US08606164B2

An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member including an elastic layer and a surface layer in which a filler is dispersed; and a fixed pressing member which is contacted to a surface of the rotatable image heating member and forms a nip, between itself and the rotatable image heating member, in which a recording material for carrying an image is to be nip-conveyed. The surface of the rotatable image heating member has a shape such that projections are distributed by the filler so that a coefficient of dynamic friction μ(hot) relative to said fixed pressing member when a surface temperature of the rotatable image heating member is a temperature during image heating and a coefficient of dynamic friction μ(cold) relative to the fixed pressing member when the surface temperature is a normal temperature satisfy, μ(hot)<1.2×μ(cold).
US08606159B2

A fuser for an electrophotographic imaging device according to one embodiment includes a stationary pressure member having an elongated body with an outer surface. The pressure member is substantially transparent and/or substantially translucent and permits the passage of radiant heat therethrough. An endless fusing belt having a flexible tubular configuration is rotatably positioned about the pressure member. The pressure member is positioned around a heating lamp for transmitting radiant heat through the pressure member to an inner surface of the fusing belt. A backup roll opposes the fusing belt. The pressure member is configured to apply pressure contact to the fusing belt against the backup roll to form a fuser nip between the backup roll and a segment of the fusing belt.
US08606158B2

The present teachings provide a fuser cleaning apparatus that includes a rotatable fuser member and a cleaning web. The cleaning web is impregnated with a chelating agent including citric acid. The cleaning web is translatable and arranged to directly or indirectly contact the rotatable fuser member whereby the citric acid is transferred to the rotatable fuser member to inhibit Zn contamination on the rotatable fuser member.
US08606156B2

Disclosed is a fixing unit including a fixing member; a pressure member brought into press-contact with a front surface of the fixing member; a pressure mechanism that changes a position at which the pressure member is brought into press-contact with the fixing member, the pressure mechanism being capable of controlling a presence or absence and a width of the nip part; and a cleaning web unit having a contact roller brought into contact with at least the pressure member via a web, a supply roller that supplies a new web, and a winding roller that winds and collects the web having wiped off an attachment on the pressure roller. The contact roller is caused to move following a movement of the pressure mechanism to maintain a constant contact position, a constant contact direction, and a constant contact force thereof with respect to the pressure member.
US08606153B2

An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable belt member; an image forming station; first and second detecting members for detecting widthwise positions of the belt member; first and second steering rollers for correcting the widthwise positions of the belt member by inclination; a control portion configured to control inclinations of the first and second steering rollers on the basis of an output of the first or second detecting member; a first executing portion configured to execute, in a period other than an image formation period, an operation in a correction mode of, in a state that the first steering roller is at a first reference inclination, controlling the second steering roller to correct a second reference inclination of the second steering roller; and a second executing portion configured to execute, in a period other than that of the correction mode operation, an operation in a control mode of controlling the first and second steering rollers on the basis of the first and second reference inclinations.
US08606152B2

An image forming apparatus to form an image in a single pass includes a plurality of image carriers, a transfer belt to receive developer images from the image carriers, a plurality of primary transfer rollers disposed to be offset from the image carriers along the transfer belt, respectively, a backup roller disposed adjacent to the last one of the primary transfer rollers disposed most-downstream in a rotating direction of the transfer belt, and a secondary transfer roller to transfer the developer images from the transfer belt to a printing medium, the secondary transfer roller being disposed opposite to the backup roller to interpose the transfer belt therebetween. The backup roller has a resistance in the range of 5 to 50 MΩ.
US08606146B2

A structure for installing consumables of an image forming apparatus, the structure comprising: a frame; a plurality of consumables which comprises irregular installation preventing units in different locations; a plurality of irregular installation preventing keys which prevents an irregular installation of the plurality of consumables by an interaction with the irregular installation preventing units; and an installation guide member which is installed in the frame, comprising a key installation unit to guide the plurality of irregular installation preventing keys to be installed differently for each of the consumables and having the plurality of consumables installed therein.
US08606143B2

A downsized electrophotographic image forming apparatus with which a drawer member mounting a photosensitive drum and a developing unit is mounted into a main assembly of the apparatus, and the developing roller and the photosensitive drum can be contacted and spaced relative to each other is provided. It includes a process cartridge, a main assembly of the apparatus, and a drawer member 13 movable between an inside position which is inside the main assembly of the apparatus and which the drawer member 13 supports the process cartridge and an outside position which is outside the main assembly of the apparatus. The drawer member 13 further includes a contacting and spacing member 42 capable of taking a contacting position for contacting the developing roller to the photosensitive drum and a spacing position for spacing the developing roller from the photosensitive drum.
US08606134B2

An image forming apparatus stops the intermediate transfer belt so that a wrinkle is formed at a predetermined position of an intermediate transfer belt and, by detecting a reference mark during a preparation operation for forming an image when starting image formation, the toner image is not transferred onto the wrinkle formed in the intermediate transfer belt when formation of a toner image is started immediately after the preparation operation has been completed.
US08606133B2

A toner pattern for detecting the degree of toner deterioration is created on a photosensitive element and transferred to an intermediate transfer belt by a primary transfer unit under a transfer condition different from that at the time of image formation. A toner adhesion amount detection unit detects the toner adhesion amount of the toner pattern at multiple places. A degree-of-toner-deterioration calculation unit calculates the degree of toner deterioration on the basis of the variation in data of the toner adhesion amount at multiple places detected by the toner adhesion amount detection unit. A background potential determination coefficient in a process control unit is controlled on the basis of the degree of toner deterioration calculated by the degree-of-toner-deterioration calculation unit.
US08606131B2

A charging device includes a charging member to charge an image bearing member; an applying device configured to apply to the charging member a charging bias voltage comprising a DC voltage component and an AC voltage component; an AC current detector; a DC current detector; and a controller. The controller determines a saturation peak-to-peak voltage V0 at which the detected DC current saturates when a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC voltage is increased, calculates a relational expression using only a detected AC current when a peak-to- peak voltage which is not more than the saturation peak-to-peak voltage V0 is applied, and determines the peak-to-peak voltage of the AC voltage applied to the charging member in an image forming operation on the basis of the relational expression and a detected AC current when a peak-to-peak voltage higher than the saturation peak-to-peak voltage V0 is applied.
US08606130B2

In a reflective optical sensor in an image forming apparatus, an output from each N number of light-receiving elements (N≧3), obtained when M number of light-emitting elements (M≧3) included in a light-emitting unit emit detecting light, is separated into an amount of specularly reflected light and an amount of diffusely reflected light. The toner density of a pattern, which is formed on a supporting member in the image forming apparatus, is calculated based on a sum of the amounts of specularly reflected light and a sum of the amounts of diffusely reflected light.
US08606127B2

An image forming apparatus for printing an image on a medium, including: a first image carrier; a second image carrier disposed downstream of the first image carrier in a traveling direction of the medium; a first charging member configured to charge the first image carrier; a second charging member configured to charge the second image carrier; and a control unit configured to execute a monochrome printing mode in which a monochromic image is formed on the medium using the first image carrier and the first charging member and a color printing mode in which a color image is formed on the medium using the second image carrier and the second charging member. In the monochrome printing mode, the control unit makes an absolute value of an electric surface potential of the second image carrier larger than an absolute value of an electric surface potential of the first image carrier.
US08606125B2

An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a multiplexer (MUX) which is able to be connected to at least one developer supplier, at least one pull-up resistor which is connected in parallel to at least one connection line between the at least one developer supplier and the MUX, and a central processing unit (CPU) which detects a connection signal from the at least one pullup resistor and the at least one connection line, and determines whether an initial developer supplier is mounted according to the value of the connection signal.
US08606118B2

An ALC processing unit to adjust the signal level of outputs from an adaptive equalizer to a target value is provided in a stage later than the adaptive equalizer and earlier than a frequency offset estimation/compensation unit in an optical digital coherent receiver. The ALC processing unit generates a histogram that counts the number of samples for discrete monitored values corresponding to amplitude values of outputs from the adaptive equalizer, and determines a level adjustment coefficient that is to be multiplied by an output from the adaptive equalizer so as to multiply the determined coefficient by the output from the adaptive equalizer so that the monitored value of the peak value of the histogram is the target value.
US08606116B2

A distortion compensation circuit with frequency detection may be used with one or more non-linear elements, such as a laser, to compensate for frequency-dependent distortion generated by the non-linear element(s), for example, in broadband multichannel RF applications. Embodiments of the distortion compensation circuit may include a frequency detector circuit that detects changes in frequency loading conditions in the distortion compensation circuit such that distortion compensation may be adjusted to compensate for distortion under different frequency loading conditions. In a multichannel RF system with multiple channel operation modes, for example, the frequency detector circuit may detect changes in the frequency loading condition as a result of changing operation modes.
US08606114B2

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for phase aligning two optical signals within an optical transmitter to each other (and, in some embodiments, to a pulse carved optical signal) using integrated complimentary taps and a dither signal. The phase of a first signal may be intentionally offset relative to the phase of a second signal. Based on the offset, a correction factor may be calculated. The correction factor may be used to shift the phase of the first signal and/or the second signal in order to generally align the signals. This procedure may be automatically performed in a feedback loop to cause the signals to come into alignment and maintain the alignment of the signals during operation of the transmitter.
US08606112B2

An apparatus for connecting a host device to an optical network, and to provide a bi-directional electro-optic interface to the host device. The apparatus comprises at least one optical network port for connection to the optical network, and a transceiver circuit configured to generate optical transmit signals for transmission via the at least one network port. The transceiver circuit is further configured to process optical receive signals received via the network port. The apparatus further comprises an optical connector configured to provide bi-directional transfer of optical data signals with the host device.
US08606110B2

Optical distributed antenna systems comprising a head-end unit adapted to transmit downlink a modulated optical signal with wavelength λ0 and N un-modulated optical signals with wavelength λN and N remote units (RU) and including at least one circulator. In some embodiments, an HE unit includes an arrangement of a single circulator coupled to a single detector, the arrangement preventing beating. In some embodiments, a RU includes a reflective electro-absorption transceiver (REAT) which includes a single optical interface and a single RF port. The REAT detects the optical signal with λ0 and converts it into a RF signal, and reflects an un-modulated optical signal with wavelength λN to provide a modulated uplink optical signal. In some embodiments, a RU is configured as an optical antenna unit. In some embodiments, a plurality of RUs is combined with passive optical distribution units to provide hierarchical DAS architectures.
US08606107B2

A dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) system, comprising a plurality of laser transmitters, a wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) optically coupled to the laser transmitters and to an output optical transmission media, a coupler optically coupled to the output optical transmission media, an interferometric filter optically coupled to the coupler but not directly to the output optical transmission media, and a light reflector optically coupled to the interferometric filter and not directly to the output optical transmission media.
US08606106B2

An optical fiber network comprises a laser source (1a) configured to generate laser light of a plurality of wavelengths. A first optical fiber (4a), transmits multi-wavelength light from the laser source to a location remote from the laser source. A wavelength division multiplexer (2) at the remote location (203) is connected to a plurality of second optical fibers (8). A plurality of optical modulators (9) are each connected optically to the wavelength division multiplexer (2) via a respective second optical fiber (8). The wavelength division multiplexer (2) is arranged to de-multiplex the multi-wavelength light received from the first optical fiber (4a) into a plurality of wavelengths and to supply a respective wavelength to each of the second optical fibers (8). The optical modulators (9) are reflective optical modulators each arranged to modulate light received from the associated second optical fiber (8) with a data signal and to reflect the modulated light back along the second optical fiber (8). The wavelength division multiplexer (2) is arranged to multiplex the modulated light from all of the second optical fibers (8) into a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal for onward transmission along a third optical fiber (13).
US08606105B2

The present disclosure provides virtual router/switch systems and methods with a domain of optical switches operating as a single, virtualized router using a control plane design combining centralized control of higher layer packet switching functions with distributed control over transport switching functions. The virtual router systems and methods simplify and reduce cost of Internet Protocol (IP) networks by removing the core routers, replacing them with lower cost, high capacity optical switches which are Packet Optical Transport Systems (POTS). The virtual router systems and methods avoids full mesh connectivity of the edge routers and the associated need to maintain routing adjacencies to each of the other edge routers. The virtual router systems and methods include a centralized IP layer management. Further, the virtual router systems and methods include distributed control of the optical layers.
US08606098B1

An electronic device of reduced thickness includes a housing with a front cover and a back cover, a circuit board accommodated in the housing, a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the circuit board, a first camera module, and a second camera module. The flexible circuit board strip is folded to create a substantially U-shaped portion defining a first receiving space facing the front cover and a second receiving space separated from the first receiving space. The first camera module comprising a first lens module received in the first receiving space and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board strip. The second camera module includes a second lens module received in the second receiving space and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board strip. The second camera module is juxtaposed alongside of the first camera module and invertedly oriented with respect to the first camera module.
US08606097B2

A system for reducing the substantially vertical extent of a wide-area biometric system and for reducing the cost and complexity of installation while maintaining high biometric performance, using a substantially horizontally configuration of cameras, preferably with an attention mechanism, and using a precision calibration system that can be used by an unskilled technician and that does not require an accurate site survey or additional materials or equipment.
US08606095B2

A camera module having an auto-focus apparatus comprises a piezoelectric actuator configured to generate a force for moving a driven member, a rod connected to the piezoelectric actuator and configured to transmit the force of the piezoelectric actuator to the driven member, a lens barrel having at least one lens, and a connecting member configured to use magnetic force to couple the rod and the lens barrel together.
US08606087B2

A screen recording method computes an encoding delay for each frame of a screen of an electronic device. The frame is encoded by a first compression algorithm if the encoding delay is short. The frame is encoded by an second compression algorithm if the encoding delay is middle and a time interval between the encoding time of a previous frame and the encoding time of a current frame does not exceed a first preset time interval. The frame is encoded by a third compression algorithm if the encoding delay is long and a time interval between the encoding time of a previous frame and the encoding time of a current frame exceeds a second preset time interval.
US08606084B2

An approach provides for recording and editing digital media. A digital media stream is generated from an input signal (such as a live broadcast feed). The digital media stream is transmitted to a browser application configured to concurrently record and edit the digital media stream.
US08606080B2

For a content-prerecorded large capacity disc-shaped recording medium, a user interface having high flexibility is accomplished. Button image data, corresponding sound data as an effect sound, and control commands for the sound data and image data are multiplexed with a stream and recorded on the disc. A scenario reproduced from the disc is stored in a buffer. The image data and sound data are stored in a buffer. Image data is read from the buffer in accordance with a scenario and expanded to a graphics plane. In addition, corresponding sound data is read from the buffer and reproduced by a sound player. When a button image is varied in accordance with a state change of the button, an effect sound is reproduced. As a result, a more effective user interface is accomplished.
US08606071B2

A media-rendering apparatus for real-time streaming of audio/video (AV) data to a media-player having one or more input direct-access-storage-device (DASD) interfaces, the apparatus including a real-time AV data source unit, an input frame buffer operatively coupled with the real-time AV data unit, an AV real-time encoder, an encoded-frames buffer, a power source, a storage-device content emulator and a DASD interface device for communicating with the media-player. Preferably, power is provided through the DASD interface device.
US08606063B2

Provided is a manufacturing method for an optical waveguide in which, when the optical waveguide is cut and a contour thereof is processed, accuracy of a cut position is improved by improving visibility of an alignment mark. An undercladding layer, cores, and alignment marks are formed on a front surface of a substrate. Then, an overcladding layer is formed using a photomask so as to cover the cores with the alignment marks being exposed. After the substrate is separated to manufacture an optical waveguide body, a cut position is located with reference to the alignment marks from a rear surface side of the undercladding layer, and the undercladding layer and the overcladding layer are cut to manufacture the optical waveguide.
US08606056B2

Provided are an opto-electric hybrid board and a manufacturing method therefor. The opto-electric hybrid board includes an optical waveguide unit and an electric circuit unit having an optical element mounted thereon, the electric circuit unit being coupled to the optical waveguide unit. The optical waveguide unit includes notch portions for locating the electric circuit unit, which is formed in portions of at least one of an undercladding layer and an overcladding layer, and the notch portions are located and formed at predetermined locations with respect to one end surface of a core. The electric circuit unit includes bent portions, which fit into the notch portions, and the bent portions are located and formed at predetermined locations with respect to the optical element. The optical waveguide unit and the electric circuit unit are coupled to each other under a state in which the bent portions fit into the notch portions.
US08606054B2

Disclosed herein is an optical frequency shifter (1) provided with: an electro-optical substrate (3) having a main surface (3a); an optical waveguide structure (2) formed in the substrate (3) and having two waveguide portions (7), which are spaced apart by a distance (S) such as to ensure mutual optical coupling therebetween; and an electrode structure (10) arranged above the main surface (3a) of the substrate (3) and having at least a first electrode (11). The substrate (3) has a Z-cut crystalline structure with Z crystal axis orthogonal to the main surface (3a) and comprises two oppositely poled portions (20, 21) having opposite orientations of the Z crystal axis; the two waveguide portions (7) are arranged underneath the first electrode (11), each in a respective one of the two oppositely poled portions (20, 21).
US08606053B2

In an optical modulator, respective lights for where one input light has been branched, are input via a curved waveguide to a plurality of optical modulation sections arranged in parallel on the same substrate. In a Mach-Zehnder type optical waveguide, a spacing between the pair of branching waveguides of the adjacent optical modulation sections, is formed so as to become wider in the vicinity of a border of an input side polarization inversion region than in the vicinity of a start point of an interaction portion. As a result, even if a signal electrode of the optical modulation sections shifts at the boundary portion of the polarization inversion region, the spacing between the signal electrodes does not become narrow, and hence the radius of curvature of curved waveguides for guiding the input light to the respective optical modulation sections can be increased, so that it becomes possible to apply input light to the optical modulation sections at low loss.
US08606052B2

Digital detectors of X-ray image intended for stitching and linearization of gain characteristics of independent sensors of multisensor detectors are disclosed. The technical result is the development of methodology of stitching and linearization of multisensor detectors gain characteristics under the conditions of non equal irradiance (the use of radiation source with flat X-ray (light) field is not required). The method is based on calculation of LUT functions for conversion of output signals intensity of detector sensors. As a result of application of the stated conversion LUT functions the sensors gain characteristics are received which are the same and linear within the precision of measurements. Calculation of stitching LUT functions employs the availability of non-equal X-ray (light) field slowly changing along the area of detector. The responses of any two adjacent sensors with the same gain characteristics shall have similar values near the joint of these sensors.
US08606045B2

There are disclosed embodiments for image based registration. An image registration system sets image transform parameters based on pixels of registered ultrasound image and CT (or MRI) image. The image registration system transforms ultrasound images, which may be newly provided, by using the image transform parameters to thereby output transform images. The image registration system performs image based registration on the transform images and the second images.
US08606040B2

An image conversion device is disclosed, having an image converting circuit for receiving a first and a second image frames of a first format and generating a third and a fourth image frames of a second format; and a signal generating circuit coupled with the image converting circuit for generating a plurality of first synchronization signals having a substantially fixed period and one or more second synchronization signals for the third and the fourth image frames, wherein each of the second synchronization signals is synchronized with one of the first synchronization signals and the third image frame contains at least one more first synchronization signal than the fourth image frame.
US08606038B2

A method and computer system are disclosed with software for artifact reduction in CT image datasets for spiral scans from a CT system with an inclined gantry. In at least one embodiment, for each of at least two positions of the center of rotation, which is moved during the spiral scan, the removal of annular artifacts is carried out around these positions, during which the position concerned is used as the center point of the annular artifacts to be removed.
US08606032B2

The present invention relates to an image processing method and to a device to process a moving image, which is shot by a predetermined video shooting device, in increments of access units. The imaging blur is represented by a corresponding low-pass filter showing the properties of imaging blur which occurs at the time that said moving image is shot with said video shooting device. According to the present method an inverse filter having inverse properties as to said low-pass filter is generated. A processing is performed to apply said inverse filter to said access unit to be processed. Hereby, the step of generating an inverse filter includes an iterative algorithm in the frequency domain based on the original blurred image and the point spread function.
US08606029B1

In a general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor of a host device to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to determine that a first region of a current image is identical to a first region of a prior image, and instructions to determine that a second region of the current image is different from a second region of the prior image. The instructions can also include instructions to calculate, in response to the determination that the second region of the current image is different, a rate of change associated with the portion of the second region, and instructions to identify a portion of the second region of the current image for encoding based on the rate of change associated with the portion of the second region of the current image based on a threshold value.
US08606024B2

There are provided a device and a method capable of increasing the processing speed and preventing the increase of the device size by eliminating decompression/decoding processing not required for decompression/decoding of a moving picture of a point-of-view desired by a user. The decompression/decoding device includes: instruction input means for receiving an instruction for a frame to be outputted; judgment means for reading out motion prediction information from the moving picture data and judging the frame used for motion prediction in compression/encoding of the frame to be outputted; and decompression/decoding means for decompressing/decoding only the frame judged by the judgment means and the frame to be outputted.
US08606018B2

An image processing method includes the steps of: reading an original placed on an original platen; executing a filtering process to extract a contour on the read image; extracting a contour group in broken lines from the image having the filtering process executed; forming one contour from the contour group in broken lines; determining an area of the original from the contours obtained in the filtering execution step and the forming step; and extracting an image of the determined original area from the read image.
US08606011B1

Various approaches for providing textual information to an application, system, or service are disclosed. In particular, various embodiments enable a user to capture an image with a camera of a portable computing device. The computing device is capable of taking the image and processing it to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to forward the text to an application or function. The application or function can then utilize the text to perform an action in substantially real-time. The text may include an email, phone number, URL, an address, and the like and the application or function may be dialing the phone number, navigating to the URL, opening an address book to save contact information, displaying a map to show the address, and so on. Adaptive thresholding can be used to account for variations across an image, in order to improve the accuracy and efficiency of text recognition processes.
US08606010B2

A processor and method make use of multiple weak classifiers to construct a single strong classifier to identify regions that contain text within an input image document. The weak classifiers are grouped by their computing cost from low to median to high, and each weak classifier is assigned a weight value based on its ability to accurately identify text regions. A level 1 classifier is constructed by selecting weak classifiers from the low group, a level 2 classifier is constructed by selecting weak classifiers from the low and median groups, and a level 3 classifier is constructed by selecting weak classifiers from the low, median and high groups. Regions that the level 1 classifier identifies as containing text are submitted to the level 2 classifier, and regions that the level 2 classifier identifies as containing text are submitted to the level 3 classifier.
US08606000B2

A method and system for detecting in an image a repeating unit, where the unit includes a reference form and a set of elements at a known distance from and orientation to the reference form, deriving a value from the elements included in the unit, and comparing the derived value to a know value. The elements may indicate binary values that may be used in the derivation of the value, and the value may be associated with an object. The comparison of the value derived from the elements in the image with the stored value that is associated with the object may be used in identifying or confirming the identification of the object in the image.
US08605999B2

A signal processing apparatus including: a first noise reduction processing section that performs first noise reduction processing on an image, in which each of multitudes of pixels has one of a plurality of color components and the color components are distributed regularly, based only on pixel arrangement to obtain a first processed image; a color component separation section that separates the first processed image into each of the color components to obtain a plurality of color component images; and a signal classification section that compares a signal value of a target pixel for processing with a signal value of each pixel included in a predetermined range of area around the target pixel and classifies each pixel within the predetermined range of area into one of a plurality of groups based on the comparison result.
US08605994B2

Disparity in a stereoscopic image is converted, according to features of a configuration element of an image that influences depth perception of a stereoscopic image. A disparity detecting unit 110 detects disparity from a left image L and right image R of an input image, and generates a disparity map dM. A disparity correction unit 150 corrects the disparity in the disparity map dM and generates a corrected disparity map dM′. A correction feature setting unit 130 sets the correction features in the event of performing disparity correction in the disparity correction unit 150. The image synthesizing unit 160 synthesizes the left image L and right image R of the stereoscopic image based on the corrected disparity map dM′ and outputs the stereoscopic image made up of a left image L′ and right image R′ as an output image. Thus, a stereoscopic image having disparity according to the set correction features is output. The correction features therein are set according to the degree that the configuration element features such as size of disparity, position on screen, manner of special change and so forth influence the depth perception.
US08605993B2

A method of merging a plurality of disparity maps. The method comprises calculating a plurality of disparity maps each from images captured by another of a plurality of pairs of image sensors having stereoscopic fields of view (SFOVs) with at least one overlapping portion, the SFOVs covering a scene with a plurality of objects, identifying at least one of the plurality of objects in the at least one overlapping portion, the at least one object being mapped in each the disparity map, calculating accuracy of disparity values depicting the object in each the disparity map, merging depth data from the plurality of disparity maps according to the accuracy so as to provide a combined depth map wherein disparity values of the object are calculated according to one of the plurality of disparity maps, and outputting the depth data.
US08605979B2

A method automatically detects and quantifies arterial plaque (hard plaque, soft plaque or both) in the coronary arteries of the heart from CT images. The method uses plaque definitions based on subject specific in vivo blood/muscle and fat density measurements, subject specific voxel statistical parameters and 2-D and 3-D voxel connectivity criteria to automatically identify the plaques. The locations of the major arteries are determined in a 3-D coordinate system; and the specific coordinates of the detected plaques are displayed in a plaque map for follow-up exams or ease in plaque review, editing and reporting the results.
US08605973B2

An interactive segmentation framework for 3-D teeth CT volumetric data enables a user to segment an entire dental region or individual teeth depending upon the types of user input. Graph cuts-based interactive segmentation utilizes a user's scribbles which are collected on several 2-D representative CT slices and are expanded on those slices. Then, a 3-D distance transform is applied to the entire CT volume based on the expanded scribbles. Bony tissue enhancement is added before feeding 3-D CT raw image data into the graph cuts pipeline. The segmented teeth area is able to be directly utilized to reconstruct a 3-D virtual teeth model.
US08605972B2

A method for automatically aligning images includes (a) determining initial correspondent point features between a first image and a second image, (b) creating a triangular meshes for the images from the initial correspondent point features within the images, and (c) refining point correspondence between the first and second images based on affine transformation estimation using the triangular meshes. The method may also include (d) creating refined triangular meshes for the images from the point correspondence refined in (c), and (e) determining coordinate alignment within the areas of pairs of correspondent triangles in the refined triangular meshes through interpolation of affine transformation on the pairs of correspondent triangles.
US08605970B2

A method of producing a denoised medical image at a specified resolution, comprising: a) denoising an original medical image acquired at a resolution higher than the specified resolution; and b) reducing the resolution of the image, after denoising, to the specified resolution, using a nonlinear resolution reduction procedure that preserves more fine detail in the image than a linear resolution reduction procedure would.
US08605966B2

A treatment planning apparatus comprises a means for receiving a three dimensional representation of a patient, a means for displaying at least a part of the representation, a means for user-designation of sub-regions of the representation, and a computing means adapted to segment the representation into a region within an anatomical structure and a region outside the anatomical structure on the basis of the locations of the sub-regions and the degree of similarity of voxels to neighboring voxels in the representation. The treatment planning apparatus preferably further comprises means for designating sub-regions as being inside the structure, means for designating sub-regions as being outside the structure, and/or means for designating sub-regions as being at a border of the structure. In the latter case, we prefer that the size of border sub-regions is adjustable. The computing means can segment the representation by minimizing a cost function. We also prefer that the initial values of the function in sub-regions designated as being in a border region are constrained to a different preset value. In an particularly useful aspect of this invention, after minimization of the function the values in sub-regions designated as being in a border region are then un-constrained, the remaining values are constrained, and the function is then minimized a second time.
US08605965B2

In methods and an apparatus for generating a modified intensity projection image from captured medical image data of a subject, an intensity projection image data set and a secondary image data set are obtained from the image data. A region of interest is determined in the secondary image data set, and a surface of this region of interest is then determined. The intensity projection image data set and the region of interest surface are then combined to generate the modified intensity projection image for display.
US08605963B2

A technique for selecting portions of a medical image data set to be stored and portions of the medical image data set to be discarded in order to reduce the overall amount of image data that is stored for each image data set. The selection is based on the clinical purpose for obtaining the medical image data. The clinical purpose for obtaining the medical image is used to select an atlas. The atlas is labeled with information that establishes the relative relevance of various regions of the atlas. The atlas is aligned to the image and the labeling information is transferred from the atlas to the medical image. Each region of the medical image is then processed based on the labeling information received from the atlas. The regions of greatest relevance are stored at their full resolution. Regions of lesser relevance are stored at less than the full resolution. Finally, regions of no relevance are discarded and not stored at all.
US08605961B2

A method (300) and apparatus (200) that determines a physiological parameter using a fingerprint sensor on a portable electronic device is disclosed. The method can include capturing (320) a plurality of images corresponding to an area beneath a surface of skin using a fingerprint sensor configured to capture a live scan of a fingerprint pattern from a finger on a touch surface on a portable electronic device. The method can include comparing (330) image characteristics corresponding to at least a first image of the plurality of images with image characteristics corresponding to at least a second image of the plurality of images. The method can include determining (340) a physiological parameter based on comparing the image characteristics.
US08605953B1

A verifier apparatus including a linear imaging unit for an iterative capturing and collecting of data sample sets of linear image data, along with a position value that is associated with each collected data sample set. A preferred method calls for a post processing of collected data sample sets and position values to yield imaging data representing a plurality of evenly spaced and parallel imaging lines, which may then be processed to determine one or more print quality attributes. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring abstracts, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.
US08605950B2

A camera is described having an image capturing device, an evaluation and control unit and a storage unit, the evaluation and control unit analyzes an image sequence having at least two successively captured images recorded by the image capturing device to segment and stabilize at least one object to be recorded during the image recording. The evaluation and control unit ascertains a deliberate panning movement of the camera and compares it with ascertained movements of objects represented in the captured images, the evaluation and control unit determining at least one object as an object to be recorded, the ascertained movement of which is most consistent with the camera's ascertained panning movement, and the evaluation and control unit storing an image section of the image captured by the image capturing device in the storage unit which represents the at least one object to be recorded. Also described is a corresponding method.
US08605949B2

A method of determining functionality of a vision-based imaging system for a vehicle includes capturing images by the vision-based imaging system. The images include landmarks that are identified in multiple images for distinguishing displacement of landmarks between the images. Edge maps for each of the images are generated. Like regions of at least two edge maps are compared for distinguishing displacement of a landmark between the at least two edge maps. Each pixel location of a first edge map is compared with a same pixel location of a second edge map for determining whether each compared pixel location has a different intensity value. An aggregate number of pixel locations having a different intensity value between the at least two edge maps is determined and compared to a threshold. An error message is generated in response to the aggregate number being less than the threshold.
US08605948B2

A driver assistance system for monitoring driving safety has a mobile electronic unit including a video sensor, a computer unit for image data processing, and an acoustic output unit, which detects the immediate surroundings of the vehicle from the data of the video sensor and outputs a warning or information via an output unit when the computer unit detects a dangerous situation. The mobile electronic unit detects noises within the vehicle or from the outside via an acoustic input unit, and incorporates the information in the assessment of driving safety.
US08605947B2

Method for detecting a clear path of travel for a host vehicle including fusion of clear path detection by image analysis and detection of an object within an operating environment of the host vehicle including monitoring an image from a camera device, analyzing the image through clear path detection analysis to determine a clear path of travel within the image, monitoring sensor data describing the object, analyzing the sensor data to determine an impact of the object to the clear path, utilizing the determined impact of the object to describe an enhanced clear path of travel, and utilizing the enhanced clear path of travel to navigate the host vehicle.
US08605946B2

A moving object detection apparatus includes: a trajectory calculating unit which calculates a plurality of trajectories for each image subset; a subclass classification unit which classifies the trajectories into subclasses for each of the image subsets, an inter-subclass similarity calculating unit which calculates a trajectory share ratio which indicates the degree of sharing of the same trajectory between arbitrary two of the subclasses and calculates the similarity between the subclasses based on the share ratio; a moving object detection unit which detects the moving object in video by classifying the subclasses into classes such that the subclasses between which a higher similarity is present are more likely to be classified into the same class.
US08605944B2

Included are: an information management system that manages monitoring-target condition information output from condition-monitoring target devices; cameras that are incorporated in respective train cars and take images of the condition-monitoring target devices; a transmission device that is connected to an in-train transmission channel and transmits imaging data from the camera; a camera-control central device that is connected to the information management system and the transmission device, monitors the monitoring-target condition information sent from the information management system, determines whether the condition-monitoring target devices are in a normal condition, and generates a frame-rate control signal for adjusting a frame rate of imaging data; and a camera-control terminal device that is connected to the transmission device and the camera and adjusts the frame rate of imaging data sent from the camera based on the frame-rate control signal.
US08605943B2

Provided are a method and device for determining a lean angle of a body and a pose estimation method and device. The method for determining a lean angle of a body of the present invention includes: a head-position obtaining step for obtaining a position of a head; a search region determination step for determining a plurality of search region spaced with an angle around the head; an energy function calculating step for calculating a value of an energy function for the search region; and a lean angle determining step for determining the lean angle of a search region with a largest or smallest value of the energy function as the lean angle of the body. The pose estimation method of the present invention includes a body lean-angle obtaining step, for obtaining a lean angle of a body; and a pose estimation step, for performing a pose estimation based on the lean angle of the body.
US08605941B2

The enhanced detection of a waving engagement gesture, in which a shape is defined within motion data, the motion data is sampled at points that are aligned with the defined shape, and, based on the sampled motion data, positions of a moving object along the defined shape are determined over time. It is determined whether the moving object is performing a gesture based on a pattern exhibited by the determined positions, and an application is controlled if determining that the moving object is performing the gesture.
US08605936B2

A method and apparatus for mounting a loudspeaker within a cavity in the wall of a room to lessen the transmission of vibration to the wall comprises a weight support member coupled to the speaker cabinet and at least one flexible member extending from the speaker cabinet into engagement with wallboard or other wall sections forming opposite sides of the wall.
US08605919B2

A microphone has a housing (9) defining an acoustic hole (99) and having inner faces. The microphone includes a MEMS capacitor (1) secured to and electrically connected with a first face (6) of the inner faces of the housing (9), the first face defining the acoustic hole (99), a detecting circuit (7) secured to and electrically connected with a second face (8) of the inner faces of the housing (9), the second face (8) being not adjacent the first face (6), the detecting circuit (7) detecting at least a change in the electrostatic capacity of the MEMS capacitor (1). The microphone further includes a flexible substrate (4) secured to the first face (6) and the second face (8) and disposed under a bent state inside the housing (9). The flexible substrate (4) establishes electrical connection between the MEMS capacitor (1) and the detecting circuit (7) via a wire electrically connecting the first face (6) and the second face (8).
US08605916B2

The adjustment of a hearing device is to be improved and configured in a more user-friendly fashion. To this end, a method is proposed whereby the hearing device is set individually to the user and is inserted at least partially into the auditory canal of the user. Finally an in-situ measurement of the acoustic impedance of the auditory system of the user including at least part of the auditory canal of the user is implemented with a tympanometric method. An automatic correction of the individual setting of the hearing device can take place on the basis of the results of the in-situ measurement.
US08605911B2

The present invention provides improvements to prior art audio codecs that generate a stereo-illusion through post-processing of a received mono signal. These improvements are accomplished by extraction of stereo-image describing parameters at the encoder side, which are transmitted and subsequently used for control of a stereo generator at the decoder side. Furthermore, the invention bridges the gap between simple pseudo-stereo methods, and current methods of true stereo-coding, by using a new form of parametric stereo coding. A stereo-balance parameter is introduced, which enables more advanced stereo modes, and in addition forms the basis of a new method of stereo-coding of spectral envelopes, of particular use in systems where guided HFR (High Frequency Reconstruction) is employed. As a special case, the application of this stereo-coding scheme in scalable HFR-based codecs is described.
US08605909B2

The invention concerns a method and a system for sound spatialization of a first set of not less than one of the audio channels encoded on of a number of frequency subbands (SBk) and decoded in a transformed domain (Fl, C, Fr, Sr, SI, Ife) into a second set of not less than two (Bl, Br) sound channels in the time domain, from modelling filters converted into a gain and a delay applicable in the transformed domain involving: filtering (A) through equalization, subband delay of the signal by applying at least one gain and one delay to generate from each of said encoded channels an equalized and delayed component; adding (B) a subset of equalized and delayed signals to create a number of filtered signals corresponding to not less than two; synthesizing (C) each of said filtered signals to obtain the second set of not less than two reproduction sound channels (Bl, Br) in the time domain.
US08605908B2

A method and a device for obtaining a security key in a relay system are disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention. A node in the relay system obtains an initial key, according to the initial key, the node obtains a root key of an air interface protection key between the node and another node that is directly adjacent to the node, and according to the root key, the node obtains the air interface protection key between the node and said another node that is directly adjacent to the node. Therefore, according to the initial key, each lower-level node obtains a root key of an air interface protection key between each lower-level node, so that data of a UE on a Un interface link may be respectively protected, that is, each active UE has a set of security parameters on the Un interface link, and effective security protection is performed on data on each segment of an air interface.
US08605906B2

Provided are a method of connecting BLUETOOTH® devices using a single BLUETOOTH® channel and a BLUETOOTH® device using the method. A public key may be exchanged via a predefined single BLUETOOTH® channel, thereby preventing a Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. For example, when an MITM attacker intercepts the public key and attempts to perform an attack on the other BLUETOOTH® devices, other BLUETOOTH® devices may also receive the public key via the single BLUETOOTH® channel. Accordingly, the other BLUETOOTH® devices may recognize that the MITM attacker attempts to carry out the MITM attack using a disguised address.
US08605903B2

A communication system uniquely identifying a communication partner within a predetermined coverage area and transmitting and receiving information in a predetermined protocol, includes a device and an information processing apparatus with one performing wireless communication with the other within the predetermined coverage area. The device includes a random number generating unit, a device secret key storage unit, a communication ID transmitting unit, and a device transmitting and receiving unit. The information processing apparatus includes an apparatus encryption unit, an apparatus secret key storage unit, a communication ID storage unit, a random number acquisition unit and an apparatus transmitting and receiving unit.
US08605899B2

The invention relates to a method for creating a second asymmetric cryptographic pair of keys (206), wherein a first private key (G0, 154) together with a first public key (O0, 126) forms a first asymmetric cryptographic pair of keys (K0, 218), wherein the method comprises the following steps: receiving a user identifier; calculating a second private key (G1), wherein a random value (z) and the user identifier are considered in the calculation; calculating a second public key (O1) from the second private key using an asymmetric cryptographic key creation method, wherein the second private key and the second public key form the second asymmetric cryptographic pair of keys (K1, 206); creating a first ciphertext (C_G0—O1, 212; 186) by encrypting the first private key (G0) with the second public key (O1); storing the first ciphertext (C_G0—O1, 212; 186).
US08605898B2

Provided is an apparatus and method that may generate and verify an originality verification (OV). An OV generating apparatus may generate primary information that is based on generator information and a pseudorandom number, may generate at least one secondary information based on the pseudorandom number, may obtain parameters used when the pseudorandom number is generated, may generate the OV including the primary information, the at least one secondary information, and the parameters, and may distribute the OV to an OV request device.When the OV distributed from the OV request device is received, the OV generating apparatus may regenerate the pseudorandom number based on the parameters included in an OV request message, and may verify the OV included in the verification request message as the OV that is generated by the OV generating apparatus.
US08605896B2

The invention relates to a device for processing datastreams in a communications unit with two mutually-separate data-processing regions, which provide at least two separate message paths. The message paths are connected respectively to a message transmitter and a message receiver, wherein, in each message path, an encoding module is provided, which is connected both to a first data-processing region and also to a second data-processing region. Furthermore, in the second data-processing region, a distribution unit is provided, which is connected to the message paths of the first data-processing region and to all encoding modules of the corresponding message paths in order to distribute given messages in a targeted manner.
US08605893B2

An encryption and decryption processing system for achieving SMS4 cryptographic procedure can be provided. The system includes a repeating encryption and decryption data processing device comprising a first constant array storing unit, a first data registering unit and a first data converting unit. The first constant array storing unit stores a first constant array and send it to N-data converting sub-units of the first data converting unit. The first data registering unit registers data, deliver the registered data to a first data converting sub-unit. The N-data converting sub-units perform a data conversion processing, and transmit the obtained conversion data to a next data converting sub-unit for subsequent processing until the data conversion processing processes are completed, a particular number of the completed processed being equal to a value of a data depth.
US08605891B2

A system and method for provide a stable gain from an adaptive gain control device in a signal path. An echo canceller is also located in the signal path, and is used to provide performance information regarding losses in the signal. This performance information is fed to the automatic gain control device via a connection. The automatic gain control device thereafter uses the performance information to determine a maximum gain that might be provided based upon losses cause by echo conditions. The gain however is limited in order to provide for a stable system. The performance information includes a loss rate that includes a combination of the echo return loss and the echo return loss enhancement.
US08605890B2

A multi-party spatial audio conferencing system is configured to receive far end signals from remote participants. The system comprises a speaker array that outputs spatialized sound signals and one or more microphones that capture and relay a sound signal comprising an echo of the spatialized sound signal to a multichannel acoustic echo cancellation (MC-AEC) unit having a plurality of echo cancellers. Respective echo cancellers perform cancellation of an echo associated with a far end signal from one of the multiple participants according to an algorithm based upon echo cancellation coefficients. The echo cancellation coefficients are determined from the input channel signals, the spatialization parameters associated with each input channel, and the audio signals captured by the microphones. This allows respective echo cancellation filters to be updated simultaneously even though the corresponding remote participant is not talking.
US08605882B1

In a method for adding a caller to a group instant messaging chat, a computer receives an indication that the caller has joined a teleconference via a telephone call. The computer receives a characteristic of the telephone call. The computer determines that the received characteristic of the telephone call at least partially matches at least one stored characteristic of one or more invitees on a list of invitees to the teleconference. In response to determining that the received characteristic of the telephone call at least partially matches at least one stored characteristic of one or more invitees on a list of invitees to the teleconference, the computer requests an instant messaging server to add the caller to the group instant messaging chat.
US08605881B2

Methods and systems are provided for managing conference calls. The method includes establishing a first conference call between a host terminal device and one or more participant terminal devices; receiving a request for adding a non-participant terminal device into the first conference call; selecting a participant terminal device from the one or more participant terminal devices to host a second conference call; establishing the second conference call hosted by the selected participant terminal device; and chaining the first conference call and the second conference call through the selected participant terminal device.
US08605873B2

Controlling a videoconference based on gestures received to a touch interface. A gesture may be received to a touch interface. In response to the gesture, a videoconference action may be performed. For example, a first gesture may be received to mute the videoconference and in response, the videoconference may be muted. As another example, a second gesture may be received to adjust the volume of the videoconference, and the volume may be correspondingly adjusted. Further, various gestures may be received for controlling one or more cameras in a videoconference, accessing settings in a videoconference, interacting with a presentation, etc.
US08605867B2

One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for sending instant messages having audio recordings. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes a communications client of a user that is configured to generate an instant message having an audio recording and send the instant message having an audio recording to another user. Methods and other systems are also provided.
US08605862B2

In one embodiment, a digital X-ray detector is provided with a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a first photodiode having a first area and a second photodiode having a second area equal to or smaller than the first area. The digital X-ray detector also includes a shielding structure that overlies the first and second photodiodes of each pixel region with the shielding structure shielding proportionally less of the first photodiode than of the second photodiode to provide the first photodiode with a first sensitivity and the second photodiode with a second sensitivity lower than the first sensitivity.
US08605856B1

A radiation image capturing device is provided with plural pixels, a detection unit and a control unit. The pixels are each provided with a sensor portion and a switching element that reads out charges generated at the sensor portion and outputs the charges to a signal line. The detection unit detects the start of irradiation if electronic signals according to the charges satisfy a pre-specified condition for irradiation detection. After the start of irradiation of radiation is detected, the control unit acquires electronic signals corresponding to the charges and determines whether the acquired electronic signals include an electronic signal caused by noise. If the electronic signal caused by noise is included, the control unit controls a reporting unit so as to report this.
US08605855B2

A process for preparing, and an analysis of, liquid or pasty substances not consisting exclusively of volatile constituents and a sample body for use in such a process. The substance to be analyzed is applied to a rigid sample body with at least one flat and smooth analysis surface formed of an absorptive material. The substance is adsorbed and absorbed by the sample body, and is analyzed using an X-ray fluorescence analysis.
US08605852B2

An auxiliary wedge positioning apparatus/assembly 100 for use in a nuclear reactor pressure vessel 12 having riser piping 44 and 144 and a jet pump assembly 46 and 120, the apparatus 100 having a combination slide wedge 105 and spring 103 mounted on a restraint bracket body 102 having a transverse rail 110 with end gull-wing hooked protrusions 111 with sections 150, 152, 156 and wing stability attachment 155, the slide wedge used for placement between the riser piping 44 and 144 and jet pump assembly 46 and 120 to control vibrations during operation of the reactor vessel 12.
US08605851B2

To provide a rod block monitor in which irrespective of the selection or non-selection of a control rod, such a process is repeatedly executed that gain adjustment is performed at fixed intervals at all times to match a local area average value of signals of neutron detectors surrounding the control rod with a nuclear reactor average power and a block level appropriate to the local area average value of the neutron detector signals after the gain adjustment is set.
US08605848B2

An arrangement for synchronizing a transmission time of a digital data stream in individual high-frequency transmitters of a common-wave network operating according to an ATSC standard and transmitting identical data at an identical frequency. The stream generated in a master station is supplied to the transmitters as a periodic succession of data frames, and a setpoint transmission time is calculated in the transmitters from a synchronizing time stamp inserted into the data frames within the master station and from a time reference used in the master station and transmitters, while the transmission of the frames by the transmitter is determined by a system clock in the transmitters. The setpoint transmission time is compared with the actual transmission time determined by the clock, and the clock frequency is regulated by a regulating circuit so that the actual transmission time determined by the clock corresponds with the calculated setpoint transmission time.
US08605847B2

In described embodiments, a transceiver includes a clock and data recovery module (CDR) with an eye monitor and a cycle slip monitor. The cycle slip detector monitors a CDR lock condition, which might be through detection of slips in sampling and/or transition timing detection. The cycle slip detector provides a check point to sense system divergence, allowing for a mechanism to recover CDR lock. In addition, when the CDR is out-of-lock, the various parameters that are adaptively set (e.g., equalizer parameters) might be invalid during system divergence. Consequently, these parameters might be declared invalid by the system and not used.
US08605846B2

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, devices and methods of oversampling electronic components where high frequency oversampling clock signals are generated internally. The generated oversampling clock is automatically synchronous with the input clock and the input serial data in a serial data link, and is adaptive to predetermined parameters, such as bit depth and oversampling rate.
US08605844B2

A signal receiver is configured for receiving signals from multiple antennas, wherein the signal from one of the antennas is phase compensated relative to the signal from another of the antennas. The receiver comprises (i) an equalizer configured to equalize signals received from the antennas in accordance with a determined equalization vector and (ii) a processor for determining the equalization vector. The processor is configured to determine the equalization vector in dependence on (i) a first channel estimate for a first channel from one of the antennas to the receiver and (ii) a phase-adjusted version of a second channel estimate for a second channel from another of the antennas to the receiver.
US08605843B2

A method and apparatus for signal acquisition in an OFDM receiver relies on a preamble training sequence to synchronize the receiver in time (e.g. determining the start of a frame) and in frequency (carrier frequency offset compensation). The preamble training sequence has a periodic structure and the method and apparatus perform a cross-correlation technique using a matched filter to achieve time synchronization and/or frequency synchronization and/or channel estimation, the latter being especially useful in multi-antenna receivers for diversity combining purposes. Many advantages derive from performing at least two and preferably all three operations jointly, in terms of latency, hardware complexity, and length of training sequence required to achieve satisfactory convergence on all counts. The periodicity of the training sequence is exploited to reduce considerably the main filter complexity and optionally dynamically adjust carrier offset compensation throughout the filtering process.
US08605832B1

A method and system for a sequence estimation in a receiver, such as for use when receiving a sample of a received inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal corresponding to a transmitted vector of L symbols, with L being a integer greater than 1, and with symbol L being a most-recent symbol and symbol 1 being least recent symbol of the vector. A plurality of candidate vectors may be generated, wherein element L-m of each candidate vector holding one of a plurality of possible values of the symbol L-m, with m is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and elements L-m+1 through L of each candidate vectors holding determined filler values. A plurality of metrics may be generated based on the plurality of candidate vectors, and based on the generated plurality of metrics, a best one of the possible values of the symbol L-m may be selected.
US08605825B2

Provided is a receiving apparatus that receives a data signal and a clock signal indicating a reference timing to acquire the data signal. The receiving apparatus includes a multi-strobe generating section that generates, based on a pulse of the recovered clock, a plurality of strobes of which phases are different from each other, a first detecting section that detects a position of an edge of the clock signal relative to the strobes based on values of the clock signal that are acquired at respective timings of the strobe, a first adjusting section that adjusts a phase of the recovered clock according to the edge position of the clock signal, and a second adjusting section that adjusts the timing to acquire the data signal according to a phase adjustment amount of the recovered clock made by the first adjusting section.
US08605812B2

A codebook C is provided in a MIMO transmitter as well as a MIMO receiver. The codebook C will include M codewords ci, where i is a unique codeword index for each codeword ci. Each codeword defines weighting factors to apply to the MIMO signals, and may correspond to channel matrices or vectors to apply to the MIMO signals prior to transmission from the respective antennas of the MIMO transmitter. The present invention creates codeword subsets Sl for each codeword cl of the codebook C. Each codeword subset Sl defines L codewords cj, which are selected from all the codewords ci in the codebook C. The codewords cj in a codeword subset Sl are the L codewords in the entire codebook that best correlate with the corresponding codeword ci.
US08605806B2

A receiver and method of detecting a guard interval estimate accurately by performing an Nth order polynomial based non-linear quantization on a pre-estimated guard interval in a received Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal in a receiver is provided. The pre-estimated guard interval is obtained by performing normalized auto-correlation on the received OFDM signal. The method includes (i) performing a rounding operation on (a) one or more mth coefficient of the polynomial and (b) the pre-estimated guard interval to obtain an indexing parameter ‘k’, and detecting the guard interval estimate based on (i) a value of k, and (ii) a guard interval from one or more guard intervals that are stored in a look up table. The guard interval estimate is detected in accordance with an equation: {tilde over (L)}=L[k−4], where ‘L’ is the guard interval stored in the look up table that corresponds to the value of k.
US08605804B2

The method includes receiving a signal comprising a symbol-carrier matrix, the symbol-carrier matrix including a predetermined pattern of pilot symbols, and determining first channel estimates at pilot symbol positions of the pilot symbols in the symbol-carrier matrix. The method further includes correcting the first channel estimates at the pilot symbol positions using Bayesian estimation, and determining second channel estimates at symbol positions other than the pilot symbol positions using interpolation based on the correct first channel estimates.
US08605798B2

Systems and methods for power and bidirectional data transmission using a plurality of wires. A multiphase digital signal is downlinked from a main unit to a remote unit over the plurality of wires and is converted to a DC power signal used to power the remote unit. Uplink data is sent from the remote to the main over one selected wire during a predetermined time period for an uplink transmission by amplitude modulating the received digital signal at the remote. During an uplink, the output impedance of the line driver in the main unit connected to the wire selected for the uplink is increased to allow for the uplink amplitude modulation. The modulated signal is maintained within the noise margins of the digital circuits in the main and remote units.
US08605794B2

The synchronization of data segments is particularly necessary for the use of small screens. A method and a device are disclosed for synchronizing content-dependent first data segments of a first data file and content-dependent second data segments of a second data file, the first and second data segments being respectively output in sequence according to their chronological order in such a way that based on a predeterminable assignment rule for the first and second data segments, each second data segment is output together with a corresponding first data segment.
US08605793B2

An information processing device configured to process moving image data includes a plurality of calculating units configured to transform a frame rate by subjecting two pieces of frame data to addition and subtraction; and a control unit configured to control the plurality of calculating units to subject each frame data of the moving image data to at least one of the addition and the subtraction by the number of times necessary for transforming the frame rate of the moving image data into a desired rate.
US08605791B2

A method for executing video encoding operations. The method includes encoding an incoming video stream into a plurality of macro blocks by using a video encoder and receiving a box out slice map specification for the plurality of macro blocks. The box out slice map specification is converted to a foreground-background slice map specification. The plurality of macro blocks are then processed in accordance with the foreground-background specification and by using a common hardware encoder front end.
US08605789B2

When a block (MB22) of which motion vector is referred to in the direct mode contains a plurality of motion vectors, 2 motion vectors MV23 and MV24, which are used for inter picture prediction of a current picture (P23) to be coded, are determined by scaling a value obtained from averaging the plurality of motion vectors or selecting one of the plurality of the motion vectors.
US08605786B2

A preferred method for hierarchical motion vector processing determines reliability levels of blocks in image data according to residual energy levels. Macroblocks of an image frame are merged according to reliability levels of the motion vectors of blocks. Single motion vectors are selected for merged macroblocks. Motion vectors of blocks merged in the step of merging are iteratively assigned by minimizing the bi-directional prediction difference on successively smaller merged blocks. The reliability levels are preferably determined by measure residual energy of both chrominance and luminance components. In preferred embodiments, motion vector correlation is used to assist the MV reliability classification and the merging and iterative assignment. Refinement and smoothing can be conducted on successively finer block sizes. Additionally, preferred methods account for occlusions by choosing only one of forward or backward prediction for occlusion regions depending upon the class of the occlusion. Results of motion vector classification of the invention can be used in motion compensated frame interpolation and other techniques.
US08605777B2

A circuit for recognizing a beginning and a data rate of data includes at least two data rate detecting units and a post processing unit. The at least two data rate detecting units are used for comparing at least two alignment patterns corresponding to different data rates with data simultaneously to recognize a data rate of the data. The post processing unit is coupled to the at least two data rate detecting units for recognizing a beginning of the data according to an alignment pattern corresponding to the data when the data rate of the data is recognized.
US08605776B2

A comparator circuit compares a test pattern generated by a test pattern generator circuit, with a test pattern transmitted to a memory card and returned from the memory card. A control circuit determines a bandwidth corresponding to frequency components correctly transmitted between a host apparatus and the memory card, based on the returned test pattern, and selects an encoding method requiring a maximum available bandwidth. The control circuit generates a notification message indicating the selected encoding method, and encodes the notification message using the selected encoding method, and transmit the encoded notification message to the memory card. The control circuit establishes communication between the host apparatus and the memory card, when receiving a response message including an acknowledgement to the notification message, from the memory card.
US08605765B2

Semiconductor devices are described that include a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and a structure formed on or near the surface of the VCSEL that acts as a filter that benefits high-frequency VCSEL modulation performance.
US08605762B2

Laser apparatus (1) comprising a reference source (2), a reference fiber (3), and at least one laser diode (4), wherein the reference fiber (3) comprises a core (5) having a refractive index n1 and a first cladding (6) having a refractive index n2, the first cladding (6) is surrounded by a second cladding (7) having a refractive index n3, the refractive index n1 is greater than the refractive index n2, the refractive index n2 is greater than the refractive index n3, the laser diode (4) emits laser radiation (8) that is guided through the first cladding (6) of the reference fiber (3), the reference source (2) emits reference radiation (9) that has a predetermined wavelength λR (10), the reference radiation (9) is guided through the core (5) of the reference fiber (3) to the laser diode (4), and the reference radiation (9) that is guided through the core (5) of the reference fiber (3) to the laser diode (4) has a power (11) at the predetermined wavelength λR (10), which power is greater than an injection locking threshold of the laser diode.
US08605756B2

A signal processor includes a period detection section which detects that a period is currently used for communication of a frame; a pattern detection section which detects, from the received signal, a first signal pattern by which the end of communication of the frame is recognized; and an output processing section which outputs the received signal to a controller, configured to instruct, upon detection of the first signal pattern in the period being currently used for communication of a frame, the controller to halt startup of communication action of the next frame, until the period being currently used for communication of a frame comes to the end, to thereby reduce an event such that frames are transmitted from a plurality of communication devices simultaneously, and to thereby allow the communication action for the next frame to proceed correctly.
US08605753B2

Disclosed is a method of performing Pseudo-random-Noise (PN) quadrature covering for transmitting data via an access channel. Such method is achieved by receiving a 42-bit access long code mask MIACMAC and a 42-bit access long code mask MQACMAC from an upper layer; generating an MI mask and an MQ mask for PN quadrature covering by using certain bits of an assigned channel number for the access channel and by performing exclusive OR operations on certain bits of the received access long code mask MIACMAC and performing exclusive OR operations on certain bits of the received access long code mask MQACMAC; and transmitting signals via the access channel based on the generated 12-bit MI mask and the generated 12-bit MQ mask.
US08605750B2

A wireless relay station apparatus for enabling a mobile station and a base station to reliably receive network coding data and to provide sufficient reception performance is provided. (1) A repeater divides data X received from a mobile station into important data and non-important data and divides data Y received from eNB into important data and non-important data. Next, (2) the repeater places the data so that important data Sx for the mobile station and important data Sy for the eNB do not overlap, XORs (exclusive ORs) them, and generates network coding data X (X) Y. (3) The repeater applies downlink propagation inverse characteristic H1−1 to important data portion Px (X) Sy for the mobile station and on the other hand, applies uplink propagation inverse characteristic H0−1 to important data portion Sx (X) Py for the eNB in the network coding data X (X) Y for transmission.
US08605745B2

In communication using TCP, since the transmission bandwidth is significantly influenced by RTT and discard rate, there was a problem that only the transmission bandwidth significantly lower than the contracted bandwidth could be obtained under the environment such as WAN causing large RTT, large hop number and many discarded segments. There is provided an apparatus connected to a receiving side terminal having a means for feeding back to notify all discarded segments to an apparatus connected to a transmitting side terminal; a means for retransmitting the discarded segments fed back to be notified to the apparatus connected to the transmitting side terminal; and a means for controlling transmission bandwidth, based on retransmission bandwidth and discard bandwidth by the apparatus connected to the transmitting side terminal.
US08605740B2

A communication system adapted for a vehicle includes a network for communication between at least two communication interfaces respectively connected to a first controller which manages/runs a control application and a second controller which also manages/runs the control application. The communication interfaces have, per controller, at least one communication port from which a communication link is possible. The communication link is a PLC (Power Line Communication) link having at least two electrically conductive links connected to each of the respective communication ports through at least one coupling transformer, for a control application transmission between the two communication interfaces.
US08605738B2

A method of redirecting network traffic from a first, uncontrolled network to a second, controlled network by rewriting the Type of Service field in the header information of an Internet Protocol (IP) packet so as to include a service code indicating that the IP packet cannot access the uncontrolled network, thereby redirecting the network traffic to a second network element.
US08605733B2

A method of data transmission that includes: transmitting first data to be transferred in a synchronous packet using a second asynchronous packet having priority higher than that of a first asynchronous packet; and requesting transmission of second data following the first data using the second asynchronous packet after a lapse of a certain time from the transmission of the second asynchronous packet.
US08605729B2

Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate improved multi-radio coexistence between a Forward Link Only (FLO) radio and at least one non-FLO radio associated with a wireless device. As described herein, Overhead Information Symbol (OIS) transmissions scheduled by a FLO radio (such as transmissions on a dedicated OIS control channel or data transmissions containing embedded OIS information) can be given higher priority than other transmissions that collide with the OIS transmissions. In addition, transmissions scheduled by a non-FLO radio can be prioritized above respective non-OIS transmissions scheduled by a FLO radio, or alternatively non-OIS FLO transmissions can additionally be prioritized above transmissions scheduled by a non-FLO radio according to a measured amount of degradation present at the non-FLO radio. In a specific example described herein involving a Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio, degradation can be determined based on a number of successively missed Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmissions.
US08605728B2

The present invention discloses a method of implementing traversal of multimedia protocols through Network Address Translation device, wherein the Network Address Translation (NAT) device establishes a mapping relationship between address of a terminal in a private network and address of a terminal in a public network, and enables the terminal in the private network to access the public network with a common address, so as to implement the interaction of media streams between the terminal in the private network and the terminal in the public network, in which the common address is a address of the private network for accessing the public network.
US08605725B2

Data broadcast over different channels may be updated in a digital broadcast receiving device. The device may include a receiver unit, a processor, memory instructions embodied in the memory for execution on the processor. The instructions may be configured to implement the method for updating data broadcast over different channels. A first digital broadcast signal may be received over a first channel. The receiving device may be tuned to a second channel at a predetermined time to receive a second digital broadcast signal. Selected data may be extracted from the second digital broadcast signal and stored or utilized with the receiving device. An update schedule may be generated for data transmitted with a digital broadcast signal. A broadcast time for an update packet may be determined from a packet header. A schedule packet may be generated containing the broadcast time and broadcast before the update packet.
US08605723B2

A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.
US08605722B1

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for reducing deadlocks that may arise when performing fabric replication. For example, as described herein, a network device includes packet replicators that each comprises a plurality of resource partitions. A replication data structure for a packet received by the network device includes packet replicator nodes that are arranged hierarchically to occupy one or more levels of the replication data structure. Each of the resource partitions in each of the plurality of packet replicators is associated with a different level of the replication data structure. The packet replicators replicate the packet according to the replication data structure, and each of the packet replicators handles the packet using the one of the resource partitions of the packet replicator that is associated with the level of the replication data structure occupied by the node that corresponds to that particular packet replicator.
US08605720B2

In an example embodiment described herein, there is disclosed an implementation for analyzing a network having cache advance (CA) segments, such as a session control protocol (SCTP) pipe. The path between endpoints, e.g. a client on a first local area network (LAN) and a server on a second LAN, wherein the first and second LAN are coupled by an SCTP pipe, is determined and properties of the path are acquired.
US08605716B2

A packet switch that scales gracefully from a capacity of a fraction of a terabit per second to thousands of terabits per second is disclosed. The packet switch comprises edge nodes interconnected by independent switch units. The switch units are arranged in a matrix having multiple rows and multiple columns and may comprise instantaneous or latent space switches. Each edge node has a channel to a switch unit in each column and a channel from each switch unit in a selected column. A simple path traversing only one of the switch units may be established from each edge node to each other edge node. Where needed, a compound path comprising at most two simple paths may be established for any edge-node pair. In a preferred configuration, the switch units connect at input to orthogonal sets of edge nodes. A distributed control system expedites connection-request processing.
US08605708B2

A wireless communication system includes wireless terminals. Each of the wireless terminals includes an SDM transmitting unit that includes antennas and generates directional radio signals to be transmitted to other terminals, each of which is obtained by superimposing radio signals at the antennas, each of which is composed of modulated data for each of the other terminals; a single-system receiving unit; and a TDMA control unit that controls a transmission of the SDM transmitting unit and a reception of the receiving unit in a time division manner. Using a TDMA scheme, the wireless terminals are controlled such that one of the wireless terminals acquires a transmission right for a predetermined time period to simultaneously transmit the generated directional radio signals from the SDM transmitting unit, while during the predetermined time period, the receiving units of the other wireless terminals having no transmission right simultaneously receive their corresponding directional radio signals.
US08605707B2

A method and system are disclosed for providing quality of service (QoS)-driven channel access within a basic service set (BSS) in a wireless network. A contention control (CC) frame is sent from a point coordinator (PC) station of the BSS. The CC frame contains information relating to a number of available centralized contention opportunities (CCOs) for receiving a reservation request (RR) in a centralized contention interval (CCI) following the CC frame. The CC frame also contains information relating to the identification of stations from which an RR was successfully received by the PC station in a preceding CCI. The superframe includes a contention-free period (CFP) and a contention (CP). The CC frame is received at a non-PC station in the BSS.
US08605706B2

A method and an equipment for notifying a purpose of a subframe, and a method and an equipment for processing a subframe are disclosed. The method includes: sending a broadcast message to a user equipment (UE), where the broadcast message carries indication information indicating a purpose of a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe; and sending a radio frame to the UE, wherein the radio frame carries the MBSFN subframe which serves the purpose indicated by the indication information. The technical solutions of the present invention enable the UE to be notified of the true purpose of the MBSFN subframe, and improve communication reliability.
US08605702B2

In a reverse link of a wireless CDMA communication system, a method of maintaining an idling mode connection between a field unit and a base transceiver station is provided using various techniques to maintain the idle mode connection at a reduced power level. A preferred embodiment computes a time slot or frame offset based on modulo function using a field unit identifier in order to distribute field unit maintenance transmissions among available slots or offsets. An alternate embodiment detects explicit signaling states changes at the physical layer and causes power target changes. A further embodiment transmits maintenance data during predetermined time intervals, coordinated between the field units and BTS, allowing power levels to be adjusted accordingly.
US08605701B2

A wireless communication device communicable with a first type and a second type of networks based on a first type and a second type wireless setting data respectively, includes: an obtaining section obtaining an identifier of an access point when a detection section detects the disconnection with the second type network through a certain access point; and a trial section trying to connect with the second type network through the certain access point if at least one second type wireless setting data stored in the second storage includes the obtained identifier, and the trial section trying to connect with the first type network through the certain access point any of the second type wireless setting data stored in the second storage does not includes the obtained identifier but the first type wireless setting data stored in the first storage includes the obtained identifier.
US08605688B2

A radio channel is formed for estimation, the radio channel including dominant paths from a digital impulse response estimate of a channel relating to a radio system. A divider divides the impulse response estimate temporally into at least two subsignals. An analyzer determines whether a distribution of the amplitude values of at least one subsignal is gaussian or non-gaussian. A searcher searches for a highest amplitude value in each subsignal, which is determined to be non-gaussian. A generator may form a radio channel for a radio channel simulation, the radio channel including each propagation path corresponding to the highest amplitude value in each subsignal determined to be non-gaussian.
US08605684B2

A system and method for implementing call handover (HO) is disclosed. A user equipment (UE) is configured to communicate with a wireless communication network. The UE is configured to transmit a measurement report to at least one of a serving cell and at least one cell of a coordinated multi-point (CoMP) cell set. The UE is also configured to listen for control channel transmissions from at least one of the serving cell and a first cell in the CoMP cell set, receive a resource allocation from at least one of the serving cell and the first cell in the CoMP cell set, and receive an HO command jointly from the serving cell and the first cell in the CoMP cell set. The HO command identifies a target cell. The UE is also configured to perform handover to the target cell identified in the HO command.
US08605681B2

Provided is a method for performing handover between a communication network and a broadcast network by a handover controller of a first network corresponding to either the communication network or the broadcast network. The method for performing handover includes: searching for a second network capable of providing the same broadcast content broadcasted over the first network; performing a handover preparation procedure between the communication network and the broadcast network with a handover controller of the second network; delivering the broadcast content broadcasted over the first network to the handover controller of the second network; and sending a message requesting a terminal to watch, over the second network, the broadcast content broadcasted over the first network.
US08605679B2

A method for avoiding resource being released mistakenly during tracking area update or handover process comprising: determining, by a target Mobility Management Entity MME, whether to use an old System Architecture Evolution Serving GW or to reselect a new Serving GW; if the target MME determines to select a new serving GW, notifying the original MME, the original MME sending a request for deleting bearer to the old Serving GW. The technical scheme of the present invention can avoid that the original MME will still send a request for deleting subscriber context to the old Serving GW when the target MME still uses the old Serving GW rather than selects a new one during tracking area update or handover process of the subscriber, which results in the appearance of a problem that the resource related to the subscriber in the old Serving GW is released mistakenly.
US08605662B2

In one embodiment, a first access request is received from a mobile device. The access request may be received through a first access medium for a virtual access point name (APN). A session is created with a service using a first real access point name (APN) for the mobile device. A second access request is received through a second type of access medium. The request may be received through a second virtual APN. A session is determined that is active for the mobile device through the first access medium and the second access request is assigned the first real APN even though the request is received through a second access medium. The continuity of the connection may then be maintained because the first real APN is still being used. In this case, a handoff of the connection from the first access network to the second access network is performed while the connection to the service is maintained through the first real APN.
US08605655B1

In general, techniques are described for mapping precedence domains between a network device of a content access network and a wireless communication device. For example, a Policy Charging and Enforcement Function (PCEF) entity maps relatively high-resolution mobile network policy and charging and control (PCC) rule precedence to relatively low-resolution packet filter precedence. The PCEF performs the mapping to maintain a packet filter precedence ordering for packet filters that accords with a precedence ordering among respective PCC rules from which the PCEF derives the packet filters.
US08605646B2

An air interface synchronization method is provided. The method includes that: a home-eNodeB which is not synchronized with an eNodeB, intercepts a synchronization subframe transmitted from the eNodeB and/or the home-eNodeB which was already synchronized with the eNodeB, a synchronization reference base station is selected from the base station which transmits the intercepted synchronization subframe, wherein the synchronization subframe includes a special synchronization channel for broadcasting synchronization sequence; the synchronization sequence is obtained, which is broadcasted in the special synchronization channel of the synchronization subframe transmitted by the synchronization reference station, and the synchronization with the synchronization base station is performed according to the synchronization sequence. Also, an air interface synchronization system, an eNodeB and a home-eNodeB are provided. The problem in prior art that the source is wasted in the process of synchronization is solved according to the method, the system, the eNodeB and the home-eNodeB.
US08605645B2

An apparatus and method for transmitting control information to a Relay Station (RS) in a multi-hop relay broadband wireless communication system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a generator, a controller, and a communication unit. The generator generates control information to be transmitted to a lower RS. The controller controls and transmits the control information during a first relay link transmission interval among at least one relay link transmission interval distributed within a frame. The communication unit transmits the control information to the lower RS.
US08605637B2

A technique for controlling the amount of power consumed by access points (APs) of a wireless network involves implementing throttleable APs (TAPs). It would be desirable for the TAPs to be in a relatively low power mode during periods of low activity, and switch to a high power mode in response to increased wireless activity. To that end, a throttling engine can be implemented to throttle TAPs up in power in response to increases in wireless activity, and throttle TAPs down in power in response to decreases in wireless activity.
US08605636B2

Disclosed is a method capable of minimizing a period of time required for a handover network acquisition procedure when a handover occurs between communication networks which provide communication services using different mobile communication technologies. When a modem for a handover communication network performs network acquisition due to the occurrence of a handover, the modem previously extracts information about a handover channel from a Universal Handover Direction Message (UHDM), and uses the extracted channel information in a network acquisition procedure. Accordingly, the modem for a handover communication network can easily acquire a handover network even without using a preferred roaming list, and can omit an radio frequency (RF) tuning procedure by extracting a corresponding code division multiple access (CDMA) channel from the received UHDM, thereby reducing the total handover processing time period and increasing the success rate of the handover.
US08605630B2

Operating at least one low duty cycle (LDC) controller to maintain synchronization between the LDC controller and a plurality of LDC terminals operating over a communication network using only overhead channels of the network and conforming to the protocol and timing of said network, wherein synchronization between the LDC controller and the plurality of LDC terminals is maintained separately from the protocol and timing of the communication network, and enables the LDC controller to schedule power down and wake up of the plurality of LDC terminals for durations longer than allowable under the protocol and timing of the communication network.
US08605615B2

A method (500) and apparatus for multi-radio coexistence has a victim user equipment (UE) that receives (515) a sequence of subframes at a first transceiver from a serving base station, measures (520) channel state on the subframes to obtain channel state measurements, determines (530) a high-low interference pattern based on the channel state measurements, and transmits (550) to the serving base station a report that includes an indicator related to the high-low interference pattern. The method can include the victim UE receiving (610) an aggressor reference waveform (ARW) from the second transceiver, determining (620) spatial characteristics of the second transceiver from the ARW, and configuring (630) its antenna system based on the spatial characteristics. The method can have the victim UE determining (640) second transceiver characteristics from the ARW and transmitting (650) information regarding the second transceiver characteristics to its serving base station.
US08605610B2

A method and apparatus for adaptively transmitting the same data, i.e., multicast/broadcast data, according to channel quality to a receiving group including one or more terminals that request the same service in a wireless network. A base station obtains feedback on channel quality indications (CQIs) from a plurality of terminals, selects a transmission technique that satisfies desired service quality based on the CQIs, and transmits data to the terminals included in a receiving group by using the selected transmission technique. The CQIs to be transmitted from the terminals in the receiving group to the base station are transmitted through a previously allocated common CQI feedback channel. In the present invention, in order to reduce a CQI feedback channel capacity, the base station does not allocate a common CQI feedback channel with respect to each reception terminal and allocates radio resources according to CQI levels. As radio resources are allocated according to CQI levels, a CQI feedback channel capacity may not be increased even when the number of terminals in the receiving group is increased and adaptive transmission may be efficiently performed.
US08605609B2

A method is provided for simulation of multiple network nodes in an internetwork. A range of a plurality of network addresses are assigned to a simulation node. The simulation node monitors network communications to listen for packets. Upon receipt of a packet having a destination address within the assigned range, a command is forwarded to an end-use application, such as firmware. The end-use application processes the command and returns a result. A response packet having the result is transmitted to the back office server with the destination address of the received packet as the source of the response packet.
US08605599B2

A method and an apparatus for processing an asynchronous audio stream are provided. A corrupted PES packet is detected from an asynchronous audio PES stream, and the ADTS frames of the corrupted PES packet are detected and replaced with predetermined substitute ADTS frames. Thus, an AAC stream is restored from the PES stream.
US08605592B2

The present invention proposes a solution in the area of HSDPA flow control. It proposes an improvement to transport network congestion detection and avoidance. The improvement proposes to use a measurement of incoming bitrate to determine the reduction of bitrate after a transport network congestion event. The advantage is that high bitrate reduction is only used when it is necessary; otherwise only small bitrate reduction is used, which results in small oscillation, and consequently higher transport network utilization.
US08605583B2

Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving, at the PCRN, the application request message; determining at least one requested service flow from the application request message; for each requested service flow of the at least one requested service flow, generating a new PCC rule based on the application request message; and providing each new PCC rule to a Policy and Charging Enforcement Node (PCEN). Various exemplary embodiments further include an application request message including at least one media component and at least one media subcomponent and the step of for each media subcomponent, determining a requested service flow from the media subcomponent.
US08605578B1

Systems and methods are provided for managing congestion at a destination host in a network. A transport layer system manages receive buffer for application processes running on the destination host. Upon receiving the first packet of a new message from a source host, the system determines if there is enough free space in the receive buffer at the destination host to be reserved for the entire message. The system allocates receive buffer for the entire message if there is enough free receive buffer space. If there is not enough free buffer space, the system drops the message and sends a negative acknowledgment to the source host. The source host pauses transmission to the destination host upon receiving the negative acknowledgment. The system sends a resume message to the source host when there is enough free buffer. The source host retransmits the dropped message upon receiving the resume message.
US08605572B1

A media access gateway includes a wireless network interface, a profile determination module, a proxy mobility agent module, and an address assignment module. The wireless network interface is configured to establish a wireless link with a wireless terminal. The profile determination module is configured to retrieve a profile corresponding to the wireless terminal. The profile includes packet data network identifiers. The proxy mobility agent module is configured to identify a packet data networks in response to the packet data network identifiers. The address assignment module is configured to transmit an address assignment message to the wireless terminal. The address assignment message (i) includes address components and (ii) associates the address components with the packet data networks. The wireless terminal uses the address components to communicate with the packet data networks.
US08605568B2

In at least some embodiments, a communication device includes a transceiver with a physical (PHY) layer. The PHY layer is configured for body area network (BAN) operations in a limited multipath environment using M-ary PSK, differential M-ary PSK or rotated differential M-ary PSK. Also, the PHY layer uses a constant symbol rate for BAN packet transmissions.
US08605559B2

In a small-sized optical pickup device for enabling to obtain a stable servo-signal, as well as, a focus error signal and a tracking error signal, without receiving ill influences of stray lights from other layers, when recording/reproducing a multi-layer optical disc, a reflection light from the multi-layer optical disc is divided into plural numbers of regions by a diffraction grating. And, it is divided into at least four (4) regions, by a division line in the tangential direction of the optical disc and a division line in the radial direction thereof. Light receiving parts, for detecting either one of grating diffraction lights, i.e., a +1st dimensional grating diffraction light or a −1st dimensional grating diffraction light of a light beam entering into the at least four (4) regions, are aligned, nearly, on a straight line in the radial direction of the optical disc, and light receiving parts for detecting the other dimensional grating diffraction light are aligned, shifting, with respect to a direction nearly coincident with a tangential direction of the optical disc.
US08605558B2

Disclosed are a pickup device assembly and an optical drive system. The assembly may comprise: a laser generator for generating laser beams; an objective lens; and at least one piezoelectric actuator for generating bending moments once applied with voltages, wherein the generated bending moments move the objective lens such that the laser beams are focused by the objective lens and then aim at concentric spiral data tracks of a disc with a strongest reflected signal of the laser beams from the disc.
US08605556B1

An apparatus includes a near-field transducer that having two metal elements configured as side-by-side plates on a substrate-parallel plane with a gap therebetween. The gap is disposed along the substrate-parallel plane and has an output end at a media-facing surface, and an input end opposite the output end. A channel waveguide is configured to deliver light to the input end of the near-field transducer. The channel waveguide has a core and cladding, and a portion of the core extends into the gap of the near-field transducer.
US08605555B1

An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) system includes a magnetic recording medium including a plurality of bi-layers and a magnetic recording layer on the plurality of bi-layers, a magnetic transducer configured to write information to the magnetic recording medium, and a light source positioned proximate the magnetic transducer and configured to heat the magnetic recording medium. Each of the plurality of bi-layers includes a heatsink layer and an amorphous under-layer on the heatsink layer.
US08605546B2

A system and methods for acquiring seismic data is provided. In one aspect, the system and methods utilize a plurality of field service units placed over a region of interest, a repeater unit that wirelessly communicates with the field service units and a remote unit for controlling and processing the seismic data acquired by the field service units. In one aspect, the system and methods determine a condition associated with each of a plurality of attributes relating to acquisition of the seismic data at each field service unit, generate messages at each field service unit when the condition of a particular attribute meets a selected criterion, transmit the generated messages, receive the messages transmitted by at least a group of field service units at a repeater unit placed in the region of interest, analyze the messages received from the group of field service units at the repeater unit and then transmit information relating to the received messages to the remote unit for further processing. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08605545B2

Systems and methods are provided for acquiring seismic data using a wireless network and a number of individual data acquisition modules that are configured to collect seismic data and forward data to a central recording and control system. In one implementation, a number of remote modules (301) are arranged in lines. Base station modules (302) receive information from the lines and relay the information to a central control and recording system (303). Radio links operating on multiple frequencies (F1-F12) are used by the modules (301). For improved data transfer rate, radio links from a remote module (301) leap past the nearest remote module to the next module closer to the base station.
US08605538B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to generate a clock signal in a die in a stack and to receive the clock signal in another die in the stack. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08605501B2

Disclosed is an system and method for determining a probability that a memory cell was programmed to a certain input level. An output level is received from a memory cell and a probability is determined that the output level corresponds to each of a plurality of programming levels. Each probability is determined as a function of the output level, a mean value of a distribution corresponding to the programming level, and a variance from the mean value with the variance being determined by a relative position of the output level with respect to the mean value. A probability value is generated as a function of the plurality of determined probabilities and then provided for use at a demodulator.
US08605489B2

A memory device includes memory cells, each of the memory cells having corresponding bit and word lines connected thereto for accessing the memory cells, a word line circuit coupled with at least one word line, and a bit line circuit coupled with at least one bit line. The memory device further includes at least one control circuit coupled with the bit and word line circuits. The control circuit is operative to cause state information to be stored in the memory cells. At least one switching element selectively connects the memory cells, the bit and word line circuits, and the control circuit to at least one power supply as a function of at least one control signal. The control circuit generates the control signal for disconnecting at least portions of the word line and bit line circuits from the power supply while state information is retained in the memory cells.
US08605485B2

According to one embodiment, a control unit multiple-selects a first line for every N lines from a plurality of first lines. N is an integer greater than or equal to one. The control unit sets the multiple-selected first lines to a selection potential, and fixes potentials of non-selected first lines at least adjacent to the multiple-selected first lines at a first timing. The control unit causes the multiple-selected first lines to be in a floating state at a second timing after the first timing. The control unit selects one second line from the plurality of second lines and sets the one second line to a forming potential at a third timing after the second timing.
US08605484B2

A self-repairing memristor and methods of operating a memristor, and repairing a memristor, employ thermal annealing. The thermal annealing removes a short circuit in an oxide layer, of the memristor. Thermal annealing includes heating the memristor, to a predetermined annealing temperature for a predetermined annealing time period. The memristor, returns to an electrically open circuit condition after the short circuit is removed.
US08605482B2

According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a memory cell array area and a resistive element area on a substrate. A first memory cell array in the memory cell array area includes a first control line, a second control line above first control line, and a first cell unit between the first and second control lines. A second memory cell array on the first memory cell array includes the second control line, a third control line above the second control line, and a second cell unit between the second and the third control lines. And a resistive element in the resistive element area includes resistance lines, and a resistor connected to the resistance lines. The resistor includes the same member as one of a member of the cell unit and a member of a contact plug.
US08605476B2

A sense operation with respect to simultaneously-accessed two memory cells is performed by time division by using two sense amplifiers, and thereafter restore operations are performed simultaneously. With this arrangement, it is not necessary to provide switches in the middle of global bit lines, and no problem occurs when performing the restore operation by time division. Further, because a parasitic CR model of a first sense amplifier and that of a second sense amplifier become mutually the same, high sensitivity can be maintained.
US08605475B2

A system, includes a controller including a plurality of first external terminals configured to supply a command, a clock signal and an address, and communicate a data, and communicate a strobe signal related to the data, and a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of second external terminals corresponding to the plurality of first external terminals, one of the plurality of first external terminals and one of the plurality of second external terminals transferring an information specifying a length of a preamble of the strobe signal before the semiconductor memory device communicates the data.
US08605468B2

In a switching power supply, a current detection resistor is connected to a switching unit to detect a current flowing through the switching unit. A diode is connected in parallel to the current detection resistor to reduce heat generated in the switching unit by back electromotive force generated by an inductance component of the current detection resistor.
US08605447B2

A mounting apparatus for a printed circuit board includes an enclosure and a tray. The enclosure includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending from the bottom wall. The side wall is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall. The tray includes a bottom panel substantially parallel to the bottom wall and a side panel substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel. The bottom panel is configured to secure the printed circuit board, and the side panel contacts and is mounted to the side wall.
US08605442B2

A server structure is disclosed including a server cabinet, spaced fixing units, and server groups. Each server unit includes a first server unit and a second server unit fixed to supporting frames of the server cabinet by first fixing plates and the second fixing plates of the fixing units, respectively. The first server unit alternately abuts the second server unit, and the stacked height of each first server unit and the abutting second server unit is equivalent to the height along the supporting frame occupied by the corresponding fixing unit.
US08605440B2

A server rack assembly includes a rack, a chassis, and a locking device. The rack has two side plates each defining a receiving slot. The chassis receives an electronic component, and is received between the side walls. The locking device includes a bracket, a locker, and two elastic members. The bracket is positioned at an end of the chassis and adjacent to the receiving slot. The locker is fixed to the center of the bracket. The two elastic members are fixed to two opposite ends of the bracket. Each elastic member includes a protrusion and a locking piece at two opposite ends thereof. The elastic member is capable of rotating between a first position where the locker locks the locking piece and the protrusion is received in the receiving slot, and a second position where the locker unlocks the locking piece and the protrusion is released from the receiving slot.
US08605428B2

Some embodiments of an apparatus, system and method are described for a concealed venting thermal solution. An apparatus may comprise an enclosure arranged around one or more heat generating components, a duct arranged around an internal perimeter of the enclosure and a seam inlet arranged around an external perimeter of the enclosure to allow an airflow to enter the duct. Other embodiments are described.
US08605427B2

A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink and a fan duct. The fan duct includes a cover and a baffle. The cover includes a top plate, a first sidewall and a second sidewall respectively extending from opposite sides of the top plate. The baffle is located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the cover and pivotally contacts the first and second sidewalls. The baffle forms an angle with the top plate and is rotatable relative to the first and second sidewalls to adjust the angle between the baffle and the top plate.
US08605423B2

A computing device includes a chassis, a motherboard, a mounting plate, and a disk drive module attached to the mounting plate. The chassis includes a base panel and a pair of side panels connected to opposite sides of the base panel. The motherboard is mounted on the base panel. The mounting plate is secured to the pair of side panels and is inclined at an angle relative to the base panel. The disk drive module is inclined at the same angle as the mounting plate. At least one expansion card is attached substantially perpendicular to the motherboard. The disk drive module includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is located higher than a top edge of the at least one expansion card. The second end is located lower than the at least one the expansion card.
US08605389B1

There is provided a head gimbal assembly (HGA) for a disk drive. The HGA includes a slider and a flexure. The flexure includes a flexure body portion, a tongue portion with the slider affixed to the tongue portion, first and second gimbal arms extending between the flexure body portion and the tongue portion, and a dielectric layer including a first dielectric layer segment extending continuously along the first gimbal arm between the flexure body portion and the tongue portion. The flexure further includes a first patterned conductive trace electrically connected to the slider. The first patterned conductive trace is supported by the first dielectric layer segment. The first dielectric layer segment crosses and re-crosses the first patterned conductive trace along the first gimbal arm without overlying the first gimbal arm.
US08605380B1

A method for selecting which tap coefficients of a programmable finite-impulse-response (FIR) equalizer to fix includes performing an initial calibration to determine an initial value for each tap coefficient of a FIR equalizer. Using these initial values, a “total” FIR equalizer is determined which sets the tap coefficients to their initial values. The method further determines multiple sets of tap coefficients that may potentially be fixed in the FIR equalizer. For each set of tap coefficients that may potentially be fixed, the method determines a “fixed” FIR equalizer that sets the tap coefficients in the set to their initial values and other tap coefficients to zero. The method then determines a phase-difference energy between the “total” FIR equalizer and the “fixed” FIR equalizer for each set of tap coefficients that may potentially be fixed. The set of tap coefficients associated with the lowest phase-difference energy are then fixed.
US08605374B2

A varifocal optical system includes a substantially circular membrane deposited on a substrate, and a ring-shaped PZT thin film deposited on the outer portion of the circular membrane. The membrane may be a MEMS-micromachined membrane, made of thermal oxide, polysilicon, ZrO2 and SiO2. The membrane is initially in a buckled state, and may function as a mirror or a lens. Application of an electric voltage between an inner and outer electrode on the piezoelectric thin film induces a lateral strain on the PZT thin film, thereby altering the curvature of the membrane, and thus its focal length. Focal length tuning speeds as high as 1 MHz have been demonstrated. Tuning ranges of several hundred microns have been attained. The varifocal optical system can be used in many applications that require rapid focal length tuning, such as optical switching, scanning confocal microscopy, and vibration compensation in optical storage disks.
US08605368B2

An image capturing optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The third lens element has refractive power, wherein the surfaces of the third lens element are aspheric. The fourth lens element has positive refractive power, wherein the surfaces of the fourth lens element are aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, and has a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and the fifth lens element has inflection points formed on at least one of the surfaces thereof.
US08605365B2

The objective of the present invention is to provide a zoom lens system having an f-number of approximately 1.3 at the wide extremity, a half angle-of-view of 75 degrees, and a zoom ratio of approximately 3:1. The solution to this objective is to provide a zoom lens system including a first lens group, having a negative refractive power, a diaphragm, and a second lens group, having a positive refractive power, in that order from the object side; wherein the first lens group and the second lens group move in the optical axis direction so that the distance therebetween decreases upon zooming from the wide-angle extremity to the telephoto extremity.
US08605364B2

A zoom lens of the present invention includes a first lens group, a second lens group, an aperture, a third lens group, a fourth lens group, and an image surface in sequence along an optical axis from an object side to an image side. The first lens group has positive refractive power, and includes at least two lenses. The second lens group has negative refractive power, and includes three lenses. The third lens group has positive refractive power, and includes at least two lenses. The fourth lens group has positive refractive power. The zoom lens is switched to a telephoto mode from a wide-angle mode by moving the first lens group toward the object side, moving the second lens group toward the image side, and moving the third lens group toward the object side.
US08605356B2

A window for energy conservation in all seasons and a method of energy conservation using the window are described. The window operates as solar energy collector in winter and solar energy reflector in summer without using energy consuming devices such as pumps or fans. The window includes an optically transparent first component and a partially reflecting partially absorbing second component that is disposed close and parallel to the first component. The lateral separation between the first and second component can be changed from a smaller separation between the parallel first and second components to cool the room to a greater separation between the parallel first and second components to heat the room.
US08605353B2

A liquid for electrophoretic display which makes it possible to display a black color having a low reflectance or a color having a high color saturation and a white color having a high reflectance and display them at high contrast and which inhibits coagulation of white fine particles and is excellent in stability can be prepared by using a liquid for electrophoretic display containing at least white fine particles, resin particles colored by a dye and/or a pigment and a liquid phase dispersion medium, wherein fine particles in which a difference in a refractive index from the liquid phase dispersion medium is 0 to 0.05 are contained and have an average particle diameter of 50 to 500 nm.The electrophoretic display device of the present invention is prepared by filling the liquid for electrophoretic display between a pair of substrates, and the electronic device of the present invention is characterized by mounting therein the electrophoretic display device.
US08605346B2

A scanner unit of a multifunction printer (MFP) increases the speed of the movement of the scanner head, lowers the scanning resolution and uses only a single scanning channel during the scanning of a blank area, and decreases the speed of the movement of the scanner head, increases the scanning resolution and uses the three scanning channels of RGB during the scanning of a graphic area.
US08605343B2

According to the embodiment, an automatic document feeder includes a first transport unit which transports a document fed from a document tray to a reading portion in a first direction after turning over the document, and a second transport unit which transports the document fed from the document tray to the reading portion in a second direction and transports the document passed through the reading portion to the reading portion in the first direction after turning over the document. When an image on one side of the document is read, the document is sorted to be transported to the first transport unit, and when images on both sides of the document are read, the document is sorted to be transported to the second transport unit.
US08605334B2

A physical layer which depends on hardware of a general-purpose interface determines whether an image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol. A transport layer which controls communication as an upper layer of the physical layer determines whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol. When either of the physical and transport layers determines that the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol, the image supply device is decided to support the predetermined communication protocol. When both of the physical and transport layers do not determine that the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol, an application layer serving as an upper layer of the transport layer determines whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol.
US08605333B2

Apparatus for depositing a texture on a receiver includes a data source that provides multilevel input tint data values. A lossy compressor produces compressed multilevel tint data values from the multilevel input tint data values. A decompressor produces multilevel decompressed tint data values from the compressed multilevel tint data values. A texture memory receives those values from the decompressor and provides corresponding multilevel texture pixel data values. A print engine deposits at each of a plurality of pixel sites on the receiver an amount of texture-forming material corresponding to the respective multilevel texture pixel data value. A loader loads into the texture memory a texture set including multilevel texture pixel data values for each of a plurality of textures, and each texture in the texture set corresponds to a respective selected range of multilevel decompressed tint data value.
US08605330B2

An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which, when forming an image using a plurality of different sizes of dots, can produce a satisfactory image free from problematical levels of density unevenness, graininess and insufficient density with any of these dot sizes. To this end, when printing on pixel areas of a print medium by a plurality of relative movements between the printing unit and the print medium, the dot overlap rate of a dot size that tends to show density unevenness is set higher than that of a dot size that tends to show other image impairments more conspicuously than the density unevenness. This results in a satisfactory image that eliminates such image impairments as density unevenness, graininess and density insufficiency in the entire grayscale range.
US08605323B2

Automated imposition wherein a print job comprises multiple documents, and the documents comprise pages having different dimensions. Pages of different dimensions of the same document may be imposed on a single sheet, and pages of equal dimensions may be lined up in a layer across the sheet, forming a cut line along the layer and across the sheet.
US08605315B2

An image processing device includes plural conversion units that convert a print document into raster data, a determination unit that determines the number of conversion units to be operated on the basis of the number of pages of an obtained print document, and a control unit that performs control so that only conversion units corresponding to the number determined by the determination unit among the plural conversion units are operated.
US08605310B2

The image processing apparatus is provided with a preview image generating portion for generating a preview image of image data to be output in the unit of an output job, and an image display portion such as a touch panel for displaying the generated preview image. The image display portion displays a generation stop key for stopping generation of the preview image during the generation of the preview image so as to be selectable by a user, and displays a different screen in accordance with a generation state of the preview image when the generation stop key is selected by a user operation.
US08605302B2

An image forming apparatus obtains area information indicating target areas to be subjected to image processing from a plurality of image processing servers and judges whether or not their target areas are overlapping each other. The image forming apparatus examines the priority levels set in advance for the image processing servers if their target areas are overlapping each other, then repeats to instruct an image processing server with a lower priority level than another image processing server to adjust the position of its target area until it is judged that the target areas are not overlapping each other. And the image forming apparatus transmits information of the target areas confirmed to be not overlapping each other to the image processing servers, so that the image processing servers can successfully perform image processing on their own target areas according to the information.
US08605298B2

An application executing method makes an information processing apparatus coupled to an image forming apparatus via a network to execute an application that functions in the image forming apparatus. The application executing method downloads the application from the image forming apparatus by the information processing apparatus, starts the downloaded application by the information processing apparatus, and absorbs differences in an execution environment of the application between the image forming apparatus and the information processing apparatus, by the information processing apparatus, so as to realize functions of the application in the information processing apparatus.
US08605274B2

A method of operating a laser reference system orients a reference plane of laser light generated by a transmitter so compensation is made for rake angles between the first and second axes of the transmitter and first and second non-orthogonal alignment axes. The transmitter includes an optical system arranged to generate a laser beam, the optical system projecting said laser beam radially along a rotational arc defined about a central rotational axis, thereby substantially defining a reference plane of laser light, and a positioning arrangement, coupled to said optical system, for adjusting the angular orientation of the optical system with respect to a first transmitter axis and with respect to a second transmitter axis. Detectors are arranged to detect reception of the laser beam.
US08605273B2

The direction of a solar light tracking sensor is set easily with high accuracy. A solar light tracking guide (35) is installed on the optical axis (11) of the reflected light collected by a heliostat (2). An optical telescope (47) is so attached to the rear end part of the guide (35) as to be aligned with the guide axis (C) of the guide (35). The posture of the solar light tracking guide (35) is so adjusted that a cross provided in the field of view of the telescope (47) agrees with the center (10a) of the light collection target position and fixed to the base (38). Then, a solar light tracking sensor (12) is fastened to the rear end part of the guide (35) in place of the optical telescope (47).
US08605265B2

An optical detection process relates to detecting micron- or submicron-sized particles or organisms by means of a contact imaging device, the particles or organisms being immersed in a liquid droplet and the detection being carried out by means of a matrix of photosensitive cells or photosites. The process includes one detection step or a succession of detection steps carried out while the liquid droplet is evaporating. The process may also include a detection step carried out after the liquid droplet has evaporated. The process allows a three-dimensional distribution of the particles or organisms in the initial unevaporated droplet to be reconstructed.
US08605249B2

A pattern image generation device generates a pattern image, and at least a part of the pattern image which has been generated or the pattern image which is generated and is formed on an object is photoelectrically detected by a detection system. Then, a correction device corrects design data that should be input to the pattern image generation device based on the detection results. Accordingly, a pattern image is generated on an object by the pattern image generation device corresponding to the input of the design data after the correction, and because the object is exposed using the pattern image, a desired pattern is formed on the object with good precision.
US08605246B2

A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates spaced apart from each other, on which a display area and a non-display area are defined, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, a seal pattern in the non-display area between the first and second substrates, a driver in the non-display area on the first substrate, column spacers in the display area between the first and second substrates, and a first auxiliary spacer between the driver and the second substrate.
US08605245B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a method of manufacturing the same are provided, and the LCD panel comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate, which are assembled together to form a cell, in which liquid crystal; and spacers formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The spacers comprise, at least, first-type spacers and second-type spacers, which are formed of different kinds of materials, the material for the first-type spacers has a thermal expansion coefficient lower than that of liquid crystal, the material for the second-type spacers has a thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of liquid crystal, and the first-type spacers and the second-type spacers are disposed in alternation.
US08605238B2

An image display apparatus including an image display panel includes: a first color filter for passing light of a first primary and first auxiliary pixels for displaying the first primary; a second color filter for passing light of a second primary and second auxiliary pixels for displaying the second primary; a third color filter for passing light of a third primary and third auxiliary pixels for displaying the third primary; and fourth auxiliary pixels for displaying a fourth color; the first auxiliary pixels, the second auxiliary pixels, the third auxiliary pixels, and the fourth auxiliary pixels being arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a light shielding region disposed at least partly around the peripheral edge of each of the fourth auxiliary pixels.
US08605233B2

A light guide plate for an LCD back light unit has a rear surface formed with a main prism portion including a plurality of prisms, and a front surface formed with a front-lens part including a plurality of optical members such as lenticular lenses or microlenses so as to improve visibility of a predetermined pattern of the main prism part, and a liquid crystal display device using the light guide plate.
US08605232B2

A display may include a backlight structure. The backlight structure may include a light guide plate. Holes in the light guide plate may be configured to receive corresponding light-emitting diodes. The holes may separate an edge portion of the light guide plate from a main central portion of the light guide plate. Adhesive may be attached to the lower surface of the edge portion. The adhesive may be attached to a device housing or may be attached to a flex circuit that is attached to the housing with additional adhesive. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted within packages in pairs. The packages may be mounted on the flex circuit. Traces on part of the flex circuit may be covered by part of the light guide plate without any intervening adhesive. A reflective structure may be interposed between the traces and parts of the main portion of the light guide plate.
US08605228B2

A display panel is provided and includes gate lines, source lines, and pixel units. Each gate line extends in a first direction, while each source line extends in a second direction interlacing with the first direction. The pixel units are arranged to form a display array. Each pixel unit is coupled to three sequentially disposed gate lines and three sequentially disposed source lines. Each pixel unit includes pixels. For each pixel unit, the pixels between any set of the two adjacent gate lines are coupled to different gate lines and different source lines. For each pixel unit, the pixels between one set of the two adjacent source lines are coupled to the same gate line and different source lines, and the pixels between the other set of the two adjacent source lines are coupled to different gate lines and different source lines.
US08605221B2

A method for forming a video summary for a digital video having a time sequence of video frames, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of: determining a set of key video frames for the digital video; ranking the key video frames responsive to a predefined criterion; forming key video snippets corresponding to one or more highest-ranked key video frames according to a predefined set of criteria, including a criterion which specifies the total time duration for the video summary and a criterion which specifies the minimum time duration for each of the key video snippets; assembling the key video snippets to form a video summary; and storing a representation of the video summary in a processor-accessible memory.
US08605215B2

Methods and apparatus for providing portable photographic images are described. The present invention includes a small, portable electronic display unit that may be placed within a wallet or purse. The display unit may include an input port for downloading digital images from a computer or digital camera. The display unit may also include one or more buttons to provide a user with the ability to select an image for display from a given set of digital images that have been stored in memory. The display unit may be preloaded with one or more digital images, or it may be configured to be loaded by a user. The digital images may, for example, include still digital photographs or short video clips that have been captured from a digital camera.
US08605211B2

A printed circuit carrier has an opening therein against which a back plate is attached to thereby form a cavity. An image sensor device is attached to the back plate inside the cavity. The height of the image sensor device is about equal to or less than the height of the cavity. Electrical signal connections are formed between the image sensor device and the printed circuit carrier. A cap is attached directly to the carrier by a flowable adhesive layer, to seal off the cavity. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08605204B2

The method includes a first adjusting step of adjusting a first tracking curve which has been set so as to keep an in-focus state between a position of a magnification-varying lens and a position of an image sensor, and a second adjusting step of adjusting a second tracking curve which has been set so as to keep the in-focus state between the position of the magnification-varying lens and a position of the focus lens for an object distance. The magnification-varying lens is moved in an optical axis direction during a variation of magnification. The image sensor generates an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system including the magnification-varying lens and a focus lens moved in the optical axis direction during focusing.
US08605201B2

The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit configured to photoelectrically convert an image of an object formed by an image capturing optical system to generate an image signal, a generation unit configured to generate, from the image signal generated by the image capturing unit, an evaluation value representing an in-focus state of the image capturing optical system, an adjusting unit configured to perform focus detection by adjusting relative positions of the image capturing unit and a focusing lens included in the image capturing optical system so as to maximize the evaluation value generated by the generation unit, and a determination unit configured to determine, during the focus detection by the adjusting unit, whether the object exists in a specific region defined in advance in the image capturing optical system in a range shorter than a predetermined distance.
US08605196B2

A compact and thin lens module that uses a flat-plate-shaped displacement device to drive a lens, and a compact, thin imaging apparatus and electronic system using the lens module.
US08605194B2

A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole, and has at least one side that is symmetric with respect to a virtual axis on a surface of the member. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member, arranged on the surface along the one side, and configured to produce, at the surface, vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce the vibration on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop is surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude.
US08605192B2

An imaging apparatus includes an aberration control optical system having an aberration control function to intentionally generate an aberration and an imaging device; and an image processing device which forms a first image into a highly accurate final image. An aberration control optical system makes the PSF to cover two or more pixels by using the aberration control optical system containing an aberration control element having an aberration control function to intentionally generate an aberration or an aberration control plane having the aberration control function. The aberration control optical system is formed as a depth extension optical system having two or more peaks of the MTF characteristic for defocus in a main image plane shift region not causing a false resolution in a predetermined frequency.
US08605185B2

A method of capturing a video of a scene depending on the speed of motion in the scene, includes capturing a video of the scene; determining the relative speed of motion within a first region of the video of the scene with respect to the speed of motion within a second region of the video of the scene; and causing a capture rate of the first region of the video of the scene to be greater than a capture rate of the second region of the video of the scene, or causing an exposure time of the first region to be less than exposure time of the second region.
US08605184B2

A pixel circuit has first, second, and third field effect transistors integrated and connected in series from a photoelectric conversion element to a side of an amplifier circuit. The first and second field effect transistors have gate electrodes to be simultaneously collectively driven. A threshold voltage of the first field effect transistor is set to be higher than that of the second field effect transistor. As the gate electrodes are driven step by step, electrons generated by the photoelectric conversion element and transferred via the first field effect transistor are accumulated in a channel region of the second field effect transistor. The electrons accumulated in the channel region are transferred to an input of the amplifier circuit via the third field effect transistor.
US08605183B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion section which is disposed on a semiconductor substrate and which photoelectrically converts incident light into signal charges, a pixel transistor section which is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which converts signal charges read out from the photoelectric conversion section into a voltage, and an element isolation region which is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which isolates the photoelectric conversion section from an active region in which the pixel transistor section is disposed. The pixel transistor section includes a plurality of transistors. Among the plurality of transistors, in at least one transistor in which the gate width direction of its gate electrode is oriented toward the photoelectric conversion section, at least a photoelectric conversion section side portion of the gate electrode is disposed within and on the active region with a gate insulating film therebetween.
US08605182B2

A driving method of a solid-state imaging apparatus including multiple reference level supplying units each arranged correspondingly to a predetermined number of signal holding units, to supply a reference level to an output node of the signal holding unit through the selecting unit, wherein the method includes steps of: performing a clamping operation for sampling and holding the signal in the signal holding unit, by terminating turn ON pulses to be supplied to the selecting units successively in separate timings, one for each one of the selecting units, or one for each group of the selecting units while the reference level is supplied from the reference level supplying unit to the output node; and performing an operation of selecting the signal holding units through the selecting units, by supplying the turn ON pulses successively to the selecting units, to read out the signals successively from the signal holding units selected.
US08605180B2

A power gate circuit includes: a power gate switch connected at least between a reference potential terminal of a circuit to be power-gated and a reference potential or between a power supply terminal of the circuit to be power-gated and a power supply; a capacity connected to a gate of the power gate switch; a pulse generating section supplying a pulse signal to the gate of the power gate switch according to a control signal; and a power gate control section outputting the control signal to the pulse generating section to supply the pulse signal to the gate of the power gate switch when the power gate switch is turned on and accumulating electrical charges in the capacity to control a gate potential of the power gate switch such that the potential gradually approaches a potential at which the power gate switch is turned on.
US08605159B2

Image data captured by a capturing unit is inputted. Exposure information of the captured image data is inputted. Rotary-vibration information, which indicates rotary vibration of the capturing unit at the time of image capture, is inputted. A blur, which is caused by the rotary vibration, of the captured image data is corrected based on the exposure information and an angle of rotation of the capturing unit, which is indicated by the rotary-vibration information.
US08605152B2

The ability to view and participate in various types of instructional classes, including Yoga, remotely and on-demand has become increasingly popular and accessible. However, participating in instructional classes off-site does not replicate the same experience as participating in an instructional class on-site, live with an instructor. The claimed system and method allow the viewer participant to view and take part in an instructional class from any location and at any time without compromising the viewer's ability to experience a participatory class experience. The system and method place the instructor at the head of the classroom with live-participants arranged between the instructor and the camera with a direct line of sight between the camera and the instructor allowing for the viewer participant to have unobstructed views while simultaneously allowing for the viewer participant to have live participants in the periphery, as if the viewer was attending a live class.
US08605150B1

An image processing system includes an object illuminated by a pre-determined first spectrum of light and an array of fringe lines, an imaging device configured to capture an image of the object including the first spectrum of light and the fringe lines reflecting from a surface of the object, and a processor in signal communication with the imaging device to receive an input data representing the image of the object, wherein the processor: generates a first data model based on the input data; removes a DC-component from the first data model to create a second data model; and performs a two dimensional Fourier transform profilometry based on the second data model.
US08605145B2

An inspection vehicle configured to inspect steam generators includes a front chassis having two independently driven magnetic wheels, a rear chassis having two independently driven magnetic wheels, and a connecting member flexibly connecting the front chassis to the rear chassis to permit relative motion between the front chassis and the rear chassis along at least one axis. The connecting member, front chassis, and rear chassis collectively define a receiving area. The inspection vehicle also includes a navigation camera disposed on the front chassis and a pan and tilt inspection camera assembly including a first rotatable arm driven by a first motor, a second rotatable arm disposed on a distal portion of the first rotatable arm, the second rotatable arm being driven by a second motor, and an inspection camera rotatably disposed on a distal portion of the second arm, the inspection camera being driven by a third motor, the camera assembly being dimensioned to be received within the receiving area in a stowed position.
US08605140B2

Shutter glasses for allowing a user to perceive 3D video includes: a shutter for a right eye and a shutter for a left eye performing open and close operations of shutters in accordance with a timing signal synchronized with 2D video displayed on a display; a detection means for detecting light intensity of linear polarized light; and a shutter control means for controlling ON/OFF for driving the shutter for the right eye and the shutter for the left eye in accordance with the detected light intensity of the linear polarized light.
US08605138B2

A method of driving an image display device comprises inserting a reset frame displaying black data between neighboring data frames alternately displaying left-eye data and right-eye data; reflecting gray-scale information of an (n−2)th data frame in a reset frame corresponding to an (n−1)th frame through a predetermined data calculating operation; detecting a data variation between the (n−1)th reset frame and an nth data frame, reading a compensation value corresponding to the detection result from a lookup table, and modulating input data of the nth data frame using the read compensation value; and inverting the polarity of the modulated data according to N frame inversion (N is a multiple of 4) and applying the data having the inverted polarity to a display panel.
US08605137B2

A stereoscopic image display including an image displaying unit and an optical grating is provided. The image displaying unit has a black matrix and pixels surround by the black matrix, and each pixel has a width P in a first direction. The optical grating is disposed corresponding to the image displaying unit, wherein the optical grating comprises a plurality of constitutional groups arranged in the first direction. Each of constitutional groups comprises a plurality of slits having the same width W to expose the corresponding pixels, the width P of pixel and the width W of slit satisfy a specific relationship, so as to reduce the morie phenomenon and provide excellent stereo image quality.
US08605136B2

A method of two dimensional (2D) content data conversion to three dimensional (3D) content data in a 3D television involves receiving 3D video content and 2D user interface content data via a 2D to 3D content conversion module. A displacement represented by disparity data that defines a separation of left eye and right eye data for 3D rendering of the 2D user interface content data is determined. The 3D video content is displayed on a display of the 3D television. 3D user interface content data is generated at a 3D depth on the display based upon the received 2D user interface content data and the determined displacement. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08605132B1

A videoconference system in which a plurality of users communicate video and audio data to each other, the system including at least two conference servers each having a plurality of users linked to one another over the server wherein the plurality of users can share real time audio and video data with one another, the conference servers being in communication with each other, a plurality of redundant videoconference applications configured to be run on the at least two conference servers, and at least one resource distribution node configured to determine in response to a request for access to one of the videoconference applications which of the plurality of redundant videoconference applications to utilize.
US08605122B2

A gamma voltage generation circuit is provided. The gamma voltage generation circuit includes a plurality of resistor strings, a plurality of second resistors and a plurality of switches. Each of the resistor strings has a plurality of first resistors connected in series. Each of ends of the first resistors provides a gamma reference voltage. Each of second resistors is connected in series with the resistor strings. Each of the switches is coupled to a corresponding one of the resistor strings, selects and outputs one of the gamma reference voltages provided by the ends of the first resistors of the corresponding one of the resistor strings according to a control signal. Therefore, levels of the gamma voltages can synchronously displaced, so that the effects presented by pixels with different common voltage levels are similar or equal.
US08605121B2

A dynamic Gamma correction circuit, method thereof and a panel display apparatus are provided. The panel, display apparatus has a timing controller, a dynamic Gamma correction circuit, a display panel and a display driving circuit. The timing controller receives a first image data and then outputs a second image data and a timing control signal. The dynamic Gamma correction circuit receives and analyzes a distribution of gray levels of the first image data so as to dynamically correct and output a plurality of Gamma voltages. The display driving circuit electrically connects to the display panel, the timing controller and the dynamic Gamma correction circuit for receiving the second image data and the Gamma voltage so as to drive the display panel according to the timing control signal.
US08605119B1

Techniques include: identifying scalable parts and unscalable parts of image modules that are to be scaled to fit within a fixed dimension; determining scaling factors that are to be applied to the scalable parts of the image modules to scale the image modules; applying the scaling factors to the scalable parts of the images modules to produce scaled image modules that fit within the fixed dimension, where the unscalable parts are unaffected by the scaling factors; and generating data for displaying the scaled image modules on a computing device display screen.
US08605118B2

When NN pairs of sample data are inputted, pre-processing and area division processing are performed by a pre-processing means and area division means respectively. Thereafter, when number of classes NP is inputted to projection matrix generation means based on the NN pairs of sample data, clustering in which NN pairs of sample data are classified into NP classes. Then, representative sample data representing each of classes (NP classes) are selected from NN pairs of sample data as the learning data. Then, based on the nature of Formula (2), calculation means generates an inverse first projection matrix (ML)−1 using a plurality of low resolution sample images (pre-transformation sample data) of a plurality of pairs of representative sample data and a second projection matrix MH using a plurality of high resolution sample images (post-transformation sample data). Thereafter, a transformation matrix {MH·(ML)−1} is generated by transformation matrix generation means.
US08605113B2

An adaptive video presentation method for automatically presenting a video with stream-embed information based on content analysis of the video on a smaller display with a limited screen size is provided. The method comprises steps of determining a salient object group containing at least one salient object based on perceptual interest value of macroblocks for each frame of said video, extracting a window having a minimum size containing the salient object group for a scene of the video, characterized in that it further comprises steps of comparing size of the extracted window with the smaller display size; and presenting at least a selected area of the extracted window containing at least a part of the salient object group for the scene on the smaller display in different operation modes based on the result of the comparison steps for different motion mode for the scene of the video.
US08605101B2

An apparatus and method of reading texture data for texture mapping. Each of a plurality of blocks included in a cache memory may have any one of an even numbered index or odd numbered index. In this instance, the cache memory may be embodied with an odd numbered index cache memory including odd numbered index blocks and an even numbered index cache memory including even numbered index blocks. Also, address indexes of requested texture data may be analyzed to appropriately access to at least one of the odd numbered index cache memory and even numbered index cache memory, thereby improving an accessing speed.
US08605090B2

Methods and systems are provided for modifying a chart. Chart elements are provided to a user pictorially. Each picture represents a chart modification. The chart elements are used to modify the formatting of a standard chart according to user preferences. The modified chart document is then displayed to the user including user desired formatting.
US08605089B1

A system and method are employed to construct an association network to visualize relationships between variables of a data set. The relationships characterized by the association network may include symmetric or asymmetric measures of association between variables learned from the data. The association network includes nodes, which represent variables, and edges, which represent associations between variables. As a result, the association network helps a user to visualize useful information from data according to the determined measure of association.
US08605087B2

A system and method for dynamically adjusting the pixel sampling rate during primitive shading can improve image quality or increase shading performance. Hybrid antialiasing is performed by selecting a number of shaded samples per pixel fragment. A combination of supersample and multisample antialiasing is used where a cluster of sub-pixel samples (multisamples) is processed for each pass through a fragment shader pipeline. The number of shader passes and multisamples in each cluster can be determined dynamically for each primitive based on rendering state.
US08605086B2

A system and method for dynamically adjusting the pixel sampling rate during primitive shading can improve image quality or increase shading performance. Hybrid antialiasing is performed by selecting a number of shaded samples per pixel fragment. A combination of supersample and multisample antialiasing is used where a cluster of sub-pixel samples (multisamples) is processed for each pass through a fragment shader pipeline. The number of shader passes and multisamples in each cluster can be determined dynamically for each primitive based on rendering state.
US08605078B2

A source driver and a display device having the same are provided. The source driver shares several outputs by using a time division method and has an analog voltage stored in a buffer supplied to each data line multiple times during a horizontal scanning interval. Accordingly, by supplying an analog voltage to a data line a first time in a first activation interval and supplying an analog voltage to a data line a second time in a second activation interval, a target voltage of each pixel may be achieved quickly and accurately.
US08605065B2

The present invention provides an active matrix image display apparatus including an organic EL element capable of efficiently arranging a wiring pattern on an insulating substrate compared to the related art. The present invention provides a dummy region arranged at the outermost periphery of a display unit as a scanning line coupling region or a pitch conversion region. A power supply scanning line is commonly used by a pixel circuit of an odd-numbered line and a pixel circuit of a following even-numbered line.
US08605064B2

A current drive circuit which can improve a rate for signal writing and a driving rate of an element even when a signal current is small, and a display device using the current drive circuit are provided. The current drive circuit for supplying a signal current to a node of a driven circuit through a signal line includes a precharge function for supplying a precharge voltage to the node through the signal line and the precharge function includes a supply function for supplying the precharge voltage to the node and the signal line prior to supplying the signal current.
US08605060B2

An electronic device paired with an infrared remote control, includes a display screen having a display area, at least one infrared emitter, at least one infrared receiver, a prism and a processing unit. A prism is adjacent to the at least one infrared receiver for converging the infrared rays from the at least one infrared emitter and the infrared remote control to the at least one IR receiver. A processing unit is for activating and then deactivating the infrared emitters one after another, identifying operations of a user on the display area by analyzing the interception of the infrared rays emitted from each of the infrared emitters, identifying operations of a user according to the infrared signals from the infrared remote control and executing corresponding functions associated with the operations of the user.
US08605051B2

A touch panel having a transparent capacitive sensing medium configured to detect multiple touches or near touches that occur at the same time and at distinct locations in the plane of the touch panel and to produce distinct signals representative of the location of the touches on the plane of the touch panel for each of the multiple touches is disclosed.
US08605045B2

Provided is a capacitive touch panel, including: a plurality of coordinate detection electrodes (XP1, XP2, YP2) for detecting X-Y position coordinates; a first substrate (1) including the plurality of coordinate detection electrodes; and a second substrate (6) disposed to be opposed to the first substrate, in which: one of the first substrate and the second substrate includes an elastic layer lower (5) in rigidity than the second substrate and a conductive layer (ZP) having conductivity; the elastic layer and the conductive layer are disposed between the plurality of coordinate detection electrodes and the second substrate; a space between the first substrate and the second substrate defined by a plurality of nonconductive spacers (4); and an antireflective layer is formed on at least one of an interface between the space and the first substrate and an interface between the space and the second substrate.
US08605042B2

A sensing device and a method for amplifying an output of the sensing device are disclosed. The sensing device includes a sensor array including a plurality of sensors and an amplifier circuit that gives different weighted values to at least some of sensor outputs obtained from the sensor array and amplifies each of the at least some sensor outputs.
US08605038B2

A liquid crystal display includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate. The upper substrate includes a first insulating substrate, a transparent conductive layer on the first insulating substrate, and a first polarizer on the transparent conductive layer. The lower substrate includes a second insulating substrate, a second polarizer on the second insulating substrate, and a thin film transistor layer. The second insulating substrate is between the thin film transistor layer and the second polarizer. The transparent conductive layer allows an electric field to be formed on the first polarizer, so that a position signal input unit, which contacts the first polarizer, is capacitively coupled with the transparent conductive layer.
US08605032B2

An electrophoretic display and a driving method thereof are provided. The electrophoretic display includes a display panel, a storage unit, a timing controller (TCON). The display panel has a plurality of sub-pixels. The storage unit stores a plurality sets of driving waveforms, wherein the lengths of driving waveforms in the sets of driving waveforms are different from each other. The TCON has an analysis module, couples to the display panel and the storage unit, and receives an image signal having a plurality of display data. The analysis module analyzes the display data to obtain a analysis result. The TCON selects one of the sets of driving waveforms according to the analysis result, and drives the sub-pixels according to the selected set of driving waveforms.
US08605030B2

A light source device includes a light source module having a light-emitting block, an image analysis part, a duty ratio calculation part, a duty ratio determination part and a signal generation part. The image analysis part extracts representative luminance data of the light-emitting block based on pixel data. The duty ratio calculation part calculates duty ratio data of the light-emitting block based on the representative luminance data. The duty ratio determination part generates determined duty ratio data of the light-emitting block based on the duty ratio data from a first period, and the signal generation part generates a driving signal having a duty ratio corresponding to the determined duty ratio data to drive the light-emitting block.
US08605029B2

A display device is implemented that can suppress degradation in display quality caused by crosstalk, without causing an increase in frame size or an increase in power consumption. In an embodiment, each bistable circuit includes an output terminal that outputs a state signal; a thin film transistor having a drain terminal to which a high-level potential is provided, and a source terminal to which the output terminal is connected; a thin film transistor having a source terminal connected to a region netA connected to a gate terminal of the thin film transistor, and a gate terminal to which a clock is provided; a thin film transistor for increasing the potential of a region netZ connected to a drain terminal of the thin film transistor; and thin film transistors for decreasing the potentials of the netA, the netZ, and the output terminal, respectively.
US08605027B2

A shift register includes stages to generate gate signals in sequence. Each of the stages includes a first pull up drive control section, a pull up drive section and a pull down drive section. The first pull up drive control section outputs a control signal based on the gate signal of an adjacent stage. The pull up drive section receives a first clock signal and outputs the first clock signal as the gate signal to a corresponding gate line in response to the control signal. The pull down drive section inactivates the corresponding gate line in response to a second clock signal.
US08605019B2

A display device of at least one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one correcting device for, in a case where a first data signal is to be written to a first pixel during a unique horizontal period, (i) carrying out a first gray scale correction with respect to display data corresponding to the first data signal to be written to the first pixel during the unique horizontal period, and (ii) supplying the display data to a display driver, the unique horizontal period being a first horizontal period for one of the driving signals supplied to respective storage capacitor bus lines which first horizontal period occurs a first number of horizontal periods after an initial horizontal period included in a given cyclic term for either or both of a binary level, the given cyclic term being a second cyclic term for the driving signals which second cyclic term occurs a second number of cyclic terms after a first cyclic term including a horizontal period during which the data signals start to be written to the pixels, the first number being different from a corresponding number for any other of the driving signals.
US08605018B2

In a liquid crystal display apparatus, a first control signal bus line receives a first control signal. A second control signal bus line receives a second control signal that lags behind the first control signal. A de-multiplexer circuit includes a first switching element and a second switching element. The first switching element switches a current path between a first source line and a first data line in response to the first control signal, and the second switching element switches a current path between the first source line and a second data line in response to the second control signal. A pixel part includes a first pixel connected to the first control signal bus line and corresponding to a first color filter, a second pixel connected to the second control signal bus line and corresponding to a second color filter, and a third pixel corresponding to a third color filter, wherein the third pixels are alternately connected to the first control signal bus line and the second control signal bus line.
US08605016B2

The display device substrate according to the present invention is arranged so that: a source line is provided on an area on which a pixel electrode is not provided, and a gap is provided between the source line and the pixel electrode, and a black matrix (light shielding film) which covers a surface of the source line overlaps with the pixel electrode. Thus, it is possible to prevent parasitic capacitance (Csd) between the pixel electrode and the source line from becoming uneven in a display area, so that it is possible to reduce display unevenness of a liquid crystal display device using the present display device substrate.
US08605013B2

Provided to stabilize generation of address discharge and improve gradation characteristics of display images are the following elements: a plasma display panel; a sustain pulse generating circuit; and a ramp voltage generating circuit including a first ramp voltage generating circuit, a second ramp voltage generating circuit, and a switching circuit. The first ramp voltage generating circuit generates a first ramp voltage gently increasing in an initializing period. The second ramp voltage generating circuit generates a second ramp voltage increasing with a gradient gentler than that of the rising edge of a sustain pulse and steeper than that of the first ramp voltage, at the end of each sustain period. The switching circuit stops the operation of the second ramp voltage generating circuit immediately after the second ramp voltage reaches a predetermined electric potential. In at least one sustain period of one field, no sustain pulse but the second ramp voltage is generated.
US08605011B2

A method to dynamically register a view finder graphic on a driving scene of a vehicle utilizing a graphic projection display includes monitoring a user input indicated to a portion of the graphic projection display, generating a trace based on the monitored user input indicated to the portion of the graphic projection display, determining a view finder graphic representing a user-defined view finder, the user-defined view finder defined by the generated trace, dynamically registering a location of the view finder graphic upon the graphic projection display corresponding to the driving scene of the vehicle, and displaying the view finder graphic upon the graphic projection display.
US08605008B1

A goggle system for providing a personal media viewing experience to a user is provided. The goggle system may include an outer cover, a mid-frame, optical components for generating the media display, and a lens on which the generated media displayed is provided to the user. The goggle system, or head mounted display may have any suitable appearance. For example, the goggle system may resemble ski or motorcycle goggles. To enhance the user's comfort, the goggle system may include breathable components, including for example breathable foam that rests against the user's face, and may allow the user to move the display generation components for alignment with the user's eyes. In some embodiments, the goggle system may include data processing circuitry operative to adjust left and right images generated by the optical components to display 3-D media, or account for a user's eyesight limitations.
US08605007B2

A method of controlling a mobile communication device, and which includes allowing, via a wireless communication unit, wireless communication with at least one other terminal, displaying, via a camera, a real-time image on a first display portion of a display of the device, receiving an image capture command signal to obtain one or more captured images of the real-time image displayed on the first display portion, and displaying the one or more captured images on a second display portion and displaying the real-time image on the first display portion such that a user is allowed to view the one or more captured images and the real-time image together. Further, the one or more captured images is minimized and moved toward the second display portion and is displayed in a thumbnail format on the second display portion in response to the image capture command signal.
US08605006B2

An apparatus, comprising a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following, determining a first angle between a first display and a second display that is simultaneously viewable with the first display, causing display of a first information on the first display, determining a second information based, at least in part, on first information and on the first angle, and causing display of the second information on the second display is disclosed.
US08604998B2

A ground radiation antenna is disclosed. Herein, the ground radiation antenna provides a radiator-forming circuit, which is formed to have a simple structure using a capacitive element, as well as a feeding circuit suitable for the provided radiator-forming circuit. Thus, the structure of the antenna becomes simpler and the size of the antenna becomes smaller. Accordingly, the fabrication process of the antenna is simplified, thereby largely reducing the fabrication cost.
US08604985B1

The present invention is directed to an antenna system which may serve as a common antenna for multiple avionics systems implemented on-board an aircraft. The antenna system provides horizontal and vertical polarization functionality, while providing high isolation between a first input port of a coupler of the antenna system (the first input port being connected to a first avionics system) and a second input port of the coupler (the second input port being connected to a second avionics system).
US08604971B2

A method and apparatus is devised for detecting objects of interest in which frequency-scanned RF in the HF region of the electromagnetic spectrum is projected out across a given area and returns are detected and converted into image data in which phase, amplitude, range and frequency associated with the incoming data is correlated with frequency-dependent range templates to determine the existence of, the range of and the direction of the objects of interest.
US08604969B2

A sensor is used to identify detections of discrete objects in a search grid. An image grid of the detections is created. The image grid is analyzed to identify a pattern of detections. The pattern of detections is used to identify objects of interest.
US08604967B2

A safe driving providing system for supporting a safe driving of a vehicle includes: a radar for transmitting a signal of a predetermined frequency bandwidth to a plurality of vehicles, analyzing signals provided by the vehicles, calculating location information and distance information of the vehicles, and finding inter-vehicle distance information of the vehicles based on the location information and the distance information; and a controller for receiving operation speed information from a vehicle information terminal device installed in each vehicle, determining driving safety of the plurality of vehicles based on the received operation speed information and inter-vehicle distance information provided by the radar, and transmitting a warning message for safe driving to the vehicle information terminal device.
US08604965B2

An apparatus and method to generate and detect virtual targets. Position information for one or more virtual targets is calculated onboard a vehicle from real position information obtained from GPS satellites or other external or internal sources. This virtual position information is coded, mixed with a carrier frequency, amplified, and radiated to a nearby test vehicle, such as an aircraft. The amplitude of the radiated signal is adjusted such that the signal containing the virtual position information is received by the test aircraft only. The radiated signal thus adjusted is below the detection threshold of any aircraft further away. The test aircraft decodes the signal and interprets the decoded virtual position information as real aircraft in its vicinity. The coded signals may be structured to comply with the requirements of the FAA's ADS-B system. The apparatus may be mounted on the test aircraft itself, or on a nearby aircraft.
US08604963B1

A system includes an aircraft radar system configured to perform at least one radar scan of a specific region and receives airborne radar return data from the at least one radar scan. The aircraft radar system transmits the airborne radar return data to a weather system via a wireless communication link for supplementing the ground based radar return data with the airborne radar return data.
US08604962B1

A first stage circuit for a pipeline ADC first stage combines the functions of an input sample-and-hold-plus-amplifier (SHA) stage, and the functions of the first analog-to-digital conversion stage of an ADC, including a multiplying DAC (MDAC), stage-flash ADC (SFADC) comparators, and residue opamp (RAMP). The ADC first stage is duplicated, inputs and outputs are connected, and an autozero circuit using a switched-capacitor filter feedback loop controls the RAMP bias circuitry to reduce 1/f noise and DC offsets. The sampling capacitors may be connected to the ADC input for one full sample clock time period and are disconnected from the analog input period before connecting the sampling capacitors to an amplifier voltage output or voltage reference, thereby sampling the input and allowing sufficient time for the SFADC comparators to resolve and control the MDAC capacitor settings with a low metastability error rate.
US08604955B2

In order to suppress the enlargement of the circuit layout area of an LSI together with the cost, even at the time when the variation width of the filter characteristic is narrow within a wide range, a filter varies an element value of at least one kind of elements (3), which determine a filter characteristic of the filter circuit, according to an output of the sigma-delta modulator (1), which sigma-delta modulates a digital code input (Code), according to an operation clock (CLK), or according to a signal through a decoder (4), which performs a code-conversion to an output of the sigma-delta modulator (1).
US08604951B2

A system and method is provided for ordering intervals rLPS and rMPS of a range to increase speed of binary symbol decoding in a binary arithmetic decoder. The method comprises the steps of: placing rLPS at a bottom of the range; enabling subtraction for rMPS to occur in parallel with comparison of rLPS and offset; and, reducing time that it takes to decode a bin. A method is also provided for performing context selection for a given syntax element, comprising the steps of: first, comparing information regarding properties of neighboring pixels with a threshold; second, adding results of threshold comparison of neighboring pixels, to provide a secondary result; and using the secondary result to select a context.
US08604931B1

A security access device for a portable electronic device comprises a plurality of security access buttons recessed into depressions on at least a portion of the external surface of the security access device. More than one security access button requires continual contact of a pad of at least two digits of at least one hand or up to four digits of both hands of a user of the electronic device for safe operation of the electronic device.
US08604916B2

Systems, methods, beds, supports surfaces and machine readable medium for associating beds and support surface of a healthcare facility are disclosed. A surface association system for a healthcare facility may comprise a plurality of beds. The system may further comprise a computing device and a plurality of support surfaces to be placed upon beds of the plurality of beds. The computing device may associate a support surface of the plurality of support surfaces with a bed of the plurality of beds. The computing device may make the association based upon status data received from the plurality of beds and the plurality of support surfaces. The support surface and/or bed to be associated may initiate a surface association request. The computing device, in response to the surface association request, may request performance of one or more actions on the bed and/or support surface to be associated to identify the bed and/or support surface from the beds and support surfaces of the healthcare facility.
US08604913B2

An RFID reader control system and method is provided. A protocol for controlling an RFID reader and an RFID reader control unit of a mobile phone is defined. Messages, information, commands, responses, and notification are constructed and transmitted between the RFID reader and the RFID reader control unit.
US08604893B2

Filters and methods which may be used with millimeter-wave and terahertz frequency range are disclosed. The filter is formed as an electrical prism which may include a first lattice forming an interface with a second lattice. Each lattice may include a plurality of passive elements, such as inductors, capacitors, and the like. The first lattice may include an input disposed at an input boundary thereof, while the second lattice may include an output disposed at an output boundary thereof. Furthermore, the first and second lattices may be configured to receive a signal at the input of the first lattice, propagate the signal to the interface, and direct the signal to the outputs of the second lattice.
US08604888B2

Systems and methods for operating with oscillators configured to produce an oscillating signal having an arbitrary frequency are described. The frequency of the oscillating signal may be shifted to remove its arbitrary nature by application of multiple tuning signals or values to the oscillator. Alternatively, the arbitrary frequency may be accommodated by adjusting operation one or more components of a circuit receiving the oscillating signal.
US08604886B2

A spin torque oscillator and a method of making same. The spin torque oscillator is configured to generate microwave electrical oscillations without the use of a magnetic field external thereto, the spin torque oscillator having one of a plurality of input nanopillars and a nanopillar having a plurality of free FM layers.
US08604876B2

A current filtering current buffer amplifier includes: a first port and a second input port configured to be coupled to and receive input current; a first output port and a second output port configured to be coupled to and provide current to a load; a buffer configured to transfer the received input current to the first and second output ports as an output current, the buffer having an input impedance and an output impedance where the output impedance is higher than the input impedance, the buffer including first and second amplifiers, the first amplifier being a common mode feedback amplifier; and a filter coupled to the first and second input ports and coupled to the first and second amplifiers, the filter having a complex impedance and being configured to notch filter the received input current.
US08604869B1

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to a voltage generator, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of configuring a charge pump system by incorporating an auxiliary charge pump to generate an intermediate voltage that is used to boost up a primary charge pump according to a level of an input supply voltage. The intermediate voltage has a higher level than that of the input supply voltage, and is provided to boost up the primary charge pump when the input supply voltage is determined to be lower than a threshold voltage. Such a charge pump based voltage generator is compatible to a wide input supply range, capable of sustaining a large output load and effectively reduces the chip estate.
US08604854B1

Disclosed herein is a pseudo single-phase flip-flop. The master section includes a pre-dissipation stage and a first keeper. The pre-dissipation stage discharges the first keeper to the mDb second binary value, and selectively charges the first keeper with the mDb first binary value in the master pass mode. The pre-dissipation stage selectively prevents the first keeper from charging to the mDb first binary value in response to one of the clock phases. The slave section includes a pre-charge stage, a second keeper, a post-dissipation stage, and a third keeper. The second keeper maintains a first binary value in a slave pass mode when the mDb signal has a second binary value. The second keeper supports the second binary value in the slave pass mode when the mDb signal has the first binary value. The third keeper maintains the Q signal binary value during the slave hold mode.
US08604852B1

In an integrated circuit that provides a clock signal, an asymmetric frequency-locked loop (AFLL) includes a first digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) that outputs a first signal having a first fundamental frequency, and a second DCO that outputs a second signal having a second fundamental frequency that is less than the first fundamental frequency. Moreover, the AFLL includes control logic that selects one of the first DCO and the second DCO based on an instantaneous value of a power-supply voltage and an average power-supply voltage so that an impact of power-supply voltage variations on a time-critical path in the integrated circuit is reduced. For example, the control logic may select the first DCO if the instantaneous value of the power-supply voltage is greater than the average power-supply voltage; otherwise, the control logic may select the second DCO.
US08604844B2

An output circuit includes a first output transistor disposed between a higher-potential power supply terminal and an external output terminal, a current flowing from the source of the first output transistor to the drain thereof being controlled on the basis of an external input signal; a second output transistor disposed between a lower-potential power supply terminal and the external output terminal, a current flowing from the source of the second output transistor to the drain thereof being controlled on the basis of an external input signal; and a clamping transistor having a first terminal and a control terminal, the first terminal and the control terminal being coupled to the gate of the first output transistor, and a second terminal coupled to the drain of the first output transistor.
US08604837B2

A detector circuit, has a first diode, to an anode of which an AC signal is input and to which a constant voltage is supplied, a second diode, to an anode of which the constant voltage is supplied, and a difference current generation circuit, which generates the difference current between a first current flowing in the first diode and a second current flowing in the second diode.
US08604835B2

In a semiconductor device, there are provided first to third pairs of nMOS transistors between a GND and two sense nodes and first to third pairs of pMOS transistors between the two sense nodes and the power supply. A first internal clock signal and its inverted signal are supplied to gates of the first pair of nMOS transistors and the second pair of nMOS transistors, respectively. Complementary external clock signals are supplied to the gates of the third pairs of nMOS transistors and the third pairs of pMOS transistors. An inverted version of a second internal clock signal and the second internal clock signal are supplied to gates of the first and second pairs of pMOS transistors. The two sense nodes are connected to inputs of a differential amplifier. The output of the differential amplifier is latched by a latch circuit. Also provided an equalizing circuit precharging/equalizing the two sense nodes (FIG. 2).
US08604832B1

A method for increasing performance in a limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL) circuit includes precharging a dynamic node during a precharge phase of a first and second evaluation clock signal. The dynamic node is evaluated to a first logic value in response to one or more first input signals of a first evaluation tree during an evaluation phase of the first evaluation clock signal. The dynamic node is evaluated to a second logic value in response one or more second input signals of a second evaluation tree during an evaluation phase of the second evaluation clock signal. A signal of the LSDL circuit is outputted in response to the dynamic node according to an output latch clock signal.
US08604820B2

A reliable and durable method of testing of printed circuit boards is presented. Test access components are placed in contact regions for providing electrical connectivity between test probes and the printed circuit board. In some cases, a test access component may be a surface mount resistor. The test access component may provide two points of contact for test probes to make electrical and mechanical contact with the printed circuit board. Test access components may also provide for increased durability of testing, allowing for a greater number of test contacts to be made between test probes and printed circuit boards than were previously possible.
US08604814B2

A tester may include a test head with a movable coupler, a probe card with a connector unit that is coupled with the coupler, and a needle block disposed on the probe card. In one example, the tester may test respective subsets of semiconductor devices on a wafer via a one-touch operation by moving a coupler on the test head, while the wafer remains in continuous and uninterrupted electrical contact with the tester during testing.
US08604808B2

An indicator position detecting device and method are provided, which allow accurate position detection without the influence of noise in detection of the position of an indicator (e.g., a finger, a stylus pen) by a capacitive coupling system. To a conductor pattern in which plural conductors for signal transmission and plural conductors for signal reception intersect with each other, signals with frequencies different from each other are simultaneously supplied to the plural conductors on the transmission side, and signals of respective frequencies corresponding to the plural signals with the different frequencies are detected on the reception side, to thereby detect the position of an indicator on the conductor pattern. The amount of noise of each of the detected frequencies is detected. Any frequency that cannot be properly detected due to noise is switched to another frequency, and detection is carried out based on the newly selected frequency.
US08604803B2

The electric machine comprises at least one winding made of a material having a temperature dependent resistance. The temperature of the winding is monitored using the resistance therein. Temperatures or resistances indicative of a fault can be sensed, and corrective action taken, without the need for dedicated temperature sensors.
US08604802B2

A checking circuit for a serial port connector includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a third inverter, and a first light emitting diode (LED) and a second LED with different colors. An input of the first inverter is connected to a transmitted data pin of the serial port connector. An output of the first inverter is connected to an anode of the first LED. An input of the second inverter is connected to the transmitted data pin of the serial port connector. An output of the second inverter is connected to an input of the third inverter. An output of the third inverter is connected to an anode of the second LED. Cathodes of the first and second LEDs are grounded.
US08604799B2

A method for determining damaged faulty and/or weak points in a structural seal. The seal is provided with an electrically conductive layer arranged inside or outside the structural seal and extends over substantially the entire surface of the structural seal and to which layer an electrical test voltage is applied. To establish the damaged, faulty and/or weak points, a further electrically conductive layer is used, which is electrically separated from the aforementioned electrically conductive layer by the structural seal and extends over substantially the entire surface of the structural seal. The level of the test voltage between the electrically conductive layers charged with voltage is selected such that when at least one electrically non-conductive damaged, faulty and/or weak point is present in the structural seal, the electrical disruptive strength is exceeded and an electric spark or arc is formed at the location of the damaged, faulty and/or weak point.
US08604797B2

A number of cells can be determined before control for a battery without providing cell number setting and input means. The cell number determination device comprises voltage measuring units that select an “i”th cell among cells that are connected in series and that configure a battery, and that measure a voltage value between a terminal in which the “i”th cell and an (i−1)th cell, which is in one location higher than the “i”th cell, are connected and a ground potential line, voltage comparators that determine an existence, nonexistence or normality of the cells by comparing a voltage value of an (i+1)th cell that is in one location lower than the “i”th cell with the voltage value of the “i”th cell measured by the voltage measuring units and a cell number determination unit that determines a number of assembled cells and normal cells and cell assembled locations in the battery.
US08604794B2

The present invention provides a permanent magnet arrangement, comprising: a. a mobile permanent magnet grouping; b. a facing plate constructed from ferromagnetic material; c. a an air gap defined by the spacing between said permanent magnet grouping and said facing plate; d. a yoke of predetermined shape formed from magnetically permeable material, said yoke holding said front surfaces of said magnets in a substantially parallel arrangement relative to said facing plate; e. means for individually moving said permanent magnets in said magnet grouping along an axis generally perpendicular to said facing plate; f. means for moving said permanent magnet grouping in a plane generally parallel to said facing plate; wherein a magnetic field within an active volume located in said air gap between said permanent magnet grouping and said facing plate is provided, said magnetic field sufficiently homogeneous for performance of MRI.
US08604791B2

Apparatus and method that includes amplifiers for transceiver antenna elements, and more specifically to power amplifying an RF (radio frequency) signal using a distributed power amplifier having electronic devices (such as field-effect transistors) that are thermally and/or mechanically connected to each one of a plurality of antenna elements (also called coil elements) to form a hybrid coil-amplifier (e.g., for use in a magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy machine), and that is optionally adjusted from a remote location, optionally including remotely adjusting its gains, electrical resistances, inductances, and/or capacitances (which controls the magnitude, phase, frequency, spatial profile, and temporal profile of the RF signal)—and, in some embodiments, the components are compatible with, and function in, high fields (such as a magnetic field of up to and exceeding one tesla or even ten tesla or more and/or an electric field of many thousands of volts per meter).
US08604785B2

In a method to create an image data set by operating a magnetic resonance system, at least two phase coding gradients are switched in respective spatial directions, an RF excitation pulse is radiated and a raw data point in a k-space data set belonging to the image data set is read out a predetermined time period after the radiation of the RF excitation pulse. The predetermined time period thereby corresponds to the maximum of a set of a respective minimum time period for each of the at least two phase coding gradients. The minimum time period of the respective at least one of the at least two phase coding gradients is determined depending on the strength of the respective phase coding gradient such that the Nyquist theorem is complied with.
US08604780B2

A field generation unit generates a rotating magnetic field including a first partial magnetic field in a first position and a second partial magnetic field in a second position. The first and second partial magnetic fields differ in direction by 180° and rotate in the same direction of rotation. A first detection unit located in the first position has first and second detection circuits whose output signals differ in phase by ¼ the period. A second detection unit located in the second position has third and fourth detection circuits whose output signals differ in phase by ¼ the period. A detected value of the angle that the direction of the rotating magnetic field in a reference position forms with respect to a reference direction is calculated based on a first signal generated from the output signals of the first and third detection circuits and a second signal generated from the output signals of the second and fourth detection circuits.
US08604779B2

Disclosed is an electric drive, particularly for a pivoting arm, such as a robotic arm, comprising a rotor, a plurality of magnetic periods and a device for determining the rotational position of the rotor based on at least one measurement signal, which is indicative of the inductance of a pole winding strand that is dependent on the position of the pole winding strand relative to the magnetic periods. The electric drive according to the invention that solves this problem in that two coupled rotor parts, which can be jointly rotated at a rotational angle ratio in relation to each other that is fixed, and assemblies comprising magnetic periods and pole winding strands are provided, the assemblies being separate for the rotor parts, wherein the numbers of the magnetic periods for each rotor part are co-prime, and the device for determining the rotational position of the rotor is provided for determining the position from the measurement signals for the two rotor parts.
US08604775B2

In a wiring pattern formed on a printed circuit board, a current detection pattern having a predetermined area is formed in the wiring pattern for detecting a current, which flows to a subject body for current measurement, based on magnetic flux density generated by the current. The current detection pattern is formed of a same material as the wiring pattern. An excitation current is supplied to the current detection pattern for detecting the magnetic flux density. An output voltage outputted from the current detection pattern in correspondence to the excitation current and the magnetic flux density is measured. The current flowing to the subject body is calculated based on the magnetic flux density calculated from the excitation current and the output voltage.
US08604765B2

A source-measure unit (SMU) may be implemented with digital control loops. The output voltage and output current may be measured with dedicated ADCs (analog-to-digital converters), and the readings obtained by the ADCs may be compared to a setpoint in a digital loop controller, which may produce an output to drive a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) to maintain the output voltage and/or output current at a desired setpoint. The digital loop controller may also digitally implement simulated resistance with high resolution, accuracy, and range, using Thévenin and Norton power supply models. Simulated resistor values may range from 10Ω to 10Ω for output currents in the 100 mA range, with a sub-200μΩ resolution. The range may be expanded up to 100 kΩ for output currents in the 10 μA range. The Norton and Thévenin implementations may be combined, and a “pure resistance” mode may be created for simulating any desired resistance value. A variation of the general resistance-simulation technique may also be used to compensate for Common Mode Voltage effects in the current measurement path, providing tighter output and measurement specifications at a lower component cost.
US08604763B2

A sensing circuit senses a load current to generate a sensed signal. A comparator's output is set to a first value if the sensed signal is equal to or greater than a reference signal, and to a second value if the sensed signal is smaller than the reference signal. A one-shot timer generates a logic signal that transitions from a first state to a second state in response to a first occurrence of the first value of the comparator's output, or optionally in response to each subsequent occurrence of the first value of the comparator's output if the one-shot timer is rearmed. A selector sets a first limit for the current delivered to the load in response to the first state of the logic signal, and a second limit for the current delivered to the load in response to the second state of the logic signal.
US08604760B1

A method involves regulating an output voltage of an output transistor of a voltage regulator circuit by providing a first voltage to a front gate of the output transistor, and simultaneously with providing the first voltage to the output transistor, providing a second voltage to a back gate of the output transistor, in a manner that regulates the output voltage around a target value.
US08604754B2

A circuit and communication method for charging and/or discharging electrical energy storage devices (e.g., one or more cells of ultracapacitors, one or more cells of batteries, one or more cells of ultracapacitors and batteries).
US08604751B2

A charge control device includes a charge power detection unit for detecting charge power supplied to a power storage device; a target value determination unit for determining a target value of the charge power to the power storage device; a feedback control unit for correcting the target value based on a difference between the charge power and the target value to generate the power command value; a supply power detection unit for detecting supply power output from the charger; and a charge abnormality monitoring unit for, in a case where the charge power is decreased below a first threshold value and the supply power is decreased below a second threshold value, confirming a diagnosis that an abnormality occurs in the charger when the target value falls within an abnormality detectable range, and suspending performing a diagnosis of an abnormality in the charger when the target value is out of the abnormality detectable range.
US08604750B2

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for using and operating electric vehicle charging stations (“EVCSs”) or electric vehicle supply equipment (“EVSE”) having a touch screen. The touch screen display device can be used, for example, to facilitate user interface with the EVCS/EVSE. The touch screen display apparatus can provide a quick and efficient means for a user to input a wide variety of information. Also disclosed herein are representative embodiments of a network communication system for EVCSs or EVSE.
US08604748B2

A device has a battery presence detection system. A line charging pulse signal is applied to a terminal battery detection line, which is connected when the battery is present to a ground line via a resistor and a capacitance. A detector determines whether the battery is connected to the mobile terminal based on detecting whether a line voltage edge or a line voltage level on the terminal battery detection line is present.
US08604724B2

A switch for controlling a rotational speed of a motor includes an operation member, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a brush coupled to the operation member having a contact and also includes a variable resistive plate having a resistance that changes in response to a contact position of the contact point of the brush, so that the first circuit outputs a control signal to the motor according to the contact position of the contact point. The second circuit connects the brush and the resistive plate without through the contact point when the brush is positioned at a given position relative to the resistive plate.
US08604717B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating low EMI display driver power supply. The methods and apparatus include switching circuits that utilize two groups of parallel circuit traces, each of which is coupled to one end of a switching device. The two groups of traces are configured to be interleaved with each other such that no two traces from either group are next to any other traces from the same group. When the switching device is activated, current flows through the circuit and charges an energy storage element. When the switching device is deactivated, the energy storage element discharges a portion of its energy to a second energy storage element and to the driver circuits. In another embodiment, an additional circuit trace is provided which is only connected on one end and is free floating on the other end to capture the majority of EMI remaining that was generated by the switching circuit.
US08604713B2

A method for controlling pulse width modulated lighting devices within a lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of lighting devices is disclosed. The method includes setting a counter for a first set of the plurality of sets of lighting devices using a master counter and an activation duration for one or more other sets of the plurality of sets of lighting devices. The method further includes determining an activation time period within a duty cycle for the first set of lighting devices using the counter for the first set of lighting devices and an activation duration for the first set of lighting devices. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lighting devices are light emitting diodes grouped into sets (or banks) and controlled to limit the magnitude and/or quantity of instantaneous current fluctuations in a power supply within the lighting apparatus.
US08604710B2

The present disclosure discloses a multi-mode dimming circuit configurable to operate in a first dimming mode, a second dimming mode and a third dimming mode. The present disclosure also discloses separate dimming circuits for respectively realize the three dimming modes. In one embodiment the multi-mode dimming circuit may comprise a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, an output terminal, a resistive device, an oscillation circuit and a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit. Users may flexibly configure the multi-mode dimming circuit to operate in one of the three different dimming modes by varying the external devices and/or signals coupled to each of the first, second and third input terminals.
US08604703B2

An inductive LED lamp bulb comprising a male connector, casing, LED, lamp panel and PIR sensor, of which the male connector is set at upper part of the casing, both LED and lamp panel are set at lower part of the casing; moreover, the lamp panel covers said LED, while a controller is embedded into said casing, which is also equipped with a timing switch and a contrast switch; said PIR sensor of a removable structure is mounted at the lower part of the casing, and protruded from said lamp panel; said controller is electrically connected with LED, PIR sensor, timing switch and contrast switch; thus, the utility model can be used as a common LED lamp bulb with more control functions and broader range of applications by disassembling easily the PIR sensor.
US08604698B2

A lighting arrangement comprises a checking device and a method for the control thereof, with a sensor device containing at least one light source, where the at least one light source radiates light with high radiant power which represents a danger to the eyes of operators or service personnel. A housing, which contains the at least one light source and prevents an emergence of light of the light source, is monitored as to whether the housing is open, where the at least one light source with high radiant power is switched off if there is detected upon the monitoring an opening of the housing, which permits an emergence of light of the light source. It is provided here that a lighting arrangement is switched on at the same time or later which has a radiant power not representing any danger to the eyes of operators or service personnel.
US08604696B2

A plasma excitation module including a chamber, a plurality of coils and a multi-duct gas intake system is provided. The chamber has a dielectric layer. The coils are disposed at an outer side of the dielectric layer, and the coils are separated from each other by an interval and in parallel connection. The multi-duct gas intake system surrounds the dielectric layer and is communicated with the chamber.
US08604695B2

An emergency lighting system induces an AC current in a toroidal coil encircling a non-shielded electrical element of a power circuit. The AC current is rectified to DC and delivered to a rechargeable standby battery. The battery provides a first input to a NAND gate, and a proximity transducer provides a second input to the NAND gate. When the power circuit is energized from the power grid, both inputs to the NAND gate are high and the output is low. When no current is sensed by the transducer one of the input NAND gates is low so that the NAND gate output is high thereby delivering an illumination current to an emergency lighting LED either directly or through a boost amplifier.
US08604688B2

An organic light-emitting display device and a method of fabricating the same. The organic light-emitting display device includes: a substrate; a first electrode including a first metal layer disposed on the substrate and formed of titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), a titanium or aluminum alloy, a second metal layer disposed on the first metal layer, and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the second metal layer; an organic layer disposed on the first electrode and including at least one organic emission layer; and a second electrode disposed on the organic layer. The method includes: forming a first electrode including a first metal layer formed of Ti, Al, or a titanium or aluminum alloy, a second metal layer, and a transparent conductive layer, on a substrate; forming an organic layer including at least one organic emission layer on the first electrode; and forming a second electrode on the organic layer.
US08604676B1

A piezoelectric transducer includes a single crystal piezoelectric material having a phase transition from one crystalline phase to a second crystalline phase at a predetermined stress level. A pre-stress is applied to the single crystal piezoelectric material so that the material is maintained near its phase transition point. An electrical field source is joined to the material such that, in cooperation with the pre-stress, an increase or decrease in the electrical field causes a crystalline phase transition in the single crystal piezoelectric material. Crystalline phase transition induces strain larger by an order of magnitude than that caused by the non-phase transition piezoelectric effect.
US08604670B2

Piezoelectric switches and methods of forming piezoelectric switches. The piezoelectric switch includes first and second cantilever beam actuators. The second cantilever beam actuator has a projection that overlaps the first cantilever beam actuator in a contact region. The projection is mechanically separated from the first cantilever beam actuator by a nanogap such that the first and second cantilever beam actuators are electrically isolated from each other. Each of the first and second cantilever beam actuators includes a piezoelectric actuation layer.
US08604664B2

The present invention provides systems, devices, and related methods, involving electrochemical actuation. In some cases, application of a voltage or current to a system or device of the invention may generate a volumetric or dimensional change, which may produce mechanical work. For example, at least a portion of the system may be constructed and arranged to be displaced from a first orientation to a second orientation. Systems such as these may be useful in various applications, including pumps (e.g., infusion pumps) and drug delivery devices, for example.
US08604657B2

A yoke for a permanent magnet machine shows a surface with an accommodation area for accommodating a permanent magnet, wherein two recesses are provided adjacent to the accommodation area to increase reluctance.
US08604656B2

An electric submersible pump (ESP) motor includes a polymer or ceramic component made by curing a thermosetting polymer in situ in the ESP motor, wherein the thermosetting polymer is selected from the group consisting of cyanate ester, bismaleimide, polyimide, benzoxazine, a preceramic polymer, and a mixture thereof, or the thermosetting polymer is a hybrid polymer having less than 50% by weight of an epoxy component and a second component selected from the group consisting of cyanate ester, bismaleimide, polyimide, benzoxazine, a preceramic polymer, and a mixture thereof.
US08604642B2

A power supply switch system for switching power supply to an electronic device, includes an adaptor, a charger module, a battery electrically connected to the charger module and a switch module. The adaptor outputs a voltage signal. The charger module receives the voltage signal and outputs control signals. The switch module receives the control signals and switches the adaptor and the battery to provide power supply to the electronic device. When the adaptor is powered on, the charger module controls the switch module to turn off a first connection between the battery and the electronic device; the charger module controls the switch module to turn on a second connection between the adaptor and the electronic device; and the adaptor provides the power supply to the electronic device.
US08604641B2

A system, method and/or apparatus for the delivery of energy at a site, at least a portion of the energy being delivered by at least one or more of a plurality of renewable energy technologies, the system and method including calculating the load required by the site for the period; calculating the amount of renewable energy for the period, including obtaining a capacity and a percentage of the period for the renewable energy to be delivered; comparing the total load to the renewable energy available; and, implementing one or both of additional and alternative renewable energy sources for delivery of energy to the site.
US08604639B2

A power limiting control system includes at least one power generator configured to provide power to a plurality of tools on a drilling rig; and a power limiting controller configured to control the provision of power from the power generator to the plurality of tools. The power limiting controller is adapted to perform a method including determining an individual power consumption for each of the plurality of tools; calculating a total power consumption from each respective individual power consumption of the plurality of tools; comparing the total power consumption of the plurality of tools to a total available power; ranking each respective individual power consumption by load size; and reducing power consumption of at least one of the plurality of tools based on rank when the total power consumption exceeds the total available power.
US08604634B2

Electrical energy is produced at a remote site by converting kinetic energy from fluid flow to electrical energy using a downhole harvesting apparatus. The downhole harvesting apparatus includes a vibrating sleeve member that vibrates in response to fluid flow through a tubular housing structure. The vibration of the sleeve is used to generate electrical power. The harvesting apparatus may include features to help maintain constant fluid flow in the tubular structure. The harvesting apparatus can be tuned to different vibration and flow regimes in order to enhance energy conversion efficiency.
US08604624B2

A flip chip interconnection system includes: providing a conductive lead coated with a protective coating; forming a groove through the protective coating to the conductive lead for controlling solder position on a portion of the conductive lead; and attaching a flip chip having a solderable conductive interconnect to the portion of the conductive lead.
US08604618B2

A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same, includes vertically stacked layers on an insulator. Each of the layers includes a first dielectric insulator portion, a first metal conductor embedded within the first dielectric insulator portion, a first nitride cap covering the first metal conductor, a second dielectric insulator portion, a second metal conductor embedded within the second dielectric insulator portion, and a second nitride cap covering the second metal conductor. The first and second metal conductors form first vertically stacked conductor layers and second vertically stacked conductor layers. The first vertically stacked conductor layers are proximate the second vertically stacked conductor layers, and at least one air gap is positioned between the first vertically stacked conductor layers and the second vertically stacked conductor layers. An upper semiconductor layer covers the first vertically stacked conductor layers, the air gap and the second plurality of vertically stacked conductor layers.
US08604610B1

Power module semiconductor packages that contain a flexible circuit board and methods for making such packages are described. The semiconductor package contain a flexible circuit board, a conductive film on a first portion of the upper surface of the flexible circuit board, a land pad on a second portion of the upper surface of the flexible circuit board, a heat sink on a portion of the bottom surface of the flexible circuit board, a passive component, a discrete device, or an IC device connected to a portion of the conductive film, and a lead of a lead frame connected to the land pad. These packages can have a high degree of design flexibility of the layout of the package and simpler routing designs, reducing the time to design the packages and reducing the costs of the packages. Other embodiments are also described.
US08604603B2

An apparatus having a three-dimensional integrated circuit structure is described herein. The apparatus include an interposer for carrying a plurality of high and low-power chips. The high-power chips are attached and connected to one side of the interposer, while the low-power chips are attached and connected to the other side of the interposer. In generally, the high-power chips produce more heat than does the low-power chip during their operations. The interposer further include through silicon vias and redistribution layers for connecting the chips on both surfaces. In addition, the interposer assembly is attached and connected to a substrate layer, which is in turn attached and connected to a printed circuit board. In order to provide improve thermal management, the interposer surface carrying the high-power chips are oriented away from the circuit board. A heat spreader is attached to the back sides of the high-power chips for dissipating the heat.
US08604598B2

Microelectronic devices and methods for manufacturing microelectronic devices are disclosed herein. One such method includes forming a plurality of apertures in a substrate with the apertures arranged in an array, and, after forming the apertures, attaching the substrate to a lead frame having a plurality of pads with the apertures in the substrate aligned with corresponding pads in the lead frame. Another method includes providing a partially cured substrate, coupling the partially cured substrate to a plurality of leads, attaching a microelectronic die to the leads, and electrically connecting the microelectronic die to the leads.
US08604594B2

A semiconductor chip includes a through-silicon via (TSV), a device region, and a cross-talk prevention ring encircling one of the device region and the TSV. The TSV is isolated from substantially all device regions comprising active devices by the cross-talk prevention ring.
US08604593B2

Through silicon vias (TSVs) in a stacked multi-die integrated circuit package are controlled to assume different connection configurations as desired during field operation of the package in its normal mission mode. TSV connections may be reconfigured to connect an affected die in a manner different from, for example, a factory default connection of that die. TSV connections to the inputs and/or outputs of a die's native circuitry may be changed. A die may be disconnected altogether from an interface that interconnects dice in the stack, or a die that was originally disconnected from such an interface may be connected to the interface.
US08604579B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device (1) comprising a substrate (2), a base coating film (3) disposed on the substrate (2), a base insulating film (4) disposed on the base coating film (3), and a semiconductor film (20) disposed on the base insulating film (4) and made of a polysilicon film. Below the semiconductor film (20), a light-shielding film (28) is formed, which is embedded in the base coating film (3).
US08604577B2

A silicon vertical cavity laser with in-plane coupling comprises wafer bonding an active III-V semiconductor material above a grating coupler made on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. This bonding does not require any alignment, since all silicon processing can be done before bonding, and all III-V processing can be done after bonding. The grating coupler acts to couple the vertically emitted light from the hybrid vertical cavity into a silicon waveguide formed on an SOI wafer.
US08604569B2

A magnetoresistive element includes a first electrode layer, a first fixed layer provided on the first electrode layer and having a fixed magnetization direction, a first intermediate layer provided on the first fixed layer and made of a metal oxide, a free layer provided on the first intermediate layer and having a variable magnetization direction, and a second electrode layer provided on the free layer. At least one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer contains a conductive metal oxide.
US08604561B2

In a semiconductor device and related method of fabricating the same, a hard mask layer is formed over a substrate, portions of the hard mask layer and the substrate are etched to form trenches having protruding portions at sidewalls, and an insulation layer buried in the trenches is formed to form device isolation regions having protruding portions at sidewalls, wherein the device isolation regions decrease a portion of a width of active regions.
US08604553B2

The present invention, in a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor each of which has an insulation film of a high electric permittivity, inhibits a foreign matter from adhering to the side of a gate insulation film of the n-channel transistor. Over the main surface of a semiconductor substrate, a functional n-channel transistor is formed in a p-type impurity region and a functional p-channel transistor is formed in an n-type impurity region. A plurality of first peripheral transistors formed in the region other than the functional n-channel transistor in the p-type impurity region are formed so that a peripheral n-type structure and a peripheral p-type structure may coexist in a planar view.
US08604551B2

A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first region and a second region. Each of the first region and second region includes a trench, an epitaxial layer including a source/drain having a first part and a second part, the first part extending from a top surface of the substrate to a top surface of the source/drain and the second part extending from the top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the source/drain in the trench. The cross-sectional shape of the first part of the source/drain of the first region is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the first part of the source/drain of the second region. The cross-sectional shape of the second past of the source/drain of the find region is different from the cross-sectional shape of the second part of the source/drain of the second region.
US08604549B2

A field-effect transistor has an extra gate above a shallow trench isolation (STI) to enhance and to adapt the low-frequency noise induced by an STI-silicon interface. By changing the voltage applied to the STI gate, the field-effect transistor is able to adapt its low-frequency noise over four decades. The field-effect transistor can be fabricated with a standard CMOS logic process without additional masks or process modification.
US08604547B2

It is an object of the present invention to provide a nonvolatile memory device, in which additional writing is possible other than in manufacturing and forgery and the like due to rewriting can be prevented, and a semiconductor device having the memory device. It is another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and nonvolatile memory device with high reliability and a semiconductor device. According to one feature of the present invention, a memory device includes a first conductive layer formed over an insulating surface, a second conductive layer, a first insulating layer interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and a second insulating layer which covers a part of the first conductive layer, wherein the first insulating layer covers an edge portion of the first conductive layer, the insulating surface, and the second insulating layer.
US08604534B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a charge storage layer, a control gate. The charge storage layer is formed above a semiconductor substrate with first insulating film disposed therebetween. The control gate is formed above the charge storage layer with second insulating film disposed therebetween. The control gate includes a nickel silicide region. The side surface expands outwardly in at least a partial region thereof, and height of the control gate from a portion at which the side surface thereof starts to expand outwardly to a top of the control gate is greater than maximum width of the control gate in a region above the portion at which the side surface starts to expand outwardly.
US08604532B2

A dynamic random access memory cell is disclosed that comprises a capacitive storage device and a write access transistor. The write access transistor is operatively coupled to the capacitive storage device and has a gate stack that comprises a high-K dielectric, wherein the high-K dielectric has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric constant of silicon dioxide. Also disclosed are a memory array using the cells, a computing apparatus using the memory array, a method of storing data, and a method of manufacturing.
US08604531B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation structure disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a conductive layer disposed over the isolation structure, a capacitor disposed over the isolation structure, the capacitor including a top electrode, a bottom electrode, and a dielectric disposed between the top electrode and the bottom electrode, and a first contact electrically coupling the conductive layer and the bottom electrode, the bottom electrode substantially engaging the first contact on at least two faces.
US08604529B2

A CMOS image sensor includes a substrate including silicon, a silicon germanium (SiGe) epitaxial layer formed over the substrate, the SiGe epitaxial layer formed through epitaxial growth and doped with a predetermined concentration level of impurities, an undoped silicon epitaxial layer formed over the SiGe epitaxial layer by epitaxial growth, and a photodiode region formed from a top surface of the undoped silicon epitaxial layer to a predetermined depth in the SiGe epitaxial layer.
US08604526B2

In an LCD driver, in a high voltage resistant MISFET, end portions of a gate electrode run onto electric field relaxing insulation regions. Wires to become source wires or drain wires are formed on an interlayer insulation film of the first layer over the high voltage resistant MISFET. At this moment, when a distance from an interface between a semiconductor substrate and a gate insulation film to an upper portion of the gate electrode is defined as “a”, and a distance from the upper portion of the gate electrode to an upper portion of the interlayer insulation film on which the wires are formed is defined as “b”, a relation of a>b is established. In such a high voltage resistant MISFET structured in this manner, the wires are arranged so as not to be overlapped planarly with the gate electrode of the high voltage resistant MISFET.
US08604519B2

Field Effect Transistors (FETs), Integrated Circuit (IC) chips including the FETs, and a method of forming the FETs and IC. FET locations are defined on a layered semiconductor wafer. The layered semiconductor wafer preferably includes a III-V semiconductor surface layer, e.g., Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), and a buried layer, e.g., Aluminum Arsenide (AlAs). Portions of the buried layer are converted to dielectric material, e.g., Aluminum Oxide (AlO), at least beneath FET source/drain regions. The converted dielectric material may extend completely under the FET. Source/drain contacts are formed to FETs above the dielectric material in the buried layer.
US08604517B2

According to one embodiment, a non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells and a transistor. The transistor includes a gate insulating film, a gate electrode on the gate insulating film, a sidewall insulating film on both side surfaces of the gate electrode, a source diffusion layer corresponding to the sidewall insulating film, a first hollow formed in a position at a height less than a bottom surface of the gate insulating film directly below an outer side surface of the sidewall insulating film of another side of the gate electrode, a second hollow formed in the first hollow at a position at a height less than the first hollow, and a drain diffusion layer corresponding to another side of the gate electrode and including a low-concentration drain region formed on a bottom surface of the second hollow and a high-concentration drain region.
US08604511B2

A photon source comprising a photon source body, said photon source body comprising at least one quantum dot; carrier injection means for injecting carriers into said at least one quantum dot and change of state means for changing the state of the carriers within the quantum dot after a predetermined time duration, the carrier injection means injecting carriers which are configured to allow emission of radiation by radiative recombination.
US08604505B2

There is provided a technique for improving the flatness at the surface of members embedded in a plurality of recesses without resulting in an increase in the time required for the manufacturing processes. According to this technique, the dummy patterns can be placed up to the area near the boundary BL between the element forming region DA and dummy region FA by placing the first dummy pattern DP1 of relatively wider area and the second dummy pattern DP2 of relatively small area in the dummy region FA. Thereby, the flatness of the surface of the silicon oxide film embedded within the isolation groove can be improved over the entire part of the dummy region FA. Moreover, an increase of the mask data can be controlled when the first dummy patterns DP1 occupy a relatively wide region among the dummy region FA.
US08604501B2

An organic light emitting display device includes a substrate; a first electrode layer formed on the substrate; an emission structure layer formed on the first electrode layer; an electron injection layer (EIL) formed immediately on the emission structure layer and comprising a composite layer of LiF:Yb; and a second electrode layer formed on the EIL.
US08604498B2

A photonic device generates light from a full spectrum of lights including white light. The device includes two or more LEDs grown on a substrate, each generating light of a different wavelength and separately controlled. A light-emitting structure is formed on the substrate and apportioned into the two or more LEDs by etching to separate the light-emitting structure into different portions. At least one of the LEDs is coated with a phosphor material so that different wavelengths of light are generated by the LEDs while the same wavelength of light is emitted from the light-emitting structure.
US08604492B2

A non-light-emitting cell 100c is provided between pixels 100a and 100b. Ink for forming an organic light-emitting layer is dripped substantially simultaneously into sub-pixels 100a1, 100a2, and 100a3 in the pixel 100a and a sub-pixel 100b1 in the pixel 100b. On the other hand, such ink is not dripped into the non-light-emitting cell 100c since the organic light-emitting layer is not formed in the non-light-emitting cell 100c. Regarding two banks 105c and 105d defining the sub-pixel 100a3, an inclination angle θd3 of a wall 105d3 of the bank 105d is larger than an inclination angle θc3 of a wall 105c3 of the bank 105c. Similarly, regarding banks 105e and 105f defining the sub-pixel 100b1, an inclination angle θe1 of a wall 105e1 of the bank 105e is larger than an inclination angle θf1 of a wall 105f1 of the bank 105f.
US08604488B2

A light emitting diode including a GaN substrate, a first type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, a second type semiconductor layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode is provided. The GaN substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, and the second surface has a plurality of protuberances, the height of the protuberance is h μm and the distribution density of the protuberance on the second surface is d cm−2, wherein 9.87×107≦h2d, and h≦1.8. The first type semiconductor is disposed on the first surface of the GaN substrate. The light emitting layer is disposed on a partial region of the first semiconductor layer, and the wavelength of the light emitted by the light emitting layer is from 375 nm to 415 nm. The second semiconductor layer is disposed on the light emitting layer.
US08604485B2

An intermediate structure of a flexible display device includes a substrate, an etching layer, a flexible substrate, and a display module. A trench structure is formed in a surface of the substrate. The etching layer is formed on the surface and covers the substrate. The flexible substrate is disposed on the etching layer. The flexible substrate and the substrate are spaced apart from each other by the etching layer. The display module is disposed on the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate can be peeled from the substrate without applying a mechanical force and thus the yield is improved, and the process time and the fabricating cost are also reduced. In addition, the present invention also provides a substrate for fabricating a flexible display device and a method for fabricating a flexible display device.
US08604472B2

A semiconductor device which achieves miniaturization with favorable characteristics maintained is provided. In addition, a miniaturized semiconductor device is provided with high yield. In a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, the contact resistance between the oxide semiconductor and the source electrode or the drain electrode is reduced with miniaturization advanced. Specifically, an oxide semiconductor film is processed to be an island-shaped oxide semiconductor film whose side surface has a tapered shape. Further, the side surface has a taper angle greater than or equal to 1° and less than 10°, and at least part of the source electrode and the drain electrode is in contact with the side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor film. With such a structure, the contact region of the oxide semiconductor film and the source electrode or the drain electrode is increased, whereby the contact resistance is reduced.
US08604469B2

A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate, a gate line formed on the substrate and including a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line, a semiconductor formed on the gate insulating layer and including a channel of a thin film transistor, a data line formed on the semiconductor and including a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor and opposite to the source electrode with respect to the channel of the thin film transistor, wherein the channel of the thin film transistor covers both side surfaces of the gate electrode.
US08604455B2

The invention relates to an optical sensor array detecting a first liquid medium in a second liquid medium by means of the reflection of an emitted light beam of a given wavelength, comprising a light source and an associated receiver, further two circular glass rod lenses running parallel to each other while encapsulated in a housing. The index of refraction of the glass rod lenses is different from those of the liquid media. A reflecting surface is situated opposite the glass rod lenses and is connected to the housing. Said array also comprises a control fitted with a beam splitter, a second receiver and a third receiver, the latter two receivers being configured being mutually opposite.
US08604448B2

A UVLED apparatus and method provide efficient curing of an optical-fiber coating onto a drawn glass fiber. The apparatus and method employ one or more UVLEDs that emit electromagnetic radiation into a curing space. An incompletely cured optical-fiber coating, which is formed upon a glass fiber, absorbs emitted and reflected electromagnetic radiation to effect improved curing.
US08604446B2

Cryogenic manipulation of a material sample with an in situ probe is enabled with a novel cooled probe design. A material sample mounted on a cryo-stage in a vacuum chamber is cooled to a cryogenic temperature. In addition, a nano-manipulator probe inside the sample chamber is also cooled to cryogenic temperature. A specific sample site is milled in the chamber using a focused ion beam and attached to the cooled probe by vapor deposition. After releasing the sample, the sample site is attached to a destination surface such as a transmission electron microscope (TEM) grid and the probe is then detached from the sample using the focused ion beam.
US08604439B2

According to one embodiment, a nuclear medicine diagnosis includes a light signal generating unit, photodetection unit, measurement unit, calculation unit, and storage unit. The light signal generating unit repeatedly generates light signals. The photodetection unit repeatedly generates first output signals corresponding to intensities of the light signals, repeatedly generates second output signals corresponding to intensities of gamma rays emitted from a subject. The measurement unit repeatedly measures light signal detection times and repeatedly measures gamma ray detection times. The calculation unit calculates a difference between a target gamma ray detection time and a target light signal detection time of the light signal detection times for each of the gamma ray detection times. The target light signal detection time is measured before the target gamma ray detection time. The storage unit stores the calculated difference in association with a target second output signal of the second output signals.
US08604438B2

The present invention provides a method for identifying and sorting sensing signals with respect to crystal locations of a scintillation detector, comprising steps of: (a) providing a crystal map detected by a crystal array, the crystal map having a plurality of peak points, each being represented by a coordinate location; (b) finding a basis point with respect to a specific area enclosing an amount of the peak points within the crystal map; (c) determining the peak point within the specific area having the shortest distance to the basis point, the peak point corresponding to a crystal element of the crystal array; (d) changing the location of the specific area; and (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) for a plurality of times to find all the crystal elements with respect to the peak points respectively.
US08604436B1

Proximity sensor devices are described that integrate a light emitting diode with a light sensor assembly in a single, compact package. The proximity sensor devices comprise a lead frame having a surface. The light emitting diode and light sensor assembly are mounted to the lead frame proximate to the surface. The light emitting diode is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a limited spectrum of wavelengths, while the light sensor assembly is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in the limited spectrum of wavelengths emitted by the light emitting diode. An encapsulation layer is formed on the surface over the light emitting diode and light sensor assembly. A trench is formed in the encapsulation layer to receive electromagnetic radiation blocking material configured to block electromagnetic radiation in the limited spectrum of wavelengths to at least partially mitigate crosstalk between the light emitting diode and the light sensor assembly.
US08604429B2

An object of the invention is to provide an electron beam device and a sample holding device for the electron beam device that can observe the reaction between a sample and a gas at high resolution while a gas atmosphere is maintained even by using thin diaphragms.To solve one of the problems described above, in an electron beam device having the function of separately exhausting an electron beam irradiation portion of an optical column, a sample chamber and an observation chamber, a gas supply means for supplying a gas to a sample and an exhaust means for exhausting a gas are provided to sample holding means, diaphragms are disposed above and below the sample to separate the gas atmosphere and vacuum of the sample chamber and to constitute a cell sealing the atmosphere around the sample, and a mechanism for spraying a gas is provided to the outside of the diaphragms. The gas sprayed outside the diaphragms has low electron beam scattering performance such as hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen. The diaphragm is an amorphous film formed of a light element such as a carbon film, an oxide film and a nitride film capable of transmitting the electron beam.
US08604420B2

A spectrometer is offered which can reduce ion loss compared with the prior art even when ions selected by the mass analyzer are modified. The spectrometer includes an ion source for ionizing a sample, an ion storage portion for repeatedly performing a storing operation for storing ions created by the ion source and an expelling operation for expelling the stored ions as pulsed ions, the mass analyzer for passing pulsed ions expelled from the ion storage portion and selecting desired ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio, a detector for detecting pulsed ions passed through the mass analyzer and outputting an analog signal responsive to the intensity of the detection, and a controller for maintaining constant the mass-to-charge ratio of the desired ions selected by the mass analyzer while pulsed ions including the desired ions are passing through the mass analyzer.
US08604417B2

Method and apparatus for evaluating an earth formation using a pulsed neutron source comprising of dual beams of oppositely directed hydrogen isotopic ions with timing and focal characteristics of each beam set to accomplish a beam-to-beam focusing interaction to a selected position that extends axially along a sealed tube. This makes it possible to generate pulsed neutrons from a plurality of positions.
US08604416B2

A method of forming a scintillator device includes inserting a window into a lumen of a window support ring. The window support ring has an annular structure defining the lumen. The lumen extends between first and second ends of the window support ring. The method also includes inserting a scintillator material into a cavity of a housing defined by an annular sidewall of the housing. The housing has an anterior end and a posterior end. The sidewall defines an opening at the anterior end of the housing. The scintillator material is inserted into the cavity via the opening. The method further includes adhering the window to a front face of the scintillator material and coupling the first end of the window support ring to the annular sidewall of the housing at the anterior end to close the opening.
US08604415B2

A radiation dosimetry method and associated devices for carrying out the method are disclosed herein. More particularly, a method and associated apparatus which compensates for variations in amounts of a radiation sensitive material in a radiation dosimetry film is provided.
US08604414B2

Described is diagnosing radiometric detectors. The pulse amplitudes of the pulses acquired by the radiometric detector can be measured and stored temporarily. The pulse amplitude distribution determined in this manner is compared to a reference amplitude distribution, whereby error diagnosis and, if applicable, recalibration of the measuring device are made possible. In this manner temperature drifts and damage to the scintillator, EMC radiation and an increased rate of dark pulses of the photosensitive component may be detected and corrected.
US08604413B2

Disclosed is a displacement sensor configuration, comprising a scale grating disposed in a first direction; and a scale light imaging configuration which includes first and second optical paths and a detector including first and second detector portions. The imaging portion inputs a first scale light component output by the scale grating along the first optical path and transmits the first scale light component to the first detector portion, the imaging portion inputs a second scale light component output by the scale grating along the second optical path and transmits the second scale light component to the second detector portion, the first detector portion is configured to output a first displacement signal indicative of a displacement along the first direction, and the second detector portion is configured to output a second displacement signal indicative of a displacement along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08604408B2

A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel having a photodiode and a pixel transistor; a first isolation region using a semiconductor region containing impurities formed between neighboring photodiodes; and a second isolation region using an semiconductor region containing impurities formed between the photodiode and the pixel transistor, wherein an impurity concentration of the first isolation region is different from an impurity concentration of the second isolation region.
US08604407B2

Dual conversion gain pixel methods, system, and apparatus are disclosed. Dual conversion gain may be obtained by configuring an active pixel having a storage node, a first connection region, a second connection region, and a capacitor coupled between the storage node and the second connection region to introduce a first conversion gain by connecting the first connection region to a power source and connecting the second connection region to a current bias source and reconfiguring the active pixel to introduce a second conversion gain by connecting the second connection region to the power source and connecting the first connection region to the current bias source.
US08604404B1

A power generating system is disclosed. The power generating system comprises a solar cell, a support structure coupled to the solar cell and adapted to adjust the position of the solar cell, a first thermal sensor coupled to the solar cell and adapted to detect a first temperature at a first location on the solar cell, a second thermal sensor coupled to the solar cell and adapted to detect a second temperature at a second location on the solar cell, the second location spaced apart from the first location, and a control system. The control system is adapted to receive a first signal from the first thermal sensor and a second signal from the second thermal sensor, compare information conveyed in the first and second signals, and adjust the position of the solar cell by operating the support structure in response to information conveyed in the first and second signals.
US08604400B2

A microwave heating construct comprises a plurality of heating regions including a first heating region and a second heating region, the first heating region comprising a first layer of microwave energy interactive material, and the second heating region comprising the first layer of microwave energy interactive material and a second layer of microwave energy interactive material, wherein the second heating region is operative for heating, browning, and/or crisping an adjacent food item to a greater extent than the first heating region.
US08604391B2

An electric heating blanket includes a flexible sheet-like heating element, a first unheated flap extending from a first edge of the heating element, and a second unheated flap extending from a second edge of the heating element. A flexible water-resistant shell may cover the heating element.
US08604388B2

A securement member for securing a contact tip to a welding torch assembly is provided. A channel extends axially therethrough and has an internal shoulder that extends into this channel. This internal shoulder abuts against a shoulder on the contact tip, capturing the contact tip between the shoulder and a seating surface on the diffuser and securing the contact tip in the torch assembly. The contact tip is securely seated without threading engagement, facilitating quick release and installation. The exemplary securement member couples to the diffuser such that the egress of fluid from the diffuser is blocked when used for gasless welding. This blocking allows a user to leave the diffuser secured to the welding torch when a gasless electrode is in use.
US08604378B2

An electrode unit configuring a resistance welding device is provided with a first chassis section and a second chassis section. A plurality of stepped hole sections are formed in the first chassis section, and an electrode pin is slidably provided in each stepped hole section. On the head section of the electrode pin, a resin ball configuring a welding pressure adjusting mechanism is disposed. In the second chassis section, a screw hole is formed coaxially with each stepped hole section, and a setscrew configuring an extrusion output adjusting mechanism for adjusting an extrusion output of the electrode pin is screwed into each screw hole.
US08604371B2

An electronic device includes a front plate, a top plate, and a switch control unit. The front plate defines a receiving hole therein. The switch control unit includes a mounting frame mounted on the front plate, a switch mounted in the mounting frame, a contact element located above the switch, and a control assembly. When the top plate completely covers the front plate, the top plate presses the contact element, and the contact element resiliently presses the switch to turn on the switch. When the top plate is pulled away from the front plate, the switch is turned off. The control assembly includes a first knob rotatably received in the mounting frame. The first knob includes a pressing portion. When the first knob is rotated from a first position to a second position, the pressing portion abuts against the switch to keep the switch on.
US08604370B2

A plurality of light-transmittable or transparent keycaps is disposed on a luminous keyboard. Between a bottom surface of each keycap and a circuit board, printed layers with various patterns corresponding to each keycap are disposed therebetween. The pattern of each printed layer is composed by a light-transmittable section and an opaque section. A light source module, which is composed by a light guide plate and a light emitting diode, can further be added to the luminous keyboard, under each keycap, so as to provide a self luminous light source for the keyboard. With the light-transmittable or transparent keycaps, the patterns or texts of the printed layers can be shown.
US08604369B2

A device is provided for remotely racking circuit breakers and contactors that are housed within a housing structure, such as a circuit breaker cell or switchgear cabinet.
US08604368B2

A circuit breaker having a cradle, the circuit breaker comprises: an upper shutter and a lower shutter configured to open and close terminals of the cradle; an upper shutter operation link having one end connected to the upper shutter and another end rotatably coupled to a pivot; a lower shutter operation link having one end connected to the lower shutter and another end rotatably coupled to the pivot; and a shutter safety device comprising a coupling unit fixedly-coupled to the pivot, a rotation unit rotatably coupled to the coupling unit, and a link fixing unit provided at one end of the rotation unit, wherein the link fixing unit is to restrict rotation of the upper shutter operation link and the lower shutter operation link in a contacting manner.
US08604363B2

A connecting element having a measuring device for a force measurement for a vehicle seat is provided. The connecting element has signal output means in a first housing part, and a measuring device in a second housing part. The measuring device itself has a holder including circuit traces for a sensor system. The sensor system and the at least two electrical components are integrally mounted on the circuit traces. The signal output means are electrically connected to the circuit traces in a force-decoupled manner.
US08604353B2

A layer or layers for use in package substrates and die spacers are described. The layer or layers include a plurality of ceramic wells lying within a plane and separated by metallic vias. Recesses within the ceramic wells are occupied by a dielectric filler material.
US08604350B2

A multilayer wiring board includes an insulating resin layer, wirings laid on their respective opposite surfaces of the insulating resin layer, and a via-hole conductor for electrically connecting the wirings. The via-hole conductor includes metal and resin portions. The metal portion includes first metal regions including a joined unit made of copper particles for connecting the wirings, second metal regions mainly composed of, for example, tin, a tin-copper alloy, or a tin-copper intermetallic compound, and third metal regions mainly composed of bismuth and in contact with the second metal regions. The copper particles forming the joined unit are in plane contact with one another to form plane contact portions, and the second metal regions at least partially are in contact with the first metal regions.
US08604349B2

A multilayer substrate includes a plurality of stacked thermoplastic resin layers each including an in-plane conductive pattern provided on one principal surface thereof and an interlayer conductive portion arranged to penetrate through the thermoplastic resin layer in a thickness direction. The plurality of thermoplastic resin layers include a first thermoplastic resin layer and a second thermoplastic resin layer, a stacking direction of which is inverted with respect to a stacking direction of the first thermoplastic resin layer. The second thermoplastic resin layer is thicker than the first thermoplastic resin layer. One end in the thickness direction of the interlayer conductive portion provided in the second thermoplastic resin layer is connected with the interlayer conductive portion of the thermoplastic resin layer adjacent to the second thermoplastic resin layer in the thickness direction such that the in-plane conductive pattern is not interposed therebetween.
US08604346B2

Provided are a flex-rigid wiring board having an increased shielding effect and improved productivity with reduced number of manufacturing process steps, and a method for manufacturing the flex-rigid wiring board. The flex-rigid wiring board consists of a flexible cable section (32) having a shielding layer (45) on an outer surface, and a rigid mounting section (34) having a wiring layer (47) provided on the same surface as the shielding layer (45). The shielding layer (45) and the wiring layer (47) are made of a same sheet of continuous copper foil (46). The wiring layer (47) is plated and is made thicker than the shielding layer (45). A same continuous insulating layer (48) is provided on outer sides of the shielding layer (45) and the wiring layer (47) of the mounting section (34).
US08604340B2

A coaxial cable includes a core, an insulating layer, a shielding layer, and a sheathing layer. The core includes a carbon nanotube wire-like structure and at least one conductive material layer is disposed on the outside surface of the carbon nanotube wire-like structure. The carbon nanotube wire-like structure includes a plurality carbon nanotubes orderly arranged.
US08604339B2

A photoacceptive layer having a core-shell structure and a solar cell using the same are provided. More specifically, a photoacceptive layer including a metal oxide of a core-shell structure which can improve photoconversion efficiency by improving a electron migration path, and a solar cell using the same are provided.
US08604337B2

A method to determine the cleanness of a semiconductor substrate and the quantity/density of pin holes that may exist within a patterned antireflective coating (ARC) is provided. Electroplating is employed to monitor the changes in the porosity of the ARC caused by the pin holes during solar cell manufacturing. In particular, electroplating a metal or metal alloy to form a metallic grid on an exposed front side surface of a substrate also fills the pin holes. The quantity/density of metallic filled pin holes (and hence the number of pin holes) in the patterned ARC can then be determined.
US08604334B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple process to manufacture a wiring connecting photoelectric cells in a photoelectric conversion device. Another object of this invention is to prevent defective rupture from occurring in the said wiring. The photoelectric conversion device comprises a first and a second photoelectric conversion cells comprising respectively a first and a second single crystal semiconductor layers. First electrodes are provided on the downwards surfaces of the first and second photoelectric conversion cells, and second electrodes are provided on their upwards surfaces. The first and second photoelectric conversion cells are fixed onto a support substrate side by side. The second single crystal semiconductor layer has a through hole which reaches the first electrode. The second electrode of the first photoelectric conversion cell is extended to the through hole to be electrically connected to the first electrode of the second photoelectric conversion cell.
US08604332B2

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to large-area transparent conductive coatings (TCCs) including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanowire composites, and methods of making the same. The σdc/σopt ratio of such thin films may be improved via stable chemical doping and/or alloying of CNT-based films. The doping and/or alloying may be implemented in a large area coating system, e.g., on glass and/or other substrates. In certain example embodiments, a CNT film may be deposited and then doped via chemical functionalization and/or alloyed with silver and/or palladium. Both p-type and n-type dopants may be used in different embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, silver and/or other nanowires may be provided, e.g., to further decrease sheet resistance. Certain example embodiments may provide coatings that approach, meet, or exceed 90% visible transmission and 90 ohms/square target metrics.
US08604331B2

A thermoelectric material includes a compound represented by Formula 1: AaRbG3±n  Formula 1 wherein component A includes at least one element selected from a Group 1 element, a Group 2 element, and a metal of Groups 3 to 12, component R is a rare-earth element, component G includes at least one element selected from sulfur (S), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), carbon (C), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), boron (B), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), and indium (In), 0
US08604318B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH085530. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH085530, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH085530 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 CH085530.
US08604316B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH636616. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH636616, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH636616 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 CH636616.
US08604310B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV496429. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV496429, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV496429 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV496429 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV496429.
US08604308B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV131671. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV131671, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV131671 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV131671 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV131671.
US08604305B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV606894. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV606894, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV606894 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV606894 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV606894.
US08604301B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH391357. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH391357, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH391357 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 CH391357.
US08604299B1

A novel maize variety designated X08A149 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A149 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A149 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A149, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A149. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A149.
US08604298B1

A novel maize variety designated X08A126 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A126 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A126 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A126, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A126. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A126.
US08604296B2

The invention provides seed and plants of the bean line designated FMGC6V0958. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of bean line FMGC6V0958, and to methods for producing a bean plant produced by crossing a plant of bean line FMGC6V0958 with itself or with another bean plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of bean line FMGC6V0958, including the pods and gametes of such plants.
US08604283B2

A soybean cultivar designated 94L21 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 94L21, to the plants of soybean cultivar 94L21, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 94L21, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 94L21. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 94L21. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 94L21, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 94L21 with another soybean cultivar.
US08604281B2

A process of producing transgenic multi-cellular plants or parts thereof expressing a trait of interest that has a controlled distribution of said trait to progeny, comprising (i) producing a first plant or a cell thereof having in a first locus of a nuclear chromosome a first heterologous nucleotide sequence comprising a first fragment of a nucleotide sequence encoding said trait of interest, (ii) producing a second plant or a cell thereof having in a second locus of a nuclear chromosome homologous to said nuclear chromosome of step (i), a second heterologous nucleotide sequence comprising a second fragment of the nucleotide sequence encoding said trait of interest, and (iii) hybridising said first and said second plants or cells thereof to generate progeny exhibiting said functional trait of interest. Also disclosed is a process of producing hybrid seeds for agriculture.
US08604272B2

The present invention is in the field of plant breeding and disease resistance. More specifically, the invention includes a method for breeding corn plants containing quantitative trait loci that are associated with resistance to gray leaf spot, a fungal disease associated with Cercospora spp. The invention further includes germplasm and the use of germplasm containing quantitative trait loci (QTL) conferring disease resistance for introgression into elite germplasm in a breeding program for resistance to gray leaf spot.
US08604267B2

A cylindrical absorbent cotton nasal pack has a rounded tip for a patient's self application in controlling epistaxis. The pack comprises compressed absorbent cotton or cellulosic fiber in the shape of a bullet or capsule to prevent sticking to nasal wall and absorption of blood. One end has a rounded tip and the other end has a flat bottom section (optional dual rounded ends). The flat bottom section has a plastic coating or plastic sleeve made of polyurethane to help grip the nose pack, conceal the site of blood, prevent blood leakage, and prevent contact of blood when disposing of the nose pack. The nose pack is simply inserted with the cotton rounded side up into the bleeding nasal cavity while applying a gentle pushing force until pack is snug at top of nasal cavity. The constant pressure applied from the pack to the nostril wall assists in the coagulation process, which helps stop the nosebleed. The nose pack is sized to be placed within the nasal cavity upon occurrence of a nosebleed. When the nosebleed is ended, the nose pack may be removed by applying a gentle pulling force to the bottom of the nose pack to remove from nasal cavity. When removing the pack, blood clots that collected during the coagulation process will also naturally be released.
US08604256B2

A method for making mononitrobenzene using a plug flow reactor train. Benzene, nitric acid and sulfuric acid are introduced into the reactor and produced mononitrobenzene is removed at an outlet end. All of the benzene and at least part of the sulfuric acid are introduced at the inlet end of the reactor. A first portion of the nitric acid is introduced by a first nitric acid feed into the inlet end and a second portion of the nitric acid is introduced at one or more additional feeds that are spaced between the inlet end and the outlet end. The method results in reduced formation of by-product dinitrobenzene, improving the reaction yield of mononitrobenzene while avoiding the need for a distillation step.
US08604248B2

The present invention provides catalyst compositions useful for transamination reactions. The catalyst compositions have a catalyst support that includes transitional alumina, use a low metal loading (for example, less than 25 wt. %), and do not require the presence of rhenium. The catalyst compositions are able to advantageously promote transamination of a reactant product (such as the transamination of EDA to DETA) with excellent activity and selectivity, and similar to transaminations promoted using a precious metal-containing catalyst.
US08604240B2

A method for producing a β-alkoxypropionamide including: subjecting a β-alkoxypropionic acid ester represented by the following formula (I) and a polyol having two or more OH groups to a transesterification reaction in the presence of a basic catalyst, thereby to synthesize a transesterified polyol of a β-alkoxypropionic acid ester; and subjecting the transesterified polyol and an amine represented by the following formula (II) to an amidation reaction, thereby to synthesize a β-alkoxypropionamide represented by the following formula (III):
US08604239B2

The present invention provides manufacturing of and the use of novel diethylene tricarbamide and its condensation reaction products formed by reacting with formaldehyde as wood composite binder resins and in other applications. These resins have thermosetting capabilities and therefore usefulness as binders for wood and other materials with superior resin properties of low cost, colorlessness, exceptionally good binding, and fast curing characteristics, as well as very low formaldehyde emissions. The synthesized novel starting material for the thermosetting resins of the present invention is diethylene tricarbamide.
US08604228B2

A method for the continuous extraction of impurities, in particular saponification products, from a fatty acid alkyl ester phase produced by transesterification of vegetable or animal oils or fats with a great tendency to form saponification products, by means of an aqueous, acid glycerol phase containing a complexing agent.
US08604218B2

The present invention is directed to synthetic cytoskeletal active compounds that are inhibitors of rho-associated protein kinase. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention is additionally directed to a method of preventing or treating diseases or conditions associated with cytoskeletal reorganization. In one embodiment of the invention, the method treats increased intraocular pressure, such as primary open-angle glaucoma. The method comprises administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of a cytoskeletal active compound of Formula I or Formula II, wherein said amount is effective to influence the actomyosin interactions, for example by leading to cellular relaxation and alterations in cell-substratum adhesions.
US08604217B2

A compound, a process for its preparation, a pharmaceutical composition, use of a compound, a method for modulating or regulating serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases and a serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases modulating agent. Novel small-molecule compounds with kinase inhibitory activity, having superior properties as pharmaceutical agents, production method thereof and uses thereof. In particular, new derivatives of tetrahalogenated benzimidazole with serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases inhibitory properties, preferably selected from the group of PIM, HIPK, DYRK, CLK, CDK, FLT, PKG, Haspin, MER, TAO, MNK, TRK kinases which exhibit superior pharmacological actions, and can be useful for the treatment of disease conditions, especially cancers depending on serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases, such as but not limited to leukemias and solid tumors.
US08604210B2

The present invention provides pyrazole derivative compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds of the present invention have an excellent effect of preventing and treating osteoporosis.
US08604184B2

Methods and compositions for immediately immunizing an individual against any molecule or compound are provided. The present invention is directed to an immunity linker with at least two sites; (1) at least one first binding site that binds to an immune response component in an individual, and (2) at least one second binding site that binds specifically to a desired compound or molecule, the target. The second binding sites are preferably thiolated aptamers that have the benefit of increased stability, resistance to degradation and longer circulating half life. Methods of making and using pharmaceutical compositions including immunity linker molecules having a thiolated aptamer are also provided.
US08604182B2

Methods of detecting nucleic acids, including methods of detecting two or more nucleic acids in multiplex branched-chain DNA assays, are provided. Nucleic acids captured on a solid support are detected, for example, through cooperative hybridization events that result in specific association of a label with the nucleic acids. Compositions, kits, and systems related to the methods are also described.
US08604167B2

An immunogen includes an isolated peptide that includes the amino sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOs:1-21 with four or fewer amino acid substitutions.
US08604164B2

The invention discloses highly purified daptomycin and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising this compound. The invention discloses a method of purifying daptomycin comprising the sequential steps of anion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and anion exchange chromatography. The invention also discloses a method of purifying daptomycin by modified buffer enhanced anion exchange chromatography. The invention also discloses an improved method for producing daptomycin by fermentation of Streptomyces roseosporus. The invention also discloses high pressure liquid chromatography methods for analysis of daptomycin purity. The invention also discloses lipopeptide micelles and methods of making the micelles. The invention also discloses methods of using lipopeptide micelles for purifying lipopeptide antibiotics, such as daptomycin. The invention also discloses using lipopeptide micelles therapeutically.
US08604158B2

Green to transmissive soluble electrochromic polymers are conjugated polymers having a plurality of repeating units where repeating units are a plurality of substituted dioxyheterocycle based donor groups coupled to an acceptor group. The conjugated polymer absorbs radiation within a first band of the visible spectrum and a second band of the visible spectrum when in a neutral state resulting in a green color and is transmissive when in an oxidized state. The polymers are soluble allowing processing of films and coatings from solution.
US08604157B2

A composition includes a crosslinked product of a polyphenylene sulfide and a polyphenylsulfone. A method for the manufacture of the crosslinked product of a polyphenylene sulfide and a polyphenylsulfone includes heating the polyphenylene sulfide and the polyphenylsulfone in presence of a crosslinking agent at a temperature and for a time effective to form the crosslinked product of polyphenylene sulfide and polyphenylsulfone.
US08604143B2

Disclosed are catalyst compositions for isoprene polymerization formed from components comprising (A) at least one titanium halide; (B) at least one organic aluminum compound comprising at least one alkyl aluminum of formula AlR3, wherein each of the three Rs is independently chosen from linear and branched C1-6 alkyl groups; and (C) at least one electron donor comprising at least one polyether compound of formula (I) and/or at least one tetrahydro-furfuryl ether compound of formula (II). Also disclosed are processes for preparation of the catalyst compositions and processes using the catalyst compositions for isoprene polymerization.
US08604140B2

The invention provides a method for preventing fouling in chemical equipment, comprising adding an antifouling agent which comprises a polyoxyalkylene polymer having Mn of 30,000 or less to a component in the chemical equipment.
US08604130B2

An adhesive composition includes a (meth)acrylic copolymer, the (meth)acrylic copolymer containing about 92 to about 99.7 parts by weight of a moiety derived from a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, and about 0.3 to about 8 parts by weight of at least one of a moiety derived from a carboxyl group-containing monomer and a moiety derived from a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylic acid monomer, the (meth)acrylic copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 500,000 g/mol to about 2,000,000 g/mol, a carbodiimide curing agent, and an oligomeric silane coupling agent.
US08604125B2

The present invention provides a polypropylene-based resin composition, which comprises of a) a polypropylene; b) an ethylene 1-octene copolymer in which r1r2<1 (herein, r1=k11/k12, r2=k22/k21, k11 is a growth reaction rate constant when ethylene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is ethylene, k12 is a growth reaction rate constant when octene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is ethylene, k22 is a growth reaction rate constant when octene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is octene, and k21 is a growth reaction rate constant when ethylene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is octene); and c) an inorganic filling agent, and a part for vehicles manufactured by using the same.
US08604124B2

A rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesive composition comprising a rubbery polymer, and a natural rubber having a weight-average molecular weight of from 100,000 to 400,000, wherein the amount of the natural rubber is 5 parts by weight or more and less than 100 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the rubbery polymer.
US08604119B2

The invention relates to a polymer composition, comprising: (i) at least one thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of at least about 220° C.; (ii) at least one phenylalkoxysilane, biphenol, trisilanolphenyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, or mixture of two or more thereof; (iii) inorganic particulates; and (iv) at least one dispersant. The polymer composition may be a high temperature thermoplastic suitable for forming, such as by molding, optical articles such as lenses.
US08604118B2

A process for producing a heterophasic copolymer is provided. The process includes introducing an antifoulant to a second polymerization reactor which operates in series with a first polymerization reactor. The antifoulant may be a multicomponent antifoulant and/or a coating agent. Provision of either antifoulant enables the production of a heterophasic copolymer with an Fc value from about 10% to about 50% by inhibiting reactor fouling during polymerization.
US08604117B2

A resin composition is provided which is improved in fluidability, stiffness and impact resistance and therefore can achieve the reduction in wall thickness of a resin product for automotive interior/exterior applications comprising a polypropylene resin; and a resin product produced from the resin composition.The resin composition comprises 30 to 65 mass % of an ethylene-propylene block copolymer having a melt flow rate of 60 to 120 g/10 minutes and a Charpy impact strength of 3 kJ/m2 or more; 0 to 25 mass % of a homopolypropylene resin having a melt flow rate of 10 g/10 minutes or more and a modulus of elasticity of 2000 MPa or more; 5 to 20 mass % of an ethylene-α-olefin copolymer rubber having a Mooney viscosity of 20 to 75 or a styrene-ethylene butylenes-styrene copolymer having a styrene component content of 15 to 30 mass %; and 23 to 37 mass % of talc having an average particle diameter of 8 μm or less.
US08604107B2

There is provided a resin composition that comprises a polycarbonate resin derived from an ether diol such as isosorbide and that is excellent in flame retardancy, heat resistance, thermal stability, rigidity, transparency and moldability. The resin composition is a flame-retardant resin composition comprising 1 to 60 parts by weight of phosphorus compound (component B) having a thermal decomposition temperature of not higher than 340° C. based on 100 parts by weight of polycarbonate resin (component A) that mainly comprises a recurring unit represented by the following formula (1)
US08604096B2

Provided are a photosensitive resin composition capable of being quickly cured by light and providing an optically cured product which is excellent in a transparency in a visible light of 400 to 780 nm and a heat resistant reliability, a photosensitive resin varnish, a photosensitive resin film and a photosensitive resin cured product.The photosensitive resin composition comprises (A) a polymerizable compound, (B) a polymerization initiator and (C) a hindered phenol base antioxidant, wherein (B-1) at least one selected from α-hydroxyacetophenone base photoinitiator and a glyoxy ester base photoinitiator and (B-2) a phosphine oxide base photoinitiator are contained as the component (B); the component (C) is a hindered phenol base antioxidant having in a molecule, at least one phenol group having each one group of a methyl group and a t-butyl group on the same aromatic ring; a content of the component (B) is 0.02 to 4.0 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the component (A); and a content of the component (C) is 0.01 to 1 part by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the component (A).
US08604090B2

Highly fluorinated ion-exchange polymers achieve dissolution in aqueous tetrahydrofuran at lower pressures and temperatures than in other solvents, with few or no side products being formed.
US08604088B2

Facilities and processes for generating ethanol from municipal solid waste (MSW) in an economical way via generating a syngas, passing the syngas through a catalytic synthesis reactor, separating fuel grade ethanol, extracting energy at particular strategic points, and recycling undesired byproducts.
US08604083B2

Compounds useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, are disclosed.
US08604077B2

Novel ketal compounds can be made from an oxocarboxylate and a triol. Novel polymeric structures are, in turn, synthesized from the ketal compounds. Such ketal compounds and associated polymers are useful in a broad range of applications as a substitute for materials derived from petroleum or other such nonrenewable resources.
US08604076B2

Pharmaceutical compositions are provided for administration of rotigotine in depot form. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can provide therapeutically significant plasma levels of rotigotine over a period of at least 24 hours after administration to a patient. Preferred pharmaceutical compositions of the invention include oily suspensions that contain rotigotine in solid form as well as anhydrous pharmaceutical compositions that comprise rotigotine.
US08604070B2

It has been found that inhibitors of the rennin-angiotensin system are useful for the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with hypoxia or impaired metabolic function or efficiency. In particular, they may be used in connection with therapy of stroke or its recurrence, the acute treatment of myocardial infarction, and the treatment or prevention of wasting or cachexia, and are thus useful in treatment of the symptoms and signs of aging. These inhibitors may also be used to enhance function in healthy subjects.
US08604068B2

The present invention comprises 2-cyanobenzenesulfonic acid amides of the formula (I) and isomeric forms thereof (I-A) and (I-B) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and A have the aforesaid meaning for the control of animal pests with the use of penetration enhancers and/or ammonium or phosphonium salts.
US08604067B2

A method of cancer intervention or eradication by administering an effective amount of an endogenous ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor (AhR) named ITE or one of its analogs (the active ingredient) to a subject with cancer is disclosed. An effective dose and dosing frequency of the active ingredient are determined by measuring its blood levels of the subject after dosing. The active ingredient formulated with a carrier system is applied topically, enterally, or parenterally to the subject. The formulated drug can also be administered together with one or more of other cancer therapeutic agents. A maintenance dosing is provided after the subject is free of cancer to insure the cancer eradication. Subjects with cancers of prostate, liver, lung, ovarian, and breast are preferably accepted for treatment.
US08604066B2

A medication, a pharmaceutical composition, and method for the treatment of respiratory poisoning in animals and humans caused by organophosphorus compounds, whereby said medication and said pharmaceutical composition comprise at least one oxime and one blocker of organic cation transporters (OCT).
US08604058B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula I: where a, R1, and R3-6 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of formula I are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08604054B2

The present invention is directed to a triglyceride-lowering agent, exhibiting excellent triglyceride-lowering effect and a hyperinsulinemia-ameliorating agent.The triglyceride-lowering agent and hyperinsulinemia-ameliorating agent are characterized by containing a pitavastatin compound, and amlodipine or a salt thereof.
US08604051B2

Novel processes for the preparation of thieno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives which are substituted in the 2-position by a substituted anilino moiety and intermediates thereto are provided. The compounds prepared by the present processes may be useful, for example, as selective inhibitors of human MEK (MAPKK) enzymes, and are accordingly of benefit in medicine, for example in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, cardiovascular, proliferative (including oncological) and nociceptive conditions. The present processes may offer improved yields, chemical or stereochemical purity, ease of preparation and/or isolation of intermediates and final product, and more industrially useful reaction conditions and workability.
US08604031B2

Intracellular kinase inhibitors and their therapeutic uses for patients with T cell malignancies, B cell malignancies, autoimmune disorders, and transplanted organs.
US08604030B2

The present invention provides a low molecular weight compound having EPO production-promoting action and/or hemoglobin production-promoting action. The present invention relates to a fused piperidine compound represented by the following general formula (1): (wherein, ring A represents a C10-14 aryl group or 5- to 10-membered heterocyclic group, X represents N—R7, a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom, R1, R2, R2′, R3 and R3′ independently represent a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl group or C3-6 cycloalkyl group, and R4, R5 and R6 independently represent a hydrogen atom or halogen atom), or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof.
US08604029B2

The invention provides compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, X and X1 are as defined herein. These compounds are useful in the manufacture of medicaments for use in the prevention or treatment of a fungal disease. Compounds of formula (I), and agriculturally acceptable salts thereof, may also be used as agricultural fungicides.
US08604019B2

The invention relates to the compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2 and X are as defined in the description and claims, which are useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of RSV infection.
US08604016B2

The invention relates to novel heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutical preparations thereof. The invention further relates to methods of treatment using the novel heterocyclic compounds of the invention.
US08604014B2

Combinations of PI3K inhibitor compounds having Formulas I and II and chemotherapeutic agents, including stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomers, metabolites and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for treating hyperproliferative disorders such as cancer. Methods of using such combinations for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.
US08604004B2

The present invention provides novel moenomycin analogs as well as pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods of synthesis, and methods of use in treating an infection by administering an inventive compound to a subject in need thereof. The moenomycin analogs may be prepared synthetically, biosynthetically, or semi-synthetically. The analogs are particularly useful in treating or preventing infections caused by Gram-positive organisms. Certain inventive compounds may have a broader spectrum of coverage, which includes Gram-negative organisms.
US08603996B2

An extensible RNA-based framework for engineering ligand-controlled gene regulatory systems, called ribozyme switches, that exhibit tunable regulation, design modularity, and target specificity is provided. These switch platforms typically contain a sensor domain, comprised of an aptamer sequence, and an actuator domain, comprised of a hammerhead ribozyme sequence. A variety of modes of standardized information transmission between these domains can be employed, and this application demonstrates a mechanism that allows for the reliable and modular assembly of functioning synthetic hammerhead ribozyme switches and regulation of ribozyme activity in response to various effectors. In some embodiments aptamer-regulated cis-acting hammerhead ribozymes are provided.
US08603993B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treatment of muscle dysfunction, including diabetes. In addition, the invention relates to therapeutic compositions comprising nucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition facilitates the treatment of skeletal muscle disorders. Moreover, the invention relates to the treatment and/or prevention of pathological conditions associated with altered intracellular Ca2+ regulation and disrupted membrane structure that occurs when the expression levels of MG29 are reduced.
US08603992B2

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treatment of muscle dysfunction (including sarcopenia) and other diseases involving skeletal muscle, including age-related muscle dysfunction. In addition, the invention relates to therapeutic compositions comprising nucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition facilitates the treatment of skeletal muscle disorder, including those related to thr normal aging process. Moreover, the invention relates to the treatment and/or prevention of pathological conditions associated with altered intracellular Ca2+ regulation and disrupted membrane structure that occurs when the expression levels of MG29 are reduced.
US08603990B2

A polymeric drug, in which a cancerostatic connected via spacers containing hydrolytically cleavable hydrazone bonds is bound to a water-soluble polymeric carrier prepared on the basis of a N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide copolymer, wherein the structure of the polymeric drug consists of the main chain of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide carrying the cancerostatic and another chain of N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide—a graft, which may also carry a cancerostatic, said grafts being bound to the main chain by a bond that is stable in the body and/or by a bond cleavable in the body, especially by an oligopeptide spacer selected from the series of GlyLeuGly (SEQ ID. NO. 1), GlyPheGly (SEQ ID. NO. 2), GlyPheLeuGly (SEQ ID. NO. 3) and GlyLeuPheGly (SEQ ID. NO. 4), and a method of its preparation.
US08603989B2

Methods are provided for treating and/or preventing kidney stones, employing an SGLT2 inhibitor alone, or in combination with a supply of carbohydrate, and/or in combination with a diuretic agent. Additionally, compositions comprising an SGLT2 inhibitor, optionally with a supply of carbohydrate, and/or a combination of an SGLT2 inhibitor and a diuretic agent are provided in the instant invention and are provided for use in the inventive methods.
US08603988B2

The present invention provides a phosphopeptide or phosphoprotein (PP) stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate or amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate complex having a calcium ion greater than about 30 moles of calcium per mole of PP.
US08603982B2

A medical composition is described in which a synthetic polymer substrate and a composition mainly composed of a biopolymer directly adhere to each other due to dissolution of the surfaces thereof. The medical composition allows one to attach a biopolymer composition to a synthetic polymer substrate without the use of a toxic adhesive.
US08603981B2

A method for obtaining improved bone quality in a vertebrate, including mammal and bird, the method comprising administering to a vertebrate, including mammal and bird, in a sufficient amount and/or at a sufficient rate to enable a desired effect, glutamate, glutamate derivatives or metabolites, glutamate analogues or mixtures thereof. Also contemplated is a method for modulating bone quality in a vertebrate, including mammal and bird, comprising administering to the vertebrate, including mammal and bird, in the need thereof, glutamate, glutamate derivatives or metabolites, glutamate analogues or mixtures thereof, for modulating the bone quality as well as a compositions for use in treatment.
US08603977B2

The present invention relates to conformationally constrained parathyroid hormone (PTH) analogs, and methods of preparing and using the PTH analogs. The invention provides novel PTH polypeptide derivatives containing amino acid substitutions at selected positions in the polypeptides. The invention provides derivatives of PTH(1-34), PTH(1-21), PTH(1-20), PTH(1-19), PTH(1-18), PTH(1-17), PTH(1-16), PTH(1-15), PTH(1-14), PTH(1-13), PTH(1-12), PTH(1-11), and PTH(1-10) polypeptides, wherein at least one residue in each polypeptide is a helix, preferably an α-helix, stabilizing residue. The invention also provides methods of making such peptides. Further, the invention encompasses compositions and methods for use in limiting undesired bone loss in a vertebrate at risk of such bone loss, in treating conditions that are characterized by undesired bone loss or by the need for bone growth, e.g., in treating fractures or cartilage disorders and for raising cAMP levels in cells where deemed necessary.
US08603968B2

Cyclic peptides having a random alternation of L-α-aminoacyl residues and aza-β3-aminoacyl residues and their uses.
US08603955B2

The lubricating oil composition of the present invention comprises at least one species of aromatic constituent selected from the following (a1) to (a5): (a1) a lubricating base oil comprising a polycyclic aromatic content of 0.01% by mass or more based on the total amount of base oil (a2) a lubricating base oil comprising a total aromatic content of 20 to 100% by mass based on the total amount of base oil (a3) an aromatic solvent (a4) at least one species of polycyclic aromatic compound selected from alkyl naphthalene and compounds having three or more aromatic rings, and (a5) an aromatic compound having a nitrogen atom, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; and an organic molybdenum compound.
US08603954B2

The present invention relates to a graft polymer of (a) a polyalphaolefin having a weight average molecular weight of less than 15000 and a polydispersity of 1.1 to 10; (b) a nitrogenous, ethylenically unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic, graftable monomer having from 2 to about 50 carbon atoms; and (c) an organo-metallic compound selected from organo-molybdenum, organo-titanium, organo-manganese compounds and mixtures thereof; a process for making the graft polymer; and a lubricating oil composition comprising a major amount of a base oil and a minor amount of the graft polymer.
US08603948B2

The present invention provides a novel, highly sensitive and specific probe panel which detects the type of renal cortical neoplasm present in a biopsy sample. As such, the invention permits diagnosis of the predominant subtypes of renal cortical neoplasms without the use of invasive methods. The present invention further provides a molecular cytogenetic method for detecting and analyzing the type of renal cortical neoplasm present in a renal biopsy sample.
US08603932B2

This invention is directed to hydrocracking catalysts and hydrocracking processes employing a magnesium aluminosilicate clay. The magnesium aluminosilicate clay has a characteristic 29Si NMR spectrum. The magnesium aluminosilicate clay is the product of a series of specific reaction steps. Briefly, the magnesium aluminosilicate clay employed in the catalyst and process of the present invention is made by combining a silicon component, an aluminum component, and a magnesium component, under aqueous conditions and at an acidic pH, to form a first reaction mixture and subsequently the pH of the first reaction mixture is adjusted to greater than about 7.5 to form a second reaction mixture. The second reaction mixture is allowed to react under conditions sufficient to form the magnesium aluminosilicate clay. The resulting magnesium aluminosilicate clay combines high surface area and activity for use in hydrocracking catalysts and processes.
US08603927B2

Coated and uncoated fibrous mats, and laminates containing the mat, having one or more surfactants on the fibers and binder holding the fibers together in only a portion of the thickness of the mat are disclosed. The mat contains a major portion of non-cellulosic fibers and a minor portion of cured resinous binder with the most typical fibers being glass fibers. The surfactant on the surface of the fibers causes a slurry or other liquid applied to the mat in a later process to form a board or laminate like faced gypsum board, a faced foam board, etc. to uniformly penetrate the mat to the desired distance. Also disclosed are methods of applying the surfactant(s) to the hot, coated or uncoated, mat soon after the coated or uncoated mat exits a drying oven used in the process of making, or coating, the mat.
US08603910B2

In various embodiments, a method of processing a contact pad may include providing a contact pad, a topmost layer of the contact pad containing aluminum or an aluminum alloy, at least part of the topmost layer of the contact pad being exposed; subjecting the contact pad to a thermally activated atmosphere containing water or reactive components of water.
US08603909B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a core region on the semiconductor substrate with the core region having a core side; forming an inner bond pad on the semiconductor substrate with the inner bond pad having an inner core pad and an inner probe pad with the inner probe pad further from the core region than the inner core pad; and forming an outer bond pad on the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the inner bond pad with the outer bond pad having an outer core pad and an outer probe pad with the outer probe pad closer to the core region than the outer core pad, and the inner probe pad and the outer probe pad aligned parallel to the core side.
US08603902B2

Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate (e.g., a semiconductor substrate) is disclosed that includes irradiating at least a portion of the substrate surface with a plurality of short radiation pulses while the surface portion is exposed to a dopant compound. The pulses are selected to have a fluence at the substrate surface that is greater than a melting fluence threshold (a minimum fluence needed for the radiation pulse to cause substrate melting) and less than an ablation fluence threshold (a minimum fluence needed for the radiation pulse to cause substrate ablation). In this manner a quantity of the dopant can be incorporated into the substrate while ensuring that the roughness of the substrate's surface is significantly less than the wavelength of the applied radiation pulses.
US08603901B2

A method including a phosphorous ion introduction step for implanting phosphorous ions from a side of a surface Si layer into an SOI substrate in which the surface Si layer and an embedded oxide layer having a predetermined thickness are formed on an Si base material layer to convert the embedded oxide layer into a PSG layer to lower a softening point. An SiC forming step is performed by heating the SOI substrate having the PSG layer formed therein in an atmosphere of hydrocarbon-based gas to convert the surface Si layer into SiC. Thereafter, the resulting substrate is cooled to form a single crystal SiC layer on a surface thereof.
US08603881B1

A contact via hole is formed through at least one dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate. A semiconductor material is deposited at the bottom of the contact via hole and atop the at least one dielectric layer by ion cluster deposition. An angled oxygen cluster deposition is performed to convert portions of the semiconductor material on the top surface of the at least one dielectric layer into a semiconductor oxide, while oxygen is not implanted into the deposited semiconductor material at the bottom of the contact via hole. A metal semiconductor alloy is formed at the bottom of the contact hole by deposition of a metal and an anneal. The semiconductor oxide at the top of the at least one dielectric layer can be removed during a preclean before metal deposition, a postclean after metal semiconductor alloy formation, and/or during planarization for forming contact via structures.
US08603876B2

A dynamic random access memory cell is disclosed that comprises a capacitive storage device and a write access transistor. The write access transistor is operatively coupled to the capacitive storage device and has a gate stack that comprises a high-K dielectric, wherein the high-K dielectric has a dielectric constant greater than a dielectric constant of silicon dioxide. Also disclosed are a memory array using the cells, a computing apparatus using the memory array, a method of storing data, and a method of manufacturing.
US08603869B2

Provided are thin film transistor, a method of fabricating the same, a flat panel display device including the same, and a method of fabricating the flat panel display device, that are capable of applying an electric field to a gate line to form a channel region of a semiconductor layer of a thin film transistor using a polysilicon layer crystallized by a high temperature heat generated by Joule heating of a conductive layer. As a result, a process can be simplified using a gate line included in the thin film transistor as the conductive layer, and the channel region of the semiconductor layer can be formed of polysilicon having a uniform degree of crystallinity. The thin film transistor includes a straight gate line disposed in one direction, a semiconductor layer crossing the gate line, and source and drain electrodes connected to source and drain regions of the semiconductor layer.
US08603864B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device. One embodiment provides a metal carrier. A semiconductor chip is provided. A porous layer is produced at a surface of at least one of the carrier and the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip is placed on the carrier. The resulting structure is heated until the semiconductor chip is attached to the carrier.
US08603860B2

A method includes loading a first package component on a concave boat, and placing a second package component over the first package component. A load clamp is placed over the second package component, wherein the load clamp is supported by a temperature-variable spacer of the concave boat. A reflow step is performed to bond the second package component to the first package component. During a temperature-elevation step of the reflow step, the temperature-variable spacer is softened in response to an increase in temperature, and a height of the softened temperature-variable spacer is reduced, until the load clamp is stopped by a rigid spacer of the concave boat.
US08603857B2

A thin film transistor fabricating method is disclosed. The thin film transistor fabricating method comprises providing a substrate; forming an oxide semiconductor layer on an upper surface of the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on an upper surface of the oxide semiconductor layer; masking a portion of the oxide semiconductor layer with the gate insulating layer; irradiating the oxide semiconductor layer with irradiating light having photon energy less than a band gap of the oxide semiconductor layer; forming a drain region and a source region at lateral portions of the oxide semiconductor layer exposed to the irradiating light, and forming a channel region in the portion of the oxide semiconductor layer masked by the gate insulating layer; and forming a gate electrode on an upper surface of the gate insulating layer.
US08603854B2

Disclosed are methods for preparing a resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) based on resistive switching using a resistance-switchable conductive filler. When a resistance-switchable conductive filler prepared by coating a conductive filler with a material whose resistance is changeable is mixed with a dielectric material, the dielectric material is given the resistive switching characteristics without losing its inherent properties. Therefore, various resistance-switchable materials having various properties can be prepared by mixing the resistance-switchable conductive filler with different dielectric materials. The resulting resistance-switchable material shows resistive switching characteristics comparable to those of the existing metal oxide film-based resistance-switchable materials. Accordingly, a ReRAM device having the inherent properties of a dielectric material can be prepared using the resistance-switchable conductive filler.
US08603852B2

Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a solid state imaging device, including the steps of: forming a light receiving portion in a light receiving area of a semiconductor substrate; forming a pad portion in a pad area of the semiconductor substrate; forming a microlens material layer over the light receiving portion and the pad portion; providing the microlens material layer with a microlens corresponding to the light receiving portion; forming a low-reflection material layer on the microlens material layer; etching the microlens material layer and the low-reflection material layer over the pad portion to form an opening; and imparting hydrophilicity to a surface of the low-reflection material layer and an inside portion of the opening by a normal temperature oxygen radical treatment.
US08603829B2

A method is provided for diagnosing or predicting atherosclerosis with the use of, as indicators, markers (factors) that allow early detection and progression prediction of the disease and a method for evaluating preventive or therapeutic effects. In one form, the present method includes detecting CD166 (ALCAM) level in a sample of a subject such as human. Another aspect of the present method includes evaluating preventive or therapeutic effects of a compound on atherosclerosis. A kit and an apparatus for carrying out such methods is also provided.
US08603826B2

A method is provided that can form a clear textural structure image of a processed food or a raw material for the processed. Also, said method can form an image clear enough to clearly discern even an intertwined structure of starches, proteins and lipids of a processed food or a raw material for the processed food. The method includes light-exciting the processed food or the raw material for the processed food which is stained with a fluorescent dye having triphenylmethane skeleton; collecting data about the light-excited processed food or the light-excited raw material using at least three kinds of monitoring lights, that is, a monitoring light A having a fluorescence wavelength of 380 nm or longer and shorter than 450 nm, a monitoring light B having a fluorescence wavelength of 450 nm or longer and shorter than 560 nm, and a monitoring light C having a fluorescence wavelength of 560 nm to 700 nm; and forming an image on the basis of the collected data.
US08603817B2

The present invention is directed to methods of producing cardiomyocytes having a nodal/pacemaker phenotype and cardiomyocytes having an atrial/ventricular phenotype. Isolated populations of nodal/pacemaker and atrial/ventricular cardiomyocytes are also disclosed. Methods of treating a subject having cardiac arrhythmia and a subject in need of cardiac tissue repair using the isolated populations of nodal/pacemaker cardiomyocytes and atrial/ventricular cardiomyocytes, respectively, are also disclosed.
US08603815B2

The invention provides CD4+CD25− T cells and Tr1-like regulatory T cells (i.e., contact-independent Type 1-like regulatory T cells), processes for their production and their use for regulatory purposes.
US08603801B1

A method for processing of byproducts in an ethanol production process is provided. The method includes applying a mixture of a microorganism to a stillage stream, metabolizing gums in the stillage stream using the mixture to release oil in the gums carried by the stillage stream and recovering the oil. Methods of liberating or releasing bound oil present in stillage are also provided.
US08603800B2

Provided herein are compositions and methods for the heterologous production of acetyl-CoA-derived isoprenoids in a host cell. In some embodiments, the host cell is genetically modified to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding an acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, acetylating (ADA, E.C. 1.2.1.10) and an MEV pathway comprising an NADH-using HMG-CoA reductase. In some embodiments, the host cell is genetically modified to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence encoding an ADA and an MEV pathway comprising an acetoacetyl-CoA synthase. In some embodiments, the genetically modified host cell further comprises one or more heterologous nucleotide sequences encoding a phosphoketolase and a phosphotransacetylase. In some embodiments, the genetically modified host cell further comprises a functional disruption of the native PDH-bypass. The compositions and methods described herein provide an energy-efficient yet redox balanced route for the heterologous production of acetyl-CoA-derived isoprenoids.
US08603799B2

Methods of controlling plant diseases mediated by bacterial or fungal plant pathogens. The method comprises providing Streptomyces scopuliridis strain RB72 or an isolated protein or polypeptide comprising the amino acid of SEQ ID NO:1 and applying the Streptomyces scopuliridis strain RB72 or the isolated protein or polypeptide comprising the amino acid of SEQ ID NO:1 to plants or plant seeds under conditions effective to treat plant diseases mediated by bacterial or fungal plant pathogens. Also disclosed is a plant or plant seed treated by this method, a planting composition, and a method of enhancing growth.
US08603780B2

Optimized signal peptide coding sequences for enhanced expression and secretion of protein from a cell and related compositions and methods are described. The optimized signal peptide coding sequence encodes an mRNA that contains at least one hairpin structure immediately downstream of the initiation codon. Methods for obtaining the optimized signal peptide coding sequences and methods for enhanced expression and secretion of proteins using the optimized signal peptide coding sequences are also described.
US08603775B2

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method of synthesizing a protein having disulfide bonds using a reconstituted protein synthesizing system in a convenient manner with high efficiency. It has been found that a protein having the activity can be obtained and synthesized with good efficiency by using a reconstituted protein synthesizing system comprising purified components, from which enzymes and substrates influencing an oxidation-reduction state are removed and in which a state of redox equilibrium between disulfide and thiol is artificially regulated. Such system is used instead of a cell extract or a crude fraction thereof that contains various enzymes and substrates that maintain a reduced state, such as thioredoxin reductase [EC 1.6.4.5] and glutathion reductase [EC 1.6.4.2], resulting in difficulty in conditioning a redox state.
US08603773B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for the analysis of a blood sample are disclosed. One embodiment is a method of detecting and enumerating hard-to-ghost cells in a blood sample. Another embodiments is a method of analyzing reticulocytes in a blood sample. Methods of using blood count parameters are also provided.
US08603766B2

Compositions and methods for modulating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection involving substances that inhibit the ability of high mobility box 1 (HMGB1) protein to interact with natural killer (NK) cells. Therapeutic compositions comprising antibodies and drugs, such as glycyrrhizin, which bind to HMGB1. Methods of detecting or monitoring HIV infection involving detection or quantitation of HMGB1 or antibodies specific for HMGB1 in a biological sample.
US08603756B2

The present invention provides for the identification of an antigen surrogate to the native antigens for the autoimmune disease pemphigus vulgaris. Ligands are discovered using large random peptoid or cyclic peptoid libraries that are screened against known antibodies to autoimmune diseases. The ligands may be useful as drugs in the treatment of such diseases and can also be used in combination with the concomitant removal of T-cells associated with autoimmune disorders.
US08603755B2

The invention provides methods of identifying herbicidal auxins. The invention further provides auxin-herbicide-resistant plants and genes conferring auxin-herbicide resistance. This invention also provides a method of identifying other proteins that bind picolinate auxins from additional plant species. The invention further provides a method to identify the molecular binding site for picolinate auxins. The invention also includes the use of the picolinate herbicidal auxin target site proteins, and methods of discovering new compounds with herbicidal or plant growth regulatory activity. The invention also includes methods for producing plants that are resistant to picolinate herbicidal auxins. Specific examples of novel proteins associated with herbicide binding include AFB5, AFB4, and SGT1b.
US08603742B2

Methods are provided for detecting an aneuploidy in a fetus. These methods can be used to detect trisomy 13, 8 or 21, amongst other aneupoloidies. In some embodiments, the methods include selectively purifying fetal DNA from a maternal biological sample using the methylation status of a CpG containing genomic sequence and genotyping the fetus using the purified fetal DNA, thereby detecting aneuploidy in the fetus.
US08603741B2

Methods, Compositions, and Systems are provided for nucleic acid sequencing where the sequential incorporation of nucleotides uses two distinct chemical steps. A plurality of nucleotide analogs, each having a labeled leaving group at its 3′ hydroxyl can be sequentially added to a growing strand in the presence of a selective cleaving activity that cleaves the 3′ hydroxyl leaving group preferentially after it has been incorporated. The selective cleaving agent can comprise an exonuclease activity, and the exonuclease activity can be a polymerase-associated exonuclease activity. Nucleotide analogs having labels on both a cleavable polyphosphate portion and on a 3′ hydroxyl leaving group can provide signals characteristic of nucleotide analog incorporation. Systems having illumination optics, collection optics, and substrates observe signals from the labels as they are being incorporated into a growing nucleic acid strand, allowing for the sequencing of template nucleic acids.
US08603734B2

The instant invention provides methods and compositions for the detection of prostate cancer is a subject. In one embodiment, a method of detecting prostate cancer in a subject comprises the steps of (a) detecting the presence of at least one biomarker listed in Table 1 in a serum sample, wherein the presence of the biomarker in the serum sample is indicative of prostate cancer.
US08603730B2

There is described a photopolymerisable composition comprising (a) 75 to 99% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer or a monomer mixture of different ethylenically unsaturated monomers, (b) 0.5 to 25% by weight of a triglyceride or a mixture of different triglycerides and (c) 0.1 to 10% by weight of a photoinitiator system which activates the polymerisation of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer(s) upon exposure to actinic radiation, wherein the composition is a homogeneous, clear and, at 20° C., liquid mixture. Furthermore, there are described elements manufactured from such photopolymerisable compositions and methods for the formation of light-resistant holograms therefrom. The photopolymerisable compositions are useful, in particular, as recording material for optical elements having refractive index modulation, in particular, holograms.
US08603720B2

A process for preparing a toner includes forming an emulsion with a buffer solution and an amorphous biodegradable polyester resin represented by Formula (1): wherein each n independently represents an integer of 1 to about 20 and x and y represent respective ratios of respective monomeric units and x ranges from about 0 to about 1000 and y ranges from about 0 to about 300; adding a colorant, a coagulant, and optionally a wax to the emulsion to form a mixture; heating the mixture, permitting aggregation and coalescence of the mixture to form toner particles; and recovering the toner particles.
US08603708B2

The invention provides a dye-containing negative curable composition containing at least: (A) an organic solvent-soluble dye; (B) a photo-polymerization initiator; (C) a photo-polymerizable compound; (D) an amino group-containing alkali-soluble resin having, in a side chain thereof, a structure represented by the following Formula (1); and (E) an organic solvent. In Formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, and R1 and R2 may be linked with each other to form a ring structure.
US08603700B2

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell body that generates electricity through electrochemical reaction of a first reactive gas and a second reactive gas, a first gas supply passage and a second gas supply passage supplying the first reactive gas and the second reactive gas to the fuel cell body, a first gas discharge passage and a second gas discharge passage discharging an off-gas of the first reactive gas and an off-gas of the second reactive gas from the fuel cell body, and a branch passage branching out from one of the first gas discharge passage or the second gas discharge passage. The off-gas discharged by the other one of the first gas discharge passage or the second gas discharge passage is arranged to flow through the branch passage.
US08603695B2

An apparatus for heating a fuel cell assembly is disclosed, wherein a means for heating is disposed in a manifold of the fuel cell assembly and the means for heating causes the manifold to be heated to militate against fluid condensation and ice formation in the fuel cell assembly.
US08603690B2

A system and method for quickly heating a fuel cell stack at fuel cell system start-up. The fuel cell system includes a three-way valve positioned in the anode exhaust that selectively directs the anode exhaust gases to the cathode input of the fuel cell stack so that hydrogen in the anode exhaust gas can be used to heat the fuel cell stack. During normal operation when the fuel cell stack is at the desired temperature, the three-way valve in the anode exhaust can be used to bleed nitrogen to the cathode exhaust.
US08603687B2

In order to assure drive of a drive motor, a boost operation of a boost device is appropriately performed by judging whether a voltage supplied from a fuel cell suffices a voltage required for driving the drive motor, thereby suppressing a switching loss by the boost device. A fuel cell system is a power source for driving a load. The system includes: a drive motor driven by an electric power; a fuel cell which generates electricity by an electrochemical reaction between an oxidizing gas containing oxygen and a fuel gas containing hydrogen and supplies an electric power to the drive motor; a first boost device which can boosts the voltage outputted from the fuel cell and supplies the boosted voltage to the drive motor; and boost control means which controls voltage boost performed by the first boost device according to the relationship between the fuel cell output voltage and the voltage required by the drive motor.
US08603686B2

A system and method for controlling the speed of a compressor that provides air to the cathode side of a fuel cell stack in the event that a cathode by-pass valve fails. If a by-pass valve failure is detected, a failure algorithm first disengages the normal flow and pressure algorithms used to control the airflow to the cathode side of the stack. Next, the failure algorithm opens the cathode exhaust gas valve to its fully opened position. Then, in response to a stack power request, the compressor control will be put in an open-loop control where a look-up table is used to provide a particular compressor speed for a power request. An airflow meter will measure the airflow to the stack, and the stack current will be limited based on that airflow.
US08603685B2

There is provided a method for the activation of a fuel cell. An exemplary method comprises operating the fuel cell entirely or partially at least briefly in an electrolysis regimen during galvanic operation.
US08603684B2

The present invention concerns a fuel cell comprising a cathode in a cathode region of the cell and an anode in an anode region of the cell, the cathode being separated from the anode by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane, the cathode region of the cell being supplied in use thereof with an oxidant and a liquid low molecular weight fuel wherein at least some of the liquid low molecular weight fuel in use crosses the polymer electrolyte membrane to supply the anode region of the cell with liquid low molecular weight fuel, the cell being provided with means for generating an electrical circuit between the cathode and the anode.
US08603670B2

By combining crimping fixing and laser welding, a collector attached to a substrate of an electrode assembly is fixed to a terminal. A negative electrode terminal 19A has a terminal portion formed on one side of a flange portion, and a cylindrical crimping member 19b on the other side. The cylindrical crimping member 19b is inserted through openings formed in a first insulating member, a sealing plate, a second insulating member, and a negative electrode collector 18a. The cylindrical crimping member 19b is crimped in a diameter-increasing direction, and is mechanically fixed in a countersunk hole 18c of the negative electrode collector 18a. A peripheral portion of a thin-walled portion 19d having a thickness smaller than those of other portions formed at the tip end portion of the cylindrical crimping member 19b is thoroughly adhered and welded by a high energy beam to the edge of the countersunk hole 18c.
US08603666B2

A power supply apparatus that can achieve preferable holding and fixing of components constituting the power supply apparatus and can preferably prevent a liquid short-circuit and a leakage of current due to condensed water. The power supply apparatus includes a power supply unit having a plurality of power supply elements stacked with each other, an upper case and a lower case which house the power supply unit. The power supply further includes an auxiliary fastening portion which is fixed to the lower case and provides a space S between a lower surface of the power supply unit and the lower case, and fastening portions that are placed on the left and right of the power supply unit when viewed in a direction in which the power supply elements are stacked. The fastening portions fastening the power supply unit to the upper case.
US08603664B2

An assembled battery is provided which can improve output density. Four unit cells are connected in series by a connection member 40 composed of a stacked metal plate obtained by stacking two metal plates 40a and 40b. The metal plate 40a is one of copper and aluminum while the metal plate 40b is nickel. Since the volume electrical resistance of both copper and aluminum is less than half that of nickel, the overall electrical resistance of the connection member 40 is lowered. Both end portions of the connection member 40 are joined to external electrode terminals by resistance welding so that the weld joint is formed from either a Cu—Ni or Al—Ni low resistance binary alloy.
US08603655B2

In accordance with the invention, an accumulator comprises at least two galvanic cells that are electrically connected. The accumulator furthermore comprises a control device and at least one measuring device. The measuring device is suitable to determine at least one reading for at least one first functional parameter of a galvanic cell. The accumulator comprises a memory device which is assigned to the control device. The memory device is suitable for storing at least one target value of a first functional parameter. The accumulator furthermore comprises a computing unit. The computing unit is suitable for assigning at least two measured values and one pertinent target value to a first computed result. The measured values are the measured first functional parameters, respectively of at least two galvanic cells of the accumulator. The target value is a predetermined value in respect to the first functional parameter. The control device is suitable for initiating a predetermined action as a function of the first computed result.
US08603654B2

A fuel cell stack that includes catalyzed surfaces in the non-active inlet region of the cathode flow channels. At cold system start-up, hydrogen is introduced into the cathode inlet header to be mixed with air so that a chemical reaction is provided by the catalyst that generates heat to warm the cooling fluid in the non-active inlet area. Therefore, the cooling fluid that enters the active area of the stack will not be cold enough to quench the chemical reaction.
US08603650B2

A magnetic disk 10 for use in perpendicular magnetic recording has at least a magnetic recording layer on a substrate 1. The magnetic recording layer is composed of a ferromagnetic layer 5 of a granular structure containing silicon (Si) or an oxide of silicon (Si) between crystal grains containing cobalt (Co), a stacked layer 7 having a first layer containing cobalt (Co) or a Co alloy and a second layer containing palladium (Pd) or platinum (Pt), and a spacer layer 6 interposed between the ferromagnetic layer 5 and the stacked layer 7. After forming the ferromagnetic layer 5 on the substrate 1 by sputtering in an argon gas atmosphere, the stacked layer 7 is formed by sputtering in the argon gas atmosphere at a gas pressure lower than that used when forming the ferromagnetic layer 5.
US08603644B2

Novel anthracene derivatives, novel materials capable of blue light emission with high color purity, and a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, and an electronic device using any of the novel materials. The anthracene derivative represented by general formula (1) is provided. With the anthracene derivative, a light-emitting element with high emission efficiency can be provided. With the anthracene derivative, a light-emitting element emitting blue light with high color purity can be provided. In the formula, A1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, B1 represents any of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, α represents any of a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted biphenyl-4,4′-diyl group, and R1 to R9 individually represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group.
US08603643B2

The invention relates to an electronic component with Sn rich deposit layer on the part for electric connection, wherein the Sn rich deposit layer is a fine grained Sn rich deposit layer composed of grains with smaller size in the direction perpendicular to the deposit surface than in the direction parallel to the deposit surface. It also relates to a process for plating an electronic component, so as to form a Sn rich deposit layer on the part for electric connection, comprising the steps of: adjusting the composition of tin plating solution in which starter additive and brighter additive are included; moving the electronic component through the tin plating solution, so as to form a fine grained Sn rich deposit layer on the part for electric connection. As compared with the prior art, the invention can validly inhibit the whisker growth with low cost and reliable property.
US08603640B2

A non-supercritical method for impregnating a refractive timber substrate with an active agent, including preparing an impregnation fluid including a low boiling solvent (methane, ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, fluorinated hydrocarbons such as chlorodifluoromethane (R22), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R143a), pentafluoroethane (R125), 1,1-difluoroethane (R152a) and difluoromethane (R32) and an active agent; contacting a refractive timber substrate (eg heartwood of radiata pine, spruce species; Douglas fir, fir, poplar, willow, sapwood of cypress pine and certain eucalypt and pine species such as heartwood of messmate, larch, western red cedar, European oak and American white oak) with said impregnation fluid in a liquid state in an impregnation chamber for a time sufficient to allow said fluid to penetrate the pores of said refractive timber substrate; and removing said impregnation fluid in a liquid state from said impregnation chamber and returning to a reservoir.
US08603639B2

The present disclosure is directed to polymeric compositions which form gloss resins suitable for thermoforming applications. The polymeric compositions include a reaction product composed of a clarified random propylene/α-olefin copolymer, a coupling agent, and optionally an elastomer. Methods for adjusting the melt flow rate of the gloss resin are also disclosed. Adjustment of the gloss resin melt flow rate advantageously enables scrap thermoplastic material containing the gloss resin to be recycled in a thermoforming operation.
US08603637B2

A coated article is described. The coated article includes a substrate, a combining layer formed on the substrate, a plurality of silicon dioxide layers and a plurality of copper-zinc alloy layers formed on the combining layer. The combining layer is a silicon layer. Each silicon dioxide layer interleaves with one copper-zinc alloy layer. A method for making the coated article is also described.
US08603634B2

This invention relates to poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) comprising inactivated terminal amino and carboxyl groups, methods of synthesizing the inactivated PEAs and uses for them in the treatment of vascular diseases.
US08603629B2

A laminate tape that has a bottom layer of aggressive adhesive formulated to have sufficient adhesion to construction materials to as low as 20 degrees F. The adhesive is applied in a layer of about 2 to 5 mils. A second layer that is about 10 to 60 mils thick is made of rubberized asphalt, which provides self-sealing capabilities. In one embodiment, the first layer has strips of adhesive and sections of rubberized asphalt. The third layer is a film, which can be a thin, contiguous polymer, fabric or particulate. The laminate can be used where a strong adhesive is needed that will adhere to construction materials at or near 20 degrees Fahrenheit, while still retaining self-sealing characteristics.
US08603620B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a carbon fibrous structure having good dispersibility and small variations in electrical conductivity, etc., and being capable of improving physical properties such as electrical properties, mechanical properties and thermal properties by a small amount addition thereof without impairing properties of a matrix. The invention provides a carbon fibrous structure having a three-dimensional network shape and comprising carbon fibers having an average outside diameter of from 100 to 300 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure has a plurality of granular parts, and has at least partially a steric network structure of the carbon fibers in a state that a plurality of the carbon fibers sterically extend outwardly from the granular parts and that the extending carbon fibers are also bound with other granular parts, wherein the granular parts have a particle diameter larger than an outer diameter of the carbon fiber, and are formed in a growth process of growing a carbon material in the circumferential direction of catalyst particles used while growing the carbon material into a fibrous shape, by using at least two carbon compounds having different decomposition temperature as carbon sources, and wherein the carbon fibrous structure has a powder resistance of 0.02Ω·cm or less measured at a compression density of 0.8 g/cm3.
US08603615B2

The present invention relates to a multilayer security element having a first, transparent layer structure having first, translucent sub-regions and a second, opaque layer structure exhibiting a color-shift effect and having second, transparent sub-regions.
US08603614B2

A friction material which includes a porous base material, at least one type of resin material, and at least one type of nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particle is disclosed. The resin material is substantially uniformly dispensed throughout the base material and a non-continuous layer of a predetermined amount of the nanoparticle-sized friction modifying materials forms a porous top surface on the base material.
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