresist is next patterned by conventional photolithography to form the second pattern, which is then is transferred to the BARC. The combined pattern made out by the first pattern and the second pattern is transferred to an underlying amorphous silicon layer and the pattern is subjected to a carbon strip to remove BARC and photoresist material. The combined pattern is then transferred to the silicon oxide layer and then to an amorphous carbon mask layer. The combined mask pattern, having features of difference sizes, is then etched into the underlying substrate through the amorphous carbon hard mask layer.
US08207574B2
A object is to provide a semiconductor device having normally-off characteristics and capable of easily suppressing field concentration below a side surface of a concave portion. A device includes a nitride-based semiconductor layer having a concave portion formed in a part of one principal surface, a side surface of the concave portion being slanted; a first electrode provided on the principal surface; a second electrode on an opposite side to the first electrode across the concave portion, and provided on the principal surface; an insulating layer formed on both sides of the concave portion in the principal surface; and a control electrode provided on the concave portion and at least a part of the wall surface of the insulating layer on the concave portion-side. A tilt angle of the wall surface of the insulating layer is greater than a tilt angle of the side surface of the concave portion.
US08207571B2
A semiconductor device having a non-volatile memory and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a base material and a stack structure. The stack structure disposed on the base material at least includes a tunneling layer, a trapping layer and a dielectric layer. The trapping layer is disposed on the tunneling layer. The dielectric layer has a dielectric constant and is disposed on the trapping layer. The dielectric layer is transformed from a first solid state to a second solid state when the dielectric layer undergoes a process.
US08207570B2
Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask.
US08207560B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a gate electrode formed on a gate insulating film, a source/drain region formed at each side of the gate electrode and including a first region, a second region and a third region located between the first and second regions, a first silicon oxide film formed on a sidewall of the gate electrode, a second silicon oxide film formed on the third region, and a silicon nitride film formed on an upper surface of the second silicon oxide film. The first silicon oxide film, the second silicon oxide film having the silicon nitride film, and a contact plug are contiguously arranged on the first, third and second regions of the source/drain region. The contact plug extends through the second silicon oxide film and the second nitride file to contact the source/drain region.
US08207555B2
The present invention provides a light-emitting element having less increase in driving voltage with the accumulation of light-emission time, and provides a light-emitting element having less increase in resistance value with the increase in film thickness. A light-emitting element includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first layer is provided to be closer to the first electrode than the second layer, and the third layer is provided to be closer to the second electrode than the second layer. The first layer is a layer including an aromatic amine compound and a substance showing an electron accepting property to the aromatic amine compound. The second layer includes a substance of which an electron transporting property is stronger than a hole transporting property, and a substance showing an electron donating property to the aforementioned substance.
US08207553B2
A semiconductor chip assembly includes a semiconductor device, a heat spreader, a conductive trace and an adhesive. The heat spreader includes a base. A cavity extends through the adhesive into the base. The semiconductor device extends into the cavity, is electrically connected to the conductive trace and is thermally connected to the heat spreader. The adhesive extends between the cavity and the conductive trace and between the base and the conductive trace. The conductive trace is located outside the cavity and provides signal routing between a pad and a terminal.
US08207552B2
Light emitting LEDs devices comprised of LED chips that emit light at a first wavelength, and a thin film layer over the LED chip that changes the color of the emitted light. For example, a blue LED chip can be used to produce white light. The thin film layer beneficially consists of a florescent material, such as a phosphor, and/or includes tin. The thin film layer is beneficially deposited using chemical vapor deposition.
US08207548B2
An LED array chip (2), which is one type of a semiconductor light emitting device, includes an array of LEDs (6), a base substrate (4) supporting the array of the LEDs (6), and a phosphor film (48). The array of LEDs (6) is formed by dividing a multilayer epitaxial structure including a light emitting layer into a plurality of portions. The phosphor film (48) covers an upper surface of the array of the LEDs (6) and a part of every side surface of the array of LEDs (6). Here, the part extends from the upper surface to the light emitting layer.
US08207537B2
A display device according to the present invention includes a barrier layer formed over the transistor and a planarization layer formed over the barrier layer. The planarization layer has an opening and an edge portion of the planarization layer formed at the opening of the planarization layer is rounded. Further, a resin film is formed over the planarization layer and in the opening of the planarization layer, and the resin film also has an opening and an edge portion of the resin film formed at the opening of the resin film is rounded. A light emitting member is formed over the resin film.
US08207533B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing process using a droplet-discharging method that is suitable for manufacturing a large substrate in mass production. A photosensitive material solution of a conductive film is selectively discharged by a droplet-discharging method, selectively exposed to laser light, and developed or etched, thereby allowing only the region exposed to laser light to be left and realizing a source wiring and a drain wiring having a more microscopic pattern than the pattern itself formed by discharging. One feature of the source wiring and the drain wiring is that the source wiring and the drain wiring cross an island-like semiconductor layer and overlap it.
US08207530B2
Provided are an oxide semiconductor and a thin film transistor including the oxide semiconductor. The oxide semiconductor may be formed of indium (In) oxide and hafnium (Hf) and may be a channel material of the thin film transistor.
US08207529B2
A thin film transistor includes: a gate electrode; source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode; an organic semiconductor layer that is insulated from the gate electrode and electrically connected to the source and drain electrodes; an insulating layer that insulates the gate electrode from the source and drain electrodes or the organic semiconductor layer; a hydrophobic layer which covers the source and drain electrodes or insulating layer and has an opening that defines a region corresponding to the organic semiconductor layer; and a hydrophilic layer formed in the opening of the hydrophobic layer, wherein the organic semiconductor layer is formed on the hydrophilic layer. The thin film transistor includes the organic semiconductor layer having a highly precise pattern that is formed without an additional patterning process.
US08207504B2
A system that includes: (a) a mask manipulator, that is arranged to: receive an opaque EUV pod that encloses an EUV mask, extract, in a highly clean environment, the EUV mask from the outer pod and the inner pod of the EUV pod, and cover an upper face of the EUV mask with protective cover that is at least partially transparent to DUV radiation; (b) a scanner, arranged to scan the EUV mask, using DUV illumination while maintaining in the scanner an environment that has a cleanliness level that is below a tolerable EUV mask cleanliness level; and (c) a transport system arranged to transport the EUV mask and the protective cover between the scanner and the mask manipulator.
US08207476B2
A substrate holder for supporting a substrate in a processing system includes a temperature controlled support base having a first temperature, and a substrate support opposing the temperature controlled support base and configured to support the substrate. Also included is one or more heating elements coupled to the substrate support and configured to heat the substrate support to a second temperature above the first temperature, and a thermal insulator disposed between the temperature controlled support base and the substrate support. The thermal insulator includes a non-uniform spatial variation of the heat transfer coefficient (W/m2-K) through the thermal insulator between the temperature controlled support base and the substrate support.
US08207469B2
A method for inhibiting electromigration-induced phase segregation suitable for solder joint configurations used in a chip package is described as following. First, a chip package including a wiring board, a chip and numbers of solder joints is provided, wherein the chip is disposed on the wiring board, and the solder joints are disposed between the chip and the wiring board to electrically connect the chip to the wiring board. Next, a first current and a second current are alternately applied to a side of the solder joints, wherein flowing directions of the first current and the second current are opposite. The current density of the first current is 103˜105 A/cm2, and the current density of the second current is 103˜105 A/cm2.
US08207468B2
A welding apparatus of a stainless steel pipe comprises a welding torch jetting argon gas for shielding oxygen into a gap of the steel pipe rolled in a circular shape, while fusing any one of base metal and a welding material; and a gas supply pipe installed inside the steel pipe, the gas supply pipe having a jetting nozzle which jets argon gas at a rate of 4 to 20 l/min toward the inner surface of a welding bead portion, where welding has been already completed and which is positioned backwardly at a predetermined distance from a welding bead portion where welding is being performed by the welding torch.
US08207465B2
A key switch unit includes a keycap elongated in a lengthwise direction; a switch mechanism; a supporting plate supporting the switch mechanism; and a key reinforcement mechanism engaging the keycap on its lower side for reinforcement. The key reinforcement mechanism includes a first wire member having a beam part extending over substantially an overall dimension of the keycap in the lengthwise direction; a second wire member having a beam part extending in the lengthwise direction between a region contacting the switch mechanism and a first lengthwise end of the keycap; and a third wire member having a beam part extending in the lengthwise direction between the region and a second lengthwise end of the keycap. The beam parts engage the keycap on its lower side. The first, second, and third wire members have respective end parts turnably supported on the supporting plate.
US08207458B2
An article with circuit actuating capability includes a first article part [13], a second article part [11] formed with a pocket [101] and linked to the first article part such that the first and second article parts being movable relative to each other, the pocket having an access opening [113], and a circuit [2] built in the pocket in the second article part and accessible through the access opening of the pocket for controlling circuit states of the circuit.
US08207442B2
In an embodiment, one reinforced substrate for use in a photovoltaic device includes a polymer base material and a reinforcing structure bonded with the base material. The reinforced substrate presents a surface in a condition that is made-ready for deposition of thin film layers of the photovoltaic device. A thin film photovoltaic device includes the reinforced substrate, a back contact layer formed on the surface of the reinforced substrate, and a solar absorber layer formed on the back contact layer. A plurality of thin film photovoltaic devices may be formed on a common reinforced substrate. A process of producing a reinforced substrate includes combining a fluid base material and a fiber reinforcing structure to form an impregnated fiber reinforcement. The impregnated fiber reinforcement is cured to form the reinforced substrate, and the reinforced substrate is annealed.
US08207441B2
This photovoltaic apparatus comprises a second groove for electrically isolating first and second back electrodes from each other, a third groove formed on a region located between a first groove and the second groove to cut at least an intermediate layer from the upper surface of the second back electrode, a first insulating member embedded in the third groove to cover at least a cut portion of the intermediate layer and a conductive member electrically connected to the first substrate electrode on a region located between the second and third grooves and electrically connected to the second back electrode across the third groove.
US08207422B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH201051. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH201051, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH201051 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 CH201051.
US08207411B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP25005 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP25005, cells from soybean variety XBP25005, plants of soybean XBP25005, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP25005. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP25005 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP25005, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP25005. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP25005 are further provided.
US08207408B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS03002. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS03002, to the plants of soybean RJS03002 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS03002 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS03002 with another soybean plant, using RJS03002 as either the male or the female parent.
US08207400B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellulolytic enhancing activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.
US08207390B2
A low viscosity poly(alpha-olefin) (PAO) is produced by contacting one or more C3 to C24 alpha-olefins with an unbridged, substituted bis-cyclopentadienyl transition metal compound, a non-coordinating anion activator, and an alkyl-aluminum compound. The molar ratio of transition metal compound to activator is 10:1 to 0.1:1 and the molar ratio of alkyl aluminum compound to transition metal compound is 1:4 to 4000:1. The transition metal compound has either (a) at least one non-isoolefin substitution on both cyclopentadienyl rings, or (b) at least two substitutions on at least one cyclopentadienyl ring. The PAO is comprised of at least 50 mole % of C3 to C24 alpha-olefins, has a Mw/Mn between 1 and 1.4, and a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 20 cSt or less.
US08207375B2
The invention relates to the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds, in particular the preparation of alicyclic polycarboxylic acids or their esters by core hydrogenation of the corresponding aromatic polycarboxylic acids or their esters, and also to catalysts suitable therefore.
US08207371B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing (meth)acrylic acid, characterized in that a cyclic ester is converted to (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of a catalyst. The (meth)acrylic acid prepared can in particular be converted to (meth)acrylates.
US08207368B2
By using phosphorus compounds, diesters of dicarbonic acid may be stabilized against thermal and chemical decomposition over a relatively long period. Mixtures of diesters of dicarbonic acid and phosphorus compounds are outstandingly suitable for preserving foods.
US08207346B2
Anatabine is obtained by reacting benzophenoneimine with 3-aminomethyl pyridine to form benzylhydrylidene-pyridin-3-yl-methyl-amine. The benzylhydrylidene-pyridin-3-yl-methyl-amine is treated with a non-nucleophilic base and a dielectrophile, such as cis-1,4-dichloro-2-butene, followed by acidification, then basification, to provide anatabine. The resulting anatabine is substantially free from contaminants and displays good stability. In an alternative embodiment, the benzylhydrylidene-pyridin-3-yl-methyl-amine may be used in the synthesis of other alkaloids such as anabasine, nornicotine, N-methylanabasine, and anabaseine.
US08207344B2
GPR119 agonist compounds of the formula: and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
US08207342B2
The invention relates to substituted 3-amino-2-mercaptoquinolines, to processes for their preparation, to medicaments containing these compounds and to the use of these compounds in the preparation of medicaments.
US08207338B2
The present invention is directed to phosphonic acid compounds useful as serine protease inhibitors, compositions thereof and methods for treating inflammatory and serine protease mediated disorders.
US08207331B2
The present invention relates to novel benzazepine derivatives having pharmacological activity, processes for their preparation, to compositions containing them and to their use in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
US08207324B2
The present invention makes known an array of nucleotidic sequences for rapidly and simultaneously identifying the presence of certain genes that codify proteins with relevant activities in biotechnology present in a microbiological sample, and the method with which this array is used in the identification of the above mentioned genes. Specifically speaking, genes that codify for proteins relevant in the biofilm formation, in CO2 fixation, in energetic metabolism, for chemiotaxis and mobility, in iron oxidizing, in nitrogen metabolism, in sulfur assimilation, and in oxidation/reduction of sulphide compounds, are identified. This array of nucleotidic sequences is presented as a useful tool in biotechnology whenever evaluating the quality of a microbiological community is required.
US08207315B2
This invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences encoding VG5Q, a novel angiogenic growth factor protein with pro-angiogenic activity, a forkhead-associated domain, a G-patch domain; characteristic subcellular localization in an in vitro Matrigel model of angiogenesis: towards the cell periphery in early stages of tubulogenesis, between cells in newly formed endothelial tubes, and no nuclear staining after 24 hours; is expressed in endothelial cells; is secreted during angiogenesis; and interacts with TWEAK. The invention also provides for expression vectors containing nucleic acid sequences encoding VG5Q protein, and host cells containing one or more expression vectors for the recombinant expression of VG5Q. The invention also provides for methods of using VG5Q for the diagnosis and treatment of angiogenesis-mediated diseases or disorders.
US08207314B2
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide and the use of the nucleic acid or polypeptide in preventing and/or treating cancer. In particular, the invention relates to improved vectors for the insertion and expression of foreign genes encoding tumor antigens for use in immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer.
US08207311B2
The invention provides isolated anti-ovarian, pancreatic, lung or breast cancer antigen (Ovr115) antibodies that bind to Ovr115 on a mammalian cell in vivo. The invention also encompasses compositions comprising an anti-Ovr115 antibody and a carrier. These compositions can be provided in an article of manufacture or a kit. Another aspect of the invention is an isolated nucleic acid encoding an anti-Ovr115 antibody, as well as an expression vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid. Also provided are cells that produce the anti-Ovr115 antibodies. The invention encompasses a method of producing the anti-Ovr115 antibodies. Other aspects of the invention are a method of killing an Ovr115-expressing cancer cell, comprising contacting the cancer cell with an anti-Ovr115 antibody and a method of alleviating or treating an Ovr115-expressing cancer in a mammal, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the anti-Ovr115 antibody to the mammal.
US08207309B2
Isolated polypeptides, isolated polynucleotides or expression vectors encoding same, viral display vehicles which can be specifically bind an exposed epitope shared by mutant, but not wild type, p53 protein are provided. Also provided are methods of inducing apoptosis and treating cancer as well as diagnosing a p53-related cancer using the isolated polypeptides uncovered by the present invention.
US08207306B2
The invention relates to targeted binding agents against human sonic hedgehog homolog (Shh) and uses of such agents. More specifically, the invention relates to fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to Shh. The described targeted binding agents are useful in the treatment of diseases associated with the activity and/or overproduction of Shh and as diagnostics.
US08207304B2
Antibody antagonists of human interleukin-13 receptor alpha 1 are disclosed. The antibody molecules are useful in the inhibition of IL-13Rα1-mediated activities and, accordingly, present desirable antagonists for the use in the treatment of conditions associated with hIL-13Rα activity. The present invention also discloses nucleic acid encoding said antibody molecules, vectors, host cells, and compositions comprising the antibody molecules. Methods of using the antibody molecules for inhibiting or antagonizing IL-13Rα1-mediated activities are also disclosed.
US08207301B2
Provided are: a method of assessing hepatocellular carcinoma by using a protein with a different phosphorylated state in hepatocellular carcinoma cells compared with non-hepatocellular carcinoma cells; and a hepatocellular carcinoma protein marker for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma formed of the protein. The hepatocellular carcinoma protein marker for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma includes tumor rejection antigen gp96 formed of the amino acid represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, and is measured for its phosphorylated state to detect the presence or absence of hepatocellular carcinoma.
US08207291B2
Process for devolatilization of a polymer of an aromatic alkylene, such as styrene and, in particular, an improved process using water as a stripping agent (i) in which the total amount of water to be disposed of can be reduced, (ii) which allows at least a portion of the water to be recycled as stripping agent, reducing make-up requirements for the stripping agent, and (iii) which allows at least a portion of the aromatic alkylene monomer in the water to be recycled to the polymerization process (via the devolatilization steps) rather than being disposed.
US08207287B1
Disclosed are polymers derived from units of bisphenol compounds, such as tetramethylcyclobutane diol-bisphenol, and processes for making and using them.
US08207286B2
The present invention provides methods for preparing polyurethanes from reaction components including: (a) reacting about 1 equivalent of at least one polyisocyanate; and about 0.1 to about 0.5 equivalents of at least one polyol having 2 to 18 carbon atoms to form an isocyanate functional urethane prepolymer; and (b) reacting the isocyanate functional urethane prepolymer, about 0.05 to about 1.0 equivalents of at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; and up to about 0.9 equivalents of at least one polyol different from the branched polyol and having 2 to 18 carbon atoms, wherein the reaction components are essentially free of polyester polyol and polyether polyol, as well as methods for preparing polyurethanes using a one pot process.
US08207264B2
The present disclosure relates to crosslinked polymer compositions comprising an inclusion complex functionalized with one or more reactive groups and a polymer functionalized with one or more complimentary reactive groups.
US08207263B2
The invention pertains to the field of membrane protein immobilization onto supports. It relates to a product comprising a support and at least one membrane protein attached to the surface thereof, characterized in that said membrane protein is attached to said support using an amphiphilic molecule with which said membrane protein is complexed. It also relates to a process for preparing such product, as well as to various applications in the fields of diagnosis, drug design and biotechnologies. It further relates to a kit, together with a functionalized amphiphilic molecule, for preparing a product according to the invention comprising a support and an amphiphilic molecule, wherein the amphiphilic molecule and the support interact through a hydrophobic bond, an ionic bond, a specific bond or a covalent bond.
US08207254B2
A method of making coatings, marking products and/or sealing products from a starting material including aggregate, includes the step of adding to a starting material a binder including at least one resin based on polymerized hydroxyacid derivatives as a non bituminous binder, as a non bituminous binder, the resin(s) being selected from: a) organic resins derived from an oil or a fat having a natural origin including monoglycerides and/or diglycerides, esterified with a poly(hydroxy acid), b) organic resins corresponding to lactic polyacid and polyol esters and/or mono- or polyhydroxylated polyacid esters, c) organic resins based on lactic polyacid or lactic polyacid derivatives such as corresponding esters thereof.
US08207239B2
The present invention aims to provide a radiation-curing liquid resin composition for optical tridimensional modeling having good storage stability. The suitable radiation-curing liquid resin composition for optical tridimensional modeling of the present invention includes a compound represented by the below general formula (1), a compound having phenolic hydroxyl group, a cationic polymerizable compound, a radical polymerization initiator, a radical polymerizable compound, one or more sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2-(4-morpholinodithiobenzothiazole, diisopropylxantogendisulfide and diphenyldisulfide, a polyether polyol compound.
US08207220B2
The present invention is concerned with novel sulfonamides of formula I wherein R1, R2, Ar, Hetaryl, m and n are as described in the description and claims. The compounds are orexin receptor antagonists, useful in the treatment of disorders, in which orexin pathways are involved.
US08207210B2
Novel aminoindazolylurea derivatives of the formula I (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, X and Y have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are SGK inhibitors and can be used for the treatment of SGK-induced diseases and complaints, such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome (dyslipidaemia), systemic and pulmonary hypertonia, cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases, generally in fibroses and inflammatory processes of any type.
US08207204B2
The present invention relates to substituted triazole compounds of the formula (I): and salts thereof, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in medicine. In particular, the invention relates to compounds for inhibiting SCD activity, such as diseases related to elevated lipid levels, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, skin disorders such as acne, diseases or conditions related to cancer and the treatment of symptoms linked to the production of the amyloid plaque-forming Aβ42 peptide such as Alzheimer's disease and the like.
US08207193B2
The invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R4 is a group of formula (II) or (IIIa) or (IIIb) and R1, R2, R3, R5, a, b and X are as defined in the specification, a process for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, a process for preparing pharmaceutical compositions, their use in therapy and intermediates of use in their preparation (I), (II), (IIIa), (IIIb).
US08207186B2
The present invention relates to 5H-benzo[4,5]cyclohepta[1,2-b]pyridine compounds, that are useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases, for treating disorders associated with MET activity, and for inhibiting the receptor tyrosine kinase MET. The invention also related to compositions which comprise these compounds, and methods of using them to treat cancer in mammals.
US08207185B2
A method of treating a condition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering a calcium/calmodulin dependency kinase kinase (CaMKK) inhibitor in a treatment-effective amount. Conditions which may be treated include obesity (particularly adult obesity), insulin resistance (including high fat diet-induced insulin resistance), hyperglycemia (including hyperglycemia accompanying obesity), diabetes, etc.
US08207182B2
The present invention relates to substituted cyclic urea derivatives corresponding to formula I, to processes for the preparation thereof, to medicinal drugs containing such compounds, to the use of such compounds in the preparation of medicinal drugs and in related treatment methods.
US08207178B2
Described herein are novel enzyme inhibitors. In some embodiments, the enzyme inhibitors are reverse transcriptase inhibitors, particularly HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Also described herein are compositions containing them and methods of using them. Thus, the compounds and compositions described herein are useful for the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase as a method of treating or preventing HIV, AIDS or related disorders. In some embodiments, the enzyme inhibitors are compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or tautomer thereof:
US08207173B2
Provided are compounds of the formula: wherein RN1 is a substituent of formula G1-NX1X2, wherein G1 is an optionally further substituted alkylene, which optionally forms, together with RN2, a cyclic group, and each of X1 and X2 is independently H or an N-substituent, or X1 and X2 together form a heterocyclic ring, or X1 together with G1 forms a cyclic group and X2 is H or an N-substituent; and each of Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 is H or a substituent, or two of Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 together form an optionally substituted ring, and further wherein at least one of Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 is other than H, and salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have antiviral activity.
US08207171B2
Cosmetic compositions comprising 1-aroyl-N-(2-oxo-3-piperidinyl)-2-piperazine carboxamides and methods of using such compositions to impart anti-aging benefits to the skin are disclosed. The 1-aroyl-N-(2-oxo-3-piperidinyl)-2-piperazine carboxamides are believed to have modulatory activity against one or more biochemical pathways implicated in skin aging.
US08207168B2
The present invention is directed to novel pyridazinone derivatives that mediate enzymatic activity. In particular, the compounds may be effective in the treatment of diseases or disease states related to the activity of the histamine H3 receptor, including, for example, neurodegenerative disorders, sleep/wake disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cognition disorders.
US08207167B2
The present invention pertains generally to the field of therapeutic compounds, and more specifically to certain aryl-phenyl-sulfonamido-phenylene compounds of the following formula (I) (collectively referred to herein as “APSAP compounds”). The present invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and compositions, both in vitro and in vivo, in treatment, for example, of inflammation and/or joint destruction and/or bone loss; of disorders mediated by excessive and/or inappropriate and/or prolonged activation of the immune system; of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and the like; of disorders associated with bone loss, such as bone loss associated with excessive osteoclast activity in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer-associated bone disease, Paget's disease and the like, etc.; and of cancer, such as a haematological malignancy, a solid tumor, etc.
US08207166B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), pharmaceutical compositions which contain them and methods for treating cancer using compounds of formula (I).
US08207165B2
Compounds which are 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrazino[1,2-a]indol-1-one derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, their preparation process and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are disclosed; these compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases caused by and/or associated with an altered protein kinase activity such as cancer, viral infection, prevention of AIDS development in HIV-infected individuals, cell proliferative disorders, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders; also disclosed is a process under Solid Phase Synthesis conditions for preparing the compounds of the invention and chemical libraries comprising a plurality of them.
US08207164B2
The invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds of the formula in which all of the variables are as defined in the specification, in free form or in salt form, to their preparation, to their medical use and to medicaments comprising them.
US08207162B2
Fused [1,2]imidazo[4,5-c] ring compounds (e.g., imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, imidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines, and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines) with a —CH(—X1—R1)— group in the fused ring at the 1-position of the imidazo ring, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, methods of making the compounds, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08207161B2
Tetrahydro-imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine derivatives of formula (I), their preparation methods, pharmaceutical compositions containing the derivatives and uses thereof as medicaments, especially as dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors, wherein the substituents of formula (I) are defined as same as the description.
US08207153B2
Compounds that inhibit P13Kδ activity, including compounds that selectively inhibit P13Kδ activity, are disclosed. Methods of inhibiting phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase delta isoform (P13Kδ) activity, and methods of treating diseases, such as disorders of immunity and inflammation in which P13Kδ plays a role in leukocyte function, using the compounds also are disclosed.
US08207141B2
DNA plasmids containing sequences coding for different fragments of 185neu oncoprotein which are able to induce an immune response against p185neu-overexpressing tumors, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are described.
US08207138B2
The instant invention provides a method for improving efficiency of RNA delivery to cells. The method comprises applying a low strength electric field to the cells and then after a certain time period, administering the ribonucleic acid sequence to the cells. Devices, kits, and RNA molecules suitable for delivery and devices suitable for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.
US08207132B2
Molecular targets and vaccines against them in the treatment of sea lice infection of fish are provided, particularly caligid copepods. Vaccines targeted to L. salmonis trypsin are shown to reduce the quantity of sea lice present in challenged salmon from day 14 p.i. onward. Additional and novel molecular targets for vaccines are also provided.
US08207131B2
The present invention relates to a peptide that is derived from a milk protein and has an antioxidative effect, an antioxidant that includes the peptide as an active ingredient, and an antioxidative food, drink, or feed that includes the peptide. The present invention also relates to a peptide that is derived from a milk protein and has an adiponectin production promotion effect, an adiponectin production promoter that includes the peptide as an active ingredient, and an adiponectin production promotion food, drink, or feed that includes the peptide. The present invention further relates to a blood adiponectin level increase promotion and/or decrease inhibition agent that includes a component contained in cheese as an active ingredient, and a blood adiponectin level increase promotion and/or decrease inhibition food or drink that includes a component contained in cheese. The present invention to the peptide that consists of an amino acid sequence shown by His-Pro-Ile-Lys-His-Gln-Gly-Leu-Pro-Gln (1), His-Pro-Ile-Lys (2) or His-Gln-Gly-Leu-Pro-Gln (3), and has an antioxidative effect.
US08207129B2
Disclosed herein is a method comprising administering cyclosporin A topically to an eye of a person for the purpose of treating or preventing loss of vision from keratoconus.
US08207124B2
Peptide-based compounds including heteroatom-containing, three-membered rings efficiently and selectively inhibit specific activities of N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolases. The activities of those Ntn having multiple activities can be differentially inhibited by the compounds described. For example, the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome may be selectively inhibited with the inventive compounds. The peptide-based compounds include at least three peptide units, an epoxide or aziridine, and functionalization at the N-terminus. Among other therapeutic utilities, the peptide-based compounds are expected to display anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of cell proliferation.
US08207123B2
CASB7439 polypeptides and polynucleotides, immunogenic compositions comprising them and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing CASB7439 polypeptides and polynucleotides in diagnostics, and vaccines for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of cancers, particularly colorectal cancers, autoimmune diseases, and related conditions.
US08207120B2
Provided herein are methods for enhancing bone mineralization for bone repair or regeneration and compositions and grafts therefor. Methods for screening agents that enhance or modulate NELL-1 gene expression or NELL-1 protein production in a cell are also provided.
US08207119B2
An object is to find the minimum activity expression site of fibronectin, clarify the actions of this minimum unit in relation to opthalmological fields, and provide an opthalmological composition having this minimum unit as an effective component. This invention provides an opthalmological composition, in particular, a corneal disorder treatment agent containing the peptide, PHSRN (SEQ ID NO: 1) (Pro-His-Ser-Arg-Asn (SEQ ID NO: 1)), or Ac-Pro-His-Ser-Arg-Asn-NH2, which is a derivative thereof, or a salt thereof that is allowable as a medical drug as an effective component. The preferred dosage form is an ophthalmic formulation.
US08207115B2
This invention concerns the treatment of cartilage disorder and osteoarthritis in particular. More specifically, it relates to the use of FGF-18 in treatment regimens of patients having a cartilage disorder such as osteoarthritis, such as for example knee osteoarthritis or secondary hip osteoarthritis. Specifically provided is a preferred treatment scheme comprising once weekly administration of an FGF-18 compound per treatment cycle.
US08207110B2
This invention provides a first polypeptide comprising all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3, wherein the polypeptide is water-soluble and does not comprise the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin. This invention also provides a second polypeptide comprising (i) all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3 operable affixed to (ii) the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin, wherein the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin comprises a function-enhancing mutation, and wherein the polypeptide is water-soluble. This invention further provides a third polypeptide comprising (i) all or a portion of the extracellular domain of ILT3 operable affixed to (ii) a transmembrane domain. This invention further provides related nucleic acids, expression vectors, host vector systems, compositions, and articles of manufacture and therapeutic and prophylactic methods using the polypeptides of the invention.
US08207103B2
Disclose herein is a composition comprising a hydrocarbon solvent; an aromatic solvent; a methylated siloxane; and a surfactant. Also disclosed is a method of preparing an emulsion for cleaning purposes comprising mixing a solution at a rate of greater than 500 rpm for at least two hours, wherein the solution comprises a hydrocarbon solvent, an aromatic solvent, a methylated siloxane, and a surfactant. In addition, disclosed herein is a method of cleaning rollers, plates, or blankets of a printing machine with a cleaning mixture, the method comprising contacting the rollers or blankets with the cleaning mixture, wherein the cleaning mixture comprises a hydrocarbon solvent, an aromatic solvent, a methylated siloxane, and a surfactant.
US08207099B2
A crankcase lubricant, an additive concentrate and a method for improving water tolerance of a lubricant. The lubricant includes a) a major amount of a base oil; b) an alkali or alkaline earth metal-containing detergent; c) a phosphorus-based wear preventative; and d) a surfactant agent other than (b). The lubricant has a weight ratio of alkali or alkaline earth metal content to phosphorus content, based on a total mass of lubricant, ranging from about 1.6 to about 5.0.
US08207083B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst nickel, silica, alumina and magnesium, wherein the nickel to magnesium atomic ratio is 5-75. In particular the present invention relates to a catalyst comprising nickel, silica, alumina and magnesium, wherein the nickel to silicium atomic ratio (Ni/Si) is 2 to 30 to nickel to aluminum atomic ratio (Ni/Al) is 9 to 40 and the nickel to magnesium atomic ratio (Ni/Mg) is 5-75. The invention further relates to a method for preparing such a catalyst. The invention further relates to a process for hydrogenating unsaturated organic compounds.
US08207081B1
A novel M—Pd—Cr2O3 (M═Pt, Ru, Rh, Os, Au and Ag) nanocomposite cocatalysts and its preparation method. The cocatalysts loaded on CdS photocatalyst enhances the photocatalytic activities toward H2 evolution from aqueous solutions (NH4)2SO3, a regenerable electron donor, under sunlight radiation. An embodiment provides a new and facile method and system for the preparation of M—Pd—Cr2O3 nanocomposite cocatalysts at room temperature. Pd—Cr2O3 loaded CdS photocatalyst has higher hydrogen evolution activity than that of a plain Pd metal loaded CdS and its performance is comparable to that of Pt/CdS photocatalyst. Formation of a Pd—Cr2O3 composite with reduced size of nanoparticles results in an increase in the photocatalyst activity for H2 evolution.
US08207074B2
The present invention relates to an optical glass containing, in terms of mass % on an oxide basis, P2O5: from 10 to 18%; Bi2O3: from 37 to 64%; Nb2O5: from 5 to 25%; Na2O: from more than 4.1 to 10%; K2O: from 0 to 2%; Li2O: from 0 to 0.2%; WO3: from 0 to less than 20%; TiO2: from 0 to 3%; and B2O3: from 0 to 2%, and having a refractive index nd of 1.98 or more and an Abbe's number νd of 20 or less.
US08207064B2
A semiconductor p-i-n diode and method for forming the same are described herein. In one aspect, a SiGe region is formed between a region doped to have one conductivity (either p+ or n+) and an electrical contact to the p-i-n diode. The SiGe region may serve to lower the contact resistance, which may increase the forward bias current. The doped region extends below the SiGe region such that it is between the SiGe region and an intrinsic region of the diode. The p-i-n diode may be formed from silicon. The doped region below the SiGe region may serve to keep the reverse bias current from increasing as result of the added SiGe region. In one embodiment, the SiGe is formed such that the forward bias current of an up-pointing p-i-n diode in a memory array substantially matches the forward bias current of a down-pointing p-i-n diode which may achieve better switching results when these diodes are used with the R/W material in a 3D memory array.
US08207060B2
The present invention provides a method of forming a contact opening, such as a via hole, in which a sacrificial layer is deposited prior to exposing a conductor formed in a substrate at a bottom side of the opening to prevent damage and contamination to the materials constituting an integrated circuit device from happening. The exposing may or may not form a recess in the conductor. The present invention also provides a method of forming a contact opening having a recess in the conductor wherein a sacrificial layer is not deposited until the conductor is exposed, but deposited before a recess is formed in the conductor so that a major damage and contamination related to the recess formation can be prevented. By forming a trench feature over a contact opening formed by using the present invention, a dual damascene feature can be fabricated. By performing further damascene process steps over the various damascene interconnect features formed by using the present invention, various interconnect systems such as a single damascene planar via, a single damascene embedded via, and various dual damascene interconnect system having either a planar via or an embedded via can be fabricated.
US08207051B2
Methods, systems, and devices associated with surface modifying a semiconductor material are taught. One such method includes providing a semiconductor material having a target region and providing a dopant fluid layer that is adjacent to the target region of the semiconductor material, where the dopant fluid layer includes at least one dopant. The target region of the semiconductor material is lased so as to incorporate the dopant or to surface modify the semiconductor material. During the surface modification, the dopant in the dopant fluid layer is actively replenished.
US08207049B1
A solar cell fabrication process is described that includes etching a cap layer into a front surface of a semiconductor structure, depositing an anti-reflective coating onto the front surface of the semiconductor structure, forming a front electrical contact on the front surface of the semiconductor structure, forming a first back metal contact on a back surface of the semiconductor structure, utilizing a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process to apply a dielectric layer to the first back metal contact, the PECVD process performed at within a temperature environment and for a duration that allows for the annealing of metal associated with the front electrical contact and the first back metal contact, and attaching at least one secondary electrical contact to the dielectric layer.
US08207042B2
A first p-type SiGe mixed crystal layer is formed by an epitaxial growth method in a trench, and a second p-type SiGe mixed crystal layer is formed. On the second SiGe mixed crystal layer, a third p-type SiGe mixed crystal layer is formed. The height of an uppermost surface of the first SiGe mixed crystal layer from the bottom of the trench is lower than the depth of the trench with the surface of the silicon substrate being the standard. The height of an uppermost surface of the second SiGe mixed crystal layer from the bottom of the trench is higher than the depth of the trench with the surface of the silicon substrate being the standard. Ge concentrations in the first and third SiGe mixed crystal layers are lower than a Ge concentration in the second SiGe mixed crystal layer.
US08207040B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate and a sidewall spacer on the gate electrode. Then, a portion of the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the sidewall spacer is partially etched to form a trench. A SiGe mixed crystal layer is formed in the trench. A silicon layer is formed on the SiGe mixed crystal layer. A portion of the silicon layer is partially etched using an etching solution having different etching rates in accordance with a crystal direction of a face of the silicon layer to form a capping layer including a silicon facet having an (111) inclined face.
US08207039B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device to which a stress technique is applied and in which a leakage current caused by silicidation can be suppressed. The method includes forming an isolation region in a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate electrode over an element region defined by the isolation region formed in the semiconductor substrate; and forming a semiconductor lager in the element region at both sides of the gate electrode apart from at least part of the isolation region. By doing so, the formation of a spike near the isolation region is suppressed even if a silicide layer is formed. Accordingly, a leakage current caused by such a spike can be suppressed.
US08207035B2
In one embodiment, a vertical power transistor is formed on a semiconductor substrate with other transistors. A portion of the semiconductor layer underlying the vertical power transistor is doped to provide a low on-resistance for the vertical power transistor.
US08207033B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor integrated circuit devices are provided. A substrate is provided with gate patterns formed on first and second regions. Spaces between gate patterns on the first region are narrower than spaces between gate patterns on the second region. Source/drain trenches are formed in the substrate on opposite sides of the gate patterns on the first and second regions. A first silicon-germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layer is formed that partially fills the source/drain trenches using a first silicon source gas. A second SiGe epitaxial layer is formed directly on the first SiGe epitaxial layer to further fill the source/drain trenches using a second silicon source gas that is different from the first silicon source gas.
US08207021B2
An improved microelectronic assembly (100) and packaging method includes a device package for housing a semiconductor die or chip, (105), an array of passive electronic components (305-355) operating in cooperation with the flip chip semiconductor die (105) and housed inside the device package to decouple noise from input signals, and a heat spreader (195) disposed between a top surface of the semiconductor die (105) and a package cover (185). The semiconductor die (105) is configured as a flip chip die and the device package includes a package substrate (110) configured as a ball grid array. The improved microelectronic device (100) reduces parasitic inductance in electrical interconnections between the semiconductor die and an electrical system substrate (115) and reduces signal noise in mixed signal high frequency analog to digital converters operating at clock rates above 1 GHz.
US08207017B2
A method of fabricating a stacked dual MOSFET die package is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) forming a first conductive tab, (b) stacking a high side MOSFET die on the first conductive tab such that a drain contact of the high side MOSFET die is coupled to the first conductive tab, (c) stacking a second conductive tab in overlaying relationship to the high side MOSFET die such that a source contact of the high side MOSFET die is coupled to the second conductive tab, and (d) stacking a low side MOSFET die on the second conductive tab such that a drain contact of the low side MOSFET die is coupled to the second conductive tab.
US08207014B2
An object is to manufacture a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with stable electric characteristics. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor in which an oxide semiconductor film is used for a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region, heat treatment (for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed to improve the purity of the oxide semiconductor film and reduce impurities including moisture or the like. After that, slow cooling is performed under an oxygen atmosphere. Besides impurities including moisture or the like exiting in the oxide semiconductor film, heat treatment causes reduction of impurities including moisture or the like exiting in a gate insulating layer and those in interfaces between the oxide semiconductor film and films which are provided over and below the oxide semiconductor and in contact therewith.
US08207006B1
Vapor deposition apparatus and process for continuous deposition of a thin film layer on a substrate
An apparatus and related process are provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate. A receptacle is disposed within a vacuum head chamber and is configured for receipt of a source material. A heated distribution manifold is disposed below the receptacle and includes a plurality of passages defined therethrough. The receptacle is indirectly heated by the distribution manifold to a degree sufficient to sublimate source material within the receptacle. A molybdenum distribution plate is disposed below the distribution manifold and at a defined distance above a horizontal plane of a substrate conveyed through the apparatus. The molybdenum distribution plate includes a pattern of holes therethrough that further distribute the sublimated source material passing through the distribution manifold onto the upper surface of the underlying substrate. The molybdenum distribution plate includes greater than about 75% by weight molybdenum.
US08207004B2
A method for fabricating a micro electromechanical device includes providing a first substrate including control circuitry. The first substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface. The method also includes forming an insulating layer on the top surface of the first substrate, removing a first portion of the insulating layer so as to form a plurality of standoff structures, and bonding a second substrate to the first substrate. The method further includes thinning the second substrate to a predetermined thickness and forming a plurality of trenches in the second substrate. Each of the plurality of trenches extends to the top surface of the first substrate. Moreover, the method includes filling at least a portion of each of the plurality of trenches with a conductive material, forming the micro electromechanical device in the second substrate, and bonding a third substrate to the second substrate.
US08207002B2
Devices for generating a laser beam are disclosed. The devices include a silicon micro ring having at least one silicon optical waveguide disposed at a distance from the micro ring. The radius and the cross-sectional dimension of the micro ring, the cross-sectional dimension of the waveguide, and the distance between the micro ring and the waveguide are determined such that one or more pairs of whispering gallery mode resonant frequencies of the micro ring are separated by an optical phonon frequency of silicon. Methods of manufacturing a lasing device including a silicon micro ring coupled with a silicon waveguide are also disclosed.
US08206993B2
The diffusion coefficients and relaxation times of mixtures of alkanes follow simple scaling laws based on the chain length of the constituents and the mean chain length of the mixture. These scaling laws are used to determine chain sizes in a mixture from the distribution of the diffusion coefficients. These scaling laws can be used to determine the mean chain lengths (or chain lengths) of a sample (alkanes or mixtures of alkanes) and therefore the constituents of the sample.
US08206987B2
A system and method for sorting a mixture of stained particles in a fluid flow path, including stained particles from two distinguishable groups. The system and method can include an electromagnetic radiation source for exciting fluorescence emissions from the stained particles, a photodetector for detecting the fluorescence emissions from the stained particles, a processor for classifying the stained particles; and a photo-damaging laser for damaging selected particles in the flow path.
US08206986B2
Markers are provided that are predictive of Alzheimer's disease. Levels of these markers, when different from a standard, are indicative of a patient being at risk of having or developing Alzheimer's disease.
US08206985B2
A method of determining the effect of a spill on a marine environment, in which physical and chemical sensors are arranged with living organisms (4, 6) fitted with instruments, at an appropriate distance and position from the object (1) which is to be monitored, wherein the response of the living organism (4, 6), measured online in real time, is compared with known patterns of response, and where upstream and downstream measurements are compared to determine whether a change in response may be caused by a spill from the object, the significance of the real time measurements being validated through sampling of the organisms on a regular basis or as required, in order to analyze the effects on the health of the organisms, biomarkers, for the purpose of assessing the significance of the environmental effect.
US08206981B2
The invention relates to a process for the culturing of cells by continuous perfusion culturing of a cell culture comprising cell culture medium and cells, wherein cell culture medium is added to the cell culture, the cell culture is circulated over a filter module comprising hollow fibers resulting in an outflow of liquid having a lower cell density than the cell culture and the flow within the filter module is an alternating tangential flow. Preferably, culture medium is added at a particular perfusion rate and/or biomass is removed form the culture at least once. The method is especially suitable for the culturing of aggregating cells. The invention also relates to such a process wherein a biological substance, preferably an antibody, is produced by the cells, which biological substance may be further purified in downstream processing.
US08206976B2
The present invention enables to keep the culture vessel clean with the clean air without touching the open air in which floating bacteria exist, and to culture cells with taking in and out the culture apparatus under the environment with low damages for the cells in constant temperature. The present invention is the culture vessel box which has one or more culture vessels, has the heater, and has the door outside which the good adhesive resin film is stuck, the culture apparatus which has various apparatuses including a heater and culture cells, and has the door outside which the resin film is stuck similarly to the culture vessel box and has its storing chamber. So, it is characterized in that the culture vessel box and the culture apparatus are connected with keeping an interior of the culture vessel box, including a culture vessel, and the interior of the culture apparatus in the clean state and constant temperature by sticking mutual doors of the culture vessel box and culture apparatus at the time of connection to confine the dirty portion which touched on open air by adhesiveness of their resin films, and moving the doors to the door storing chamber integrally.
US08206967B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for producing recombinant human thrombin using recombinant ecarin.
US08206965B2
This patent application relates to hybrid and/or single-chain rare-cutting endonucleases, called meganucleases, which recognize and cleave a specific nucleotide sequence, to polynucleotide sequences encoding for said rare-cutting endonucleases, to a vector comprising one of said polynucleotide sequences, to a cell or animal comprising one of said polynucleotide sequences or said rare-cutting endonucleases, to a process for producing one of said rare-cutting endonucleases and any use of the disclosed products and methods. More particularly, this invention contemplates any use of such rare-cutting endonuclease for genetic engineering and gene therapy.
US08206921B2
This invention relates to the use of genetic probes for detection of the presence of the SCCmec cassette in Staphylococcus aureus. In one aspect, the invention allows specific detection and identification of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in a clinical sample without interference from the presence of other non-S. aureus methicillin-resistant staphylococci. In another aspect, the invention allows specific detection and identification of methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS) originating from a clinical sample without interference from the presence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus.
US08206920B2
The present invention provides the use of all-trans retinoic acid for the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, which use is characterized in that the patients are selected from the group of non-M3 acute myeloid leukemia patients according to a physiologic concentration, e.g. a level of MN1 below a certain critical level analysed in total blood cells, preferably analysed in bone marrow cells. The critical level of MN1 can be determined according to known methods, e.g. by specific determination of the presence of MN1, e.g. using specific anti-MN1 antibody, e.g. in an ELISA or in another immuno specific assay. Preferably, the level of MN1 is determined at its transcription level, e.g. as the concentration of mRNA encoding MN1.
US08206911B2
Tools and methods are provided for determining whether or not a dog is genetically normal, is a carrier of, or is affected with or predisposed to progressive rod-cone degeneration. The method is based on the detection of a transversion from G to A at position corresponding to nucleotide position 1298 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
US08206894B2
A resist pattern-forming method includes forming a first resist pattern using a first positive-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition. A resist pattern-miniaturizing resin composition is applied to the first resist pattern. The resist pattern-miniaturizing resin composition applied to the first resist pattern is baked and developed to form a second resist pattern that is miniaturized from the first resist pattern. A resist pattern-insolubilizing resin composition is applied to the second resist pattern. The resist pattern-insolubilizing resin composition applied to the second resist pattern is baked and washed to form a third resist pattern that is insoluble in a developer and a second positive-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition. A second resist layer is formed on the third resist pattern using the second positive-tone radiation-sensitive resin composition. The second resist layer is exposed and developed to form a fourth resist pattern.
US08206893B2
Novel, developer-soluble anti-reflective coating compositions and methods of using those compositions are provided. The compositions comprise a multi-functional acid reacted with a multi-functional vinyl ether to form a branched polymer or oligomer. In use, the compositions are applied to a substrate and thermally crosslinked. Upon exposure to light and post-exposure baking, the cured polymers/oligomers will decrosslink and depolymerize, rendering the layer soluble in typical photoresist developing solutions (e.g., alkaline developers).
US08206884B2
A method of preparing a toner using a micro-suspension particle, includes preparing a mixture by mixing a resin having acidic groups, a master batch of coloring pigment, and at least one additive with an organic solvent, and then neutralizing the acid groups of the resin with a base; forming a micro-suspension by adding the prepared mixture to a dispersion medium; and forming a toner composition by removing the organic solvent from the prepared micro-suspension. Therefore, the method of preparing a toner using the disclosed micro-suspension particle and a toner prepared using the same can save manufacturing costs, and can improve charging ability and cleaning properties of the toner.
US08206873B2
A solid polymer fuel cell stack has a layered product comprised of a plurality of cells stacked, and is so structured that the layered product is fastened by end plates on both sides thereof via a current collector and an insulating plate on each side. Each cell is structured such that an MEA is sandwiched between an anode-side plate, which is provided with a fuel path disposed counter to an anode of the MEA, and a cathode-side plate, which is provided with an oxidizing agent path disposed counter to a cathode of the MEA. An MEA is comprised of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode and a cathode. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane is composed of powder of basic polymer such as polybenzimidazole, strong acid such as phosphoric acid impregnated with the basic polymer, and binder such as fluorocarbon resin.
US08206872B2
An MEA for a fuel cell that employs multiple catalyst layers to reduce the hydrogen and/or oxygen partial pressure at the membrane so as to reduce the fluoride release rate from the membrane and reduce membrane degradation. An anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration is positioned at the anode side of the MEA membrane. The anode side multi-layer catalyst configuration includes an anode side under layer positioned against the membrane and including a catalyst, an anode side middle layer positioned against the anode side under layer and not including a catalyst and an anode side catalyst layer positioned against the anode side middle layer and opposite to the anode side under layer and including a catalyst, where the amount of catalyst in the anode side catalyst layer is greater than the amount of catalyst in the anode side under layer.
US08206864B2
Fuel cell stacks and systems with thermal management systems to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with the stack and thereafter recycle the stream. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to selectively apportion the recycled liquid stream between a stream that, prior to reuse as a heat exchange stream, is returned to a fluid reservoir and/or selectively cooled, and/or selectively returned to the reservoir and mixed with heat exchange fluid in the reservoir, and a stream that is returned into thermal communication with the stack without returning the stream to the reservoir and/or without heating or cooling and/or without being mixed with additional heat exchange fluid. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to automatically apportion the recycled stream responsive to its temperature. In some embodiments, the system includes a thermostatic valve and/or selectively apportions the recycled stream without requiring an electronic controller or manual input.
US08206861B2
An intermediate circuit for controlling the connection of a fuel cell stack to a load bus includes three switching elements arranged in a pi configuration. At least one such switching element is provided for short circuiting either or both of the fuel cell stack and the load bus, while a further switching element controllably interrupts the line connection between the fuel cell stack and the load bus. The respective switches are driven according to a control method that accommodates start-up operation, switch-off operation, emergency shut down, and a self diagnostic mode.
US08206857B2
A cogeneration system having flexible and controllable cogeneration loops. There is a first cogeneration loop to recover heat from a fuel cell power module, thereby producing a heat to electricity ratio between 0 and approximately 1.0. There is a second cogeneration loop to produce supplemental thermal energy for hot water generation and/or space heating. This loop can be connected or disconnected via switching valves depending on the thermal demands of hot water and/or space heating. This loop can also be useful to control the fuel processor temperature to prevent it from being overheated in cases when the fuel cell has low fuel utilization efficiency. With this second loop, it becomes possible to adjust the heat to electricity ratio at any desirable levels such as more than 2. It is also possible to produce the hot water at a higher temperature or superheated steam, which would have been difficult if only the first loop is used.
US08206855B2
A fuel cell system capable of reliably and rapidly discharging liquid in a fuel cell stack to the outside is provided. In a fuel cell system having a discharge path (76) that allows discharge of at least liquid in a fuel cell stack (20), at the time of actuation of the fuel cell stack (20), reaction gas is supplied to the fuel cell stack (20) at a higher speed or in a greater amount than during normal operation of the fuel cell stack (20). By supplying the reaction gas at a high speed or in a great amount before actuation, residual liquid in the fuel cell stack (20) can be blown off and thus reliably and rapidly discharged to the outside. The residual liquid can be discharged more easily when a volume (30) is provided in the discharge path (76) or the pressure inside the fuel cell stack (20) is set to a negative level at the time of actuation thereof.
US08206852B2
The present invention relates to a lithium-containing metal composite oxide comprising paramagnetic and diamagnetic metals, which satisfies any one of the following conditions: (a) the ratio of intensity between a main peak of 0±10 ppm (I0ppm) and a main peak of 240±140 ppm (I240ppm), (I0ppm/I240ppm), is less than 0.117·Z wherein z is the ratio of moles of the diamagnetic metal to moles of lithium; (b) the ratio of line width between the main peak of 0±10 ppm (I0ppm) and the main peak of 240±140 ppm (I240ppm), (W240ppm/W0ppm), is less than 21.45; and (c) both the conditions (a) and (b). The peaks of the lithium-containing metal composite oxide are obtained according to the 7Li—NMR measurement conditions and means disclosed herein.
US08206839B2
An organic electroluminescent element, which comprises: a pair of electrodes; and at least one organic layer comprising a light-emitting layer between the pair of electrodes, wherein the at least one organic layer comprises at least one of compounds represented by formula (I): (R1)m-(A1)n (I) wherein R1 represents a substituent; m represents an integer of 2 or more; n represents an integer of 1 or more; and A1 represents a group selected from the group consisting of specific compounds, with the proviso that when m or n is 2 or more, a plurality of R1's or A1's may be the same or different.
US08206833B2
A metal oxide film suitable for protection of metals, composed mainly of aluminum. A metal oxide film includes a film of an oxide of a metal composed mainly of aluminum, having a thickness of 10 nm or greater, and exhibiting a moisture release rate from the film of 1E18 mol./cm2 or less. Further, there is provided a process for producing a metal oxide film, wherein a metal composed mainly of aluminum is subjected to anodic oxidation in a chemical solution of 4 to 10 pH value so as to obtain a metal oxide film.
US08206830B2
A glass material for mold pressing, comprising a core portion comprised of an optical glass with a degree of abrasion FA of 200 or higher and a covering portion comprised of a second glass covering at least a portion of the surface of said core portion. A method for manufacturing an optical glass element, wherein a glass material that has been preformed to a prescribed shape is heat softened and press molded with a pressing mold and the outer perimeter portion of the molded product obtained is removed by mechanical processing. The above-mentioned glass material for mold pressing is used as the glass material. To provide a means whereby an optical element does not bear scratches on optically functional surfaces through contact during handling after the press molding of press molded glass products despite being comprised of a glass material with a high degree of abrasion, and a means whereby even when scratched, the function of the optical element finally obtained is unaffected.
US08206821B2
The invention relates to the field of panels for the conveyance medium or high pressure air for ambient or to build up an ambient with air hygienically controlled, with one or more faces treated with a silver ion solution with an antimicrobial function to improve the hygiene possibilities in rooms and conduits where the panels and conduits are installed.
US08206807B2
A synthetic roofing shingle or tile is provided, in which a core material is formed, of generally less expensive material, and with a skin material provided, disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the shingle or tile, with the skin material being generally of greater expense and having desirable weather-withstanding qualities.
US08206795B2
A liquid crystal composition is provided that satisfies at least one characteristic among the characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or is properly balanced regarding at least two characteristics. An AM device is provided that has a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, a large contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth.The liquid crystal composition contains tetrahedropyrene-2,5-diyl as the first component, a specific compound having negatively large dielectric anisotropy as the second component, and a negatively dielectric anisotropy. The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal composition.
US08206793B2
An apparatus and method for producing a screen is provided. The method includes propelling a quantity of paint comprising metallic flakes, such as aluminum flakes, toward the screen. The method also includes applying at least one magnetic field in a vicinity of the screen, wherein applying the at least one magnetic field causes at least one metallic flake in the quantity of paint to be oriented relative to the screen in a substantially preferred orientation, thereby producing a screen exhibiting beneficial projection qualities, such as brightness. The magnetic field(s) applied may be unsymmetric in the time domain of, for example, an AC component of the magnetic field.
US08206792B2
A method for forming a ceramic containing composite structure is proposed comprising the steps of (a) feeding a ceramic component that sublimes and a metallic or semi-conductor material that does not sublime into a thermal spray apparatus, (b) spraying the ceramic component and the metallic or semi-conductor material onto a substrate, whereby the ceramic component and the metallic or semi-conductor material deposit on the surface of the substrate, and (c) keeping the metallic or semi-conductor material on the substrate surface plastic during spraying at least in the region where the metallic or semi-conductor material actually strikes the surface.
US08206786B1
A method of producing a decorative carpet tile may include providing a carpet tile in accordance with the prior art techniques and then treating at least two carpet tiles in one of various manners to provide separations internal to side edges of the carpet tile. Specifically, two tiles can be treated simultaneously, in register and/or without moving the second tile after treating the first tile.
US08206763B2
A non-toxic insect repellent concentrate formulation utilizing a plurality of all natural active components has been proven to be effective in repelling mosquitoes for periods of between six to eight weeks, with one application. The insect repellent concentrate formulation includes a plurality of natural essential oils comprising at least one emulsifying agent to maintain the oils in a stable solution. A pH conditioning agent may be added to assure the formulation is pH balanced for application to grass, plants, and trees, without detriment. The formulation may be provided as either a concentrate, or at dilutions ready for direct application, and may be applied by any of a variety of methods including broadcast spraying, boom applicators, misting systems, aerosol spray devices, etc.
US08206756B2
This invention relates to a novel herbal composition comprising an extract of flowering and fruiting heads of the plant, Sphaeranthus indicus. The said extract of Sphaeranthus indicus contains a compound, 3a-hydroxy-5a,9-dimethyl-3-methylene-3a,4,5,5a,6,7,8,9b-octahydro-3H-naphtho[1,2-b]furan-2-one (7-Hydroxy-4,11(13)-eudesmadien-12,6-olide) (compound 1), as a bioactive marker. The invention also relates to a composition comprising 3a-hydroxy-5a,9-dimethyl-3-methylene-3a,4,5,5a,6,7,8,9b-octahydro-3H-naphtho[1,2-b]furan-2-one (compound 1) as an active ingredient. The invention also relates to methods of manufacture of the said compositions. The invention also relates to methods of administration of the said compositions to a subject in need of treatment for an inflammatory disorder. The invention also relates to tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8) inhibitory activity of the said compositions. The invention relates to inhibition of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular-cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and E-Selectin by the said compositions. The said compositions may optionally contain at least one anti-inflammatory agent or can be used in combination with at least one anti-inflammatory agent.
US08206746B2
The invention provides a composition comprising microparticles of a water-insoluble or poorly soluble compound, at least one phospholipid, and at least one surfactant, produced by applying an energy to a mixture comprising particles of the compound, the at least one phospholipid, and the at least one surfactant so as to obtain the microparticles. The invention also provides a process for preparing microparticles of a water-insoluble or poorly soluble compound. The process includes mixing particles of a water-insoluble or poorly soluble compound with at least one phospholipid and at least surfactant to form a mixture and applying energy to the mixture sufficient to produce microparticles of the compound. The methods of the invention allow for the production of microparticles smaller than particles produced through previously known methods and the microparticles exhibit advantageous properties including remarkable resistance to particle size growth during storage.
US08206745B2
A nonaqueous, single-phase vehicle that is capable of suspending an active agent. The nonaqueous, single-phase vehicle includes at least one solvent and at least one polymer and is formulated to exhibit phase separation upon contact with an aqueous environment. The at least one solvent may be selected from the group consisting of benzyl benzoate, decanol, ethyl hexyl lactate, and mixtures thereof and the at least one polymer may be selected from the group consisting of a polyester, pyrrolidone, ester of an unsaturated alcohol, ether of an unsaturated alcohol, polyoxyethylenepolyoxypropylene block copolymer, and mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the at least one solvent is benzyl benzoate and the at least one polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone. A stable, nonaqueous suspension formulation that includes the nonaqueous, single-phase vehicle and an active agent, and a method of forming the same, are also disclosed.
US08206743B2
Isolated polynucleotide sequences exhibiting endothelial cell specific promoter activity, novel cis regulatory elements and methods of use thereof enabling treatment of diseases characterized by aberrant neovascularization or cell growth are disclosed.
US08206742B2
The invention relates to sustained release compositions of alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that include one or more functional layers. The functional layer includes alfuzosin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic rate-controlling polymers.
US08206740B2
Disclosed are once-daily formulations containing tetracyclines, especially doxycycline. Such formulations are useful, for instance, for the treatment of collagenase destructive enzyme-dependent diseases, such as periodontal disease and acne, and acute and chronic inflammatory disease states, such as rosacea and arthritis.
US08206738B2
A composition is provided, wherein the composition comprises a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer, a blend of a hydrophilic polymer with a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen or electrostatic bonding to the hydrophilic polymer. The composition also includes a backing member. Active ingredients, such as a whitening agent, may be included. The composition finds utility as an oral dressing, for example, a tooth whitening composition that is applied to the teeth in need of whitening. The composition can be designed to be removed when the degree of whitening has been achieved or left in place and allowed to erode entirely. In certain embodiments, the composition is translucent. Methods for preparing and using the compositions are also disclosed.
US08206736B2
Biocompatible intraocular implants include a prostamide component and a biodegradable polymer that is effective in facilitating release of the prostamide component into an eye for an extended period of time. The prostamide component may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat or reduce a at least one symptom of an ocular condition, such as glaucoma.
US08206735B2
The present invention provides methods of forming a solid, biodegradable implant in-situ in a body by administering a liquid pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a biocompatible, water-insoluble, biodegradable polymer and an effective amount of a therapeutic peptide covalently modified with one or more lipophilic or amphiphilic moieties, which are dissolved or dispersed in a biocompatible, water-soluble organic solvent. This invention also provides related compositions and methods.
US08206723B2
Modified neurotoxin comprising neurotoxin including structural modification, wherein the structural modification alters the biological persistence, such as the biological half-life and/or a biological activity of the modified neurotoxin relative to an identical neurotoxin without the structural modification. In one embodiment, methods of making the modified neurotoxin include using recombinant techniques. In another embodiment, methods of using the modified neurotoxin to treat conditions include treating various disorders, neuromuscular aliments and pain.
US08206718B2
A homodimeric protein of the invention has angiogenesis inhibiting activity. The homodimeric protein consists of two identical fusion proteins bound together as a homodimer. Each fusion protein comprises an immunoglobulin Fc region and a first target protein linked to the immunoglobulin Fc region. The first target protein has an angiogenesis inhibiting activity of angiostatin or endostatin, and is selected from the group consisting of a plasminogen fragment and a collagen XVIII fragment. The immunoglobulin Fc region comprises a hinge region, a CH2 region, and a CH3 region.
US08206716B2
The invention relates to inhibitors that bind to C5 and C5a, but which do not prevent the activation of C5 and do not prevent formation of or inhibit the activity of C5b. One example of such an inhibitor molecule is the monoclonal antibody designated MAb137-26, which binds to a shared epitope of human C5 and C5a. These inhibitors may be used to inhibit the activity of C5a in treating diseases and conditions mediated by excessive or uncontrolled production of C5a. The inhibitor molecules are also useful for diagnostic detection of the presence/absence or amount of C5 or C5a.
US08206713B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for characterizing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. In particular the invention provides the means and methods for the diagnosis, characterization, prognosis and treatment of cancer and specifically targeting cancer stem cells. The present invention provides an antibody that specifically binds to a non-ligand binding region of the extracellular domain of a human NOTCH receptor and inhibits growth of tumor cells. The present invention further provides a method of treating cancer, the method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody that specifically binds to a non-ligand binding region of the extracellular domain of a human NOTCH receptor protein and inhibits growth of tumor cells.
US08206710B2
This invention relates to the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that specifically bind to and become internalized by mesothelin-positive cells and also induce an immune effector activity such as antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity. The antibodies are useful in specific delivery of pharmacologic agents to mesothelin expressing cells as well as eliciting an immune-effector activity particularly on tumor cells and precursors. The invention is also related to cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody derivatives, such as human, humanized, and chimeric monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, mammalian cells expressing the monoclonal antibodies, derivatives and fragments, and methods of treating cancer using the antibodies, derivatives and fragments.
US08206709B2
Described herein are anti-NKG2A antibodies suitable for human therapy, including humanized versions of murine anti-NKG2A antibody Z270, as well as related methods and materials for producing and using such antibodies. Exemplary complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) sequences and sites for optional amino acid back-substitutions in framework region (FR) and/or CDRs of such antibodies are also described.
US08206706B2
The present invention provides αVβ3 integrin cysteine loop domain agonists and antagonists (including peptide agonists and antagonists and analogs thereof), along with methods of using the same.
US08206691B2
A cosmetic composition is provided including a water-insoluble UV-A sunscreen agent having a λmax at 330-380 nm, a water-insoluble UV-B sunscreen agent having a λmax between 280 and 320 nm, and a water-soluble sunscreen agent having a λmax between 280 and 400 nm, in combination with a photo protective enhancing agent which is a stearyl alkanolamide of structure R1C(O)NR2—R3OH wherein R1 is a C17 radical, R2 is hydrogen or a C1-C6 radical, and R3 is a C2-C8 radical, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier.
US08206668B2
The apparatus of the invention is essentially characterized by the fact that it includes a fluid-flow duct (10) having an inlet (11) and an outlet (12), and mounted in succession in series in the duct (10): a suction fan (20) for sucking in a carrier gas available at the inlet (11) and for discharging it towards the outlet (12); a bubbler (30) suitable for causing the carrier gas to pass through a volatile liquid (31) contained in the bubbler so as to obtain a stream of carrier gas (33) charged with vapor of the liquid; a device (40) for fractioning the charged stream to deliver a charged stream in fractioned form; and a member (50) for treating the fractioned charged stream to impart a determined quality thereto before it is ejected from the outlet (12) of the duct (10). The invention is applicable in particular to producing a gas charged with a volatile compound, in particular for inhalation.
US08206666B2
The present invention provides methods of conducting chemical reactions in a reaction channel that has an varying cross-sectional area such that a chemical reactant or reactants experience varying local contact time as the reactant(s) flow through the channel. The invention also provides reactors having reaction channels with varying cross-sectional areas. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the reaction channel section has a trapezoidal shape that becomes broader from the inlet toward the outlet.
US08206665B2
A cap for a microtube, which can be automatically aligned by an alignment plate for insertion in a correct orientation into the open end of the microtube held in a micro tube rack. The plate has partitions in a grid which produces a matrix of cells having a pitch defined by the spacing between the partitions. The cap 100 has an plug portion 120, which is adapted to be inserted into the open end of the microtube which is held in a rack having a matrix of wells congruent with the matrix of cells in the alignment plate. A grip portion 110 of the cap has an outer circumferential diameter larger than an outer circumferential diameter of the plug portion 120, so that when the cap is inserted in the microtube, the grip portion protrudes from the open end of the microtube. The entire length of the cap 100 is longer than the pitch of the alignment plate and shorter than twice the pitch. An upper edge of the grip portion 110 of the cap 100 has a collar 130 with an outer circumferential diameter larger than the diameter of the cells of the alignment plate. The plug portion 120 of the cap 100 has a taper 122 which is tapered toward a front end, and the center of gravity of the cap 100 is in the plug portion, so that the plug portion of the cap gravitates into one of the open cells of the alignment plate.
US08206654B2
Catalyst feed systems and processes utilizing such systems are described herein. Some embodiments disclosed herein relate to a process for improving the flowability of catalyst in a catalyst feed system, including providing a catalyst feed vessel with at least one heat exchange system for maintaining the catalyst system temperature below a critical flow temperature. Also disclosed is a catalyst feed system for the polymerization of olefins including a catalyst feed vessel; and a heat exchange system for maintaining a temperature of a catalyst within the catalyst feed vessel. Additionally disclosed is a process for polymerization of olefins including maintaining a supported catalyst in a catalyst feed vessel below a critical flow temperature of the catalyst; feeding the catalyst to a polymerization reactor; and contacting the catalyst with an olefin to form a polyolefin.
US08206653B2
To provide an organic synthesizer that can conduct a pressure reaction and an atmospheric reaction in one organic synthesizer. An organic synthesizer comprising a reaction vessel support part (160), which can support two or more reaction vessels, and pressure regulation means (164) for regulating the pressure within the reaction vessel supported by the reaction vessel support part (160) by supplying/discharging gas. Two or more pressure regulation means (164) are provided for each reaction vessel supported by the reaction vessel support part (160). At least one pressure regulation means (164A) in the two or more pressure regulation means (164) is constructed so as to be detachable from and attachable to the other pressure regulation means (164B). The gas supply/discharge pipes (174a to 174d) are constructed so that a part near the front end can be flexed in a vertical direction and in a lateral direction.
US08206650B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a system comprising a meter and a disposable cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample typically blood that is drawn into the cartridge by capillary action, negative pressure, positive pressure, or a combination thereof. The cartridge has at least one flow path, and includes at least one optical chamber for spectroscopic measurement, and at least one biosensor for biosensor measurement. The meter has a sample slot for receiving the disposable cartridge. The cartridges have electrical output contacts, and the meter slot has electrical input contacts. When the output contacts mate with the input contacts, the optical chamber becomes positioned for spectroscopic measurement. The present invention can provide joint-diagnostic spectroscopic and biosensor measurements.
US08206648B2
A liquid container with an upper opening and a tube-shaped withdrawal chimney is disclosed. The withdrawal chimney extends into the container through the upper opening which has a liquid-permeable zone in the form of a finely-porous flow resistance element in its lower end region such that liquid exchange can take place between the withdrawal chimney and the container inner space which surrounds it via the flow resistance element. A venting groove formed by a radial recess of the casing wall of the withdrawal chimney in its upper region may be provided to ensure adequate venting of the space above the liquid level.
US08206645B2
A method for preparing a filler-metal weld rod of a filler-metal composition includes the steps of centerless grinding the filler metal weld rod of a forced mixture of a mass of titanium aluminide intermetallic alloy powder that was used to form the weld rod, and hot isostatic pressing the filler-metal weld rod at a temperature greater than 2150° F., at a pressure between about 15,000 pounds per square inch and about 25,000 pounds per square inch and for a time of about 1 to 5 hours, thereby increasing the relative density to between about 98% and about 99%.
US08206639B2
A nanoimprint resist that includes a hyperbranched polyurethane oligomer (HP), a perfluoropolyether (PFPE), a methylmethacrylate (MMA), a diluent solvent and a photo initiator. A method of a nanoimprint lithography is also provided.
US08206624B2
A method for producing carbon nanotubes uses a polymer as a raw material to undergo in situ thermal decomposition. The method includes steps of mixing the polymer and metallic catalyst through a multiple heating stage process of in-situ thermal decomposition to carbonize the polymer and release carbon elements to produce carbon nanotubes. Advantages of the present invention include easy to prepare, low temperature in manipulation, low production cost, and high safety.
US08206623B2
Provided are a ceramic-fine-particle producing process making it possible to produce, with ease, ceramic fine particles which have a spherical shape close to a complete round and an excellent mono-dispersibility, and are made only of a solid component of a simple ceramic material without making a fine channel structure complicated, and an apparatus used therein for producing ceramic fine particles. The process includes the step (S100) of feeding a dispersion phase made of an aqueous liquid containing a gelling agent to act upon cooling and a ceramic material into a continuous phase made of an oily liquid containing a surfactant, thereby producing fine droplets; the step (S110) of collecting and cooling the produced fine droplets; the step (S120) of washing the cooled fine droplets; the step (S130) of drying the washed fine droplets; and the step (S140) of firing the dried fine droplets.
US08206621B2
A plasticized polymer of PLGA employing ethanol as the plasticizing agent prepared at a temperature higher than the Tg and lower than the boiling point of ethanol can be used in subcutaneous implants containing active ingredients therein.
US08206615B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a paste for an electron emission source, which can retain good electric contact between CNT and a cathode electrode, by containing an electrically conductive particle having a particle diameter within the optimal range. A paste for an electron emission source containing a carbon nanotube having a diameter of 1 nm or more and less than 10 nm, and an electrically conductive part having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 1 μm.
US08206614B2
A voltage switchable dielectric material comprising a concentration of multi-component particles that are individually formed by a mechanical or mechanochemical bonding process that bonds a semiconductive or conductive-type host particle with multiple insulative, conductive, or semi-conductive guest particles.
US08206603B2
Embodiments of the invention include methods of etching nanodots, to methods of removing nanodots from substrates, and to methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices. In one embodiment, a method of etching nanodots that include a late transition metal includes exposing such nanodots to a gas comprising a phosphorus and halogen-containing compound and an oxidizing agent. After the exposing, the nanodots which are remaining and were exposed are etched (either partially or completely) with an aqueous solution comprising HF.
US08206601B2
Block copolymer lithography has emerged as an alternative lithographic method to achieve large-area, high-density patterns at resolutions near or beyond the limit of conventional lithographic techniques for the formation of bit patterned media and discrete track media. In one embodiment, a structure comprises a plurality of nanostructures extending upwardly from a substrate and a porous membrane extending across upper ends of the plurality of nanostructures. A method, according to another embodiment, comprises forming a block copolymer layer on a substrate, inducing self assembly of the block copolymer layer, selectively degrading a block polymer from the block copolymer layer, forming a porous membrane over the block copolymer layer, and removing a portion of the block copolymer layer for defining a plurality of nanostructures extending upwardly from the substrate after forming the porous membrane over the block copolymer layer. Other systems and methods are disclosed as well.
US08206595B2
The present invention provides a method of recovering silver safely and efficiently from a chloride or bromide bath containing various metals. Specifically, a method of recovering silver from a hydrochloric acid solution containing alkali and/or alkaline earth metal chloride, silver, copper and iron ions, comprising the steps of: (1) bringing the solution into contact with a strong-base anion-exchange resin to adsorb silver, copper, and iron on the anion-exchange resin; (2) then washing the anion-exchange resin with water to remove the adsorbed copper and iron; and (3) then bringing the ion-exchange resin into contact with a hydrochloric acid solution to elute the adsorbed silver, is provided.
US08206593B2
New microfluidic devices, useful for carrying out chemical reactions, are provided. The devices are adapted for on-chip solvent exchange, chemical processes requiring multiple chemical reactions, and rapid concentration of reagents.
US08206587B2
The invention relates to a filtration cell that comprises a tank with a bottom wall (2) and four side walls extending upwards from the bottom wall as well as an upward opening, the four side walls including two opposite longitudinal walls (3, 5) as well as a front facing wall (4) and a rear facing wall connecting them, a filtration bed (7) supported in the tank, an outlet opening for discharging the filtrate, and a covering flap (24) protruding outwards from the top of one of said longitudinal walls, the longitudinal wall (5) opposed to that fitted with the flap including a lower portion (25) extending upwards from the bottom wall (2) and an upper portion (26) extending slantedly upwards and inside the tank from the top of said lower portion (25), and/or the front facing wall (4) comprises a bottom portion (27) extending upwards from the bottom wall (2) and a top portion (28) extending slantedly upwards and inside the tank from the top of said bottom portion (27).
