US08612126B2

A system and method for receiving, from a data source, at least one type of information for a plurality of aircraft, calculating efficiency data based on the received information, distributing the efficiency data to users of the system and storing the calculated efficiency data, the efficiency data including an average separation between arriving aircraft, an arrival rate an airport, an elapsed time from a point of interest to an arrival of the aircraft at an airport, a comparison of an actual base leg initiation to an optimal base leg initiation for an aircraft and a comparison of an estimated time for passing fixed points on an arrival path and the actual time for passing the fixed points.
US08612124B2

A system for a vehicle includes a filtering module, an indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) determination module, and a stuck mechanism indicator module. The filtering module generates engine speeds based on positions of teeth of a toothed wheel that rotates with a crankshaft and based on a crankshaft position signal generated by a crankshaft position sensor. The IMEP determination module determines an IMEP for a combustion cycle of a cylinder of an engine based on squares of first and second ones of the engine speeds during the combustion cycle. The stuck mechanism indicator module selectively diagnoses a fault in a variable valve lift (VVL) mechanism of the cylinder based on the IMEP.
US08612121B2

An EGR device for an internal combustion engine returns an EGR gas from an exhaust passage to an intake passage of an engine. The EGR device is configured to determine a target EGR ratio from an engine rotation number and an engine load and calculate an estimate EGR ratio from an intake air amount to the engine and a cylinder intake gas amount to detect a response delay of the EGR gas from a difference between the target and estimate EGR ratios.
US08612120B2

The present invention aims to provide a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine that can precisely determine the presence or absence of blow-by of fresh air into an exhaust path in the internal combustion engine with a supercharger. A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine according to the present invention includes: a supercharger; an intake pipe pressure obtaining unit that detects or estimates an intake pipe pressure; an intake variable valve apparatus capable of changing a valve timing of an intake valve; an exhaust variable valve apparatus capable of changing a valve timing of an exhaust valve; a storing unit that stores information about a reference intake pipe pressure that is a value that depends on the valve timing of the intake valve but does not depend on the valve timing of the exhaust valve; a reference intake pipe pressure obtaining unit that obtains the reference intake pipe pressure for the valve timing of the intake valve; and a blow-by determining unit that determines the presence or absence of blow-by of fresh air into an exhaust side based on a result of comparison between the intake pipe pressure and the reference intake pipe pressure.
US08612118B2

A method for operating an engine, including, adjusting a target load, which lies below a full load; operating at least one cylinder in a first cylinder group with a first load, which is reduced with respect to the target load; operating at least one cylinder in a second cylinder group with a second load, which is increased with respect to the target load; selecting the first and second loads such that a resulting load is the target load; and selecting the first and second loads such that at least one environmental parameter value is improved, wherein the environmental parameters include at least one of a fuel consumption, a nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust gas, and a particle content in the exhaust gas.
US08612112B2

When the driver steps on an accelerator peal to a certain depth and practically keeps the accelerator pedal at the certain depth to maintain a substantially constant accelerator opening, a target additional torque, a maximum reflection rate, and an increment of a reflection rate are set based on the accelerator opening and a vehicle speed. The reflection rate is gradually increased by the increment to the maximum reflection rate after elapse of a preset time period since a start of decreasing a base torque demand affected by the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed. An object torque demand is computed as the sum of the base torque demand and an additional torque, which is given as the product of the target additional torque and the gradually increasing reflection rate. The operations of an engine and two motors are then controlled with the setting of the object torque demand.
US08612102B2

In a hydraulic excavator, a controller is configured to control output of an engine based on a first engine output torque line that defines an upper limit for engine output torque against engine rotation rate. The controller is configured to determine which of two operations, a high hydraulic load operation in which a work machine is subjected to a high hydraulic load and a low hydraulic load operation in which the work machine is subjected to a low hydraulic load, is being performed. When swinging for a revolving unit and the low hydraulic load operation for the work machine are being performed as a combined operation, the controller is configured to control the output of the engine based on a second engine output torque line. The second engine output torque line is an engine output torque line with a lower engine output torque than the first engine output torque line.
US08612101B2

The invention relates to a method for determining a position point of a movable element, particularly a window (33) or a roof of a motor vehicle that can be advanced into at least one elastic receptacle (36) by means of a drive, comprising the steps of continually determining a spring stiffness in relation to the moving element (33) in the elastic receptacle (36) and determining a position point upon exceeding a specified spring stiffness threshold value.
US08612100B2

In accordance with one embodiment a vehicle management and control system can comprise a main computer (200) that can be operatively connected to a plurality of vehicle systems and subsystems, a main operating system (202), a memory (which can be part of the computer), and a memory controller in the form of a master control framework (204). The vehicle management and control system controls the operation of the vehicle by managing all communication between vehicle systems and subsystems, making major decisions on behalf of, and issuing commands to relevant vehicle systems and subsystems based on the import and feedback information it receives from those systems and subsystems. Consequently, the burden of major decision making and inter-system communication is taken off each individual system and subsystem. This allows the construction of each vehicle system and subsystem to be greatly simplified, resulting in an overall reduction of vehicle complexity.
US08612099B2

An occupant restraint system including a harness coupled to the occupant by surrounding a portion of the occupant, a winding mechanism fixed to the vehicle and configured to operate in a first mode and a second mode, and a flexible linking member having a first end coupled to the harness and a second end coupled to the winding mechanism. The linking member is configured to selectively wind and unwind from the winding mechanism. When the winding mechanism is in the first mode of operation, the linking member may be unwound from the winding mechanism to allow the occupant to move freely about the vehicle. When the winding mechanism is in the second mode of operation, the winding mechanism winds the linking member to pull the harness toward the winding mechanism.
US08612095B2

A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided at least with: a rudder angle varying device capable of changing a relation between a steering angle, which is a rotation angle of a steering input shaft, and a rudder angle, which is a rotation angle of steered wheels; and a trajectory controlling device for determining a control amount and controlling the rudder angle varying device such that a trajectory of a vehicle approaches a target driving route of the vehicle. The vehicle driving control apparatus is further provided with a correcting device for correcting (i) a rate of change in the rudder angle with respect to a steering amount of the steering input or (ii) the determined control amount, in accordance with whether or not a steering direction of the steering input inputted to the steering input shaft through a steering member by a driver of the vehicle is identical with a rudder angle control direction of the control amount determined by the trajectory controlling device.
US08612094B2

A method for controlling a power steering system, the method including, receiving a first signal, determining a velocity from the first signal, determining a scale factor from a function of the velocity, multiplying the scale factor with a damping factor, and outputting a scaled damping factor.
US08612091B2

An analysis tool which extracts all the available parameter identifications (i.e. PIDS) from a vehicle's power train control module for diagnostic decisions. This is done by checking these PIDS and other information (e.g., calculated PIDS, Break Points, charts and algorithms) in three states; key on engine off, key on engine cranking, key on engine running. In all three modes the tool is comparing the live data from PIDS and voltage to the other information (e.g, Break Points). If any of this data are outside the programmed values a flag is assigned to the failure or control problem. The relationship between a particular PID and its associated preprogrammed value(s) may be indicated by a light. The depth of the problem (if any) is conveyed by the color of the light. Also included are tests/charts for fuel trim, engine volumetric efficiency, simulated injector, power, catalyst efficiency, and engine coolant range.
US08612089B2

There is disclosed an on-vehicle fault detecting device that can more accurately identify what has caused data different from intended-to-be-written data in a memory as a hardware fault. The IG-operation counting unit counts a number of ON-operations of the ignition (IG) switch. The usage-environment-change determining unit determines whether or not a number of times of continuous non-coincidence has reached a determination number, and presumes that the usage environment has changed if a number of continuous IG-switch operations has reached a determination number. Even in cases where the number of times of continuous non-coincidence has reached the determination number, the data writing unit will not write occurrence of a fault in hardware in the memory unless it is presumed by the usage-environment-change determining unit that the usage environment around the vehicle C has changed.
US08612086B2

A wireless interface is provided and coupled to a diagnostic device in order to provide it with wireless communication. The wireless interface includes a diagnostic device interface, a diagnostic cable interface and a wireless adapter. The wireless interface can relay diagnostic information from a vehicle to the diagnostic device when the wireless interface is coupled to a diagnostic cable, which is connected to a vehicle.
US08612079B2

A method for optimizing performance of a system includes determining, via a controller, a state of health (SOH) for each of a plurality of components of the system, and determining a state of function (SOF) of the system using the SOH of each component. The method includes estimating the remaining useful life (RUL) of the system using the system SOF, selecting a cost-optimal control strategy for the system using a costing model, and dynamically, i.e., in real time, executing the selected strategy to extend the estimated RUL. The method may include comparing the selected cost-optimal strategy to a calibrated performance threshold, and executing the selected strategy only when the selected strategy exceeds the threshold. A system includes first and second components and a controller. The controller dynamically executes the above method with respect to the components, which may be a traction motor and battery in one possible embodiment.
US08612075B2

An electric or hybrid-electric vehicle is provided with vehicle-mounted solar cells capable of generating electrical power. The power from the array is directed to vehicle systems according to a pre-determined algorithm intended to most effectively extend the vehicle range when operated under electric power. Power from the solar cells is directed by a controller, and may be applied to directly charge the batteries or to power electric power receiving devices, for example, to control cabin temperatures, depending on factors including the state of charge of the batteries, whether or not, the vehicle is parked and the current cabin temperature. The controller is also capable of controlling and managing the operating voltage of the solar cells to ensure optimal power extraction from the cells.
US08612074B2

Methods and systems for modulating regenerative braking in a vehicle having a regenerative braking system and an energy storage system are provided. A value is obtained for a variable pertaining to a condition that affects energy absorption of the energy storage system. A regenerative braking torque capacity for the regenerative braking system is determined using the value. Regenerative braking is controlled via the regenerative braking system based at least in part on the regenerative braking torque capacity.
US08612063B2

An environmental control systems (ECS) for an aircraft in which bleed air is cooled with ram air, the ECS may include a ram air controller configured to control a rate of ram air flow responsively to a desired temperature of bleed air at a bleed air outlet and a bleed air controller configured to control a rate of bleed air flow responsively to a temperature lower than the desired temperature of the bleed air at the bleed air outlet. Collectively the two controllers may provide a minimizing of ram air usage for cooling the bleed air.
US08612060B2

Methods and systems may include an apparatus having a power line interface and a controller with management logic. The management logic can manage the power delivery policies of devices connected to the power line interface based on changes in the power delivery capability of the apparatus.
US08612058B2

A maximum power point tracking method and system for use with a power generator comprises sampling instantaneous output voltage and current of the power generator at a first instant in time and at a second instant in time to obtain first and second power samples, generating a reference voltage or current signal from a difference of the first and second power samples; comparing the reference voltage or current to the instantaneous power generator voltage or current and generating at least one gating signal; and repeating so as to minimize the difference of the first and second power samples; wherein the gating signal affects magnitude of the output voltage and current of the power generator; wherein the maximum power point is tracked when the difference signal is minimized. The power generator may be at least one photovoltaic cell, wind turbine, or fuel cell.
US08612055B2

A fluid delivery system comprises a pump configured to deliver a therapeutic agent to a patient, a memory storing a therapy program defining the delivery of the therapeutic agent to the patient by the pump and a default infusion schedule based on the therapy program, and a processor configured to control the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the patient according to the therapy program, to determine an error condition that prevents the pump from continuing to deliver therapy according to the therapy program, and, upon determination of the error condition, to control the pump to deliver the therapeutic agent to the patient according to the default infusion schedule.
US08612053B2

A control device for a mobile robot, in which the desired value of a motion state amount of a mobile robot includes at least the desired value of a vertical component of a first-order differential value of the translational momentum of the entire mobile robot. The desired value is determined by a state amount desired value determiner such that the observed value of the vertical position of an overall center-of-gravity point of the mobile robot is converged to a predetermined desired value according to a feedback control law. A control input determiner carries out the processing of inverse dynamics calculation, using the desired value of the motion state amount thereby to determine the desired driving force for each joint. The operation of an actuator is controlled on the basis of the determined desired driving force.
US08612051B2

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for managing communications with robots. In some implementations, a computer network, where operators interface with the network to control movement of robots on a wireless computer network includes a network arena controller and a plurality of robot controllers. The network arena controller is configured to provide firewall policies to substantially secure communication between robot controllers and the associated robots. Each controller is included in a different robot and configured to wirelessly communicate with the network arena controller. Each robot controller executes firewall policies to substantially secure wireless communication.
US08612048B2

The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling a robotic device for inserting or removing rod-like elements into or from a storage frame, the rod-like elements, like smoking bars, serving for storing products, like sausages, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products. The method comprises the steps of moving the storage frame into the operating range of the robotic device, picking up a rod-like element on which a number of sausage like products are hung up by the robotic device, and inserting or removing the rod-like element into or from the storage frame by the robotic device. Moreover, there is provided a storage frame with at least a machine readable label from which information regarding the storage device are read out from the machine readable label, which is attached to the storage device, at least before the storage frame is moved into the operating range of the robotic device. Said information are sent to the control unit of the robotic device for controlling the movement of the robotic device while inserting or removing rod-like elements into or from the storage frame.
US08612046B2

A sewing machine includes an imaging device capturing an image and a processor. The processor identifies a first layout of a marker with respect to a layout of a first pattern in a first holding position based on an image including the marker arranged on a sewing target object. The processor identifies a second layout of the marker with respect to the first pattern in a temporary holding position, and stores the identified second layout as storage information. Then, the processor newly identifies the second layout based on the storage information and an image including the marker captured in the temporary holding position. The processor identifies a third layout of the marker with respect to the first pattern in a second holding position, and determines a layout of a second pattern with respect to the sewing target object in the second holding position.
US08612034B2

A printed circuit board includes a first signal layer, a first ground layer, a second signal layer, a power layer, a second ground layer, and a third signal layer. The first signal layer includes an analog audio input/output (I/O) port and an audio chip. The audio chip includes a main body, a first group of signal pins connected to the analog audio I/O port, and a second group of signal pins connected to a control chip. The first ground layer, the power layer, and the second ground layer are each divided into an audio part and a digital part. The three audio parts act as a reference plane for traces between the analog audio I/O port and the audio chip, the three digital parts act as reference planes for traces between the control chip and the audio chip.
US08612023B2

An implantable lead includes a lead body. A plurality of conductors are disposed within the lead body and electrically couple at least one electrode to at least one terminal. At least one of the conductors includes a plurality of units. Each of the units includes a first conductor segment extending along the lead body from a beginning point to a first position, a second conductor segment extending from the first position to a second position, and a third conductor segment extending along the elongated member from the second position to an endpoint. The conductor segments are arranged so as to form alternating single-coil regions and multi-coil regions. At least one support element is disposed along at least a portion of at least one of the single-coil regions and is configured and arranged to increase the stiffness of the at least one of the single-coil regions.
US08612021B2

This disclosure describes an implantable medical lead, and method of making such a lead or components of the lead, that reduces the undesirable effects the fields generated by an MRI device may have on the implantable medical lead and the implantable medical device. The implantable medical lead includes an RF filter placed in series with an electrical path to an electrode of the lead. In one example, the RF filter may comprise a conductor wound in such a manner that it provides an inductance and capacitance that provides the RF filter with a resonant frequency, and in some instances, multiple resonant frequencies. At frequencies around the resonant frequency of the RF filter, the RF filter presents a high impedance, thereby blocking the signal from or at least attenuating the signal propagating to the electrode. At frequencies far from the resonant frequency, the RF filter presents a low impedance.
US08612014B2

An implantable medical device system for orientation-independent telemetry to and from the device are disclosed. The system includes an external controller which produces an electromagnetic field to induce a current in a coil in the implantable medical device and vise versa. In a preferred embodiment, the external controller comprises three orthogonal coils, each of which is potentially activated to generate or receive the electromagnetic field. Algorithms are disclosed to allow for the choice of one or more of the coils best suited for telemetry based on the chosen coil's orientation with respect to the telemetry coil in the implantable medical device. Because all three of the orthogonal coils are potentially activated if necessary, the result is that at least one of the coils will be in a proper orientation with respect to the coil in the implantable medical device, thereby improving telemetry or power transfer efficiency.
US08612011B2

A method for fitting to a recipient a cochlear prosthesis having a sound processor that processes received sound in accordance with a MAP, the method comprises providing, by the hearing prosthesis, combinations of voice prompts and test stimuli for testing values of an element of the MAP; receiving from the recipient an indication of which of said values are desirable; and revising the MAP with the desired value for the tested element. A neural-stimulating device for stimulating nerve cells of a recipient is provided.
US08612010B2

Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for treating diminished muscle function. Some systems include an electrical member that delivers electrical energy to a hand region of a body that comprises a dysfunctional muscle; a joint motion assembly that couples to the body and provides, to a joint adjacent the dysfunctional muscle, a motion made up of a cycle of opposing joint movements; and a control unit that provides an operator of the system with control of a timing of electrical energy delivery and an amount of electrical energy delivered. Some systems time the electrical energy delivery to occur when the moving joint is near an inflection point and deliver electrical energy delivered in amounts effective to result in a depolarization of the dysfunctional muscle, a nerve in proximity of the joint, and/or a muscle of substantially normal function in proximity of the joint.
US08612007B2

A method of reducing muscle pain in a person by removably attaching an electrode to each ear on a person's head and connecting the electrodes to receive a modified pulse signal from a computer or a digital port. The signal from the computer or the digital port are rectangular voltage pulses of “1s” and “0s” at varying frequencies. The rectangular pulse signal from the computer or digital port is modified to have at least the leading square corner of each of the rectangular voltage pulses rounded before it is sent to the electrodes. A method of randomizing the stimulus at about 100 Hz for improved sleep and an alternate method of randomizing stimuli for the neurological reduction of perceived pain and a similar method for reducing pain output from a muscle and its associated tissues directly.
US08611991B2

A method is provided for taking electrical impedance tomography measurements using multiple electrodes located at selected positions external to a volume of a subject body. Multiple orthogonal or near-orthogonal signals are introduced simultaneously by way of selected different electrodes and resultant predetermined responses (if any) at receiving electrodes are recorded or determined. The signals are encoded using the technique of code division multiplexing and received signals at each receiving electrode are cross-correlated with original signals to determine the contribution of each original signal to a composite received signal. The invention also relates to apparatus suitable for use in applying a method.
US08611990B2

The present invention provides systems, methods and computer program products for monitoring a heart. According to one embodiment, the system includes an implantable registering unit. The registering unit comprises a first controller structured to register an electrical signal from the heart. The system includes a second controller in operable communication with the first controller. The second controller comprises a data repository structured to receive data corresponding to the registered electrical signal and being structured to store the data. The data repository stores data corresponding to a baseline electrical signal of the heart. The second controller is structured to receive the data from the first controller corresponding to the registered electrical signal and to compare the registered electrical signal to the baseline electrical signal to determine whether the heart is functioning properly.
US08611981B2

An embodiment in the MRI-CEST field is proposed for analyzing a body-part, which includes a CEST agent providing a magnetization transfer with a bulk substrate of the body-part. A corresponding diagnostic system includes input means for providing an input map including a plurality of input elements each one for a corresponding location of the body-part; each input element is indicative of a spectrum of a magnetic response of the location, which spectrum includes the magnetic response at an agent frequency of resonance of the contrast agent (with the agent frequency that is at an agent offset of frequency from a bulk frequency of resonance of the bulk substance), and at a reference frequency at the opposite of the agent offset from the bulk frequency. The system further includes calculation means for calculating an agent value and a reference value for each one of a set of selected locations; the agent value is calculated according to the magnetic responses of the selected location in a non-punctual agent range of frequencies including the agent frequency, and the reference value is calculated according to the magnetic responses of the selected location in a non-punctual reference range of frequencies including the reference frequency (with the reference range that is symmetric to the agent range with respect to the bulk frequency). Comparison means is then provided for calculating a parametric value for each selected location; the parametric value is calculated according to a comparison between the agent value and the reference value of the selected location.
US08611976B2

A sensor includes a sensor pad that allows air and moisture to diffuse from a patient's skin. A light source is disposed on the sensor pad is configured to generate near-infrared light. A light detector disposed on the sensor pad is configured to detect near-infrared light generated by the light source.
US08611973B2

According to one aspect, there is provided a portable electronic device, including a first portion having a display, and a second portion slidably coupled to the first portion. The first portion and second portion are sized and shaped so that the second portion can move between a closed position, wherein a first region of the display is exposed and a second region of the display is covered by the second portion, and an open position wherein the first and second regions of the display are exposed. The first portion may be a display portion and the second portion may be a keypad portion having a keypad.
US08611968B2

A method for processing contacts in a mobile terminal according to embodiments of the present invention includes: setting a mapping relationship between different values of distinctive attributes of contacts and display effects of contact icons; reading contacts; obtaining distinctive attributes of contacts locally or from a network side; determining display effects of contact icons according to the mapping relationship and the distinctive attributes; and displaying the contacts distinctively according to the determined display effects. According to the processing method and mobile terminal provided in embodiments of the present invention, different contacts can be displayed intuitively in the mobile terminal, which enhances the capability of intelligent interaction between the mobile terminal and the user greatly.
US08611963B2

A mobile terminal includes a controller configured to process information related to a play of data on the mobile terminal at a specific time point of the played data, wherein the controller recognizes the specific time point and generates a control signal for enabling data play from the specific time point, and a wireless communication unit transmitting the control signal and the information. In the mobile terminal, the wireless communication unit receives the information related to the play of the data and the control signal for enabling the data play from the specific time point, and the controller facilitates the play of the data according to the received control signal and the information.
US08611957B2

A method and apparatus for configuration of a device personality based on mobile device identity module, the method including checking an identity module on the mobile device for one or more network modes; and configuring the personality of the mobile device based on results of the checking step.
US08611944B2

The present invention discloses a method for controlling pilot power of an HNB, comprising: initializing the HNB and setting up communication connection between the HMB and a mobile terminal user, and further comprising: determining a setting type of a current data communication service; increasing current pilot power when the current data communication service is of a first type and a current SNR is less than a predetermined threshold; and reducing the current pilot power when the current data communication service is of a second type and the current SNR is more than or equal to the predetermined threshold. The present invention further provides a system for controlling pilot power of an HNB, which can rationally distribute pilot power resources.
US08611942B2

Systems and methodologies are described that effectuate and/or facilitate MAC-hs/ehs resets in an enhanced serving cell. In accordance with various aspects set forth herein, systems and/or methods are provided that identify transmission power control bits included in active set update messages received from source or target base stations, ascertain whether or not transmission power control values included in the active set update messages differ from transmission power control values that the system currently operates under, and performs serving cell changes and where necessary media access control status resets based on an examination of a transmission power control combination index.
US08611936B2

A mobile device for the display of messages includes a message viewer application for displaying segments of the message received from a server. The message can include content that is encoded in a first encoding that is renderable for display on the device, and the same content encoded in a second encoding. On determination that the received portion of the message includes a first part comprising content encoded in a first encoding and is renderable for display, first displayable portion of the message content, the server is signalled to halt forwarding further segments of the message.
US08611929B1

A process for automatically adding related event information to social media location updates integrates one or more event data sources into the social media location update process and thereby provides the ability to automatically identify events associated with the identified location of a social media location update and automatically include information describing the identified event in a social media location and event update posting.
US08611928B1

An entity acting as a parent (e.g., a parent, a guardian, a school, an athletic organization, or a combination thereof—referred to as a parent or a supervising entity) may restrict a mobile device (e.g., a mobile telephone, a laptop, a PDA, a text messaging device, a two-way radio, a hand-held computer, or an mp3 player), or certain functionalities of a mobile device (e.g., text messaging, instant messaging, telephone calls, email capabilities, or playing music), that is being used by a child (referred to as a child or a supervised entity) while the child is at a current location. Similar mobile device restrictions may be used with other users, such as, for example, an employer and an employee, a secure government site and a visitor to the site, and a business and a customer.
US08611919B2

A system, method, apparatus and computer program product for providing location based functions and mobile e-commerce comprising a central processing unit including a processor, a storage device, and programming stored in the storage device, a display device, an audio input device, an audio output device, a communications module, a commerce module, an image module, and a location module. The programming controls the operation of the present invention to provide functions based on location data, to facilitate commercial exchanges by wirelessly exchanging payment and product information with venders, to identify services such as venders meeting selection criteria, to wirelessly exchange select information with other users and systems, to restrict and/or monitor the use of the device based on authorized user parameters, selecting one of a plurality networks through which to communicate, detecting a trigger for performing an action based on a change in location and sensed data, storing a voice annotation with a computer data file, determining service providers and associated communication parameters, contemporaneously maintaining a wireless voice and data link, providing a system for selecting and delivering mobile advertisements, and many other functions and services that are described herein.
US08611917B2

A method for LTE and LTE-A uplink power control includes open loop power control where user equipment UE measures downlink pathloss which is sent to an eNodeB that determines uplink UL transmit power based on the downlink pathloss.
US08611909B2

A service providing apparatus, a service consuming apparatus, and a service transmitting method are provided. The service providing apparatus is adapted to connect with the service consuming apparatus via a wireless network. Within a control channel period, the service providing apparatus schedules the services with the service consuming apparatus. Within a service channel period, the service providing apparatus provides a service resource to the service consuming apparatus according to the result of scheduling the services. If the service consuming apparatus does not send a service request signal to the service providing apparatus within the control channel period, the service consuming apparatus has to remain silent within the service control channel. By the arrangement, the problems caused from the characteristic of the link asymmetry of the wireless network can be solved.
US08611898B2

An access terminal selects less than all of a plurality of flows associated with a given multicast session, and sends a call registration message including reference to the selected less than all flows to an access network to request registration to each of the plurality of flows. The access network receives the call registration message, and interprets the call registration message as requesting registration to each of the plurality of flows associated with the given multicast session. The access network transmits a scheduling message to a group of access terminals that advertises less than all of a plurality of flows associated with the given multicast session. Access terminals in the group that receive the scheduling message interpret the scheduling message as if each of the plurality of flows is advertised as carried upon a downlink channel.
US08611897B2

A method for assigning a location area to a mobile device for use in circuit switched fallback from a first radio access network to a second radio access network. Two counters are implemented at the eNode B—a first counter to count the numbers of times a mobile reports a given last-used location area code and a second counter for counting the numbers of certain unique combinations of location area code and further identifying data. Whenever the eNode B receives a signal incorporating a location area code, checking the respective first counter for that code and conditionally incrementing the first counter such that if the first counter is below a predefined threshold the first counter is incremented. If the first counter is equal to the threshold, obtaining further identifying data in addition to the location area code and incrementing the corresponding second counter.
US08611880B2

The invention relates to a method of routing a call made to a fixed telephone number of a UMA-subscriber in a mobile telecommunications network comprising a first and a second switching node and a location server. Location information of said UMA-subscriber is acquired wherein said location information comprises a location area code or a combination of location area code and cell identifier associated with a serving BSC or a serving GANC. The call is connected to the UMA-subscriber when the location area code or combination of location area code and cell identifier is associated with one of a group of GANCs, or connected to an alternative destination, such as a voicemail service, if the location area code or combination of location area code and cell identifier is not associated with said one of a group of GANCs. The methods described in the present invention disclosure allow for very efficient offering of UMA in combination with geographic numbers.
US08611873B2

A system and method of advanced identification information to be created and distributed to users of wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones. Subscribers can define their own personas as collections of information which define the users. Subscribers can then publish their persona(s) to their friends' and associates' mobile phones, and update the others' address books with the subscriber's contact information. Users can specify different personas to be presented to different users.
US08611871B2

A system and method of validating an advertisement presented to an advertisement recipient via a mobile communication device includes presenting an advertisement for a product or service to a recipient via a mobile communication device, monitoring the geospatial location of the mobile communication device relative to some predetermined criteria, and inferring information about the reaction of the advertisement recipient to the advertisement on the basis of the monitored geospatial location information.
US08611861B2

A communications system includes an electronic device a first wireless personal area network (WPAN) device, and a first processor coupled to the first WPAN device. The communications system also includes a personal information token with a second processor and a second WPAN device coupled thereto. The second processor is configured to store at least one subscription key, and wirelessly transmit the at least one subscription key to the electronic device based upon proximity therewith, via the second WPAN device. The first processor, via the cellular device, then subscribes the electronic device to the cellular network based upon the subscription key.
US08611860B2

A mobile communication method including: operating a radio base station in a closed state which limits a mobile station allowed to make an access by establishing an access right or in a semi-open state which does not limit an access by a mobile station; and switching the state of the radio base station between the closed state and the semi-open state when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
US08611856B2

A computer-implemented method of identifying illegitimate requests for information may include associating a first carrier with an electronic promotional item, receiving a request relating to the electronic promotional item from a second carrier, and identifying the request as illegitimate if the first carrier is different than the second carrier. The computer-implemented method may further include transmitting the electronic promotional item to the first carrier. The request may be a response to the electronic promotional item. In some embodiments, the electronic promotional item may be a link to more information about the electronic promotional item. The computer-implemented method may further include logging the request in a database and charging an ad sponsor for the request in the second database. In some embodiments, a charge may be canceled for the request if the request is identified as illegitimate.
US08611853B2

An exemplary system includes at least one network device included in a network provider subsystem that provides an access device with access to a content processing subsystem by way of an access network. The network device is configured to receive a data flow from the content provider subsystem and directed to the access device by way of the access network, detect a code snippet embedded in the data flow, modify, based on the code snippet embedded in the data flow, content included in the data flow to activate at least one of an instant offer and an instant payment feature, and forward the modified data flow to the access device, the modified data flow configured to be processed by the access device to present the at least one of the instant offer and the instant payment feature to a user of the access device.
US08611849B2

A signal on a wireless communication system control channel can be identified as authentic or malicious by monitoring control channel signal strength changes. When a control channel signal level increases abnormally, a geographic location is obtained from a navigation system, such as a GPS. The determined location is compared to locations in a data base of locations where control channel jamming transmitters are known to exist, and/or likely to exist. If the then-current location is not in the data base, the detected control channel signal level increase is considered to be malicious, i.e., from a jamming transmitter, often used by car thieves.
US08611848B2

Methods and systems automatically allocate cellular communication network resources to emergency response personnel during emergency situations which are detected by call volumes exceeding a predetermined maximum. Access to cellular communication network resources is provided by dedicating a portion of communication channels to emergency response personnel use. By reserving whole communication channels for emergency communication purposes, emergency personnel are able to both initiate and receive calls from both other mobile devices as well as conventional landline telephone stations. Qualified emergency response personnel can preregistered their phones and be assigned personal identification numbers to enable access to allocated network resources. Users can also be registered “on the fly.”
US08611845B2

This invention describes a method by which the output power of a circuit or system at any point can be efficiently and cost effectively sampled in a simple and broadband fashion for processing in a closed loop system for applications such as power level control in very broadband circuits. A divider circuit consisting of a selection of passive lumped elements is used to create a very broadband means of sampling the RF power level at any point in a transmission line. Unlike prior art schemes of this nature, this circuit does not rely upon extremely accurate element values and minimization of parasitic reactances. Used in conjunction with a balanced detector-logarithmic or other amplifier combination this invention result in a very broadband low cost simplified realization of the traditional costly bandwidth limited directional coupler-detector combination.
US08611832B2

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for a mobile telecommunication network for selecting an antenna mode to be used for communication between a radio network and a mobile terminal operating in discontinuous reception mode. The arrangement comprises a determiner configured to determine a mode list comprising antenna modes both supported by the radio network and the mobile terminal, associating means configured to associate each antenna mode in the mode list with a degree of a pre-defined performance measure, retrieving means configured to retrieve information indicating the pre-defined performance measure for the mobile terminal, and a selector configured to select an antenna mode from the mode list at least based on the retrieved information.
US08611826B2

Exemplary embodiments include methods and systems for receiving a signal at a monitoring station, determining a transmit cross-polarization isolation value and/or 1 dB gain compression point based at least in part on the signal having one or more polarities; and outputting at about real-time the determination of the transmit cross-polarization isolation value and/or the 1 dB gain compression point to a user.
US08611823B2

Systems and methods can be implemented on a user device and eNBs to manage uplink interference. A user device associated with a serving base station may detect downlink interference from one or more interfering base stations that are different from the serving base station. The user device that detects downlink interference can determine an uplink radio resource set from a plurality of predefined uplink radio resource sets based, at least in part, on the detected downlink interference. The user device can then transmit to the serving base station a radio resource indication identifying the determined uplink radio resource set to facilitate uplink interference management.
US08611822B2

Systems and methods for avoiding interference signals sent by a femto node in a wireless communication system are described herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a communication link between a first transceiver and a base station. The base station is configured to provide wireless communication coverage within a first area. The method further comprises detecting by the first transceiver a femto signal generated by the femto node. The femto node is configured to provide wireless communication coverage within a second area to at least a second transceiver. The second transceiver is different from the first transceiver. The second area is smaller than the first area. The method further comprises identifying information indicative of a signal strength of the femto signal. The method further comprises transmitting a first message in response to detecting the femto signal, the first message comprising information identifying the femto node and the information indicative of the signal strength of the femto signal to the base station over a first frequency carrier. The method further comprises receiving a second message from the base station. The second message comprises information indicative of an instruction to communicate over a second carrier frequency. The method further comprises communicating with the base station over a second frequency carrier in response to the second message.
US08611819B2

A mobile terminal and controlling method may be provided by which a specific one of various external devices neighboring a mobile terminal may be easily searched and may be connected to the mobile terminal by short-range communication.
US08611817B2

An apparatus and method are disclosed for a software and hardware configuration that uses inductive coupling to allow a physical object to determine information describing another physical object. An inductor capacitor circuit acts as a transmitter as well as a receiver of inductive field. A voltage signal provided to an inductor in an object causes the inductor to generate inductive field received by another inductor in a second object. An object receiving inductive field from another object analyzes the inductive field to receive arbitrary data, including but not limited to data that can allow the receiving object to determine the identity of the object transmitting the inductive field. The object receiving the inductive field can also determine the distance between the receiving object and the transmitting object based on the strength of a signal generated by the inductive field.
US08611803B2

An induction heating type fusing device and an image forming apparatus including the fusing device. The fusing device includes a magnetic flux generator and a compressing roller outside a fusing belt, first and second fusing rollers and a nip guide inside the fusing belt. The compressing roller compresses against the first and second fusing rollers and the nip guide to form nips, while the fusing belt is disposed between the compressing roller and the first and second fusing rollers and the nip guide.
US08611802B2

A fixing device for fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes a tubular flexible member, a nip member, a backup member and a restricting member. The tubular flexible member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space having the nip member disposed therein and an outer peripheral surface opposite the inner peripheral surface, the tubular flexible member defining an axis extending in an axial direction. The backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip member for nipping the tubular flexible member between the backup member and the nip member. The restricting member is configured to restrict the tubular flexible member from moving in the axial direction, the restricting member having a base section, and inner and outer guides protruding inward from the base section in the axial direction for guiding the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, respectively.
US08611799B2

An achromatic apparatus achromatizing an achromatic toner image on paper by an achromatic toner containing a near-infrared ray absorbing colorant that is a cyanine-based colorant, and an organic boron-based compound includes heater units each of which are a ceramic heater arranged across an achromatic convey path of an achromatic unit, and light source units each of which include an LED array chip having a center wavelength shifted to the long-wavelength side from the peak of the first absorption band of the near-infrared ray absorbing colorant and within a predetermined wavelength range. While the paper formed with the achromatic toner image is being conveyed through the achromatic convey path at a liner speed of equal to or faster than 15 mm/sec, the achromatic toner image is heated to a predetermined temperature, and is irradiated with achromatic light from the LED, and thus achromatized efficiently at a low energy consumption.
US08611797B2

A developing device that circulates developer in a circulation passage having first and second conveyance passages, so that the developer is supplied to a developing roller along the first or second conveyance passages, comprising: a first conveyance member in the first conveyance passage driven to rotate to convey the developer in a first conveyance direction; a communicating passage through which the developer flows from the first to second conveyance passages; a second conveyance member in the second conveyance passage driven to rotate to convey the developer in a second conveyance direction; a discharge passage extending from an end portion of the first conveyance passage located downstream in the first conveyance direction; and a passing developer amount changing mechanism configured to change an amount of developer passing through the communicating passage, according to a pressure applied to the developer at a junction between the first conveyance passage and the discharge passage.
US08611793B2

Apparatus for electrically reconditioning a rotatable photoreceptor in an electrophotographic (EP) printer includes a charger, an exposure subsystem, a transfer station, and an erase lamp arranged in that order around the photoreceptor in the direction of rotation thereof. A first corona electrode is disposed within 3 cm of the surface of the photoreceptor, but not in contact therewith, between the transfer station and the erase lamp. The transfer station and the erase lamp are at most 1 cm apart. A second corona electrode is disposed within 3 cm of the surface of the photoreceptor, but not in contact therewith, after the erase lamp in the direction of rotation of the photoreceptor. The erase lamp and the second corona electrode are less than 1 cm apart.
US08611789B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a development unit that develops an electrostatic latent image on an image bearing member and is demountable from a main body of the apparatus; a developer bearing member that is provided in the development unit and supplies a developer it bears to the image bearing member; a motor that drives the developer bearing member to rotate; and a control portion that allows the motor to rotate in a first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction reverse to the first rotation direction. During image formation, the control portion rotates the motor in the first rotation direction, and when a replacement mode is set in which the development unit is demounted from the apparatus main body so as to be replaced, the control portion rotates the motor in the second rotation direction so that the developer bearing member is rotated by a predetermined amount in a direction reverse to a direction in which the developer bearing member is rotated during the image formation.
US08611788B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device provided movably in a direction in which the developing device is to be moved away from the image bearing member; a supplying device, provided with a supply port through which a developer is to be supplied, for supplying the developer; a shutter member provided so that the supply port can be covered and uncovered; a first interrelating mechanism for moving the shutter member from an opposing position in which the shutter member opposes the supply port to a retracted position in interrelation with a mounting operation of the developing device; and a second interrelating mechanism for moving the shutter member from the retracted position to the opposing position in interrelation with a demounting operation of the developing device. The second interrelating mechanism includes an engaging portion for engaging the shutter member with the developing device by moving the shutter member to the retracted position and includes a releasing portion for releasing engagement between the shutter member and the developing device by moving the shutter member to the opposing position.
US08611787B2

A process unit includes a drum frame supporting a photoconductor drum and a development frame supporting a development roller. The development cartridge is swingably supported by the drum frame at a coupling joint provided at a first side of the development frame and a support portion provided at a second side of the development frame. A center of rotation of the development roller is located in a position shifted from a line segment connecting a center of rotation of the coupling joint and a center of rotation of the photoconductor drum to an upstream side with respect to a direction of rotation of the coupling joint as viewed in an axial direction of the development roller, such that the development roller is pressed against the photoconductor drum by the action of the rotatory force received by the coupling joint.
US08611779B2

A smell dilution unit includes: a blower fan; a duct which guides an external air introduced from the blower fan; and a deodorization unit which contains a smell masking agent and allows an odor of the smell masking agent to be mixed with the external air introduced from the blower fan. Since the deodorization unit containing the smell masking agent, which is replaceable, is installed in the duct, the smell dilution unit may dilute an unpleasant smell generated during printing.
US08611776B2

A cleaning apparatus includes a first cleaning roller, and a second cleaning roller. The first cleaning roller is contrived to contact to a circumferential surface against a moving member to be cleaned and to apply a bias to the member to be cleaned while rotating such that the circumferential surface of the first cleaning roller moves in a same direction as the member to be cleaned moves. The second cleaning roller is contrived to contact to the member to be cleaned after the member has been cleaned by the first cleaning roller and to rotate such that a circumferential surface of the second cleaning roller moves in a direction opposite a direction in which the member being cleaned moves.
US08611774B2

Methods are provided for printing and fusing a toner on a receiver having a toner pile that extends at least about 50 μm above a receiver. According to one aspect, a first energy is applied to raise a temperature of a first portion of the toner pile to a range of elevated temperature levels below a glass transition temperature of the toner, a second energy is applied to a temperature of a second portion of the toner pile above the glass transition temperature and to allow the second portion to transfer energy to the first portion. The second energy is provided at a level that allows the transferred energy to raise the temperature of the first portion from the range of elevated levels to the range of temperatures above the glass transition temperature. a range of temperatures above the glass transition temperature for the toner.
US08611768B2

This invention is to provide a technique of always obtaining a stable output image in image formation using toner. A supplier (1217) supplies toner in a decided toner supply amount. A developing device (1206) agitates the supplied toner and supplies the agitated toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on a photosensitive drum (1203), thereby developing a toner image on the photosensitive drum (1203). A correction amount calculation unit (1106) estimates the toner charge amount by calculating a function model that approximates the variation characteristic of the toner charge amount using the toner consumption necessary for printing a print target image, the toner supply amount necessary for printing the print target image, and the toner agitation time. At least one of an image processing condition and a process condition is controlled using the estimated toner charge amount.
US08611759B1

An optical domain spectrum analyzer/channelizer employs multicasting of an analog signal onto a wavelength division multiplexing grid, followed by spectral slicing using a periodic optical domain filter. This technique allows for a large number of high resolution channels. Wideband, 100% duty cycle, spectrum analysis or channelization is made possible permitting continuous time wideband spectral monitoring. The instantaneous bandwidth of the spectrum analyzer/channelizer is equal to the full radio frequency bandwidth of the analyzer/channelizer.
US08611755B2

An optical transmitter includes a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) having a transistor outline (TO) package, a flexible circuit, and at least one active electronic device mounted on the flexible circuit. The active electronic device includes circuitry for processing signals communicated to and from the TOSA.
US08611754B2

The invention concerns a method for transmission of data signals from a transmitting device (BS) to a receiving device (RAH1) using an envelope elimination and restoration amplifier (EER1, EER2) for signal amplification, wherein the data signals are represented by envelope signal components and phase signal components in a first part of the envelope elimination and restoration amplifier (EER1, EER2) located in the transmitting device (BS), the envelope signal components or phase signal components are transmitted over at least one optical connection (OF1, OF2) from the transmitting device (BS) to the receiving device (RAH1), and the envelope signal components or phase signal components are converted from optical signals into electrical signals in said receiving device (RAH1), an envelope elimination and restoration amplifier, a transmitting device, a receiving device, and a communication network therefor.
US08611752B2

An optical transmission system is described. The transmission system comprises a plurality of modules that include signal repeaters at each end. Within each module, optical signals are propagated between the repeaters through free space. Adjacent modules are connected by optical fibers to enable optical transmission therebetween. Adjacent modules are mechanically coupled with a flexible joint.
US08611745B2

A passive optical network communication system includes a number of subscribers' units connected to a central line termination unit through a passive optical coupler. The line termination unit includes a first section that transmits and receives a code division multiplex (CDM) signal, a second section that transmits and receives a time division multiplex (TDM) signal, and a wavelength multiplexing filter that combines the transmitted CDM and TDM signals into a single downstream optical signal, and separates the CDM and TDM components of an upstream signal received from the subscribers' units through the passive optical coupler. The CDM signal provides channels for digital video transmission to CDM-capable subscribers' units.
US08611744B2

The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus and method to provide for monitoring of characteristics of optical signals, as part of wavelength division multiplexed signals for example, transmitted over a network infrastructure. The characteristics of each optical signal may be monitored and maintained at desired values in order to optimize system performance. A system including a coherent detector, as part of a coherent receiver for example, may be employed to associate each transmitted optical signal with a modulated source. Control signals generated by the system can then be provided to elements of the modulated source to control characteristics, such as optical power, optical frequency, and optical phase, for example, of the transmitted optical signal.
US08611743B2

Methods and systems for optical signal grooming that include providing one or more input signals, each having one or more modulated subcarriers, to a grooming processor; and grooming the input signals at a subcarrier level with the grooming processor to produce one or more output signals by arranging the modulated subcarriers in the output signals according to a grooming operation such that the modulated subcarriers are not demodulated or decoded prior to grooming.
US08611739B2

A focus adjusting apparatus includes an optical system including a focus lens, a driver configured to move the focus lens along an optical axis of the optical system, an obtaining unit configured to periodically obtain an evaluation value of a subject image formed via the focus lens, a determining unit configured to determine a target position to which the focus lens is moved based on the evaluation value, and a controller configured to control an operation of the driver based on the determined target position. The controller controls the driver to move the focus lens at a first speed for a first period including a backlash period which is defined from start of the operation of the driver to start of an actual movement of the focus lens, and controls the driver to move the focus lens at a second speed faster than the first speed for a second period after the end of the first period.
US08611728B2

A method for propagating user-provided foreground-background constraint information for a first video frame to subsequent frames allows extraction of moving foreground objects with minimal user interaction. Video matting is performed wherein constraints derived from user input with respect to a first frame are propagated to subsequent frames using the estimated alpha matte of each frame. The matte of a frame is processed in order to arrive at a rough foreground-background segmentation which is then used for estimating the matte of the next frame. At each frame, the propagated constraints are used by an image matting method for estimating the corresponding matte which is in turn used for propagating the constraints to the next frame, and so on.
US08611723B2

A system for automatically relating the changing information posted on an electronic display 10a, in regard to some ongoing event, to the recorded information, such as video, captured and corresponding to that same ongoing event. Posted information is remotely detected using master camera 50a that is aligned to capture images 12 of electronic display 10a during the event. Current images 12c are subtracted from base image 12b to yield difference image 12fr revealing one or more areas of potential electronic display 10a changes that are pre-calibrated into cells, such as game clock 12-1, which are further calibrated into characters, such as 12-1-1 for the “tens” digit through 12-1-4 for the “hundredths” digit. Using pattern matching algorithms well understood in the art, all changes to any character and therefore any cell are automatically detected and translated into digital information relatable by time to any recordings of the event, such as a video stream.
US08611717B2

An image data management device has a data reading unit and a control section. The data reading unit includes a plurality of recording medium insert sections. To the recording medium insert section, a recording medium having recorded photographic image data is connected detachably and data can be read from and written to the recording medium. The control section acquires imaging date/time information included in each photographic image data, classifies the groups of photographic image data recorded in each recording medium of the data reading unit according to the imaging date/time, and moves the photographic image data among the recording media based on the result of classification.
US08611709B2

An embodiment of the invention provides a coupled waveguide photo detector device. Optically, the device includes an input waveguide. An output waveguide is coupled to the input waveguide with a nonuniform coupling coefficient in a coupling section. An absorber is included in the coupling section to convert an absorbed portion of optical radiation into photo current. The location of absorber and the optical radiation intensity pattern in the coupling section are set to control the maximum intensity of output power absorbed by the output waveguide to be within a predetermined limit that avoids saturation. The absorber is also part of a transmission line collector which has a phase and group velocity to match those of the optical wave in the coupling section such that currents collected by the transmission line collector add in phase as the optical wave propagates in the output waveguide.
US08611698B2

The invention relates to a method for reframing an image according to at least one predefined reframing method to obtain a reframed image for which the format ratio is equal to a target format ratio. The method comprises the following steps for: analyzing the image, selecting the predefined reframing method in a set of at least two reframing methods according to the result of the analysis step, and reframing said image using the selected reframing method. The invention also relates to a device for reframing an image.
US08611696B1

Systems and methods for filling panoramic images having valid and invalid pixel regions are provided. An invalid region is identified in an initial panoramic image. Pixel data of invalid pixels in the initial panoramic image are replaced with pixel data of pixels from a valid region in at least one nearby panoramic image to obtain a valid fill region.
US08611686B2

Apparatus and method for image coding may group code units corresponding to an image based on a same at least one parameter of each of the code units. Each group of code units which is grouped includes code units of which values of the same at least one parameter are the same. In addition, the code units of each group of code units which is grouped are entropy coded in parallel.
US08611685B2

Computer-readable medium having an image decoding program performing: storing a reference image of a previously decoded image; receiving coded information including motion vector and rounding method information specifying a rounding method for synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image; and synthesizing the prediction image via motion compensation using the motion vector information and reference image, using a positive and negative rounding method for interpolating pixel intensity values; wherein interpolation of pixel intensity values uses a rounding method specified by the rounding method information included in the encoded current P frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information is not received from the encoded I frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information includes a header section of the currently decoded image's coded information, and specifies one of two values; and wherein one of the two values specifies a positive rounding method, and another specifies a negative rounding method.
US08611679B2

This invention provides an image processing device and an image processing method capable of implementing pattern matching based on an edge code at relatively high speed with a smaller circuit configuration. In the image processing device according to the present embodiment, an information amount of a valid zone is diffused over an entire edge code image. In other words, the amount of information used in the entire edge code image is compressed by reducing the number of bits to assign to each pixel and effectively using the number of bits assigned to each pixel as a whole. If a valid zone for an edge EDG1, the following invalid zone in which the invalid edge code value continues, and the following valid zone for an edge EDG2 appear in a profile of the edge code value, increase/decrease information from the edge code value contained in the valid zone for the edge EDG1 to the edge code value contained in the valid zone for the edge EDG2 is assigned to the element corresponding to the invalid zone.
US08611664B2

A method for detecting a fire flame using fuzzy finite automata is provided. The fire-flame detection method comprises (1) acquiring an image required for the detection of fire-flame, (2) dividing the image into a number of blocks, (3) extracting a fire-flame candidate block using a brightness distortion of a pixel in the block, (4) detecting a fire-flame candidate region from the fire-flame block using a color probability model, and (5) determining whether the fire-flame candidate region corresponds to a fire-flame via fuzzy finite automata. The fire-flame detection method can detect fire-flames in a variety of fire images with relatively high precision, by establishing a probability model using the brightness distortion and wavelet energy in fire-flame regions with continuous and irregular fluctuation patterns and using the upward motion, and applying the model to fuzzy finite automata.
US08611661B2

In some embodiments, provided are procedures for processing images that may have different font sizes. In some embodiments, it involves OCR'ing with multiple passes at different resolutions.
US08611652B2

The disclosure herein relates to devices for compression, decompression or reconstruction of image data for still or moving pictures, such as image data detected with a digital camera. In some embodiments, data channels are compressed using a scalable compression algorithm. The compression algorithm may allow customization of compression parameters, such as a quantization factor, code block size, number of transform levels, reversible or irreversible compression, a desired compression ratio with a variable bit rate output, a desired fixed bit rate output with a variable compression rate, progression order, output format, or visual weighting. A lower quality image or an image with lower resolution may be reconstructed using only some of the compressed data. Use of offsets to various layers and color channels allow reconstruction of the image without requiring decompression of all of the full image data.
US08611645B2

An image recognizing apparatus includes a dictionary memory, a block determining module and a recognizing module. The dictionary memory stores dictionary data. The block determining module determines that a target block comprising a target pixel to be processed of a plurality of pixels in image data is a shared block to which the dictionary data is used or a mirror block to which the dictionary data to the shared block is used, based on a position of the target block. The recognizing module uses common dictionary data for the shared block and the mirror block, and recognizes a characteristic portion of the image expressed by the image data.
US08611638B2

According to an embodiment, a pattern inspection apparatus includes an imaging unit, a defect detection unit, and an inspection control unit. The imaging unit is configured to image a pattern on a substrate to acquire a pattern image. The defect detection unit is configured to detect a defect of the pattern by a first outer shape comparison in associate with the pattern image and design information for the pattern or by a comparison in pixel values between images of patterns designed to be formed into the same shape in the substrate. The inspection control unit is configured to select an inspection based on the amount of the defect detected by the first outer shape comparison or based on a value of a gradient of an edge profile of the pattern image and to control the imaging unit and the defect detection unit in accordance with the selected inspection.
US08611630B1

The methods and systems of the present invention is an algorithm which estimates motion inside objects that change during the scan. The algorithm is flexible and can be used for solving the misalignment correction problem and, more generally, for finding scan parameters that are not accurately known. The algorithm is based on Local Tomography so it is faster and is not limited to a source trajectory for which accurate and efficient inversion formulas exist.
US08611619B2

A read-out method for a diagnostic point-of-care assay device, the device including a read-out substrate having at least one response area capable of producing a colored indication of a response, the response area including a marker at least one marker whose color changes in response to binding of an analyte thereto and which is used for indication of response. The method includes registering an image of the response area; calculating a color saturation value S for the image using at least two distinct wavelengths; using the S-value for determining a result of the assay. A read-out system (10) for an allergy point-of-care assay device is described. The system includes an illumination device (12; 21, 22) capable of delivering at least two different wavelengths of light; a color image capturing device (14); a control unit (19) for calculating a color saturation value on images recorded by the color image capturing device.
US08611615B2

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that are capable of more appropriately evaluating the image-capture state of an image.A blur degree score calculation unit 23 through to a chroma score calculation unit 27 extract a feature quantity of a pre-specified feature from an input image, and calculate a feature-by-feature score indicating an evaluation for the input image on the basis of the feature. For example, the luminance score calculation unit 24 extracts, as a feature quantity, a luminance value from the input image, and calculates a luminance score indicating an evaluation based on the distribution of the luminance values in the subject portion of the input image. The overall score calculation unit 28 calculates an overall score indicating the evaluation of the image-capture state of the input image from each feature-by-feature score. As described above, when each feature-by-feature score is to be calculated, by extracting each feature quantity and obtaining a score from the area of the input image suitable for the feature, it is possible to more appropriately evaluate the input image. The present invention can be applied to an image processing apparatus.
US08611613B2

The invention relates to a method and a device for checking print products of the same kind, more particularly printed sheets of paper of the same kind, which are transported by a conveying device. For this purpose, during a teach-in phase, test images are recorded at a plurality of points on the print product by means of a digital camera. The test images recorded, or parts thereof, are analyzed with respect to their characteristic information, and the test image having the most distinct characteristic information is selected as the reference image. For the purpose of checking print products of the same kind, the subsequent print products of the same kind are checked by recording at least one image at a position corresponding to the reference image and by comparing it with the image data of the reference image. Such checking is carried out by means of a device comprising a digital camera for recording test images of the print product, an illuminating device for illuminating the print product, an input for supplying a position signal, and a control and evaluation unit for controlling the digital camera and the illuminating device and for analyzing image data produced by the digital camera. The invention further relates to a computer program and to a computer program product.
US08611612B2

A block matching method for estimating a motion vector of an estimation block of an image frame is provided, which includes comparing the estimation block with at least one reference block corresponding to a first object to obtain a plurality of pixel difference values, determining a mask area corresponding to the first object and a calculation area corresponding to a second object in the estimation block, and performing blocking matching operations on the calculation area to determine a motion vector of the second object as the motion vector of the estimation block.
US08611610B2

A method and apparatus for determining a distance between an optical apparatus and an object by considering a measured nonlinear waveform, as opposed to a mathematically ideal waveform. The method and apparatus may accurately calculate distance information without being affected by a type of waveform projected onto the object and may not require an expensive light source or a light modulator for generating a light with little distortion and nonlinearity. Further, since the method may be able to use a general light source, a general light modulator, and a general optical apparatus, additional costs do not arise. Furthermore, a lookup table, in which previously calculated distance information is stored, may be used, and thus the amount of computation required to be performed to calculate the distance is small, thereby allowing for quick calculation of the distance information in real time.
US08611608B2

What is disclosed is a system and method for determining whether a front seat in a motor vehicle is occupied based on seat pattern recognition. The present invention takes advantage of the observation that an unoccupied seat of a motor vehicle exhibits features which are distinguishable from an occupied seat. An unoccupied motor vehicle seat typically features long contiguous horizontal line segments and curve segments, and substantially uniform areas encompassed by these segments which are not present in an occupied seat. The present method provides a long horizontal edge test which uses location information within a defined window of the image, edge linking, softness of the edge, number of lines, line/curve fitting, and other techniques to locate horizontal edges in the image which define a seat, and a uniformity step which determines whether the area bounded by the horizontal edges is relatively uniform indicating an unoccupied seat.
US08611605B2

It is judged whether or not a human face detecting mode is set. When it is determined that the human face detecting mode is set, a two-dimensional face detecting process is performed to detect a human face. When it is determined that a human face has not been detected in the two-dimensional face detecting process, a three-dimensional face detecting process is performed to detect a human face. In addition, when an animal face detecting mode is set, a three-dimensional face detecting process is performed to detect a face of an animal corresponding to the set detecting mode.
US08611604B2

A depth histogram is created for each of a plurality of local regions of the depth image by grouping, according to specified depths, the depth information for the individual pixels that are contained in the local regions. A degree of similarity between two of the depth histograms for two of the local regions at different positions in the depth image is calculated as a feature. A depth image for training that has a high degree of certainty is defined as a positive example, a depth image for training that has a low degree of certainty is defined as a negative example, a classifier that is suitable for classifying the positive example and the negative example is constructed, and an object that is a target of detection is detected in the depth image, using the classifier and based on the feature.
US08611599B2

An information processing apparatus performs verification processing between an input image and a parameter while referring to the parameter having data to identify an object in the input image. The information processing apparatus includes a calculation unit adapted to perform verification processing to identify the object from the input image by referring to a fixed parameter or variable parameter in one of the series-connected processing step group and one processing step group out of the plurality of processing step groups, a determination unit adapted to determine, based on the calculation result of the calculation unit, whether the calculation unit executes the verification processing next in the series-connected processing step group or one processing step group out of the plurality of processing step groups connected via the branches, and a selection unit adapted to select the fixed parameter or variable parameter.
US08611591B2

Described herein are tracking algorithm modifications to handle occlusions when processing a video stream including multiple image frames. Specifically, system and methods for handling both partial and full occlusions while tracking moving and non-moving targets are described. The occlusion handling embodiments described herein may be appropriate for a visual tracking system with supplementary range information.
US08611574B2

Within a casing of a hearing device to be worn in an area of an auricle such as behind an ear, comprises bendable portions such that the hearing device can be at least partially deformed.
US08611573B2

A hearing aid has an audio-shoe interface, and a hearing-aid system includes a hearing aid and an audio shoe. The hearing aid has a housing, in which an undercut and an abutment are provided. The abutment is arranged opposite to the undercut. Undercut and abutment are embodied such that a retaining lug of an audio shoe can be inserted into the undercut by a rotational movement. The abutment is embodied such that a retaining lug inserted into the undercut can only be removed from the undercut again by a rotational movement in the opposite direction. A lock prevents a rotational movement of an inserted audio shoe in the opposite direction. When the electrical contacts between audio shoe and hearing aid are disposed in the undercut, these too are hidden from view and well protected against external influences.
US08611572B2

The determination of a suitable step size for controlling the adaptation of a filter of an acoustic feedback compensator especially for hearing aids is to be improved. A step size controller is therefore provided in which an input signal is analyzed in at least two frequency bands. In doing so, any steep signal edges in the individual frequency bands are detected. The adaptation step size of an adaptive filter is then controlled depending on the number of frequency bands in which steep signal edges are detected, wherein the magnitude of the signal edges can be included in the decision.
US08611571B2

A binaural hearing apparatus has at least one left hearing device and at least one right hearing device. The apparatus further includes a first frequency distortion unit in the left hearing device, which distorts the frequency of an acoustic signal received by the left hearing device or a signal part of the received acoustic signal and a second frequency distortion unit in the right hearing device, which distorts the frequency of the acoustic signal received by the right hearing device or a signal part of the received acoustic signal, with the frequency distortions of the left and right hearing device being different. This is advantageous in that the subjective perception of superimposition artifacts by a hearing device wearer is reduced.
US08611566B2

A MEMS microphone having an improved noise performance due to reduced DC leakage current is provided. For that, a minimum distance between a signal line of the MEMS microphone and other conducting structures is maintained. Further, a DC guard structure fencing at least a section of the signal line is provided.
US08611550B2

An apparatus for determining a converted spatial audio signal, the converted spatial audio signal having an omnidirectional audio component and at least one directional audio component, from an input spatial audio signal, the input spatial audio signal having an input audio representation and an input direction of arrival. The apparatus has an estimator for estimating a wave representation having a wave field measure and a wave direction of arrival measure based on the input audio representation and the input direction of arrival. The apparatus further has a processor for processing the wave field measure and the wave direction of arrival measure to obtain the omnidirectional audio component and the at least one directional component.
US08611543B2

A method for providing an IP key, for encoding messages between a user terminal MS or a PMIP client and a home agent HA, wherein an authentication server only provides the mobile IP key when the authentication server recognizes, by a correspondingly encoded parameter, that the user terminal MS itself is not using mobile IP (PMIP).
US08611534B2

An electro-optic waveguide polarization modulator (20) comprising a waveguide core (4) having first and second faces defining a waveguide core plane, a plurality of primary electrodes (22, 24) arranged at a first side of the waveguide core plane and out of said plane, and at least one secondary electrode (26) arranged at a second side of the waveguide core plane and out of said plane, wherein the electrodes (22, 24, 26) are adapted in use to provide an electric field having field components (13, 15) in two substantially perpendicular directions within the waveguide core (4) so as modulate the refractive index thereof such that electromagnetic radiation propagating through the core (4) is converted from a first polarization state to a second polarization state.
US08611529B2

A communication device is provided, which includes a communication unit performing data communication, a communication device main body accommodating the communication unit, a handset that is electrically connected with the communication unit and configured to be used for voice communication, a first side cover forming a first side wall of the communication device main body in a predetermined width direction of the communication device main body, an upper cover that is disposed over the first side cover and configured with a higher stiffness than the first side cover, a holder that is attached to the first side cover and configured to hold the handset on an upper surface of the holder, and a load transmission unit transmitting, to the upper cover, a load applied upward from a lower surface of the holder.
US08611527B1

A system and machine-implemented method for automated communication is described. It is estimated whether a new established outbound communication session will be processed by a live agent within a predetermined period of time. In response to the estimate, it either waits to receive a new inbound communication session, or initiates a new outbound communication session with an unused communication channel. The estimate may be affected by whether a minimum number of channels are configured to receive a new inbound communication session, a number of the channels configured to initiate a new outbound communication session, and a number of live agents and an expected time spent by the live agents per outbound communication session. The amount of time spent waiting may vary among the channels.
US08611521B2

An exemplary method and system are described for providing an easy to use interface for establishing multi-media audio conference calls involving a leader and a plurality of participants. A web-based interface can be used by the leader for establishing, controlling, and providing information associated with the call. Participants can also access the web-site for receiving information associated with the call and receiving status information regarding the conference call. In one embodiment, an address organizer can be used to select participants by the leader and schedule an audio conference call with the recipients having the opportunity to accept, decline, or indicate an alternative telephone number at which they can be reached.
US08611512B2

A system is disclosed for integrating electronic mail, voice mail, and fax mail in a universal mailbox. Message receivers may access their messages with a telephone or a computer regardless of the communication medium used by the message sender. Using a telephone, message receivers may playback voice mail, redirect fax mail, and “listen” to e-mail through a text-to-speech conversion process. Using a computer and modem, message receivers may playback voice mail, view fax mail, and read e-mail by accessing the universal mailbox via connection software. Message senders and receivers may choose from a variety of filter and forward options that allow them to manage their communications via the universal mailbox. Forwarding and conversion of messages is performed automatically. The options are used to define a set of rules to be applied to inbound and outbound messages so that messages are sent and received in accordance with the preferences of the senders and receivers.
US08611509B1

A system and for exchanging information to enable embodiment IP communication comprises a first endpoint corresponding to a first user, a second endpoint corresponding to a second user, and an information exchange (PURLX) unit. The PURLX unit comprises: a processor, a table and a phone URL exchange engine. The processor is configured for communication over the communications channel with a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The table stores information about the first user and the second user including a first association between the first user and one or more endpoint device addresses and a second association between the second user and one or more endpoint device addresses. The table is coupled for communication with the processor. The exchange engine establishes IP communication between the first user and the second user using information from the table. The exchange engine is coupled to retrieve information from the table and store information in the table and coupled to the processor for communication with the first endpoint and the second endpoint.
US08611507B2

Intelligent call transcript systems and methods are disclosed. An intelligent call transcript system can create a transcript of a telephonic communication and supplement the transcript with additional information automatically or upon request. Additional information may be added when key words are detected, such as adding acronym expansion when an acronym is detected or adding identifying information to an important task when mention of the task is detected. Portions of the transcript may also be sent as messages, text-based or audio, upon detection of key words or at the instruction of a user or device.
US08611506B2

Example methods and apparatus to facilitate voicemail interaction are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves, during a call session with a voicemail system, receiving an audio segment from the voicemail system. The example method also involves performing feature recognition on the audio segment and outputting a display element to a user interface based on a recognized feature in the audio segment.
US08611504B2

A dimensioned grid apparatus for determining: 1) leg length, offset, and cup position during arthroplasty replacement surgery; 2) fracture reduction/correction position during trauma procedures and 3) an apparatus to be used for deformity correction planning is provided.
US08611500B2

An X-ray imaging apparatus which obtains an X-ray image, the apparatus includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of detecting elements adapted to convert X-rays generated by an X-ray generating apparatus which outputs or stops X-rays in accordance with an operation instruction into an image signal; and an obtaining unit adapted to obtain an operation start timing of the X-ray generating apparatus based on an image signal output from the imaging unit and obtain a difference between a timing of an operation instruction to the X-ray generating apparatus and the operation start timing.
US08611497B2

A portable orthovoltage radiotherapy system is described that is configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of radiation to a target structure in a patient. In some embodiments, inflammatory ocular disorders are treated, specifically macular degeneration. In some embodiments, the ocular structures are placed in a global coordinate system based on ocular imaging. In some embodiments, the ocular structures inside the global coordinate system lead to direction of an automated positioning system that is directed based on the ocular structures within the coordinate system.
US08611493B2

The X-ray fluorescence analyzer (100) includes: an enclosure (10); a door (20) for putting the sample into and out of the enclosure; a height measurement mechanism (7) capable of measuring a height at the irradiation point; a moving mechanism control unit (9) for adjusting a distance between the sample and the radiation source as well as the X-ray detector based on the measured height at the irradiation point; a laser unit (7) for irradiating the irradiation point with a visible light laser beam; a laser start control unit (9) for irradiating the visible light laser beam by the laser unit (7) when the door is open state; and a height measurement mechanism start control unit (9) for starting the height measurement mechanism to measure the height at the irradiation point when the door is opened.
US08611490B2

A method of imaging an object that includes directing a plurality of x-ray beams in a fan-shaped form towards an object, detecting x-rays that pass through the object due to the directing a plurality of x-ray beams and generating a plurality of imaging data regarding the object from the detected x-rays. The method further includes forming either a three-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography, digital tomosynthesis or Megavoltage image from the plurality of imaging data and displaying the image.
US08611488B2

A debris exclusion and retention device traps and retains foreign material within the lower tie plate of the fuel assembly utilizing the existing flow paths within the lower tie plate, and without redirecting coolant flow. Flow through the inlet nozzle of the lower tie plate into an enlarged lower tie plate housing creates strong jet impingement against the center of the lower tie plate grid or debris filter, if present, which has a tendency to push debris to the periphery of the lower tie plate. Low flow zones around the periphery of the lower tie plate allow debris to fall back toward the inlet nozzle. The retention device traps and retains debris in these low flow zones without impacting existing flow patterns in the lower tie plate. Thus, the retention device has minimal or no impact on lower tie plate pressure drop.
US08611486B2

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to adjustment of clock signals regenerated from a data stream. An embodiment of a method includes receiving a data stream from a transmitting device via a communication link, the data stream including stream data, a link clock signal, and timestamps to indicate a relationship between the link clock signal and a stream clock signal. The method further includes adjusting the stream clock based at least in part on one or more measurements related to the data stream, the one or more measurements including a count of a number of pulses of the stream clock during a period of time, or a measurement of a number of data elements from the data stream stored in a buffer at a certain point in time.
US08611485B2

A device for controlling frequency synchronization includes a processor for controlling a frequency-controlled clock signal on the basis of received timing messages so as to achieve frequency-locking between the frequency-controlled clock signal and a reference clock signal. For the purpose of finding such timing messages which have experienced similar transfer delays and thus are suitable for the frequency control, the processor is configured to control a phase-controlled clock signal on the basis of the timing messages so as to achieve phase-locking between the phase-controlled clock signal and the reference clock signal, and to select the timing messages to be used for the frequency control on the basis of phase-error indicators related to the phase control. Thus, the phase-controlled clock signal is an auxiliary clock signal that is utilized for performing the frequency control.
US08611484B2

A receiver for receiving an input signal (a clock-embedded data (CED) signal), in which a clock signal is periodically embedded between data signals, includes a clock recovery unit configured to recover and output the clock signal and a serial-to-parallel converter configured to recover and output a data signal. The input signal (the CED signal) comprises a single level signal in which the clock signal is periodically embedded between the data signals at the same level. The clock recovery unit is configured based on a delay locked loop (DLL) without using an internal oscillator for generating a reference clock signal.
US08611482B2

An apparatus comprising an inter symbol interference (ISI) cancellation circuit and a detector circuit. The inter symbol interference (ISI) cancellation circuit may be configured to minimize ISI at data sampling and crossing sampling points in a symbol interval of an input signal. The detector circuit may be configured to generate data samples and crossing samples at the data sampling and crossing sampling points in the symbol interval of the input signal.
US08611459B2

A transmitter (50) includes a low power nonlinear predistorter (58) that inserts predistortion configured to compensate for a memoryless nonlinearity (146) corresponding to gain droop and another memoryless nonlinearity (148) corresponding to a video signal. When efforts are taken to reduce memory effects, such as configuring a network of components (138) that couple to an HPA (114) to avoid resonance frequencies within a video bandwidth (140), high performance linearization at low power results without extending linearization beyond that provided by the memoryless nonlinear predistorter (58). A unadaptable look-up table (370) has address inputs responsive to a magnitude parameter (152) of a communication signal (54), a magnitude derivative parameter (204) of the communication signal (54), and a parameter (346, 366) related either directly or indirectly to battery voltage. The unadaptable look-up table (370) produces a gain-correcting signal (284) that adjusts the gain applied to the communication signal (54) prior to amplification.
US08611454B2

A method and system are provided for scheduling data transmission in a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) system. The MIMO system may comprise at least one MIMO transmitter and at least one MIMO receiver. Feedback from one or more receivers may be used by a transmitter to improve quality, capacity, and scheduling in MIMO communication systems. The method may include generating or receiving information pertaining to a MIMO channel metric and information pertaining to a Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) in respect of a transmitted signal; and sending a next transmission to a receiver using a MIMO mode selected in accordance with the information pertaining to the MIMO channel metric, and an adaptive coding and modulation selected in accordance with the information pertaining to the CQI.
US08611453B2

A Channel Quality Indicator table for wireless multiple input multiple output (MIMO) networks is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of generating a table for channel quality indicator (CQI) for an open loop MIMO transmission includes calculating performance of a link between a transmitter and a user end unit for each MIMO transmission mode over a range of average signal-to-noise ratio, and selecting the MIMO transmission mode that maximizes performance for each subset of the range of average signal-to-noise ratio. The method further includes storing the selected MIMO transmission mode and the corresponding subset of the range of average signal-to-noise ratio in a CQI table, the CQI table being stored in an user end unit and a base transceiver station of the open loop MIMO network.
US08611452B1

A method includes obtaining a first set of one or more parameters associated with a plurality of transmitters transmitting a plurality of intended streams and obtaining a second set of one or more parameters associated with an interference source. The first set of parameters includes a first MIMO mode associated with the plurality of transmitters and the second set of parameters includes a second MIMO mode associated with the interference source. The method also includes receiving a plurality of streams, including the plurality of intended streams and a plurality of interfering streams transmitted by the interference source, and selecting a pre-processing scheme based at least in part on the first MIMO mode and the second MIMO mode.
US08611445B2

A wireless transceiver includes a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver and transmitter implemented to have multiple receive and transmit channels respectively, to provide multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) capability. In an embodiment, the transceiver is implemented to include two transmit channels and two receive channels. Some blocks/circuitry of each of the receive and transmit channels are implemented with reduced area and current consumption, with a corresponding increase in noise. In a single-input single-output (SISO) mode of operation, the receiver combines the output of both the receive channels to compensate for the increase in noise due to the implementation with smaller area and lower current consumption. Similarly, the transmitter combines the output of both the transmit channels to compensate for the increase in noise. The transceiver operates with no signal degradation in SISO mode, and with a small degradation in signal quality in the MIMO mode.
US08611443B2

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) has become a popular transmission method for high speed wireless radio transmission, due to its potential for low complexity of transmitters and receivers. A method and apparatus are contemplated for cancelling additive sinusoidal disturbances of a known frequency in OFDM receivers which arise e.g. from clock signals that are present for frequency reference, mixer control, and A/D converter control, as well as harmonics and mixing products of those periodic signals, coupling into some point in the receiver chain and appearing as rotating complex exponentials superimposed to complex baseband receive signals. According to the inventive method and apparatus an estimation of an amplitude and phase of a disturbing superimposed tone with a known frequency is obtained and the amplitude and phase estimation is used to cancel the spurious tone preventing a degradation of receiver sensitivity while achieving low implementation complexity.
US08611442B2

An Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system is provided that triggers a transmission of an uplink sounding signal by use of a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message. In various embodiments of the invention, the DCI message may be used to individually trigger an uplink sounding signal by a single user equipment or may be used to trigger an uplink sounding signal by a group of users equipment.
US08611431B2

An implementation exits a power saving mode for fixed and periodic active periods of time to receive a separate burst transmission from a first stream during each of the corresponding active periods of time. The first stream is received at a first-stream burst data rate. The first stream includes data configured to be displayed at a first playback rate that is substantially less than the first-stream burst data rate. During the active periods of time, data is received from a second stream at a second-stream rate. The second stream includes data configured to be displayed at a second playback rate that is substantially the same as the second-stream rate. After receiving each of the burst transmissions from the first stream during the active periods of time, the power saving mode is entered for corresponding fixed and periodic power-saving periods of time while waiting for another burst from the first stream.
US08611426B2

An image is divided into blocks, and each of the blocks is categorized as a block of interest or a block of non-interest. In signal processing in a camera signal processing unit (9), a block of interest is controlled using a parameter given by a main control unit (22) such that a larger amount of high-frequency components are left than in a block of non-interest. A compression/decompression processing unit (19) allocates a large amount of codes to a block of interest to effectively suppress a deterioration of image quality in a region of interest. There is provided an image-sensing apparatus which can compress an image into a limited amount of codes such that any deterioration of image quality is unnoticeable.
US08611424B2

The present application provides an image processing apparatus, including: a correlation value calculation section configured to determine a correlation value between a target block and a each of reference blocks; a section configured to determine a highest value from among the correlation values; a motion vector detection section configured to detect a motion vector of the target block; and a section configured to calculate an index to reliability of the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section.
US08611419B2

The method includes the steps of obtaining initialization information of a reference picture list for a random access slice, the initialization information representing a reference relation between a plurality of views, initializing the reference picture list for inter-view prediction by appending an inter-view reference index to an initialized reference picture list for temporal prediction, the inter-view reference index being appended based on the view number information and the view identification information, obtaining modification information for the initialized reference picture list from a multi-view video stream, the modification information representing how to assign an inter-view reference index in the initialized reference picture list, modifying the initialized reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the modification information.
US08611413B2

A method of transmitting an image portion, in a coding phase, comprises: analyzing a coding context; adapting a parameter of a group of prediction functions that can be used for coding; forming a first predicted descriptor using a selected prediction function; and determining and transmitting a residue (ε) between the first predicted descriptor and the current descriptor. The method further includes a decoding phase comprising: analyzing a decoding context; adapting a parameter of a group of prediction functions that can be used for decoding; forming a second predicted descriptor (P*) using a selected prediction function; and combining the second predicted descriptor and the received residue to deliver a decoded version of the current descriptor (V*).
US08611411B2

A linear equalizer unit sequentially subjects a signal to be processed to linear equalization. A temporary decision unit sequentially subjects a signal subjected to linear equalization by the linear equalizer unit to temporary decision. A nonlinear equalizer unit derives a plurality of coefficients using a signal subjected to temporary decision as a teacher signal and sequentially subject a signal subjected to linear equalization by the linear equalizer unit to nonlinear equalization based on the plurality of coefficients.
US08611409B2

A method is provided for performing channel equalization on a wireless signal. The method includes: (i) formulating an equalizer associated with sub-carriers of the wireless signal, wherein the equalizer is a function of a quantity relating to signal quality (305); (ii) determining an adjoint of the equalizer over a selected number of the subcarriers (310); (iii) interpolating the adjoint determined in (ii) to obtain an adjoint of the equalizer over remaining ones of the subcarriers of the wireless signal (315); and (iv) generating an equalized signal for each of the subcarriers using the adjoint of the equalizer over the selected number of subcarriers and the interpolated adjoint over the remaining ones of the subcarriers (320).
US08611405B2

A modem or associated computing or testing device is configured to detect the presence of one or more faults that affect DSL communications, and upon their detection, generate, for example, an indication, communication or message that recommends corrective action. In this context, a fault is generally caused by one or more unfiltered devices, impulsive noises, malfunctioning modems, or other factor that does not affect measured attenuation or measured noise, but does affect the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the link. In addition to being able to generate a message guiding a user through corrective action, the system can estimate the rate impact of the detected fault.
US08611403B1

Disclosed are apparatus and methods to advantageously manage transceiver power in an automated manner using adaptation logic that may be implemented on a same integrated circuit as the transceiver circuitry. In one embodiment, a power-consuming component of the transceiver is turned on at a lowest power setting. A determination is made as to whether a first set of eye opening data for a serial data signal meets preset criteria. If the preset criteria are not met by the first set of eye opening data, then the power-consuming component is changed to a second lowest power setting. Another embodiment relates to an integrated circuit including a receiver buffer, a receiver equalization circuit, an eye viewer circuit and adaptation logic. The adaptation logic is configured to obtain the eye opening data and to adapt the receiver equalization circuit to conserve power used. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08611400B2

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver device includes a processing module, a memory, and an RF section, each including an RF bus transceiver. An RF bus facilitates communication between the processing module, the memory and the RF section via the RF bus transceivers. An RF bus controller controls access to the RF bus.
US08611390B2

A fan for circulating laser gas in a gas laser, the fan having a shaft which is supported by at least one radial bearing and at least one axial gas bearing. The axial gas bearing has at least two rotating bearing faces, one or both being structured with a groove pattern, and at least two stationary bearing faces that are arranged at both sides of a plate.
US08611385B2

A driver circuit for a laser diode or other optical source comprises a controllable termination for a transmission line coupled between the driver circuit and the optical source, with the controllable termination being switchable between at least first and second termination configurations. The transmission line comprises a first conductor coupled to a first terminal of the optical source and a second conductor coupled to a second terminal of the optical source, and the driver circuit comprises a first current source configured to drive the first conductor, and a second current source configured to drive the second conductor. By way of example, the first termination configuration may comprise an alternating current (AC) termination configuration and the second termination configuration may comprise a direct current (DC) termination configuration.
US08611377B2

A mobile station device that communicates with a base station device, including: a downlink synchronization error detecting portion that detects the occurrence of a downlink synchronization error from the measurement result of a transmission signal of the base station device; a synchronization monitoring portion that sets information showing the occurrence of a downlink synchronization error into a random access channel based on the downlink synchronization state or both the downlink and uplink synchronization states of the mobile station device; and a downlink synchronization error notifying portion that transmits the random access channel to the base station device.
US08611371B2

A device (D2) is dedicated to the reconstruction of clock signals, for example within communication equipment (EQ2) of an IP network. This device (D2) comprises i) a phase-locked loop (BY) having a cut-off frequency dependent, on the one hand, on a configuration value making it possible to reconstruct clock signals according to a chosen clock frequency, and on the other hand, a chosen sampling frequency, and ii) control means (MC2) responsible for forcing the phase-locked loop (BV) to present a variable cut-off frequency according to a received operating mode indication.
US08611363B2

Logical ports allow multiple customers to be connected to and to receive different services over a common physical port of a packet forwarding device. Such logical ports allow for customer separation and may be created based on VLAN ID and MPLS labels. In one embodiment, each service provided via a packet forwarding device is associated with a unique logical port. The logical port may span multiple physical ports.
US08611356B2

A multi-radio device system includes a set of sending radio devices and a set of receiving radio devices. Among the sending radio devices is a load-balancing radio device that receives data packets from an originating network. The load-balancing radio device labels data packets with sequence numbers and distributes the labeled data packets among the sending radio devices based on the relative capacities and statuses of those sending radio devices. The sending radio devices transmit the labeled data packets to the receiving radio devices. The receiving radio devices send the labeled data packets to an aggregating radio device within the set of receiving radio devices. The aggregating radio device uses the sequence numbers to ensure that the data packets are forwarded to a destination network in the correct order, extracting original data packets from the labeled data packets before forwarding the original data packets on toward the destination network.
US08611354B2

Apparatus for relaying packets between a first host and a second host and methods for sending packets between a first and second host are provided. The apparatus includes a memory for registering for the first host the following information: a relayed address of the first host, an address of the second host, and an outbound higher layer identifier and/or an inbound higher layer identifier. The apparatus further includes an outbound packet inspector for inspecting packets received from the first host and addressed to an address of the apparatus to determine whether they contain a registered outbound higher layer identifier and, if so, for forwarding the packets to the address of the second host and/or an inbound packet inspector for inspecting packets received from the second host and addressed to the relayed address to determine whether they contain a registered inbound higher layer identifier and, if so, for forwarding the packets to the address of the first host.
US08611348B2

A system and method of generating a channel address. The method includes mapping a first address, obtained from a membership report, to a second address to generate a channel address. A multicast network device (MND) for subscribing one or more hosts on a multicast network to one or more channels is disclosed. The MND includes a memory containing a first address and a SSM mapping engine configured to map the first address to a second address to generate a channel address, identifying a channel, in response to the first address contained in the memory.
US08611343B2

A method and system for processing wireless traffic of a wireless network, e.g., a cellular network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains wireless traffic, and processes the wireless traffic by a plurality of probe servers, where each of the plurality of probe servers generates a plurality of feeds comprising a data feed and a control feed. The method correlates the plurality of feeds from the plurality of probe servers by a plurality of aggregator servers, where the data feed and the control feed of each of the plurality of probe servers are correlated with at least one other probe server of the plurality of probe servers, and outputs a correlated result from the correlating.
US08611330B2

A local area wireless transmission system includes: at least one transmitter transmitting a multimedia data signal with a first speed; at least one receiver receiving the multimedia data signal; and at least one master receiver transmitting a synchronization control signal with a second speed lower than the first speed, the at least one master receiver receiving the multimedia data signal from the at least one transmitter wirelessly and from the at least one receiver wiredly.
US08611329B2

On the mobile communication terminal 100 side, when the VOIP communication application stored in the storage unit 104 is activated in accordance with an instruction from the user (step S101), the application activation judging unit 107a judges that the VOIP communication application has been activated. Upon the judgment, the control unit 107 selects a cycle (for example, 1.152 seconds: code F10) that is shorter than 5.152 seconds, generates an EISP signal based on the selection, and transmits the generated EISP signal to the base station 200 via the transmission unit 102 (step S102). After this, upon receiving an ACK signal, the control unit 107 starts to activate the reception unit 103 at the cycle of 1.152 seconds to receive the report signal at the cycle of 1.152 seconds (step S105).
US08611327B2

Systems and methods for policing a Quality of Service (QoS) flow in a MoCA network are provided. The network may include a sending node, a receiving node and a network controller. The network controller may allocate a QoS flow between the sending node and the receiving node. The sending node may request bandwidth for the QoS flow from the network controller. QoS requests have a higher priority than some other requests and may swamp the network. The sending node therefore polices its use of the network. First, the sending node computes a policing time period Tpp. Next the sending node computes a packet and bit allocation for the use of the network during a Tpp. Last the sending node sends reservation requests to the network controller when the allocation of packet or bits has not been exceeded. If any allocation has been exceeded the sending node reserves bandwidth via opportunistic reservation requests which have a lower priority than some other requests.
US08611324B2

Respective distances between a communication device and a plurality of wireless local area network (WLAN) access points are determined. One of the plurality of WLAN access points with which the communication device is to associate is selected based on the determined distances.
US08611322B2

A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a data frame using channel bonding in a wireless local area network in which high throughput (HT) stations and legacy systems coexist. The method includes adding a legacy format physical layer header including information, which indicates that a medium is being used while a frame exchange sequence is performed with respect to the HT format data frame, to the HT format data frame, transmitting the HT format data frame with the physical layer header by using channel bonding, and broadcasting the legacy format CF-End frame through a plurality of channels used in the channel bonding. Accordingly, after a frame exchange sequence is completed, the legacy stations which use channels used in the channel bonding can participate in a fair contention for medium access.
US08611320B2

A scalable medium access control (“MAC”) module is provided that avoids conflict resource reservation so that network performance does not degrade as the number of hops or nodes in a wireless network increases. The MAC also provides different access schemes for traffic with different quality of service (“QoS”) requirements such that QoS is guaranteed and network resources are efficiently utilized. Furthermore, the resource allocation scheme determines the routing path as resources is allocated for data traffic, thereby achieving more robust layer-2 routing at the MAC layer. Finally, the scalable MAC is compliant with both WiMedia MAC and IEEE 802.15.3 MAC.
US08611319B2

Provided herein is an apparatus for converting a wired sensor system to a wireless sensor system. The apparatus can comprise a relay station comprising at least one antenna and at least one radio. The relay station can be adaptable to be integrated as at least one application specific integrated circuit and further adaptable to convert a wired sensor system into a wireless sensor system. Further provided are systems for converting wired sensor systems into wireless sensor systems and methods of use.
US08611311B2

Methods and systems for estimating and canceling pilot interference in a wireless (e.g., CDMA) communication system. In one method, a received signal comprised of a number of signal instances, each including a pilot, is initially processed to provide data samples. Each signal instance's pilot interference may be estimated by despreading the data samples with a spreading sequence for the signal instance, channelizing the despread data to provide pilot symbols, filtering the pilot symbols to estimate the channel response of the signal instance, and multiplying the estimated channel response with the spreading sequence. The pilot interference estimates due to a plurality of interfering multipaths are accumulated to derive the total pilot interference, which is subtracted from the data samples to provide pilot-canceled data samples. These samples are then processed to derive demodulated data for each of at least one (desired) signal instance in the received signal.
US08611307B2

Methods and systems facilitating a server-assisted scan for a preferred network are disclosed. A user device may identify a cell at a present location of the user device, and request one or more records associated with the identified cell from a server. If the server provides a record associated with the identified cell, the user device may determine whether the provided record includes preferred network data identifying a preferred network previously found on the identified cell. If the provided record does not include the preferred network data, the user device may start a scan timer that is set to a predefined time interval. If the provided record includes the preferred network data, the user device may initiate a preferred network scan without starting the scan timer.
US08611302B2

A method for determining whether to perform vertical handoff between multiple network. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of selection metrics for each network, calculating, for each of the other communication networks, a predicted utility value from at least the corresponding plurality of selection metrics using a variable kernel regression function, obtaining, for the current communication network, a second plurality of selection metrics; calculating a second predicted utility value for the current communication network from at least the corresponding second plurality of selection metrics using a second variable kernel regression function, comparing each of the predicted utility values for each of the plurality of other communication networks with the second predicted utility value and switching to one of the other communication networks having the highest predicted utility value, if the highest predicted utility value is greater than the second predicted utility value.
US08611288B1

A method includes determining parameters corresponding to a communication channel, transmitting the parameters from a first wireless device to a second wireless device via the communication channel, wherein the parameters include at least one of (i) an estimated quality of the communication channel or (ii) a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for transmission via the communication channel, receiving the parameters at the second wireless device, and based on at least one of the parameters, selecting a MCS for transmission from the second wireless device to the first wireless device via the communication channel.
US08611280B2

A system and method for network selection procedures for simultaneous network connectivity through multiple accesses comprises obtaining stored and registered PLMNs, determining whether PLMNs are both stored PLMN for access technology type Ai and registered PLMN, when no PLMNs are both, performing PLMN selection using a standard procedure, when only one PLMN is both, determining whether the PLMN satisfies a condition, and when the PLMN satisfies the condition, attempting to connect to the PLMN, and when more than one PLMN is both, creating a set of PLMNs, selecting one PLMN that satisfies the condition, from the set PLMN, attempting to connect to the selected PLMN, and when attempting to connect fails, removing the selected PLMN from the set, and selecting another PLMN. In one aspect, the PLMN that minimizes changes is selected. In one aspect, the PLMN that provides access to a larger number of access technologies is selected.
US08611279B2

When building sets of mobile stations in a radio communication network, reference signals are transmitted from a base station to at least two mobile stations to determine channel properties of a downlink channel between the base station and the at least two mobile stations. First and second feedback information are determined at the at least two mobile stations respectively, each feedback information comprising a first component indicating a channel quality. The first and the second feedback information are transmitted from the first and second mobile stations to the base station. A mobile station set is built according to the first and the second feedback information at the base station, wherein the channel quality is a parameter of a downlink beam with a largest received carrier power of at least three downlink beams of said downlink channel.
US08611277B2

A wireless communication device includes a transceiver coupled to a controller configured to cause the device to receive a downlink transmission including a reference signal from a base station while camped on the base station in idle mode, to estimate a quality metric of a hypothetical paging channel reception based on the reference signal, and to determine perform reselection evaluation of a neighboring base stations based on the estimated quality metric.
US08611270B1

In one embodiment, a system that employs IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) snooping and client tracking to forward an IP multicast flow between a distribution (e.g., wired or backbone) network and a wireless network without the need to configure a VLAN on either infrastructure. A single IP multicast flow is forwarded natively on the distribution network (e.g., from an IP Multicast enabled router) to an AP, and the AP replicates and forwards the multicast flow to a plurality of domains on the wireless network.
US08611266B2

A power control apparatus of a wireless communication terminal providing a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service in a wireless communication system includes a user interface unit configured to include a voice CODEC using in the VoIP service, a controller configured to be connected to the user interface unit, include predetermined application programs including a VoIP application program, and control signaling for setting up a VoIP call and canceling a VoIP call, and a medium access control (MAC) processor configured to perform a medium access control function and include a timer unit for beginning a unscheduled-service period (U-SP) by receiving a VoIP call setup signal and a VoIP call cancel signal from the controller.
US08611256B2

A method and system for radio frequency management (RFM) in a mesh network using a path distance factor (PDF) is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises calculating a path distance factor (PDF) between a first mesh router and a portal. A frame is transmitted to a second mesh router, wherein the frame includes the path distance factor.
US08611254B2

In one embodiment, a method for configuring a network for multicasting includes receiving with a first router a first message from a second router, updating a listing of candidate rendezvous points on the first router in relation to information contained in the first message, and sending a second message from the first router to a third router, the second message containing information as to rendezvous point mapping.
US08611251B2

A packet network device, such as a router or switch, includes functionality that operates to receive network traffic, process the traffic as needed and to forward the traffic to its destination. Additionally, each router includes a weighted equal cost multipath routing function that operates to identify equal cost paths over which to forward the network traffic, to calculate a path weighting that is dependent upon the path bandwidth and to forward the traffic ingressing to it over each of the equal cost paths according to the calculated path weighting.
US08611234B1

A network includes a network switch and plural remote nodes, each connected by a cable or channel with the network switch. The network switch includes a set of channel interfaces, each of which includes a visual indicator responsive to data traffic on the associated channel. A cable tracing arrangement includes a tracing signal generator at a channel interface of each remote node, which generates a tracing signal when cable tracing is desired. The tracing signal, when generated for cable tracing, flows over an existing cable to the associated channel interface of the network switch. At the associated channel interface, the tracing signal is converted to a visual illuminator drive signal, which illuminates the visual indicator of the channel with an indication that is distinguishable from the data traffic indication.
US08611232B2

A resilient load balancing method uses fixed paths and a fixed path-splitting strategy to enable ingress routers to efficiently reroute traffic after a failure. An off-line management system computes a set of fixed paths and a set of splitting ratios for routing demand from ingress routers to egress routers, with sufficient capacity to meet demands under each failure scenario. That data is then used by the ingress router to reroute demand after observing a failure.
US08611231B2

A Maintenance Association and corresponding method for configuring maintenance entities for Ethernet Tree (E-Tree) type service instances. A root MEP communicates with each of a plurality of leaf MEPs. Remote MEP state machine instances are activated within the root MEP for each of the plurality of leaf MEPs. Within each leaf MEP, however, only the remote MEP state machine instance for the root MEP is activated while leaving the remote MEP state machine instances for all other leaf MEPs in an inactive state in which Connectivity Check Messages (CCMs) are not exchanged.
US08611221B2

A method is provided for improving reliability in semi-persistent scheduling activation/reactivation is provided. The method includes a user agent receiving a first data element from an access device specifying at least one first transport block size. The method further includes the user agent deriving a second transport block size based on a second data element received from the access device. The method further includes the user agent comparing the first transport block size with the second transport block size. The method further includes, when the first transport block size differs from the second transport block size, the user agent ignoring the received semi-persistent scheduling activation/reactivation data.
US08611219B2

A method of detecting anomalies in a communication system includes: providing a first packet flow portion and a second packet flow portion; extracting samples of a symbolic packet feature associated with a traffic status of the first and second packet flow portions; computing from the extracted samples a first statistical concentration quantity and a second statistical concentration quantity of the symbolic feature associated with the first and second packet flow portions, respectively; computing from the concentration quantities a variation quantity representing a concentration change from the first packet flow portion to the second packet flow portion; comparing the variation quantity with a comparison value; and detecting an anomaly in the system in response to the comparison.
US08611212B2

According to one embodiment, a method may include writing a congestion forward indicator (CFI) bit of an outer virtual local area network (VLAN) tag in an Ethernet frame to one of a first setting or a second setting, reading the CFI bit of the outer VLAN tag at a switching element, copying priority (PRI) bits of the outer VLAN tag to PRI bits of an inner VLAN tag if the CFI bit of the outer VLAN tag is set to the first setting, and maintaining the state of the PRI bits of the inner VLAN tag if the CFI bit of the outer VLAN tag is set to the second setting.
US08611205B2

A two-way wireless repeater and booster system and method are disclosed. The system and method improve signal quality and strength for the middle hop of a three-hop repeater, between User and Network Units operating in the unlicensed bands (ISM and/or UNII), and supporting the cellular (or wireless) network communications channels. The system and method enables the support of a wider repeat spectrum or bandwidth for a given communications bandwidth in the unlicensed band.
US08611200B2

Provided is a photo detecting element that has a simplified structure and that is easily manufactured and assembled, and an optical pick-up device including the photo detecting element. The photo detecting element includes an optical sensor, an amplifier for amplifying a signal from the optical sensor, and a non-linear multi-step variable resistor to adjust a gain of the amplifier.
US08611196B2

Method for reading data from an optical disc comprising a substrate layer, a read-only data layer, and a nonlinear layer with a super-resolution structure disposed on the data layer, the read-only data layer including diffractive pits and lands having a length larger than the diffraction limit of the pickup and super-resolution pits and lands having a length smaller than the diffraction limit of the pickup, the method comprising the steps of using a pickup including a laser for providing a HF signal for retrieving of the data of the data layer, providing a constant laser power for retrieving of the data, and pulsing the laser at the end of a diffractive pit or land. The Apparatus comprises a pickup with a laser and a comparator responsive to a threshold level and to the HF signal, for providing a trigger signal for pulsing of the laser.
US08611194B2

The invention solves the problem that data cannot be recorded on a disc because the number of registered Defect Lists (DFLs) has reached a limit and the problem that the access performance is reduced at recording data reproduction time. A cluster, which is normally reproduced during verification processing and is preceded and followed by one or more defective blocks, is also treated as a defective block and, together with the preceding and following defective clusters, recorded in an spare area for extending the range in which clusters are registered as Contiguous Re-allocated Defect (CRD) entries. This reduces the number of DFLs to solve the problem that data cannot be recorded on the disc and, in addition, reduces the number of seek operations to prevent the access performance from being reduced at reproduction time.
US08611192B2

The present invention provides a clock having a body with a first clock face and a second clock face. The clock includes a start time assembly at least partially positioned within the body and corresponding with the first clock face, an end time assembly at least partially positioned within the body and corresponding with the second clock face, and an elapsed time assembly in mechanical communication with both the start time assembly and the end time assembly.
US08611179B2

When correcting the acoustic wave refraction occurring on the interface between mediums having different sound speeds by Snell's law, an applicable back-projection method is limited to a time domain method. An image data generating method performed to receive and convert an acoustic wave generated by irradiating a subject with light into a first electrical signal with an acoustic wave receiver via a medium having a sound speed different from that of the subject, and to generate image data based on the first electrical signal is provided, wherein a second electrical signal obtained when the acoustic wave is received at each virtual reception point is generated based on the first electrical signal through an integral calculation performed by using an advanced Green's function, and image data is generated based on the second electrical signal.
US08611178B2

A device and method to perform memory operations at a clock domain crossing is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes providing a first clock signal to a write clock input of a memory to write data to the memory. The data is read from the memory according to a second clock signal that is different from the first clock signal. A third clock signal is provided to a read clock input of the memory. The third clock signal has a frequency that is substantially an integer multiple of a frequency of the second clock signal. The integer multiple is greater than one.
US08611176B2

To provide a counter circuit capable of accurately counting a high-frequency signal in which hazard or the like is easily generated. There are provided: a frequency dividing circuit that generates first and second frequency dividing clocks, which differ in phase to each other, based on a clock signal; a first counter that counts the first frequency dividing clock; a second counter that synchronizes with the second frequency dividing clock to fetch a count value of the first counter; and a selection circuit that exclusively selects count values of the first and second counters. According to the present invention, a relation of the count values between the first and second counters is kept always constant, and thus, even when hazard occurs, the count values are only made to jump and the count values do not fluctuate.
US08611171B2

A voltage down converter (VDC) applicable to high-speed memory devices. The VDC includes a steady driver and active driver along with at least one additional transistor. The steady driver and active driver are coupled by a transistor switch during device start-up to provide fast ramp-up to operating voltage and current. After start-up, the steady driver and active drive function to maintain a steady operating voltage and current. An additional transistor is digitally controlled to drive up operating voltage and current upon issuance of an active command representing read, write, and/or refresh of memory. In this manner, the additional transistor provides fast compensation for fluctuations in operating voltage and current brought on by activity in the memory array.
US08611169B2

An approach for providing fine granularity power gating of a memory array is described. In one embodiment, power supply lines are disposed in a horizontal dimension of the memory array parallel to the word lines that access cells arranged in rows and columns of the array, wherein each of the supply lines are shared by adjacent cells in the memory. Power supply lines that activate a row selected by one of the word lines are supplied a full-power voltage value and power supply lines that activate rows adjacent to the selected row are supplied a half-power voltage value, while the power supply lines of the remaining rows in the memory array are supplied a power-gated voltage value.
US08611162B2

A memory includes a row decoder, column logic, and a memory array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. A plurality of write word lines are coupled to the row decoder. A plurality of complementary write word lines is coupled to the row decoder. A plurality of read bit lines is coupled to the column logic. A plurality of write bit lines is coupled to the column logic. A plurality of column decoded write enable lines is coupled to the column logic. Each memory cell of the plurality of memory cells is coupled to a corresponding write control circuit. Each write control circuit comprises a transmission gate coupled between a column decoded write enable line and an access transistor of a memory cell. The transmission gate is controlled by a write word line signal.
US08611134B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed systems and methods for reading the resistance states of crossbar junctions of a crossbar array. In one aspect, a system includes one or more sense amplifiers connected to column wires of the crossbar array, a reference row wire connected to each sense amp, and a wire driver connected to the reference row wire and configured to drive the reference row wire. The sense amplifiers are configured so that when a selected row wire of the crossbar array is driven by a sense voltage, the column wires are held at approximately zero volts and pass currents through the column wires and sense amplifiers to the reference row wire so that resistive voltage losses along the reference row wire substantially mirror the resistive voltage losses along the selected row wire, allowing the sense amplifiers to determine the crossbar junction resistance states.
US08611132B2

A resistance based memory sensing circuit has reference current transistors feeding a reference node and a read current transistor feeding a sense node, each transistor has a substrate body at a regular substrate voltage during a stand-by mode and biased during a sensing mode at a body bias voltage lower than the regular substrate voltage. In one option the body bias voltage is determined by a reference voltage on the reference node. The substrate body at the regular substrate voltage causes the transistors to have a regular threshold voltage, and the substrate body at the body bias voltage causes the transistors to have a sense mode threshold voltage, lower than the regular threshold voltage.
US08611127B1

A memory device having a scalable bandwidth I/O data bus includes a semiconductor die having a substrate with a first and a second surface. The substrate includes contact pads arranged in rows across the first surface and across the second surface. The contact pads on one surface may be physically arranged in vertical alignment with a corresponding contact pad on the other surface and may be electrically coupled to the corresponding contact pad using a via. The substrate also includes a metallization layer formed on the second surface. The metallization layer includes external data contact pads each arranged in vertical alignment with a respective contact pad on the second surface. Each row of contact pads may be grouped, and the external contact pads within a group are electrically coupled to an adjacent contact pad on the second surface by effectively logically shifting them to the right one contact pad.
US08611124B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory chips each including a chip identification (ID) generation circuit. The chip ID generation circuits of the respective memory chips are operatively connected together in a cascade configuration, and the chip ID generation circuits are activated in response to application of a power supply voltage the memory device to sequentially generate respective chip ID numbers of the plurality of device chips.
US08611121B2

A stacked memory device may include a substrate, a plurality of memory groups sequentially stacked on the substrate, each memory group including at least one memory layer, a plurality of X-decoder layers, at least one of the plurality of X-decoder layers being disposed between every alternate neighboring two of the plurality of memory groups, and a plurality of Y-decoder layers disposed alternately with the plurality of X-decoder layers, at least one of the plurality of Y-decoder layers being disposed between every alternate neighboring two of the plurality of memory groups.
US08611109B2

A flyback converter includes input terminals and output terminals. A transformer with a first winding and a second winding are inductively coupled. A first switching element is connected in series with the first winding and a first series circuit with the first switching element, the first winding being coupled between the input terminals. A rectifier arrangement is connected in series with the second winding and a second series circuit with the rectifier arrangement, the second winding being coupled between the output terminals. The rectifier arrangement includes a second switching element. A control circuit is configured in one drive cycle to switch on the first switching element for a first time period. After the first time period the second switching element is switched on for a second time period. A third time period is determined between an end of the second time period and the time at which the transformer assumes a predetermined transformer state. The control circuit is further configured to adapt the second time period to be applied in a subsequent drive cycle dependent on the second time period applied in the one drive cycle and the third time period is determined in the one drive cycle.
US08611104B1

A switch-mode modular power supply is provided with pluggable output connectors for improved safety and simplicity of installation. The power supply has a box-shaped housing with a first end and an opposing second end. A plurality of output modules are positioned proximate the second end of the housing, with each output module having an output connector with a connector housing and a plurality of pluggable contact terminals. The output connectors are arranged in parallel across the second end of the housing and accessible from outside of the housing. The pluggable contact terminals for each of the output connectors are effective to provide an output power from the associated output module.
US08611102B2

A computing device includes a first motherboard and a second motherboard perpendicularly attached to the first motherboard. The first motherboard includes a first CPU module and a plurality of first peripheral component interconnect (PCI) sockets. The second motherboard includes a second CPU module and a plurality of second PCI sockets. The plurality of first PCI sockets is located perpendicularly to both motherboards. The plurality of second PCI sockets includes at least one PCI socket that is obliquely oriented relative to the first motherboard.
US08611100B2

The present invention provides a display device back panel with adjustable PCB mounting seat, which includes a hollow body and paired mounting seats. The mounting seats are arranged in a hollow portion of the body and have opposite ends extended to connect to the body. Each of the mounting seats includes a first bracket and a second bracket that are symmetrically arranged and a connection board connected between the first bracket and the second bracket. The first bracket has an end adjustably connected to the body and an opposite end adjustably connected to the connection board. The second bracket has an end adjustably connected to the body and an opposite end adjustably connected to the connection board. The first bracket has a first bent section that is bent downward, and the second bracket has a second bent section that is bent down. The pair of mounting seats forms a receiving space between the two first bent sections and the two second bent sections that receive a PCB supported and mounted thereon. The assembling is simple and through the adjustable connection formed between the first bracket, the second bracket, the body, and the connection board, it is suitable for mounting and fixing PCBs of various sizes.
US08611086B1

A carrying assembly for a tablet computer that protects the periphery of the tablet computer from impact, yet does not cover the face surface of the tablet computer. Accordingly, the tablet computer can be operated while still being bound within the carrier assembly. The carry assembly has a frame structure with four side elements, four corners and an open central region. The tablet computer is mounted to the frame structure so that the bottom of the tablet computer rests upon the side elements. At least two mounting connectors are provided, wherein one of the mounting connectors extends upwardly from each of the corners of the frame structure. The mounting connectors have locking fingers that receive and engage the corners of the tablet computer with a snap fit, therein mechanically attaching said frame structure to the tablet computer.
US08611079B2

The utility model provides a data card that includes a circuit board, a holder, an upper cover, a connecting wire, and an interface. The circuit board is fixed in the holder. One end of the flexible connecting wire is connected with the circuit board, and the other end of the flexible connecting wire is connected with the interface. The upper cover covers the holder. When the data card is idle, the interface and the flexible connecting wire are located in the cavity formed by the upper cover and the holder. When the data card is connected with an external device by the interface, the interface is located outside the cavity formed by the upper cover and the holder. The data card enables flexible adjustment of the location of the interface, and fixes the upper cover on the data card when the data card is connected for use.
US08611078B2

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising a first body comprising a first power source, and a second body comprising a second power source and a display, the second body is configured to move relative to the first body between a closed configuration and an open configuration via at least one intermediate configuration, and when the apparatus is in at least one of the open and closed configurations the first power source is configured to power the display, and when the apparatus is in the at least one intermediate configuration the second power source is configured to power the display.
US08611066B2

A bipolar charger includes a housing with a main chamber and positive and negative electrode chambers facing each other. The electrode chambers each have a ground electrode and a high voltage electrode that cooperate to create a cloud of ions. An aerosol flowing from an inlet passage through the main chamber and out an outlet passage mixes with the clouds of ions, thereby providing an aerosol with a steady-state electric charge distribution.
US08611058B2

Circuits, integrated circuits, apparatuses, and methods, such as those for protecting circuits against electrostatic discharge events are disclosed. In an example method, a thyristor is triggered to conduct current from a signal node to a reference voltage node using leakage currents provided by a transistor formed in a semiconductor doped well shared with the base of the thyristor. The leakage currents are responsive to a noise event (e.g., electrostatic discharge (ESD) event) at the signal node, and increase the voltage of the semiconductor doped well to forward bias the base and the collector of the thyristor. The triggered thyristor conducts the current resulting from the ESD event to the reference voltage node.
US08611047B2

In a servo writer, a write signal generator circuit is configured to output a signal for writing a servo signal to a servo write head disposed to allow a magnetic tape to slidably contact therewith and configured to write the servo signal thereon, and a plurality of tape guides are configured to guide the magnetic tape supplied from a supply reel to the servo write head and to a take-up reel. The plurality of tape guides include a first tape guide disposed to contact with the magnetic tape at a position directly upstream of the servo write head and a second tape guide disposed to contact with the magnetic tape at a position directly downstream of the servo write head. Each of the first and second tape guides includes a guide roller rotatably supported by an air bearing and having a diameter of 19 mm or greater.
US08611045B2

A magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium that is provided with a first magnetic layer with magneto crystalline anisotropy energy, a second magnetic layer with magneto crystalline anisotropy energy that is smaller than the magneto crystalline anisotropy energy of the first magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic metal layer that is positioned between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer and that provides coupling force between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a magnetic head that includes a main pole that applies a recording magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of the magnetic recording medium to the magnetic recording medium, and an alternate current (AC) magnetic field generator that applies an AC magnetic field with a frequency of 1-40 GHz to the magnetic recording medium.
US08611042B2

Storage media cartridge handling apparatus is disclosed that comprises: a frame to support first and second laterally spaced arrays of cartridge access locations extending in a front-back direction, and at least one laterally extending further array of cartridge access locations, the cartridge access locations facing inwardly of the frame; an up-down drive arrangement disengageably engageable with an accessor carriage to move the carriage up and down in a region between the first and second arrays, to access locations in the first, second and further arrays; and at least one lateral displacement path within the frame along which the carriage can exit and enter the frame laterally. A storage media cartridge library and an accessor carriage are also disclosed.
US08611039B2

There is described apparatus (800) to decode longitudinal position (LPOS) information from non-shifted servo elements (a1, a4, a7) and an unbroken sequence of plural shifted servo elements (a2-a3, a5-a6), variations in the relative displacement of the non-shifted and shifted elements encoding the LPOS information. The apparatus is operable to receive signals (905) from a transducer head apparatus (131) that detects the servo elements as they move past the transducer head apparatus, and to process the signals to obtain data (L1, L4, L5, L8) related to relative displacement of mutually adjacent shifted and non-shifted elements within respective ones of the servo bursts, and data (L2, L3, L6, L7) related to relative displacement of mutually non-adjacent shifted and non-shifted elements within the respective ones of the servo bursts, and also to process the data to determine LPOS bit values corresponding to the respective ones of the servo bursts.
US08611010B2

A method of reducing optical fringing of a coated substrate is described. The method comprises providing a (e.g. light transmissive) substrate; providing a primer having an unmatched refractive index, and applying the primer to the substrate forming a primer layer having an optically significant thickness. The primer layer in combination with the substrate has a percent reflectance at a maximum at a wavelength of interest. Also described are articles comprising a substrate, a primer having an unmatched refractive index, a high refractive index layer, and optional low refractive index layer such as an antireflective film article.
US08611005B2

Projection systems and methods handle images to be viewable on a concave surface, wherein the projected image is modified to account for surface-to-surface reflections due to the concave surface, by determining geometric surface parameters, determining the ideal image, determining a model for reflected light that is a result of surface-to-surface reflections given the ideal image, wherein the model is expressible in closed form, determining a compensation image to compensate for at least some of the surface-to-surface reflections, taking into account at least the ideal image and the reflected light, and combining the compensation image and the ideal image to form a projectable image that can be projected onto a surface having the determined geometric parameters. The surface can be defined by a portion of an interior of a sphere and the reflection of a given pixel can be modeled as a constant over the concave surface.
US08610999B2

A display element, a display apparatus and a fabricating method of a display element are provided. The display apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a display medium layer. The display medium layer is disposed between a first electrode layer of the first substrate and a second electrode layer of the second substrate. The display medium layer has a plurality of display elements. Each display element includes a colorized capsule, a fluid and a plurality of particles. The fluid and the particles are disposed in the colorized capsule, and the particles are charged. The fabricating method of a display element is coloring a capsule of a display element with dye to form a colorized capsule.
US08610992B2

A variable transmission window includes a first substrate having a first transparent conductor coated surface and a second substrate having a second transparent conductor coated surface. The second substrate is positioned relative to the first substrate with the first and second transparent conductor coated surfaces facing each other. An electrochromic medium is disposed between the first and second substrates whereby the transmission of light through the electrochromic medium is changed when an electrical potential is applied thereto. The electrochromic medium includes a cross-linked film. The window may be one of (i) an aeronautical glazing and (ii) a vehicle glazing, and/or the window may be a large area glazing of an area of at least 99 square inches.
US08610991B2

An electrochromic compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1: Also disclosed is an electrochromic device including the electrochromic compound.
US08610983B2

An actuator which tilts and drives an object to be driven around an axis of rotation includes: a pair of supporting beams arranged to support the object to be driven from both sides thereof in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation; a pair of movable beams arranged to sandwich the object to be driven and the pair of supporting beams from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a drive source arranged to apply bending vibration to the movable frames; and a pair of connection parts arranged to connect the movable frames and end portions of the supporting beams by a multiple-beam structure, convert the bending vibration into torsional vibration, and transmit the torsional vibration to the supporting beams.
US08610982B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image reader that covers an image recorded material placed on a reading surface with an openable cover plate so as to press thereof and optically reads an image of the image recorded material, an image output unit that forms an image on a recording sheet and outputs the image, a detecting unit that detects an opened/closed state of the cover plate when the image output unit forms a gradation test image on the recording sheet, the recording sheet having the gradation test image formed thereon is placed on the reading surface of the image reader, and an operation of reading the gradation test image is performed, and a gradation correction unit that conducts a gradation correction of the image forming apparatus based on an image read by the image reader when the detecting unit detects the closed state of the cover plate.
US08610981B2

Disclosed is an image processing device comprising: a storage part to store a target value set for each tone value in a plurality of colors; a measurement value information obtaining part to obtain measurement value information, the measurement value information comprising a measurement value of a density at each of a plurality of measurement positions in a main and a sub-scanning directions; a correction target value calculation part to correct the target value based on color mixture proportion information where a proportion of the colors is set, and to calculate a correction target value; a correction value calculation part to calculate a correction value of the density at each measurement position, which is calculated based on the correction target value and the measurement value information; and a correction part to correct a density value of each pixel in image data, based on the correction value.
US08610978B2

A document reading apparatus includes a white LED including an LED and a fluorescent material and configured to illuminate a document reading position with light, a reading unit having a color line sensor and a monochrome line sensor and configured to read an image of a document illuminated with the light emitted from the white LED, and a filter arranged on an optical path between the monochrome line sensor and the document, and wherein the filter is configured to suppress transmission of light at a peak wavelength of the LED so that, regarding an intensity of light to be received on the monochrome line sensor, the intensity of the light at the peak wavelength of the LED is smaller than the intensity of the light at the peak wavelength of the fluorescent material when the light emitted from the LED is received.
US08610976B1

Methods of image enhancement are disclosed. In one aspect, the method of image enhancement is for use with an image capture device, such as a security document reader, for the attenuation, separation or reduction of reflections from objects, such as security documents.
US08610960B2

It is difficult to appropriately estimate the colorimetric values of an arbitrary patch at a desired temperature with respect to a medium containing a fluorescent whitening agent in consideration of the influence of the fluorescent whitening agent. A target temperature and media type are designated (S601, S602), patches of a plurality of colors are formed on a set medium, and a temperature immediately after fixing (second temperature), patch colorimetric values, and medium white colorimetric values are acquired (S606, S607). Medium white calorimetric values at the target temperature are generated based on the acquired medium white calorimetric values and medium white colorimetric values at a first temperature, which are acquired in advance (S608). Patch calorimetric values at the target temperature are estimated based on the generated medium white colorimetric values and patch colorimetric values.
US08610958B2

The present invention enables creating authenticable continuous tone color multi-ink multi-halftone images offering means of verifying their authenticity. The invention relies on color halftones, color separation into different ink surface coverages for different halftoning methods, mapping of an input gamut into a gamut defined by a set of inks, calculating the optimal boundary between region halftones created with different halftoning methods, and color multi-halftone image generation. The basic authentication is performed by examining the color multi-halftone image under a reference illumination and verifying that the message incorporated within the color multi-halftone is hidden and revealed under a different illumination. Authentication can further be performed by observing the color multi-halftone image both in reflection and transmission modes and verifying that in one of these modes the message is hidden and that in the other mode the message is revealed.
US08610957B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a first colorant reducing unit that performs a first colorant reducing process that reduces colorant of black on second image data to output fourth image data representing tone values of the black separation on a per-pixel basis; a second colorant reducing unit that performs a second colorant reducing process that reduces the colorants of the colors other than black on a portion of third image data, the portion corresponding to the separations of the colors other than black, to output fifth image data representing tone values of each of the separations of the colors other than black on a per-pixel basis; and a combining unit that combines the fourth image data and the fifth image data to output sixth image data representing tone values of each of the separations of the colors including black on a per-pixel basis.
US08610951B2

Before page description data are input to a raster image processor (RIPa) that plots an overprint of a shading object in process colors in the nonzero overprint mode, the page description data are converted into robustized page description data wherein minimum values of process colors are replaced with small values which are not of 0. The robustized page description data are input to the RIPa.
US08610943B2

An image-processing device includes a first image data acquiring unit, a display unit, a display control unit, an area designating unit, an image area setting unit, a margin area setting unit, a second image data acquiring unit, a margin data creating unit, and an image data creating unit. The first image data acquiring unit acquires first image data. The display unit has a display area. The display control unit controls the display unit to display a first image on the display area based on the first image data, the first image occupying a first image area defined within the display area. The area designating unit enables a user to specify his/her desired area as a designated area in the display area. The image area setting unit sets, in the designated area, an image area that is located within the designated area and is located also within the first image area. The margin area setting unit sets, in the designated area, a margin area that is defined as an area other than the image area. The second image data acquiring unit acquires second image data corresponding to the image area. The margin data creating unit creates margin data corresponding to the margin area. The image data creating unit creates output image data by adding the margin data to the second image data.
US08610937B2

A printing system includes a plurality of print data generation units that shares content serving as print source data and generates print data, a storage unit configured to store generated print data in a storage of the server in the generated order, an inquiry unit that periodically inquires whether print data is stored in the server, a document generation unit that, when there is an inquiry and generated print data is stored in the server, generates a document including a storage location of the print data, an analysis unit that receives the document from the server and analyzes information contained in the document, and a print control unit that, when a first page number of the print data analyzed and a last page number of print data already acquired by the printing apparatus are continuous, acquires the print data from the analyzed storage location and print the acquired print data.
US08610928B2

The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates driverless printing. This system includes a discovery component configured to identify accessible printers and to facilitate selection of an accessible printer, wherein the discovery component is also configured to obtain capability information from accessible printers. The system also includes a transport component configured to transport data to the selected printer, wherein the transport component is also configured to obtain capability information from the selected printer. Finally, the system includes a page-description-language component configured to generate printer data for the selected printer based on obtained capability information for the selected printer.
US08610925B2

An image forming apparatus including a communication interface to receive printing data from the external device, a determiner to determine whether the received printing data is a compressed file, an extractor to extract a file name in at least one local file header of the printing data, when the received printing data is the compressed file, a distinguisher to determine presence or absence of an XPS file (extensible markup language paper specification file) by comparing an extension of the extracted file name with a predefined extension to distinguish the XPS file, and an image former to print the printing data in the determined XPS file.
US08610923B2

An information processing apparatus includes: a first change unit that changes a setting content of a provided function based on a setting change request received from an external device; a second change unit that changes a setting content of a provided function based on a setting change request inputted from an operation part of the apparatus; a storage unit that, when a setting content of a function is to be changed, stores necessary/unnecessary information indicating presence/absence of necessity not to receive a setting change request from a device other than the external device or the operation part of the apparatus to change the setting content, by each function; a determination unit that, when the first and second change units are to change a setting content of a function, determines whether or not exclusive processing not to receive a setting change request from the other device is necessary, based on the necessary/unnecessary information stored in the storage unit; and a controller that, when the determination unit determines that the exclusive processing is necessary, controls the first and second change units not to receive a setting change request from the other device.
US08610922B2

Upon a user selecting and associating document data and a digital multifunction peripheral on a computer screen, the document data associated with the selected digital multifunction peripheral is searched for, scan settings using the document data as model data are extracted, and the extracted scan settings, as well as information as to a storage location of the document data are transmitted to the digital multifunction peripheral, in order to request button registration. The digital multifunction peripheral receiving the request presets the received scan settings, registers a scan and transmit button using the received storage location as a transmission destination, and displays it through a user interface. Upon pressing the scan and transmit button, a document is scanned with the scan settings associated therewith and the acquired document data is transmitted to the transmission destination associated with the scan and transmit button.
US08610919B2

There is provided an image forming apparatus that is connected to a plurality of other image forming apparatuses via a network, including a function presenting unit that presents required functions of a job to be transferred from the image forming apparatus a transfer destination candidate presenting unit that retrieves, from among the a plurality of other image forming apparatuses, an image forming apparatus that supports the required functions of the transferred job by comparing the required functions of the transferred job and a function supported by the other image forming apparatuses, and presents the retrieved apparatus and a transfer destination candidate re-presenting unit that presents another image forming apparatus that supports the remaining required functions when one or more of the required functions of the transferred job are de-selected.
US08610918B2

A management server receives a notification from an image forming apparatus as to an operation mode of the image forming apparatus in response to an operation performed by a service person. The management server detects a status change in the image forming apparatus from the received notification. The management server then produces a replacement part list in accordance with management information stored in the management server and in accordance with the notified operation mode of the image forming apparatus and the detected status change. The management server transmits the produced replacement part list to the image forming apparatus.
US08610913B2

A driver management unit of a management server develops non-[1:1] type association information generated in a batch association creation mode into [1:1] type association information. On the other hand, the driver management unit stores association information created in an ordinary association creation mode in a data storage unit without performing the development. Further, the driver management unit transmits a list of the association information stored in the data storage unit to a client in response to a request, and distributes a driver selected from the list to the client in such a way as to create a logical printer of a device that corresponds to the association information selected from the list for the client.
US08610910B2

A multi-function apparatus includes a body, an image reading unit, a document cover and a locking member. The image reading unit is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The document cover is movable between a closed position and an opened position. The locking member is movable to a first position and a second position and includes a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion. In response to a movement of the document cover to the opened position, the locking member moves to the first position and locks the image reading unit to the closed position. In response to a movement of the image reading unit to the opened position, the locking member moves to the second position and locks the document cover to the closed position.
US08610907B2

A front-side image and a back-side image of a document are read using a plurality of image sensors mounted on a transfer path and are displayed on a display unit implemented by a touch screen, and a subsequent process of an image to be processed according to a selection of a user is performed. Accordingly, a user convenience in view of an operation to process a read image is improved.
US08610906B2

A print control system includes a computer configured to perform data processing, a printer, which is connected with the computer, configured to execute a print job transmitted by the computer so as to print an image on a recording medium, a print control unit configured to control the printer to execute the print job based on print settings, and a setting change unit configured to accept a setting change of the print settings regarding the print job in execution and update the print settings based on the accepted setting change while the print job is being executed. When the setting change unit updates the print settings, the print control unit controls the printer to execute the print job based on the updated print settings.
US08610902B2

An apparatus for measuring a height of an object plane or multiple points on an object is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an imaging system having a focal plane passing through a focal point of the imaging system, wherein the focal plane of the imaging system is tilted at an oblique angle with respect to the object plane such that only a small portion of the object is in focus. Alternatively, the focal plane is tilted at an oblique angle with respect to a scanning direction of the imaging system during relative movement between the imaging system and the object.
US08610901B2

A method for determining a flatness characteristic for a facet of a polygon assembly includes a) rotating a polygon assembly with facets at a desired speed, b) directing a light beam from a light source toward the polygon assembly so light is reflected by consecutive facets during revolutions of the polygon assembly, reflected light passing through a focusing lens that directs a spot light toward a target with spaced-apart bars arranged in a grating pattern that block a portion of the reflected light and allows another portion to pass through another focusing lens that directs another spot light toward a light sensor, the light sensor detecting intensity of the spot light, and c) measuring the intensity over time during revolutions of the polygon assembly to obtain measurements for each facet. An associated test setup includes a fixture, motor controller, light source, light sensor, two focusing lens, target, and system controller.
US08610892B2

Various optical apparatus, in particular embodiments, may provide a source of parallel light (7, 75). The parallel light (7, 75) may be generally achieved by directing an incident beam at the apex of a prism (1, 22, 24, 26, 28). The prism may have varying configurations. One configuration has a forward conical face (24). Another configuration has a pyramidal forward end (22). Other configurations are also disclosed. Various optical methods and methods for flow cytometry are also disclosed.
US08610889B2

The present invention discloses an automated optical inspection device and a calibration method thereof. The automated optical inspection device has a machine table and a camera. The machine table has a first fixing base for placing a product plate and a second fixing base for placing a standard plate, and the second fixing base is disposed above the first fixing base. The camera is disposed above the machine table and is used to move upward a predetermined distance at a predetermined time and then scan the standard plate on the second fixing base to achieve calibration. The present invention automates the calibration process for the automated optical inspection device, so as to reduce overall work time.
US08610885B2

Apparatus and methodology for testing coated optical-fiber bend fatigue and operational reliability by subjecting a coated optical-fiber carrying an optical signal to bending motion. The motion can be either: (1) in the same angular direction for multiple revolutions or (2) alternating clockwise and counterclockwise directions for repetitive single revolutions. The motions are achieved by using either a single conical-cylindrical form or two conically-shaped forms separated from each other by a constant gap width with the coated optical-fiber under test strung in the gap between the forms. With the two cones, the fiber is wrapped over each form in an alternating manner by a rotating arm that makes only single revolutions in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. With either embodiment, varied circumferences are controllably presented to the optical fiber resulting in varying bend radii. Fiber tension, signal strength and optical wavelength are parameters that can also be varied under computer control, the computer providing spreadsheet data for clear analysis.
US08610882B2

A curvature sensing device 10 comprising, a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor 12, a second FBG strain sensor 14, a flexible piece comprising two end pieces 16, 18 joined by a tubular mid-section 20. The device 10 further comprises 16 contact rollers 22 provided on the internal surfaces of the end pieces 16, 18, which maintain the end pieces 16, 18 tangential to a pipe around which the device 10 is located. The FBG strain sensors 12, 14 are embedded within the mid-section 20 and are arranged in two generally orthogonal planes, so that the curvature is measured in two dimensions. This enables the device 10 to detect both the magnitude and direction of bending/curvature within a pipe. Bending in a pipe is transferred through the end pieces 16, 18 to the mid-section 20. The FBG sensors 12, 14 measure bending of the mid-section 20 from which bending of the pipe can be inferred.
US08610870B2

An air-cooling apparatus which cools an imaging unit with a plurality of LCD panels and a polarizer assembly includes a cooling fan, and a cooling duct which directs air expelled from the cooling fan onto the plurality of LCD panels and the polarizer assembly, and the cooling duct includes a plurality of channels corresponding to the plurality of LCD panels, and at least two channels from among the plurality of channels are bent in a vertical direction.
US08610866B2

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display including a pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode spaced apart with a gap therebetween, a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and including a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The first and second subpixel electrodes include a plurality of branches, and each of the first and second subpixel electrodes includes a plurality of subregions. The branches extend in different directions in different subregions.
US08610858B2

A liquid crystal display device that is in a normally black mode where a screen is black when a voltage difference between a first insulating substrate and a second insulating substrate is zero, wherein a column spacer is positioned between the two substrates and the column spacer is in contact with a common voltage conductor pattern formed on the first insulating substrate and a common electrode formed on the second insulating substrate, such that a voltage difference between the common voltage conductor pattern and the common electrode is zero.
US08610855B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device having a structure in which one surface of the alignment film contacts a liquid crystal layer, the other surface of the alignment film contacts an underlying layer, the refractive index of the alignment film monotonically increases in a film thickness direction of the alignment film from a boundary surface between the liquid crystal layer and the alignment film to a boundary surface between the underlying layer and the alignment film, and the minimum refractive index nLC of the liquid crystal layer, the refractive index nF2 of the alignment film at the boundary surface between the liquid crystal layer and the alignment film, the refractive index nF1 of the alignment film at the boundary surface between the alignment film and the underlying layer, and the refractive index nS2 of the underlying layer have a relationship of an equation (I) in which nLC≦nF2
US08610854B2

A pixel electrode of a liquid crystal display panel is electrically connected to an end of a switch unit of the liquid crystal display panel, and includes: a plurality of branches, which is connected to a frame, each of the branches extending from the frame at a given angle into an interior of the frame; adjacent ones of the branches being sequentially juxtaposed by being spaced by cutoffs; the plurality of branches having tailing ends that define an opening having a configuration of mirror symmetry in the interior of the frame; and an orientation layer being arranged below the frame to cover the frame. Through use of the pixel electrode of the present invention, the liquid crystal display panel shows increased transmittance and improved displaying performance.
US08610850B2

A display device is disclosed. The display device includes: a display panel including a display surface and a peripheral area surrounding the display surface, a transparent plate covering the display surface and the peripheral area, a resin layer disposed between the display panel and the transparent plate, and hardened by light, and a reflective layer provided between the transparent plate and the resin layer, along the peripheral area of the display panel.
US08610845B2

A display device may include a first substrate, a second substrate, reflective plates and a transparent electrode. The first substrate and the second substrate may be facing each other. The reflective plates may be on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate. The transparent electrode may be disposed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate. Color filters and a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) layer may further be included in the display device. The color filters may be on the reflective plates, and the PDLC may be between the first substrate and the second substrate. The PDLC layer may include a polymer and liquid crystals dispersed in the polymer.
US08610835B2

A mobile settings control device (MSCD) presents a user interface (UI) enabling a user to establish display settings for a display associated with an audio video display device (AVDD) with which the MSCD communicates. Before and after adjustment screen shots may be presented full screen and toggled between on either the AVDD or MSCD, or split screens of before and after adjustment screen shots can be presented side by side on the AVDD or MSCD.
US08610828B2

The present invention provides a moving picture reproduction apparatus including a frequency change unit for changing a display frequency to a frequency of a moving picture when a reproduction of the moving picture starts and for changing the display frequency to a frequency prior to the start of the reproduction of the moving picture when the reproduction of the moving picture stops, and a reproduction unit for stopping the reproduction of the moving picture when the frequency change unit changes the display frequency, wherein the frequency change unit maintains the display frequency at the frequency of the moving picture in a case where the reproduction unit stops the reproduction of the moving picture in response to the change of the display frequency by the frequency change unit.
US08610824B2

Disclosed is a camera module including a WLO (wafer level optic) which is manufactured as a wafer optical device; an image sensor which converts an optical signal from the WLO into an electric signal; a holder which functions as a housing of the camera module; and a substrate which has a circuit pattern and transfers the converted electrical signal to a main body, wherein a stumbling sill is formed at an outer edge portion of the substrate so that a lower end of the holder is mounted on the stumbling sill.
US08610809B2

A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which plural pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element which converts light signals into electric signals and accumulates the electric signals according to exposure time are arranged in a matrix state; plural control lines for drive controlling the pixels; and a pixel drive unit controlling operation of the pixels to perform electronic shutter operation and reading of the pixel unit through the control lines,wherein the pixel drive unit includes a function of outputting read row selection signals and shutter row selection signals of row addresses of read rows from which signals are read and shutter rows from which charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion elements are swept out and reset in accordance with address signals, and a function of selecting plural successive rows by designating the lowest address signal and the highest address signal.
US08610804B1

An apparatus and other embodiments associated with performing interpolations to compute gain values that correct for varying spatial intensity are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes interpolation logic configured to determine a gain value for a pixel in image data for which there is no gain value available in the apparatus. The interpolation logic is configured to determine the gain value by performing an interpolation of related gain values available in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes falloff correction logic configured to apply the gain value to the pixel in the image data.
US08610794B2

A method of producing an image is disclosed. At least one symbol is received. The at least one symbol is, optionally, displayed on a first image with at least one light spot. Subsequently, a position of an incident light projected on an image sensor of an image capturing device is varied during an exposure period according to the at least one symbol. Accordingly, a second image with a light track that traces the at least one symbol is captured.
US08610787B2

Camera device includes an imaging unit, a communications unit, an identified area detection unit, and an image data processing unit. The imaging unit images an area in a shooting field to obtain image data. The communications unit communicates with a memory device that stores subject information, and obtains the subject information. The identified area detection unit dynamically detects an identified area corresponding to the subject. The image data processing unit specifies a protected area in the identified area based on the subject information, and applies protection only to the protected area when the subject is a protection target. This structure provides the camera device that generates image data in which a subject to be protected is obscured in an imaged subject.
US08610786B2

Multiple visual perspectives in video of private and public activities including those in public areas such as entertainment venues captured by cameras located near the activities can be transmitted over data networks to a server where video-related data is processed and recorded for selective display by authorized, remote video display devices (e.g., HDTV, set-top boxes, computers, handheld devices) in wired/wireless communication with the server. Users can be registered and authorized to access the server to provide/access video captured by cameras at activities. Wireless handheld devices can selectively retrieve video-related data captured at activities for server storage and subsequent display by video display devices. Captured video/pictures can be organized in a server based on at least one of: activity title, activity time, activity date, activity place, wireless handheld device location at time of video recording, distance from location of interest. Simultaneous display of multiple videos on a display can be synchronized.
US08610782B2

A broadcast receiving device includes a receiving component, a comparison component and a drive signal generating component. The receiving component is configured to receive broadcast waves and extract a video signal from the broadcast waves. The comparison component is configured to compare quality of the video signal with a first level. The drive signal generating component is configured to generate a drive signal for displaying video on a display based on the video signal such that at least one of brightness and contrast of the video is reduced by a certain amount when the quality of the video signal is lower than the first level.
US08610780B2

Embodiments include systems and methods for objectively grading/rating a display. One embodiment may take the form of a method for grading display quality including capturing an image of the display and computing first and second parameter values from the captured image. The method also includes comparing the first parameter value against a threshold and, if the first parameter value exceeds the threshold, computing a grade wherein the second parameter is given a first weighting. If, however, the first parameter value is below the threshold, the method includes computing a grade wherein the second parameter is given a second weighting which is greater than the first weighting.
US08610779B2

A method and a system for monitoring operation of an LED display screen are provided. The method comprises: A. transmitting a monitoring video image to the LED display screen, shooting a corresponding monitoring image by a video camera, and transmitting the monitoring image back to a computer apparatus; and B. analyzing and computing pixels in the monitoring image to determine a working status of modules in the LED display screen. Prior to the step A, the method further comprises a step of: transmitting a geometric video image to the LED display screen, shooting a geometric image by the video camera, transmitting the geometric image back to the computer apparatus, and acquiring and storing coordinate information by the computer apparatus. The system comprises a computer apparatus, a video controller, an LED display screen and at least one video camera. The system is characterized in that: the computer apparatus transmits a monitoring video image to the LED display screen; the video camera shoots a monitoring image; the computer apparatus receives and stores the monitoring image; and the computer apparatus analyzes and computes pixels in the monitoring image to determine a working status of modules in the LED display screen. The present invention features a low cost and strong adaptability.
US08610778B2

A method and a device for use in calibrating a projector image display towards a display screen, wherein the display screen is equipped with a plurality of discrete light detection points on or in the front surface of the screen, or located immediately below the front surface, wherein each light detection point or groups thereof are associated with a light detector, wherein at least one image is projected towards the display screen, and wherein it is determined which image pixel or pixels of the projected image hit the respective detection point on the screen, and/or wherein brightness and/or colours in the projected image are correlated by comparing measurements at the detection points and relevant projector parameters are adjusted correspondingly.
US08610774B2

A video processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires a change rate per unit time of a parallax amount that is a shift amount in a direction of an interpupillary distance between a frame-image for left-eye and a frame-image for right-eye of one set. Then, the video processing apparatus determines, based on the change rate, a display parallax amount for displaying an object to be stereoscopically viewed by a user as approaching him at the change rate that is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold. At that time, the display parallax amount is determined such that the object is stereoscopically viewed by the user as approaching him at a change rate smaller than the acquired change rate.
US08610767B2

An apparatus for skin imaging uses a combination of near-field and far-field skin images under different angles of illumination. The apparatus provides a tool that may be employed for rapid screening of the skin for lesions that may be indicative of skin diseases, in particular skin cancers such as melanoma.
US08610763B2

A display controller includes an extraction unit for extracting a characteristic of at least one of image data and sound data of content; a detection unit for detecting a predetermined scene of the content on the basis of the characteristic extracted by the extraction unit; a reproduction unit for reproducing the content; and a display control unit for displaying an image of the content so as to be recognized as a two-dimensional image when the reproduction position of the content is a position of a section of the predetermined scene detected by the detection unit and displaying an image of the content so as to be recognized as a three-dimensional image when the reproduction position of the content is a position outside the section of the predetermined scene.
US08610756B2

A method, system and device for call switching between a mobile device using a mobile communication network and any data communication equipment using other type of communication network without any disconnection of a on ongoing call is provided. In a method for a call switching service, the first and second mobile devices establish wireless communication channels with the mobile communication network, respectively. The first mobile device transfers a call to specific data communication equipment. The mobile communication network establishes a call channel between the specific data communication equipment to which the call is transferred and the second mobile device that is not transferring the call to the specific data communication equipment.
US08610755B2

Methods and apparatuses for automated multi-lingual support are described herein. A relay service provides translation services between a hearing-impaired user and a hearing-capable user. The relay service includes a database with one or more entries. Each of the one or more entries is associated with a contact of the hearing-impaired user and includes one or more connection indicators for the contact and one or more spoken languages for the contact. A profile system determines an identified entry in the database using a calling connection indicator associated with the hearing-capable user to compare with the one or more connection indicators. A call distribution system establishes a calling connection over a voice-capable network with the calling connection indicator associated with the hearing-capable user and routes the calling connection to a translator capable in the one or more spoken languages associated with the hearing-capable user determined from the identified entry.
US08610754B2

A light sensor generates a detection signal upon receiving laser light. A rotation sensor generates a rotation signal in synchronization with rotation of a polygon motor. A mirror-rotation-signal generating section generates a mirror rotation signal, based on the detection signal. A motor-rotation-signal generating section generates a motor rotation signal, based on the rotation signal. A phase-difference measuring section measures a phase difference between the motor rotation signal and the mirror rotation signal. A prediction-signal generating section generates a prediction signal that is delayed from the motor rotation signal by the phase difference. A switching section switches a control mode between: a mirror control mode in which the mirror rotation signal is used to control a rotational speed of the polygon mirror; and a prediction control mode in which the prediction signal is used to control the rotational speed. A motor driver drives the polygon motor in the selected control mode.
US08610751B2

A thermal printer has a platen roller detachably and rotatably held on a main body frame by a lock mechanism and has a support member that supports a thermal head for printing on a recording medium. The lock mechanism comprises slits formed in the main body frame and lock arms arranged relative to the slits for rotatably retaining the platen roller therebetween with bottom portions of the slits abutting the platen roller. The support member has a regulating surface that abuts the platen roller to position heating elements of the thermal head relative to the platen roller. The regulating surface is arranged so that during a mounting operation in which the platen roller is detachably mounted to the main body frame, the regulating surface is caused to abut the platen roller before the bottom portions of the respective slits of the lock mechanism are caused to abut the platen roller.
US08610750B2

In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into portions, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the portions have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different portions by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.
US08610743B2

A computer program product is tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium and includes executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause a data processing apparatus to display multiple objects in a three dimensional (3D) representation, where the multiple objects are visual representations of real objects, and display a subset of the objects and associated metadata in a shaped lens that is movable within the 3D representation in all three axes, where the subset of the objects displayed within the shaped lens are sized larger than the objects outside of the shaped lens.
US08610741B2

Techniques and systems are disclosed for navigating human scale image data using aligned perspective images. A consecutive sequence of digital images is stacked together by aligning consecutive images laterally with an image offset between edges of consecutive images corresponding to a distance between respective view windows of the consecutive images. A view window of an image in the sequence is rendered, where the view window of the image corresponds to a desired location. Offset portions of the view window of a desired number of images in the sequence are rendered, for example, alongside the full view of the image at the desired location.
US08610733B2

The present invention suppresses a phenomenon in which an oblique line appears on a display screen when the scanning line direction of a moving image is changed in an image memory. To accomplish the above-mentioned object, an image display device includes: a storage portion configured to store image data for a first frame constituting the moving image and for a second frame subsequent to the first frame, and having first to third memory areas; a writing portion configured to write the image data for the first frame into the first and second memory areas and to write the image data for the second frame into the first and third memory areas; a reading portion configured to read the image data for the first frame from the first and second memory areas and to read the image data for the second frame from the first and third memory areas, the reading portion changing a scanning line direction for the image data for the first and second frames to be read to a second scanning line direction different from a first scanning line direction that is a scanning line direction for the image data prior to the writing; and a display portion configured to output the image data for the read first and second frames in time sequence in a visible manner.
US08610717B2

Aspects of the invention relate generally to accessing, storing, and processing vector data to represent various geographical features such as roads, rivers, lakes, countries, continents, and oceans on one or more maps. More specifically, the vector data may be pre-simplified for rendering at different zoom levels. The simplification process is based on removing vertices from vector data in order to reduce the number of points in a given polygon or line. As this process is very expensive in terms of time and processing power, the system and method allow for estimation of the proportion of vertices which that would be removed from the original geometry. Based on this estimation, one may decide whether or not the simplification is worth the effort to compute and store the simplified data.
US08610715B2

A method, a monitor control module and system are disclosed for displaying a medical image from a volume dataset on a monitor of a computer-aided device, whereby, in addition to the image a number of orientation images from the volume dataset are to be displayed. In at least one embodiment, the user determines an orientation measurement beforehand, on the basis of which orientation images will be selected from the volume dataset and presented for display with the image. The orientation measurement can be either based on distance or be the result of an anatomic model.
US08610709B2

Provided are a watermarking method and a watermarking apparatus for a mesh mode, which are applicable to a system which requires high precision, such as a rapid prototyping system. A reference coordinate system is set using 1-ring values of vertices of a 3D mesh model. The vertices are sorted based on the set reference coordinate system, and bit-information of the watermark consisting of bit string is, respectively, embedded into each of polygonal faces of the 3D mesh model in the sorted order.The present invention is advantageous in that the shape of the model is not deformed even when watermarked, and therefore the present invention is useful in a rapid prototyping system which requires high precision for the purpose of authenticating data integrity. The present invention can be also used for the purpose of marking contents without the need for storing, and for the purpose of information hiding.
US08610708B2

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a method and apparatus is disclosed for constructing a three-dimensional model of a scene captured as a video stream including obtaining a video stream of a scene by a first camera; locating a horizon with respect to the scene with a second camera; and constructing a three-dimensional model of the scene based upon the obtained video stream and the located horizon.
US08610705B2

An apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display device, and which includes an image analyzer configured to compare a pattern of input image data with a plurality of stored patterns of image data, to determine a stored pattern of image data from the plurality of stored patterns of image data that is most similar to the pattern of the input image data, and to output a pattern analysis signal indicating the determined stored pattern, and a dithering unit connected to the image analyzer and configured to select a dithering pattern based on the output pattern analysis signal, to dither the input image data based on the selected dithering pattern, and to output a dither-processed image data.
US08610701B2

A pixel operating in a concurrent (or simultaneous) emission method includes: an organic light emitting diode; a second transistor for controlling an amount of current flowing to a second power supply through the organic light emitting diode from a first power supply, the first power supply being coupled to a first electrode of the second transistor; a first transistor coupled between a data line and a gate electrode of the second transistor; a first capacitor coupled between a second electrode of the first transistor and the first power supply; and a fourth transistor coupled between a second electrode of the second transistor and the organic light emitting diode, wherein the first transistor and the fourth transistor are configured to be turned on during a period when the first capacitor is charged with a voltage corresponding to a data signal.
US08610698B2

To provide a display device including a switching regulator type power generating circuit which realizes an increase in display quality by an output voltage being more stable, and by suppressing a flickering of a screen. A display device includes a switching regulator type direct current power generating circuit, wherein a period for which a switching element is turned on is determined in such a way as to increase or decrease by a given width when a code of an output voltage with respect to a setting voltage is constant, and the period is determined in such a way as to increase or decrease differently from the given width when the code changes.
US08610696B2

A semiconductor circuit including: an A/D converter circuit which converts an inputted first signal into a second signal. The A/D converter circuit includes a comparator circuit which compares a voltage of the first signal and a reference voltage; an A/D conversion controller circuit which outputs a digital signal in accordance with comparison results given by the comparator circuit, as a fourth signal and which outputs, in accordance with the third signal, a digital signal corresponding to the first signal, as the second signal; and a D/A converter which converts an inputted fourth signal into an analog signal and which outputs the analog signal as the reference signal. The comparator circuit includes a transistor having a first gate and a second gate. The first signal is inputted to the first gate, the reference signal is inputted to the second gate.
US08610693B2

In an optical position detection device, the XY coordinates of a target object are detected based on received light intensity of a light receiving section by forming a light intensity distribution, in which the intensity changes in a radiation angle range of detection light, with first and second light source modules. The first and second light source modules are separated from each other in the Z-axis direction, and the position of the target object in the Z-axis direction is detected based on the received light intensity of the light receiving section when forming the light intensity distribution in which the intensity is fixed in the radiation angle range of detection light.
US08610684B2

A method and system are provided for controlling a first electronic device connectable to a second electronic device. The first electronic device comprises a touch-sensitive non-display area for detecting one or more touch-sensitive non-display area gestures. Each touch-sensitive non-display area gesture is associated with a respective function of the first electronic device. The method comprises partitioning a touch-sensitive input mechanism of the second electronic device into a non-display portion and a display portion; receiving a gesture using the non-display portion, the gesture corresponding to a touch-sensitive non-display area gesture; and determining an instruction to be performed by the first electronic device based on the gesture.
US08610683B2

A touch screen panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: first and second substrates each being divided into a touch active region and a touch non-active region that is located outside the touch active region; second sensing electrodes at the touch active region on a first surface of the first substrate; first sensing electrodes divided into at least two groups respectively at the touch active regions on different surfaces of the first and second substrates, a group of the at least two groups being on a second surface of the first substrate or at least one surface of the second substrate; and outside wirings connected to the first and second sensing electrodes, the outside wirings and the sensing electrodes on a same one of the substrates being at a same plane.
US08610679B2

A touch sensing display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate parallel to the first substrate, a plurality of scanning lines and sensing lines being disposed on the second substrate, and the scanning lines being interlaced with the sensing lines; a plurality of touch switches disposed on the second substrate, each touch switch being connected between one scanning line and one sensing line in series; and a plurality of spacers disposed on the first substrate corresponding to the touch switches, respectively, each spacer having a conductive layer disposed on a bottom side facing to the corresponding touch switch, and having isolating surfaces on the other sides, wherein each touch switch has a turned-on state and a turned-off state, and the conductive layer of the spacer corresponding thereto causes said touch switch to be changed from the turned-off state to the turned-on state when a touch event is received.
US08610676B2

A stylus pen includes a body portion, and an end portion on the body portion, the end portion including a reflecting unit and adapted to contact a touch screen. The reflecting unit is adapted to reflect light toward a display apparatus including the stylus pen, so light receiving accuracy of a photosensor in the display apparatus is increased.
US08610674B2

Disclosed are new methods and apparatus particularly suited for applications in a vehicle, to provide a wide range of information, and the safe input of data to a computer controlling the vehicle subsystems or “Telematic” communication using for example GM's “ONSTAR” or cellular based data sources. Preferred embodiments utilize new programmable forms of tactile touch screens and displays employing tactile physical selection or adjustment means which utilize direct optical data input. A revolutionary form of dashboard or instrument panel results which is stylistically attractive, lower in cost, customizable by the user, programmable in both the tactile and visual sense, and with the potential of enhancing interior safety and vehicle operation. Non-automotive applications of the invention are also disclosed, for example means for general computer input using touch screens and home automation systems.
US08610671B2

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The method can include: displaying graphics on the touch screen display, detecting a finger contact on the touch screen display, and, in response to the detected finger contact, inserting an insertion marker in the graphics at a first location. The method can further include detecting a finger movement on the touch screen display and, irrespective of initial distance from finger to insertion marker on the touch screen display, moving the insertion marker in accordance with the detected finger movement from the first location to a second location in the graphics.
US08610670B2

The imaging and display apparatus is provided. The imaging and display apparatus includes the following elements. An imaging-and-display panel has an image display function and an imaging function. A generation unit generates a difference image representing a difference between a display-light-based image and a shadow image, the display-light-based image being obtained by the imaging-and-display panel by imaging an object close to the imaging-and-display panel using display light from the imaging-and-display panel, the shadow image being obtained by the imaging-and-display panel by imaging a shadow of the object. An image processing unit obtains information concerning at least one of a position, shape, and size of the object taking the shadow image and the difference image into account.
US08610663B2

A method for controlling a portable device is provided. The method includes detecting bending of the portable device and determining whether to perform motion sensing correction due to the bending; acquiring a motion sensing correction factor for performing the motion sensing correction due to the bending; performing motion sensing correction of at least one motion sensor using the motion sensing correction factor; and controlling the portable device according to the corrected motion sensing.
US08610662B2

The invention relates to a method of driving an electrowetting display which includes a plurality of electrowetting elements, the display comprising at least one first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with each other, each of the electrowetting elements comprising at least one surface area. In a first, relatively low voltage, driving state of an electrowetting element the second fluid tends to cover the at least one surface area, and in a second, relatively high voltage, driving state of an electrowetting element the first fluid tends to cover the at least one surface area. The method comprises: providing a voltage booster circuit to generate a voltage signal to be applied across one or more selected ones of the plurality of electrowetting elements; and during driving of the one or more selected elements in the second driving state, selectively switching the voltage booster circuit on and off such that the voltage booster circuit is operative only some of the time and the voltage signal includes a voltage ripple variation. The invention further relates to electrowetting display apparatus adapted to perform the method of the invention.
US08610654B2

A display that includes at least one gray level being provided to a plurality of pixels that illuminates each of the pixels with the gray level. The display applies interpolated corrective data for the pixels so as to reduce the mura effects of said display and modifies the backlight of the display.
US08610649B2

A display apparatus may include: a flexible base having a first surface and a second surface; a hard base including a plurality of base members adhered onto the first surface of the flexible base; and/or an image display structure formed on the second surface of the flexible base. A method of manufacturing a display apparatus may include: preparing a flexible base having a first surface and a second surface; adhering a hard base onto the first surface of the flexible base; forming an image display structure on the second surface of the flexible base; and/or dividing the hard base into a plurality of base members.
US08610646B2

An organic electroluminescence display device is provided having a display section including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix; and a detection section for detecting a luminance characteristic of an OLED element in each of the pixels. The detection section includes a first path for allowing a detected characteristic value to pass therethrough and a second path for attenuating the detected characteristic value. A first switch is provided for the first path whereas a second switch is provided for the second path, the second switch being opened when the first switch is closed. The detected characteristic value having passed through any one of the first path and the second path is input to a same analog-to-digital converter to be converted into a digital quantity.
US08610640B2

An antenna system suitable for marine SSB radio. The system includes a plurality of insulated conductors each having a first end and a second end; the first ends of the conductors are connected at a connection point. The insulated conductors are disposed within a tubing segment, which is sealed with a plug proximate to the connection point. A conductor connected to the connection point extends through the plug is configured for connection to a SSB radio tuner. In an embodiment, each of the conductors has a length greater than that of the tubing segment, and thus has a loop within the tubing segment. Each of the conductors advantageously has a different length, with the lengths of the conductors corresponding to quarter-wavelength antenna elements covering a frequency range of about 2 MHz to about 28 MHz.
US08610637B1

A propagating mode transition system provides a transition from a free-space-propagating electromagnetic energy field, which is partitioned by an array of elongate elements, to a transverse electromagnetic-mode propagating energy field in a transmission line. Electrically-conductive pads are disposed on a substrate with the pads being arranged in spaced-apart fashion. Each pad is substantially covered by and electrically coupled to one of the elongate elements at a base thereof such that portions of each pad not covered by the base are exposed. Each of a plurality of transmission line baluns extends through the substrate with one end thereof disposed between the exposed portions of two adjacent pads. Each balun includes two identical-width electrical conductors with each conductor being electrically coupled to one of the exposed portions.
US08610634B2

The present invention provides an antenna that enables circular polarization in a plurality of oscillation frequencies. A multi-frequency circular polarization antenna is formed with a substrate and multi-frequency antennas. The multi-frequency antennas are formed with antenna elements, shunt inductor conductors, series capacitor conductors, series inductor conductors, a center point, and input/output terminals. The multi-frequency antenna is arranged to cross the multi-frequency antenna at the center point to make an angle that is less than 90 degrees with respect to the multi-frequency antenna.
US08610633B2

A dual polarized waveguide slot array includes a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The first waveguide includes major and minor cross-sectional axes and extends along a common longitudinal axis. The first waveguide further includes a plurality of slots disposed thereon for radiating or receiving signals of a first polarization. The second waveguide is coupled to the first waveguide, extending along the common longitudinal axis and having major and minor cross-sectional axes. The major cross-sectional axis of the second waveguide oriented substantially orthogonally to the cross-sectional axis of the first waveguide, and the second waveguide includes a plurality of slots disposed thereon for radiating or receiving signals of a second polarization substantially orthogonal to the first polarization.
US08610632B2

Techniques for adjusting one or more antenna parameters to optimize the performance of a wireless device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a variable antenna electrical length module is provided with a control signal for selecting a preferred antenna electrical length. Further techniques for accommodating multiple antennas are disclosed.
US08610628B2

A wideband antenna includes: a substrate, having a first surface and a second surface; a ground plane, disposed on the second surface; an exciting element, disposed on the first surface, and having a feed point coupled to a signal source; a connection element, disposed on the first surface, and coupled to the ground plane; a first branch, disposed on the first surface, and coupled to the connection element; a second branch, disposed on the first surface, and coupled to the connection element; and a coupling element, disposed on the first surface, and coupled to the connection element.
US08610623B2

Methods and apparatus for implementing a receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) algorithm are provided. The RAIM algorithm is for determining an integrity risk in a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) by processing several ranging signals received from satellites of the GNSS. The algorithm involves determining several integrity risks at an alert limit for different fault conditions of the ranging signals, and determining an overall integrity risk at the alert limit from the determined several integrity risks.
US08610622B2

An aimed or aiming firearm can be detected before it is able to shoot. Wideband radar signals can be used to identify the barrel of a firearm when the radar antenna and barrel are aiming at or near each other. Signal processing correlates reflected signals to the characteristics of specific firearms of interest, and alerts the user when someone is pointing such a firearm at them. Modern wideband radar systems with fast signal processing speed can enable real-time detection of firearm threats in crowded and cluttered areas before they shoot, which has never before been possible. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and articles are also described.
US08610616B2

Embodiments of the disclosure may generally relate to an analog to digital converter. An example analog to digital converter may include a unit capacitor array, a comparator and a control block. The unit capacitor array may include multiple capacitors coupled to one another via multiple switches under control of the control block. The comparator, having a first input and a second input, may be configured to receive a controlled voltage generated from the unit capacitor array and compare an analog voltage to the controlled voltage. The control block may be configured to selectively open or close the switches, receive a comparison result from the comparator, and generate a digital output based on the comparison result. The control block may be configured to control the switch timing of the unit capacitor array for reset, pre-charge, charge redistribution, and comparison phases, where a passive charge redistribution method may be utilized.
US08610612B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing data conversion by matching current sources using a thin oxide device; and minimizing voltage stress on the thin oxide device during operation or power down.
US08610601B2

A kitchen exhaust hood assembly having a fire suppression system with built-in redundancy and monitoring capabilities is presented. The fire suppression system includes one or more fire suppression devices associated with the kitchen hood for extinguishing a fire within the vicinity of the exhaust hood. The fire suppression devices can be triggered by a series of manual actuators or fire sensors. A switching circuit including a plurality of switches operatively connected to the manual actuators or fire sensors triggers the fire suppression devices by enabling either a first or second actuating circuit.
US08610600B1

Techniques for providing missed arrival notifications are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing missed arrival notifications comprising: receiving, from a user associated with a client device, travel information that indicates at least an expected destination and an expected route to the expected destination, tracking, on a notification system, the client device's progress in traveling the expected route to the expected destination, determining, on the notification system, whether the client device has deviated from the expected route to the expected destination, and initiating, on the notification system, an alert escalation procedure in response to determining that the client device has deviated from the expected route to the expected destination.
US08610593B2

There is therefore provided a user feedback engine, comprising a message generation module for generating messages for a user; a queue management module for managing a queue of the generated messages; wherein each message includes respective values for a plurality of parameters including a priority, a period of validity and a non-repeat time; and wherein the queue management module manages the messages in the queue in accordance with the respective values.
US08610592B2

The invention relates to a proximity switch for the detection of objects, comprising a sleeve-type housing, comprising a transducer unit disposed at a measuring end of said sleeve-type housing, the transducer unit comprising a transducer receptacle and a transducer element disposed therein for detecting a physical measurand, comprising a connecting piece disposed at a connecting end of said sleeve-type housing, comprising an electronic assembly disposed on a printed circuit board accommodated in said sleeve-type housing and having a control and evaluation unit adapted to control said transducer element, to evaluate signals measured by said transducer element and to emit switching signals to an environment, wherein variously colored light-emitting diodes are disposed on said printed circuit board at the measuring end and at the connecting end for indicating operational and/or switching states, wherein said transducer receptacle exhibits a transparent region disposed around a housing axis and/or a transparent region at an end face. The proximity switch is characterized in that said connecting piece has a peripheral transparent region, that said transparent regions at said measuring end and at said connecting end are optically homogeneous, that said transparent regions are each capable of being monochromatically illuminated by said light-emitting diodes and that said control and evaluation unit is adapted to control the respective variously colored light-emitting diodes for indicating different operational and/or switching states.
US08610590B2

A method and associated system for monitoring electrical demand performance in a building, industrial complex or university campus is disclosed. According to a preferred method, historical data is initially complied and statically analyzed to determine demand forecast for a baseline day. Further according to the method, electrical demand is plotted with another indication, more particularly outside air temperature. Additionally the invention provides an electronic alert to building engineers when demand falls outside the expected demand range. Still further a control chart is provided with the expected electrical load range. Outside air temperature is also optionally considered historically and in real time in the method. The invention further contemplates commissioning building engineers to reduce demand when a real time demand is higher than an expected energy demand. A system is also disclosed herein having instrumentation and electronic devices controlled by software and transmitting data.
US08610589B2

A frequency/timing measurement apparatus includes a reference source having a reference source output terminal. At least one target source has a target source output terminal. The at least one target source is communicatively coupled to the reference source. A frequency timing measurement block has a first input terminal electrically coupled to the reference source output terminal. A second input terminal is electrically coupled to the target source output terminal and at least one output terminal. The frequency timing measurement block is configured to perform a noise shaping technique to reduce measurement error attributable to a phase noise that is correlated between the reference source and the target source, and to provide a reduced correlated noise measurement at the at least one output terminal. A method to reduce correlated noise is also described.
US08610587B2

A smoke detector unit with built-in global system for mobile communications (GSM) to effect short message service (SMS) with an end user, and short message service (SMS), data transmission or email, with a central station monitoring (CSM) Events such as low battery condition and excessive smoke detection are reported to the CSM or end user via SMS or email. The unit may be reprogrammed via SMS remotely. The unit may be checked for connectivity between the unit and the CSM or end user via SMS remotely.
US08610582B2

An exercise monitoring apparatus capable of allowing a user to conveniently check a progressed exercise state and capable of properly controlling an exercise amount, by comparing a progressed exercise amount measured based on scheduling information received from an external apparatus and acceleration information of the exercise monitoring apparatus, with a goal exercise amount, and by visually providing a comparison result, a system and an exercise monitoring method thereof. The exercise monitoring apparatus comprises a communication unit configured to receive exercise scheduling information from an external apparatus, a sensing unit configured to detect acceleration information of the exercise monitoring apparatus, a controller configured to measure a progressed exercise amount based on the acceleration information, to acquire a goal exercise amount from the exercise scheduling information, to compare the progressed exercise amount with the goal exercise amount, and to generate a notification message indicating a result of the comparison, and an output unit configured to output the notification message.
US08610578B2

An electronic substrate including: a base substrate having an active face and a rear face; and a plurality of inductor elements formed on or above the active face, or formed on or above the rear face.
US08610574B2

An item storage facility that includes a resident programmable subcontroller, at least one stand, a one circuit board having a plurality of elongated openings therein supported on the stand, and a plurality of connectors resident on the circuit board and in communication with the subcontroller.
US08610573B2

A wireless module is configurable by a user to operate in different modes as a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, and repeater. A method of transmitting and receiving data while substantially reducing or eliminating interference from competing frequency bands, including Wi-Fi systems, as well as a method of transmitting data with a high degree of certainty without requiring an acknowledgement receipt, negotiation, or hand-shaking from a down line transceiver, receiver and/or repeater are disclosed.
US08610569B2

An exemplary device can be provided for monitoring a child seat in a vehicle. The exemplary device can include seat electronics attachable to the child seat, and a transmitter configured to transfer first signals from the seat electronics to vehicle electronics and configured to transfer energy and second signals from the vehicle to the seat electronics. Additionally, the transmitter can be attachable to an anchor point configured to fasten the child seat to the vehicle.
US08610559B2

An environmental hazard warning system is provided. The environmental hazard warning system includes a data unit, a comparison unit, and an alarm unit. The data unit is capable of storing a plurality protective suit tolerance data. The comparison unit receives a portable sensor parameter signal including a portable sensor parameter from a portable sensor, and compares the portable sensor parameter with the protective suit tolerance data corresponding to the portable sensor parameter. The alarm unit transmits an alarm signal corresponding to the comparison between the portable sensor parameter and the protective suit tolerance data. The disclosure further provides an environmental hazard warning method.
US08610556B2

A communication system for use with an automobile having an accelerator, a brake, a cruise control, and a brake lamp includes a display, a transmitter, a receiver, and a cruise lamp visible from outside the automobile. The communication system includes a processor in data communication with the accelerator, the brake, the cruise control, the brake lamp, the display, the transmitter, the receiver, and the cruise lamp. The processor includes programming to actuate the automobile's cruise control to synchronize with the cruise control of a nearby vehicle having an activated cruise control. The processor actuates the accelerator to accelerate or decelerate according to cruise data received from the nearby synchronized automobile. The system may include a GPS such that current GPS and speed data may be compared with received GPS and speed data to determine a proximity and rate of closure between synchronized automobiles.
US08610555B2

A sensor for actuating a vehicle warning signal includes a housing, a magnetically activated switch on an outside surface of the housing, and an electrical connection connecting the switch to a warning signaling device. The housing includes a cavity, at least one spring inside the cavity, and a moveable magnetic weight element adjacent the spring. In a first condition the weight element is located in a first resting, non-activating position remote from said switch, and in a second condition, during a deceleration of the vehicle, the weight element moves to compress the spring so that the weight element moves from the first position to a second activating position proximate the switch so that the switch is closed by magnetic interaction with the weight element, the closing of the switch causing the warning signaling device to be activated to provide a warning to following vehicles.
US08610550B2

An in-vehicle device for displaying a plurality of screen data generated by a mobile terminal device on one display is provided. A registering unit is configured to register partial area information in which disposition information indicating disposition of each of a plurality of partial areas which are disposed on a display area of the display are associated with priority information indicating priority of each of the partial areas. A adjusting unit is configured to adjust the display area by allocating one of the screen data to one of the partial areas based on the priority information included in the partial area information when receiving a request to display the one of the screen data on the display. A display control unit is configured to display the one of the screen data allocated to the one of the partial areas on the display based on the disposition information included in the partial area information.
US08610548B1

A motion translating device for use in tactile feedback system comprises a motion output device, operable to impart motion from the translator to a motion output device. A frame assembly is operable to translate motion from at least one actuator to the motion output device along at least a first axis and a second axis. The frame assembly has associated therewith a motion decoupling apparatus. The motion decoupling apparatus is operable to translate motion between an actuator and the frame assembly along one of the axes while at least partially decoupling motion between an actuator and the frame assembly along an other axis.
US08610547B2

A universal transmitter capable of transmitting a plurality of signals at a plurality of different modulations and frequencies which provides a simplified programming setup so that multiple signal configurations (including code format, modulation format and frequency) can be programed quickly and easily. The transmitter comprises a signal configuration input which an operator can use to select a desired signal configuration for transmission, a controller for interpreting the selected signal configuration, storing it to memory, retrieving it when the appropriate user input is depressed, and outputting it to a transmitter circuit capable of transmitting the selected signal configuration received from the controller at a predetermined modulation and frequency, and at least one user input for actuating the transmitter and identifying to the controller what signal configuration is to be transmitted by the transmitter.
US08610545B2

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining the location of a subject is provided. The method includes receiving, by a first set of receivers out of a plurality of receivers, a first signal from a radio frequency identification tag being assigned to the subject, wherein the radio frequency identification tag has assigned a radio frequency identification tag identity; receiving, by a second set of receivers out of a plurality of receivers, a second signal from the radio frequency identification tag, the second signal being different from the first signal, wherein the second set of receivers is different from the first set of receivers; computing a location score based on an information about the first signal, wherein the information about the first signal is included in the first signal and on the first set of receivers, and further based on an information about the second signal, wherein the information about the second signal is included in the second signal and on the second set of receivers; and determining the location of the subject based on the location score. A system for determining the location of a subject is also provided. A radio frequency identification tag assembly is also provided.
US08610533B2

A power conversion device includes a magnetic core; and a plurality of windings surrounding portions of the magnetic core, including a first winding and a second winding magnetically coupled through the magnetic core. The magnetic core comprises a first part formed of a first material and a second part formed of a second material, the first material having a first stiffness and the second material having a second stiffness substantially less than the first stiffness. The first winding and the second winding are magnetically coupled through the first part of the magnetic core.
US08610524B2

A transformer includes a base, a magnetic core unit and a winding assembly. The base includes a base body and a pin disposed on the base body. The magnetic core unit is disposed in the base body, and the winding assembly is disposed in the magnetic core unit. A winding of the winding assembly is connected to the pin.
US08610522B2

An electrical switch is disclosed for switching an electric current, the switch being suitable for being inserted into a switch holding device. In at least one embodiment, the switch includes a locking device which, in the event of an overcurrent, moves a locking element of the locking device to a position which mechanically locks the switch in the switch holding device.
US08610512B2

A synthesizer includes a second frequency-synthesizing stage comprising a radiofrequency oscillator configured to oscillate at a frequency αfo when it is synchronized with a signal s0(t), where α is a rational number different from one such that αf0=ft. The radiofrequency oscillator has a magnetoresistive device within which there flows a spin-polarized electrical current to generate a signal st(t) oscillating at the frequency ft on an output electrode connected to the rendering terminal. This device is formed by a stack of magnetic and non-magnetic layers, a synchronization terminal for synchronizing the frequency of the oscillating signal st(t) with the frequency of the signal received at the synchronization terminal. The synchronization terminal being connected to the output terminal of the first stage to receive the signal s0(t).
US08610508B2

A signal generator for generating an output signal with a frequency that is a multiple of a frequency of a reference signal, the signal generator including an oscillator configured to generate the output signal in dependence on the reference signal and a control signal and a control circuit configured to generate the control signal to comprise a series of pulses in which one or more of the pulses is offset in phase relative to the reference signal, the control circuit thereby being capable of controlling the frequency and/or phase of the output signal.
US08610502B2

An amplifier stage in a radar system including an input matching stage, a transistor stage and an output matching stage. At least one of the matching stages includes a switch. Each switch is arranged to connect or disconnect a corresponding at least one grounded matching component to or from the matching stage. Each switch in the matching stages of the amplifier stage is a switch that is arranged to connect or disconnect grounded matching components to or from the matching stages.
US08610499B2

An apparatus and technique for operating an RF amplifier having a pre-distortion processor and a drain modulation circuit includes generating a compensating drain bias signal having a value which is a function of an RF input signal, a sampled RF output signal and a sampled drain bias signal. The compensating drain bias signal is applied to the RF amplifier. By sampling both the drain bias signal and the RF output signal and providing drain feedback and RF output feedback signals to a pre-distortion processor, RF amplifier distortions can be linearized enabling the RF amplifier to operate over a bandwidth which exceeds the bandwidth of the drain modulation circuit (i.e., the RF bandwidth can exceed the bandwidth of the drain modulator).
US08610493B2

Disclosed is a bias circuit which includes a bias voltage generating part configured to generate a bias voltage using a reference current and a variable current; a reference current source part configured to provide the reference current to the bias voltage generating part; and a current adjusting part configured to provide the variable current to the bias voltage generating part and to adjust the amount of the variable current according to voltage levels of at least two input signals. The bias circuit prevents an increase in power consumption and improves a slew rate at the same time.
US08610490B2

Voltage switches, memory devices, memory systems, and methods for switching are disclosed. One such voltage switch uses a pair of switch circuits coupled in series, each switch circuit being driven by a level shift circuit. Each switch circuit uses a group of series coupled transistors with a parallel control transistor where the number of transistors in each group may be determined by an expected switch input voltage and a maximum allowable voltage drop for each transistor. A voltage of a particular state of an enable signal is shifted up to the switch input voltage by the level shift circuits. The particular state of the enable signal turns on the voltage switch such that the switch output voltage is substantially equal to the switch input voltage.
US08610486B1

A current-mode analog computational circuit can be controlled to produce multiplying, squaring, divider and inverse functions and corresponding current outputs. The current-mode analog computational circuit is based on an implementation using MOSFETs operating in a sub-threshold region as can provide relatively ultra-low power dissipation. Furthermore, the current-mode analog computational circuit can be operated from a ±0.75 V DC supply. Tanner simulation results conducted using a 0.35-μm TSMC CMOS process confirmed the functionality of the multiplying, squaring, divider and inverse functions of the circuit. The current-mode analog computational circuit advantageously can have a total power consumption of 2.3 μW, a total harmonic distortion is 1.1%, a maximum linearity error of 0.3% and a bandwidth of 2.3 MHz.
US08610483B2

A voltage-limiting circuit, including a series branch circuit having a plurality of power switching devices, a plurality of energy temporary-storage circuits, and a centralized voltage-limiting circuit for limiting voltage for the series branch circuit. Each power switching device includes a control terminal, a high-end, and a low-end, and is connected in parallel with one energy temporary-storage circuit. The energy temporary-storage circuits include clamping diodes, energy storage capacitors, static voltage-sharing resistors, and energy return ends. In each energy temporary-storage circuit, the energy storage capacitors are connected in parallel with the static voltage-sharing resistors to form the energy return ends, and then connected in series with the clamping diodes. The centralized voltage-limiting circuit includes a voltage-limiting functional circuit and a plurality of energy concentration diodes for concentrating the energy temporarily stored by the corresponding energy temporary-storage circuits.
US08610482B2

A highly reliable trimming circuit is provided. A rewritable trimming circuit is provided. A method for driving a highly reliable trimming circuit is provided. A method for driving a rewritable trimming circuit is provided. The trimming circuit includes a storage node connected to a source electrode or a drain electrode of a transistor whose off-state leakage current is extremely low and a transistor whose gate electrode is connected to the storage node. The trimming state of an element or a circuit connected in parallel to a source electrode and a drain electrode of the transistor whose gate electrode is connected to the storage node is controlled using the transistor whose off-state leakage current is extremely low.
US08610475B2

An integrated circuit includes a delay locked loop configured to delay a reference clock signal by a delay time for delay locking and generate a delay locked clock signal, a clock transmission circuit configured to transmit the delay locked clock signal in response to a clock transmission signal, a duty correction circuit configured to perform duty correction operation on an output clock signal of the clock transmission circuit, and a clock transmission signal generation circuit configured to generate the clock transmission signal in response to a command and burst length information.
US08610474B2

A signal distribution network has segments that each have a buffer circuit, a transmission line coupled to the buffer circuit, an inductor coupled to the buffer circuit through the transmission line, and a variable capacitance circuit coupled to the inductor and coupled to the buffer circuit through the transmission line. A capacitance of the variable capacitance circuit is set to determine a phase and an amplitude of a signal transmitted through the transmission line. A signal distribution network can include a phase detector, a loop filter circuit, and a resonant delay circuit. The phase detector compares a phase of a first periodic signal to a phase of a second periodic signal. The resonant delay circuit has a variable impedance circuit having an impedance that varies based on changes in an output signal of the loop filter circuit.
US08610458B2

An impedance control circuit includes a first impedance unit configured to terminate an impedance node using an impedance value that is determined by an impedance control code, a second impedance unit configured to terminate the impedance node using an impedance value that is determined by an impedance control voltage, a comparison circuit configured to compare a voltage level of the impedance node and a voltage level of a reference voltage, generate an up/down signal indicating whether the voltage at the impedance node is greater than the reference voltage, and generate the impedance control voltage that has a voltage level corresponding to a difference between the voltage at the impedance node and the reference voltage, and a counter unit configured to increase or decrease a value of the impedance control code in response to the up/down signal.
US08610448B2

A one-sheet test device for testing panels on a one-sheet substrate and a test method thereof, wherein the test device and method are capable of performing a one-sheet test regardless of the number of panels formed on the one-sheet substrate. The one-sheet test device includes a signal supplier and a connection board. The signal supplier is for generating a plurality of signal groups and a plurality of dummy signals for testing the panels. The connection board is for transmitting a first signal group of the signal groups to a first panel of the panels corresponding to the first signal group, and for transmitting a signal of at least one signal group of the plurality of signal groups to at least two of the panels when the number of panels is larger than the number signal groups. The one-sheet test device may include a connection controller for controlling the connection board.
US08610447B2

Spring assemblies and a test socket using the spring assemblies. The spring assemblies are used in a test socket electrically connecting lead terminals of a semiconductor chip to test terminals of a test device by contacting the lead terminals and the test terminals, and include: first springs in which a first steel wire having elasticity and conductivity is coiled in a spiral in one direction; and second springs in which a second steel wire having elasticity and conductivity is coiled in a spiral in an opposite direction to the direction in which the first springs are coiled, which have outer diameters narrower than inner diameters of the first springs, and are inserted into the first springs. Accordingly, electric resistances and inductances of two spring assemblies coiled in a spiral are reduced to improve electricity transmission characteristic. A height of a test socket is easily adjusted using spring assemblies having desired lengths. Also, since only plating is performed on the springs to form the spring assemblies, the spring assemblies are formed at a very low cost and have a wide range of applications.
US08610446B2

A testing device includes a pressure vessel, a mounting stand disposed in an internal space of the pressure vessel, on which a device to be tested is mounted, test electrodes, disposed in the internal space of the pressure vessel, that supply a test voltage to the device to be tested mounted on the mounting stand, and a pressurization unit that raises the pressure of the internal space of the pressure vessel. The test voltage is supplied from the test electrodes to the device to be tested mounted on the mounting stand, and testing of the device to be tested is carried out, in a condition that the pressure of the internal space of the pressure vessel is raised by the pressurization unit.
US08610443B1

Apparatuses and methods of input attenuator circuits are described. One sensing circuit includes an attenuator circuit to receive a signal from an electrode of a sense array. The attenuator circuit is configured to attenuate input current of the signal. The attenuator circuit includes an attenuation matrix including an input terminal to receive the signal and multiple resistors. The attenuation matrix is configured to split the input current into an output current of the attenuation signal on a first output terminal and a second output current on a second output terminal. The attenuation matrix is to output the attenuated signal on the first output terminal to an integrator of the sensing circuit. The attenuator circuit also includes a buffer coupled between the attenuation matrix and the integrator. The buffer is configured to maintain a substantially same voltage at the first output terminal and the second output terminal.
US08610442B2

A method for detecting capacitor variation in a device comprises operating an oscillator in the device, the oscillator being an Inductive-Capacitive (LC) oscillator and including an inductor of known value and a capacitor under test, comparing an output of the oscillator to a reference output, and evaluating variation for a plurality of capacitors in the device based on the comparing.
US08610440B2

A method for in situ monitoring of a membrane of a membrane separation system comprises measuring a complex impedance of the membrane at a plurality of frequencies to provide an indication of the electrical conduction and electrical polarization properties of the membrane. The membrane based separation system for removing or reducing the concentration of materials carried in a fluid including a separation membrane has a first pair of electrodes separated by the membrane and arranged for measurement of the complex impedance of the membrane at a plurality of frequencies to provide the indication of the membrane properties. There may also be a second pair of electrodes separated by the membrane for injecting the stimulus current such that the injecting and monitoring functions are separated.
US08610411B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to a power-supply circuit, an electronic device that includes the power-supply circuit, and a method for generating high-voltage DC power from AC line power using the power-supply circuit. This power-supply circuit includes a voltage multiplier and a low dropout (LDO) regulator, and does not include a step-up transformer. Conventional power supplies often use a custom step-up transformer, which is expensive unless the power supplies are manufactured in high quantities. In contrast, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a solid-state implementation of a 700 V regulated power supply that can take up to a 1020 V input from an 6× voltage multiplier powered from the AC mains. Hence, the disclosed power-supply circuit eliminates the need for large, heavy and expensive step-up transformers and chokes that are used in conventional high-voltage DC power supplies.
US08610410B2

The present invention relates to a power converter circuit for operating on a DC input voltage comprising a forward ferrite-core transformer having at least two primary windings and at least one secondary winding, at least one automatic switching device provided between the primary windings, a current sense circuit provided between the first primary winding and the automatic switching device, and a control unit having a voltage sense circuit, the control unit being connected to the automatic switching device and the current sense circuit and being configured to operate the automatic switch on the basis of an input parameter, thereby controlling the out put voltage.
US08610404B2

An electronic device is provided which comprises a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter comprises at least one solid-state rechargeable battery (B1, B2) for storing energy for the DC-DC conversion and an output capacitor (C2).
US08610393B2

Disclosed are various systems and methods for assessing and improving the capability of a machine tool. The disclosure applies to machine tools having at least one slide configured to move along a motion axis. Various patterns of dynamic excitation commands are employed to drive the one or more slides, typically involving repetitive short distance displacements. A quantification of a measurable merit of machine tool response to the one or more patterns of dynamic excitation commands is typically derived for the machine tool. Examples of measurable merits of machine tool performance include dynamic one axis positional accuracy of the machine tool, dynamic cross-axis stability of the machine tool, and dynamic multi-axis positional accuracy of the machine tool.
US08610379B1

The present invention provides systems and methods for the magnetic insulation of accelerator electrodes in electrostatic accelerators. Advantageously, the systems and methods of the present invention improve the practically obtainable performance of these electrostatic accelerators by addressing, among other things, voltage holding problems and conditioning issues. These problems and issues are addressed by flowing electric currents along these accelerator electrodes to produce magnetic fields that envelope the accelerator electrodes and their support structures, so as to prevent very low energy electrons from leaving the surfaces of the accelerator electrodes and subsequently picking up energy from the surrounding electric field. In various applications, this magnetic insulation must only produce modest gains in voltage holding capability to represent a significant achievement.
US08610372B2

A battery-conserving flashlight and method thereof are provided. The flashlight includes a body having a first end and a second end, the first end including an illumination source and the second end including an opening for accessing an interior of the body; at least one battery disposed in the body via the opening in the second end, the at least one battery coupled to and configured for powering the illumination source; and a controller disposed in the body configured to determine if the body is in motion, wherein if the body is not in motion for a predetermined period of time, the controller decouples the at least one battery from the illumination source to conserve energy in the at least one battery. Optionally, the flashlight may include a visual or audible indicator to alert a user that the flashlight will shutdown.
US08610369B2

The present invention provides an electronic circuit for driving a fluorescent lamp from a periodic input voltage provided at a power input terminal. The circuit comprises an inverter for powering the fluorescent lamp, and a control unit. The control unit comprises a measuring input connected to the power input terminal for providing a synchronization signal representing a value of the periodic input voltage to the control unit, a control input for receiving an input signal representative of a desired lighting characteristic of the fluorescent lamp, and a control output connected to an enabling input of the inverter. The control unit is arranged to provide, via the control output, a control signal to the inverter to operate the inverter in synchronism with a periodicity of the synchronization signal representing the value of the periodic input voltage, the control signal being based on the input signal.
US08610366B1

A lighting ballast and associated methods balance current through resonant inductors that have inductance variation, and are further effective to balance lamp currents in the range from full brightness to full dimming. The ballast includes a lighting power source, a balancing transformer having a plurality of windings, a first resonant tank circuit having one or more transformer windings and a second resonant tank circuit having a like number of transformer windings. Each of the windings for the first resonant tank are reversed in direction in association with a corresponding winding for the second resonant tank, such that the only current passing through the windings is a current difference between the two windings.
US08610364B2

A system and method includes a controller that is configured to coordinate (i) a low impedance path for a dimmer current, (ii), control of switch mode power conversion and (iii) an inactive state to, for example, to allow a dimmer to function normally from cycle to cycle of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer functions normally when the dimmer conducts at a correct phase angle indicated by a dimmer input setting and avoids prematurely resetting while conducting. In at least one embodiment, by coordinating functions (i), (ii), and (iii), the controller controls a power converter system that is compatible with a triac-based dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the controller coordinates functions (i), (ii), and (iii) in response to a particular dimming level indicated by a phase cut, rectified input voltage supplied to the power converter system.
US08610356B2

An iodine fueled plasma generator system includes a plasma generator. At least one storage vessel is configured to store condensed phase iodine therein. A heating device proximate to the storage vessel is configured to create iodine vapor from the condensed phase iodine. A propellant management subsystem is configured to deliver the iodine vapor to the plasma generator. A feedback control subsystem is responsive to one or more of plasma generator discharge current, the pressure of the iodine vapor, and/or the temperature of the iodine vapor configured to regulate the flow rate of the iodine vapor to the plasma generator.
US08610354B2

The invention is related to a gas discharge-based radiation source which emits short-wavelength radiation, wherein an emitter is ionized and compressed by pulse-shaped currents between two electrodes arranged in a vacuum chamber and is excited to form an emitting plasma. According to the invention, the plasma is preserved by means of a high-frequency sequence of pulse-shaped currents the pulse repetition period of which is adjusted so as to be shorter than a lifetime of the plasma so that the plasma is kept periodically alternating between a high-energy state of an emitting compressed plasma and a low-energy state of a relaxing plasma. For exciting the relaxing plasma to the compressed plasma, excitation energy is coupled into the relaxing plasma by making use of pulse-shaped currents with repetition frequencies between 50 kHz and 4 MHz and pulse widths equal to the pulse repetition period.
US08610349B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the OLED display includes: an organic light emitting display panel including i) a base substrate having a pixel area and a pad area and ii) a protection substrate connected to the base substrate to cover the pixel area, wherein the pad area is formed outside of the pixel area and adjacent to an edge of the base substrate. The OLED display also includes a printed circuit board formed on the protection substrate and a chip on film including i) a first terminal electrically connected to the pad area, ii) a second terminal electrically connected to the printed circuit board and iii) a bending portion bent from the first terminal toward the second terminal. The OLED display further includes a spacer formed on the first terminal, wherein the spacer is located inside of the bending portion.
US08610346B2

An organic light-emitting device including a substrate; a first electrode on the substrate; a second electrode; an organic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a carbonaceous material-containing layer between the first electrode and the organic layer, wherein the first electrode includes an aluminum (Al)-based reflective layer and a transparent conductive layer sequentially stacked in this order on the substrate, the Al-based reflective layer including a first element and nickel (Ni) and the first element includes at least one of lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu).
US08610341B2

A light emitting device comprises at least one solid-state light source (LED) operable to generate excitation light and a wavelength conversion component located remotely to the at least one source and operable to convert at least a portion of the excitation light to light of a different wavelength. The wavelength conversion component includes a light diffusing layer having particles of a light scattering material, where the light diffusing layer has a shape with an inner surface that defines an interior volume, and a wavelength conversion layer having particles of at least one photoluminescence material within the interior volume.
US08610334B2

The present invention relates to the design of piezoelectric transducer subassemblies and systems primarily intended for medical and dental applications. The invention also provides transducer subassemblies and systems with improved performance and a capability to operate more efficiently in torsional or a combined longitudinal-torsional mode of vibration. The invention enables the size and weight of torsional mode transducers to be reduced. Additionally, the electrical characteristics of these transducer systems are improved, thus enabling the transducer end effector to deliver more power to the operative site.
US08610333B2

In one aspect of the invention, an acoustic wave device includes a substrate, and at least one acoustic wave resonator having a bottom electrode adjacent to the substrate, a top electrode, a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between the bottom and top electrodes, a passivation layer formed on the top electrode, and a mass load layer sandwiched between the substrate and the bottom electrode, or between the bottom electrode and the piezoelectric layer.
US08610326B2

A stator which may be employed in an electric rotating machine. The stator includes a stator winding which includes in-slot portions disposed in slots of a stator core. The in-slot portions are arrayed in each of the slots in a form of multiple layers aligned in a radial direction of the stator core. The stator winding is made up of a first winding and a second winding which are connected together through a joint. The first winding is defined by a portion of the stator winding between the joint and an end of the stator winding which is to be connected to an external. The second winding includes the in-slot portion placed within at least one of the slots as an outermost layer that is one of the layers placed most outwardly in the radial direction of the stator core. This results in a great decrease in leakage current.
US08610321B2

A generator is provided comprising a rotor with a number of magnetic rotor pole shoes, a stator with a number of stator coils wound on the stator, and a generator-utility grid interface comprising a plurality of diode rectifiers, each diode rectifier is connected to a stator coil and the number of stator coils is greater than the number of rotor pole shoes, or the number M of rotor pole shoes is greater than, but not an integer multiple of, the number of stator coils. A wind turbine utilizing the generator of the present invention and a method of assembling such a generator are provided.
US08610315B2

This invention allows completely cutting power supply to a circuit that has become dysfunctional because of blowout of a fuse. To accomplish this, a circuit includes a fuse connected to one supply line of an AC power supply, a switching unit connected to the other supply line of the AC power supply, a detection unit configured to detect blowout of the fuse, and a control unit configured to turn off the switching unit when the detection unit detects blowout of the fuse.
US08610312B2

To provide an induced power transmission circuit that transmits, from a transmission antenna (1) connected to a power supply circuit, an AC power having an angular frequency ω to a spaced reception antenna (2) with an excellent efficiency, thereby transmitting it to a load circuit. The induced power transmission circuit comprises a circuit the two ends of which are coupled by a capacitor (C1) and in which the power supply circuit is connected in series to a midway port (1) (P1) of the transmission antenna (1) having an effective self-inductance L1; and a circuit the two ends of which are coupled by a capacitor (C2) and in which the load circuit is connected in series to a midway port (2) (P2) of the reception antenna (2) having an effective self-inductance L2; wherein for a coupling coefficient k of the electromagnetic induction between the antennas and for a phase angle β having an arbitrary value, the angular frequency ω is set to the square root of the reciprocal of a value of L2×C2×(1+k*cos(β)), the output impedance of the power supply circuit is set to approximately kωL1*sin(β), and the input impedance of the load circuit is set to approximately kωL2*sin(β). There is also provided an impedance converting circuit that converts the circuit impedances.
US08610296B2

A starter to start an engine mounted on a vehicle provides an electromagnetic solenoid to push a pinion gear towards a ring gear side, an electromagnetic switch to open and close a motor contact point. The electromagnetic solenoid and the electromagnetic switch are individually controlled by an Electronic Control Unit i.e., ECU. When an idle-stop is triggered, the ECU controls a starter relay to be closed during the ring gear is rotating whereby the pinion gear together with a clutch are pushed out to counter-motor direction by the electromagnetic solenoid. As a result, the pinion gear meshes with the ring gear that is rotating at lower rotational speed. Therefore, the inertial mass of the starter is added to the ring gear so that swinging of the engine can be suppressed.
US08610294B2

A conventional laser processing method has a problem that the number of scanning lines is large, and it is difficult to shorten the time needed for the marking. In a laser processing method of the present invention, a first laser processing is performed in accordance with the outer border of, for example, an English letter “A,” and thereafter, second and subsequent laser processings are performed on an inner region inside the outer border. In this event, for the second and subsequent laser processings, the respective processing lines (scanning lines) are set up in a longitudinal direction of a processing region. Thus, the number of processing lines is greatly reduced. As a result, the time needed for the marking is greatly shortened, and the laser marking workability is improved.
US08610277B2

A semiconductor device includes a lower structure, an insulation layer, metal contacts, a bridge and a metal pad. The lower structure has a metal wiring. An insulation layer is formed on the lower structure. The metal contacts penetrate the insulation layer to be connected to the metal wiring. The bridge is provided in the insulation layer, the bridge connecting the metal contacts to one another. The metal pad is provided on the insulation layer, the metal pad making contact with the metal contacts.
US08610275B2

The present invention discloses a semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate, a local interconnect structure connected to the semiconductor substrate, and at least one via stack structure electrically connected to the local interconnect structure, wherein the at least one via stack structure comprises a via having an upper via and a lower via, the width of the upper via being greater than that of the lower via; a via spacer formed closely adjacent to the inner walls of the lower via; an insulation layer covering the surfaces of the via and the via spacer; a conductive plug formed within the space surrounded by the insulation layer, and electrically connected to the local interconnect structure. The present invention is applicable to manufacture of a via stack in the filed of manufacturing semiconductor.
US08610264B2

A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate and an electrically conductive element. The substrate can have a CTE less than 10 ppm/° C., a major surface having a recess not extending through the substrate, and a material having a modulus of elasticity less than 10 GPa disposed within the recess. The electrically conductive element can include a joining portion overlying the recess and extending from an anchor portion supported by the substrate. The joining portion can be at least partially exposed at the major surface for connection to a component external to the microelectronic unit.
US08610258B2

A package includes a first die and a second die, at least one of said first and second dies being a memory. The dies are connected to each other through an interface. The interface is configured to transport both control signals and memory transactions. A sampling circuit samples the control signals before transport on the interface. The sampling circuit is controlled in dependence on at least one quality of service parameter associated with a respective control signal.
US08610241B1

Diodes and bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are formed in IC devices that include fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs) by utilizing various process steps in the FinFET formation process. The diode or BJT includes an isolated fin area and fin array area having n-wells having different depths and a p-well in a portion of the fin array area that surrounds the n-well in the isolated fin area. The n-wells and p-well for the diodes and BJTs are implanted together with the FinFET n-wells and p-wells.
US08610234B2

A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector can include: a substrate in which a V-shaped groove having a predetermined angle is formed; a light-absorbing part formed in a floated structure above the V-shaped groove and to which light is incident; an oxide film formed between the light-absorbing part and the V-shaped groove and in which tunneling occurs; a source formed adjacent to the oxide film on a slope of one side of the V-shaped groove and separated from the light-absorbing part by the oxide film; a drain formed adjacent to the oxide film on a slope of the other side of the V-shaped groove and separated from the light-absorbing part by the oxide film; and a channel interposed between the source and the drain along the V-shaped groove to form flow of an electric current between the source and the drain.
US08610232B2

An hyperspectral imaging device comprising semiconductor nanocrystals is provided.
US08610231B2

A photodiode array 1 has a plurality of photodetector channels 10 which are formed on an n-type substrate 2 having an n-type semiconductor layer 12, with a light to be detected being incident to the plurality of photodetector channels 10. The photodiode array 1 comprises: a p−-type semiconductor layer 13 formed on the n-type semiconductor layer 12 of the substrate 2; resistors 4 each of which is provided to each of the photodetector channels 10 and is connected to a signal conductor 3 at one end thereof; and an n-type separating part 20 formed between the plurality of photodetector channels 10. The p−-type semiconductor layer 13 forms a pn junction at the interface between the substrate 2, and comprises a plurality of multiplication regions AM for avalanche multiplication of carriers produced by the incidence of the light to be detected so that each of the multiplication regions corresponds to each of the photodetector channels. The separating part 20 is formed so that each of the multiplication regions AM of the p−-type semiconductor layer 13 corresponds to each of the photodetector channels 10.
US08610230B1

A semiconductor device including a substrate and an anti-reflective coating disposed upon the substrate, the anti-reflective coating and the substrate forming an interface, a carbon concentration and a chlorine concentration less than an oxygen concentration at the interface.
US08610219B2

In a DRAM-incorporated semiconductor device (SOC) which has a DRAM section and a logic section being formed on one and the same substrate, with the object of providing, with low cost, a SOC having necessary and sufficient characteristics in the DRAM section, while attaining higher-speed performance of the whole elements, silicide is formed at least on all the surfaces of the source-drain regions (10) and the gate surfaces (6) of transistors in the DRAM section and the logic section, concurrently in one and the same step.
US08610210B2

According to one embodiment, a power semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer, and first, second and third semiconductor regions. The first semiconductor layer has a first conductivity type. The first semiconductor regions have a second conductivity type, and are formed with periodicity in a lateral direction in a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type. The second semiconductor layer is provided on a major surface of the first semiconductor layer in a device portion with a main current path formed in a vertical direction generally perpendicular to the major surface and in a terminal portion provided around the device portion. The second semiconductor region has the first conductivity type and is a portion of the second semiconductor layer sandwiched between adjacent ones of the first semiconductor regions. The third semiconductor regions have the second conductivity type and are provided below the first semiconductor regions in the terminal portion.
US08610205B2

In one general aspect, an apparatus can include a shield dielectric disposed within a trench aligned along an axis within an epitaxial layer of a semiconductor, and a shield electrode disposed within the shield dielectric and aligned along the axis. The apparatus can include a first inter-poly dielectric having a portion intersecting a plane orthogonal to the axis where the plane intersects the shield electrode, and a second inter-poly dielectric having a portion intersecting the plane and disposed between the first inter-poly dielectric and the shield electrode. The apparatus can also include a gate dielectric having a portion disposed on the first inter-poly dielectric.
US08610194B2

A vertical channel type non-volatile memory device having a plurality of memory cells stacked along a channel includes the channel configured to be protruded from a substrate, a tunnel insulation layer configured to surround the channel, a plurality of floating gate electrodes and a plurality of control gate electrodes configured to be alternately stacked along the channel, and a charge blocking layer interposed between the plurality of the floating gate electrodes and the plurality of the control gate electrodes alternately stacked.
US08610192B2

A non-volatile memory device can include a plurality of parallel active regions that are defined by a plurality of device isolation layers formed on a semiconductor substrate, where each of the plurality of parallel active regions extends in a first direction and has a top surface and sidewalls. A plurality of parallel word lines can extend in a second direction and cross over the plurality of parallel active regions at intersecting locations. A plurality of charge storage layers can be disposed at the intersecting locations between the plurality of parallel active regions and the plurality of parallel word lines. Each of the plurality of charge storage layers at the intersecting locations can have a first side and a second side that is parallel to the second direction and can have a first length, a third side and a fourth side that are parallel to the first direction and can have a second length, where the first length is less than the second length.
US08610191B2

Semiconductor devices and dynamic random access memory devices including a buried gate electrode are provided, the semiconductor devices include a substrate with a gate trench, a buried gate electrode partially filling the inside of the gate trench, a capping layer pattern in the gate trench and over the buried gate electrode, source/drain regions below an upper surface of the substrate and adjacent to both sides of the buried gate electrode, and a gate insulation layer interposed between the trench and the buried gate electrode. The capping layer pattern includes a high-k material layer that directly contacts an upper surface of the buried gate electrode.
US08610186B2

According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an area and color filters. The area includes pixels. Each of the pixels includes a first photodiode, a first read transistor, a second photodiode, a second read transistor, a floating diffusion, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor. The first photodiode performs photoelectric conversion. The first read transistor reads a signal charge. The second photodiode has a photosensitivity lower than the first photodiode. The second read transistor reads a signal charge. The floating diffusion stores the signal charges. The reset transistor resets a potential of the floating diffusion. The amplifying transistor amplifies the potential of the floating diffusion. The color filters include a first and a second filters. The relationship QSAT1 > QSAT2 is satisfied. When a saturation level of the first filter is denoted by QSAT1 and a saturation level of the second filter is denoted by QSAT2.
US08610184B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a substrate which has a first conductivity type and in which a first amplifier area and a second amplifier area are defined; a first well which has a second conductivity type, a first pocket well which has the first conductivity type and is separated from the first well, and a first deep well which has the second conductivity type, surrounds the first pocket well, and is separated from the first well; and a second well which has the second conductivity type, a second pocket well which has the first conductivity type and is separated from the second well, and a second deep well which has the second conductivity type, surrounds the second pocket well, and is separated from the second well The first well, the first pocket well, and the first deep well are formed in the first amplifier area of the substrate, and the second well, the second pocket well, and the second deep well are formed in the second amplifier area of the substrate.
US08610165B2

An LED module structure and a light fixture provided with the structure includes a heat releasing casing; an LED package having an LED chip mounted on a base material, a material having both heat conductance and electric insulation property placed between the heat releasing casing and the LED package upon fitting of the LED package to the heat releasing casing, and a plastic fluid or adhesive agent having particles with high heat conductivity. The material has a groove with outside smaller than an outside dimension of the LED package. The groove receives excess plastic fluid or excess adhesive agent on a surface to which the LED package is firmly attached.
US08610161B2

An optical emitter includes a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) on a package wafer, transparent insulators, and one or more transparent electrical connectors between the LED die and one or more contact pads on the packaging wafer. The transparent insulators are deposited on the package wafer with LED dies attached using a lithography or a screen printing method. The transparent electrical connectors are deposited using physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, spin coating, spray coating, or screen printing and may be patterned using a lithography process and etching.
US08610158B2

A semiconductor light emitting device according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; an n-type semiconductor layer formed on the substrate; an active layer formed on a first region of the n-type semiconductor layer, and emitting light; a p-type semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; a p-electrode formed on the p-type semiconductor layer, and including a first conductive oxide layer having an oxygen content lower than 40 atomic %; and an n-electrode formed on a second region of the n-type semiconductor layer.
US08610154B2

A side-view type light emitting device includes a package body, a lead frame, and a light emitting diode (LED). The package body has a first surface provided as a mount surface, a second surface disposed on a side opposite to the first surface, and lateral surfaces disposed between the first surface and the second surface. The package body includes a recessed portion disposed on a lateral surface corresponding to a light emitting surface of the lateral surfaces. The lead frame is disposed in the package body. The LED chip is mounted on a bottom surface of the recessed portion. Protrusion parts protruding toward the LED chip are disposed in regions adjacent to the LED chip of facing inner sidewalls of the recessed portion, respectively.
US08610153B1

Using compression molding to form lenses over LED arrays on a metal core printed circuit board leaves a flash layer of silicone covering the contact pads that are later required to connect the arrays to power. A method for removing the flash layer involves blasting particles of sodium bicarbonate at the flash layer. A nozzle is positioned within thirty millimeters of the top surface of the flash layer. The stream of air that exits from the nozzle is directed towards the top surface at an angle between five and thirty degrees away from normal to the top surface. The particles of sodium bicarbonate are added to the stream of air and then collide into the top surface of the silicone flash layer until the flash layer laterally above the contact pads is removed. The edge of silicone around the cleaned contact pad thereafter contains a trace amount of sodium bicarbonate.
US08610150B2

A leadframe includes two spaced apart conductive legs, each of which includes a base section, and a first extension section extending from a bottom end of the base section in a direction away from the other one of the conductive legs. At least one of the conductive legs further includes a second extension section that extends from a top end of the base section thereof in the same direction as the first extension section for fixing the light-emitting diode chip. The heat generated by the light-emitting diode chip can be dissipated through a shortest heat-dissipating route, thereby increasing the heat-dissipating rate.
US08610145B2

A light emitting apparatus 10 includes an aluminum nitride co-fired substrate 11 and a light emitting device 12 arranged on a front surface of the co-fired substrate, in which the front surface of the aluminum nitride substrate 11 bearing the light emitting device 12 is mirror-polished so as to have a surface roughness of 0.3 μm Ra or less, and the light emitting apparatus 10 further includes a vapor-deposited metal film 14 and via holes 15. The vapor-deposited metal film 14 is arranged on the front surface of the aluminum nitride substrate 11 around the light emitting device 12 and has a reflectivity of 90% or more with respect to light emitted from the light emitting device 12. The via holes 15 penetrates the aluminum nitride substrate 11 from the front surface bearing the light emitting device 12 to the rear surface to thereby allow conduction to the light emitting device 12 from the rear surface. This configuration can reduce light emitting apparatuses in size and can provide light emitting apparatuses that are excellent in heat radiation performance, allow a larger current to pass therethrough, and can have a significantly increased luminance with a high luminous efficiency.
US08610141B2

The invention includes one or more LED elements, a silicon substrate on which the LED elements are mounted via micro bumps and internally formed wiring is connected to the micro bumps, a heat insulation organic substrate which is stuck to the opposite side of the LED elements-mounting side of the silicon substrate and has through-holes in which the wiring goes through, a chip-mounting substrate which is stuck to the opposite side of the silicon substrate side of the heat insulation organic substrate and internally formed wiring is connected to wiring in the through-holes of the heat insulation organic substrate, and an LED control circuit chip which is connected to the wiring of the chip-mounting substrate via micro bumps, and mounted via the micro bumps on the opposite side of the heat insulation organic substrate side of the chip-mounting substrate.
US08610134B2

A light emitting diode (LED) package may include a base, at least one light emitting die on the base, and a flextape on the base. The flextape includes at least one metal trace connected to the light emitting die. In a method of manufacturing the LED package, the base may be formed so as to include a basin and at least one light emitting die may be placed within the basin. The flextape may be provided to include at least one metal trace that is electrically connected to the light emitting die.
US08610133B2

Two light receiving elements are formed on a support substrate. A first light receiving element is formed of a p-type layer, an n-type layer, a light absorption semiconductor layer, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a protection film, etc. A second light receiving element is formed of a p-type layer, an n-type layer, a transmissive film, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode, a protection film, etc. The light absorption semiconductor layer absorbs light in a wavelength range λ and disposed closer to the light receiving surface than is the pn junction region. The transmissive film has no light absorption range and disposed closer to the light receiving surface than is the pn junction region. The amount of light in the wavelength range λ is measured through computation using a detection signal from the first light receiving element and a detection signal from the second light receiving element.
US08610128B2

A thin film transistor includes: a silicon nanowire on a substrate, the silicon nanowire having a central portion and both side portions of the central portion; a gate electrode on the central portion; and a source electrode and a drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode on the both side portions, the source electrode and the drain electrode electrically connected to the silicon nanowire, respectively.
US08610119B2

A plasma hydrogenated region in the dielectric layer of a semiconductor thin film transistor (TFT) structure improves the stability of the TFT. The TFT is a multilayer structure including an electrode, a dielectric layer disposed on the electrode, and a metal oxide semiconductor on the dielectric. Exposure of the dielectric layer to a hydrogen containing plasma prior to deposition of the semiconductor produces a plasma hydrogenated region at the semiconductor-dielectric interface. The plasma hydrogenated region incorporates hydrogen which decreases in concentration from semiconductor/dielectric interface into the bulk of one or both of the dielectric layer and the semiconductor layer.
US08610117B2

A display device capable of keeping the luminance constant irrespective of temperature change is provided as well as a method of driving the display device. A current mirror circuit composed of transistors is placed in each pixel. A first transistor and a second transistor of the current mirror circuit are connected such that the drain current of the first transistor is kept in proportion to the drain current of the second transistor irrespective of the load resistance value. The drain current of the first transistor is controlled by a driving circuit in accordance with a video signal and the drain current of the second transistor is caused to flow into an OLED, thereby controlling the OLED drive current and the luminance of the OLED.
US08610116B2

An electroluminescent organic semiconductor element includes a substrate and a first electrode arranged on the substrate. The semiconductor element additionally contains a second electrode and at least one organic layer, which is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. The organic layer is a layer that generates light by recombination of charge carriers. At least one of the first and the second electrode contains a highly conductive organic sublayer.
US08610107B2

A light emitting device is provided. The light emitting device comprises an active layer comprising a plurality of well layers and barrier layers. The barrier layers comprise a first barrier layer which is the nearest to a second conductive type semiconductor layer and has a first band gap, a second barrier layer having a third band gap, and a third barrier layer having the first band gap between the second barrier layer and a first conductive type semiconductor layer. The well layers comprise a first well layer having a second band gap between the first and the second barrier layers, and a second well layer between the second barrier layer and the third barrier layer. The second barrier layer is disposed between the first and the second well layers, and the third band gap is narrower than the first band gap and wider than the second band gap.
US08610105B2

Provided is a semiconductor electroluminescent device with an InGaAlAs-based well layer having tensile strain, or a semiconductor electroluminescent device with an InGaAsP-based well layer having tensile strain and with an InGaAlAs-based barrier layer which is high-performance and highly reliable in a wide temperature range. In a multiple-quantum well layer of the semiconductor electroluminescent device, a magnitude of interface strain at an interface between the well layer and the barrier layer is smaller than a magnitude of critical interface strain determined by a layer thickness value which is larger one of a thickness of the well layer and a thickness of the barrier layer.
US08610094B2

Disclosed is a terahertz wave generator which includes a first light source outputting a first light having a first frequency; a second light source outputting a second light having a second frequency different from the first frequency; a second harmonic generation unit performing second harmonic conversion on the first and second lights to generate a third light and a fourth light; and a photomixer converting a mixing light of the third and fourth lights into a terahertz wave alternating signal and outputting a terahertz wave.
US08610070B2

Pixel-level monolithic optical element configurations for uncooled infrared detectors and focal plane arrays in which a monolithically integrated or fabricated optical element may be suspended over a microbolometer pixel membrane structure of an uncooled infrared detector element A monolithic optical element may be, for example, a polarizing or spectral filter element, an optically active filter element, or a microlens element that is structurally attached by an insulating interconnect to the existing metal interconnects such that the installation of the optical element substantially does not impact the thermal mass or thermal time constant of the microbolometer pixel structure, and such that it requires little if any additional device real estate area beyond the area originally consumed by the microbolometer pixel structure interconnects.
US08610063B2

A system for transmitting an electrical signal, notably a frequency-related electrical signal, includes two conducting lines each having a central conductor surrounded by a conducting sheath, the lines being coupled and isolated from one another at each end by a transformer. The central conductor of a line is linked at the input of the system to a coil of a first transformer and at the output of the system to a coil of the second transformer. The invention is applied for example for the transmission of strongly disturbed environment measurement signals.
US08610051B2

The invention relates to optical encoders providing binary logic signals representing increments of relative position of two elements of the encoder, the two elements being mobile with respect to one another. The encoder includes at least one pair formed of a luminous emitter and of a luminous detector which are secured to the fixed element, the emitter producing a luminous radiation that the detector can detect, and at least one mark secured to the movable element, during the motion of the movable element with respect to the fixed element, the mark being able to place itself in the path of the luminous radiation so as to be detected by the detector. The encoder further includes a plane printed circuit, secured to the fixed element and on which the pair of emitter and detector is arranged.
US08610035B2

The invention provides a drawer type cooking device having a cooling fan 56a disposed laterally, so that a space 70 is formed below the cooling fan 56a, enabling a high pressure transformer 55 to be disposed efficiently using this space 70. By the combination of the arrangement, position and orientation of the cooling fan, it becomes possible to reduce the set depth size at the farthest portion of the cooking device body 1. By reducing the depth size, the front surface of a cabinet and the front surface of a door 2 can be disposed flush with each other, without having to sacrifice the depth of the heating chamber 6.
US08610032B2

A system of heating a sample on a microchip includes the steps of providing a microchannel flow channel in the microchip; positioning the sample within the microchannel flow channel, providing a laser that directs a laser beam onto the sample for heating the sample; providing the microchannel flow channel with a wall section that receives the laser beam and enables the laser beam to pass through wall section of the microchannel flow channel without being appreciably heated by the laser beam; and providing a carrier fluid in the microchannel flow channel that moves the sample in the microchannel flow channel wherein the carrier fluid is not appreciably heated by the laser beam.
US08610028B2

An apparatus comprises a table, a source emitting polarized laser light, a source emitting laser light, a plate changing the polarization direction of the laser light, a plate splitting the laser light into a laser light having polarization in an X direction and a laser light component having polarization in a Y direction, a plate orienting the polarization direction of the laser light to the X direction, a lens converging the laser light components, a lens arranged in parallel with the lens along the X direction and converges the laser light component, a control section controlling a device such that a converging point of the laser light component is located at a predetermined position with reference to a front face by detecting a reflected light, and a control section moving the table along a line while making the X direction substantially coincide with the line.
US08610025B2

A coating removal apparatus utilizing a common optics path to provide laser pulses to a coated surface and to direct a light illumination reflected from the coated surface to a photosensitive detector and analyzer. The apparatus is an integrated device including a laser source, a beam splitter, scanning optics, a waste removal apparatus, one or more light illuminators, a photosensitive detector, a comparator, and a control logic circuit. Alternatively, the laser source is external to the integrated device and a fiber optic cable is used to connect the laser source to the integrated device.
US08610023B2

A method and apparatus for manufacturing an exhaust pipe assembly which are capable of decreasing a temperature difference between a seam-welded outer and inner surface at the time of seam welding. The apparatus comprises an outer circumferential electrode wheel abutted on an outer circumference of a mounting ring, a pressing means pressing the outer circumferential electrode wheel to the mounting ring, an inner circumferential electrode wheel abutted on an inner circumference of a pipe making up an exhaust pipe assembly, a transformer serving as a voltage supply means for supplying a predetermined voltage to the outer and inner circumferential electrode wheels and, and a controller for controlling voltage of the transformer. Thickness T1 of the outer circumferential electrode wheel is larger than thickness T2 of the inner circumferential electrode wheel.
US08610016B2

A plug wire type zipper switch lampholder having a zipper for driving a lever and a rotating conductive rod to rotate, so that both ends of a rotating conductive rod jumps between slopes with a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate and slopes without the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate to achieve the operation of switching on and off a light emitting element. In the meantime, a power line can be electrically conducted to an external power supply by a simple plugging process.
US08610012B2

An arrangement includes an electrical switch which has a handle that can assume at least three different positions, namely an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position, and a motor drive that is mounted on said switch and is provided for the purpose of activating the handle. According to an embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the motor drive to feature a motor-drive-specific indicator entity which indicates whether the switch can be closed by way of the motor drive, wherein the motor-drive-specific indicator entity is connected to at least one switch-specific actuator and to at least one motor-drive-specific actuator, and indicates a closure-unreadiness of the arrangement if at least one of the actuators signals a closure-unreadiness.
US08610009B2

A touch data set is acquired via signals from each sensing node in a capacitive sensor array having a plurality of sensing nodes. Touch presence and location on the capacitive sensor array is determined from the touch data set. In subsequent sampling periods while presence of a touch continues to be detected, touch data sets may be acquired from respective subsets of the sensing nodes, each subset being located at and adjacent to the touch location determined in the preceding sampling period.
US08610005B2

A sealing cover (10) is provided for closing an opening of an equipment case that accommodates electric equipment of a car. The electric equipment includes a circuit with an operation control portion for switching a main circuit from an operating state to a shutdown state in accordance with signals inputted to an input terminal thereof. The sealing cover (10) has a cover body (11) mounted on the equipment case to close the open part. An interlocking connector (35) is provided on the cover body (11) and is connected to the input terminal when the cover body (11) is mounted on the equipment case and disconnected from the input terminal when the cover body (11) is removed from the equipment case to switch the main body circuit from the operating state to the shutdown state.
US08610000B2

A circuit board includes a substrate having upper and lower sides, and first and second conductive vias extending between the upper and lower sides. The first and second conductive vias include circular outer profiles. The circuit board also includes a differential pair of conductive traces, which includes a first conductive trace having first upper and lower segments disposed on the upper and lower sides, respectively. The first upper and lower segments are electrically connected together through the first conductive via. The first upper segment is curved around the second conductive via such that the first upper segment follows the circular outer profile of the second conductive via. The differential pair of conductive traces also includes a second conductive trace having second upper and lower segments disposed on the upper and lower sides, respectively. The second upper and lower segments are electrically connected together through the second conductive via. The first upper segment crosses over the second lower segment. The second lower segment is curved around the first conductive via such that the second lower segment follows the circular outer profile of the first conductive via.
US08609999B2

A circuit board includes a substrate, a circuit pattern and a through electrode. The circuit pattern is disposed on one side of the substrate in a thickness direction thereof. The through electrode is filled in a through-hole formed in the substrate with one end connected to the circuit pattern. The circuit pattern and the through electrode each have an area containing a noble metal component (e.g., Au component) and are connected to each other therethrough.
US08609987B2

A direct current cable termination apparatus for terminating a high voltage direct current cable, the apparatus includes a current-carrying device including a terminal portion of the direct current cable, the cable at least including an electrical conductor, a electrically insulating layer located outside of the electrical conductor, and a conductive shield located outside of the insulating layer and the electrical conductor. The apparatus includes a housing including a tubular outer shell with an inner periphery, the outer shell defining a longitudinal axis and being formed by an electrically insulating and polymer-containing material. The current-carrying device extends in the axial direction of the outer shell. Along at least a part of the axial extension of the current-carrying device the outer shell extends axially with a space between its inner periphery and the current-carrying device. The housing is adapted to separate the space from an atmosphere outside the outer shell.
US08609978B2

A leadframe based photovoltaic assembly and method for assembling the same is disclosed. The photovoltaic assembly comprises a first and second mold compounds to effectuate the accurate placement of an optical concentrator above a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic assembly is able to be assembled using existing mature semiconductor packaging technologies.
US08609976B2

A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells. M first bus bar electrodes are disposed on a first surface of each of the solar cells. N second bus bar electrodes are disposed on a second surface of each of the solar cells. M is a natural number that is equal to or larger than 1, and N is a natural number that is larger than M.
US08609974B2

A system and method is presented that uses solar power driven expansion of an electrolytic solution to force the electrolytic solution from a container through at least one pore of an insulator having a fixed surface charge of one polarity into a collection receptacle. The velocities of the cations and anions flowing through the pore differ because of the fixed surface charge of the pore and this produces an electrical charge separation, the streaming potential, as a source of electrical power. Energy absorption spans the full solar spectrum including infrared, visible and near ultraviolet wavelengths.
US08609973B2

This invention introduces several methods, apparatus, and systems for controlling musician audio effects or musical instruments wirelessly from the performer's footwear. In one embodiment, the performer's foot motions are monitored using a motion detection device and compared against a set of criteria by a microprocessor to activate or deactivate one or more audio effects that are ready or “armed.” Once the foot controller is activated, a radio transmits sampled foot pressure that is used by the Base Unit to modulate all armed audio effects capable of being modulated. Tactile feedback is provided in the footwear as a means to confirm system status changes.
US08609968B1

A salsa metronome provides a practice rhythm in the style of salsa music to facilitate practice for a musician, singer or dancer. The metronome includes a housing and a control unit positioned in the housing. The control unit produces multiple polyrhythmic sound patterns. A rhythm selection control is coupled to the housing. The rhythm selection control is operationally coupled to the control unit for selecting a desired polyrhythmic sound pattern. A speaker is positioned in the housing and is operationally coupled to the control unit for audibly producing the selected polyrhythmic sound pattern.
US08609961B2

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated NPFB7193, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPFB7193 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line NPFB7193, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line NPFB7193, and plants produced according to these methods.
US08609960B1

A novel maize variety designated X08B796 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 X08B796 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B796 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B796, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B796. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B796.
US08609959B1

A novel maize variety designated X18B725 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 X18B725 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18B725 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X18B725, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18B725. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18B725.
US08609956B1

A novel maize variety designated X08B817 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 X08B817 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B817 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B817, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B817. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B817.
US08609951B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026335. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026335. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026335 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026335 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08609945B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XB33H12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB33H12, cells from soybean variety XB33H12, plants of soybean XB33H12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB33H12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB33H12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB33H12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB33H12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB33H12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB33H12 are further provided.
US08609943B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XB34D12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB34D12, cells from soybean variety XB34D12, plants of soybean XB34D12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB34D12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB34D12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB34D12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB34D12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB34D12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB34D12 are further provided.
US08609934B2

Methods of providing gene suppression DNA in a eukaryotic organism comprising introducing a first DNA segment and at least one second DNA segment into the genome of the organism. One of the DNA segments contains a promoter and a transcribable DNA. Another DNA segment contains at least part of the transcribable DNA. When inserted in tandem, the DNA segments are assembled in vivo forming a recombinant transcription unit. RNA transcribed from the transcription unit can form double-stranded RNA.
US08609928B2

The invention provides a new Squash Leaf Curl Virus (SLCV) resistant gene slc-2 in cucurbit plants and plants comprising the slc-2 gene. The invention also provides molecular markers linked to slc-2 gene. The invention further provides methods of breeding to produce plants that are resistant to SLCV, and the resistant plants produced by such methods.
US08609925B2

Adsorbents and methods for the adsorptive separation of para-xylene from a mixture containing at least one other C8 aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g., a mixture of ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, para-xylene, and ethylbenzene) are described. Suitable adsorbents comprise zeolite X having an average crystallite size of less than 1.8 microns. The adsorbents provide improved mass transfer, which is especially advantageous for improving productivity in low temperature, low cycle time adsorptive separation operations in a simulated moving bed mode.
US08609923B2

Processes for the production of an alcohol, esters and aliphatic hydrocarbons are provided. In one embodiment, a process for the production of an alcohol comprises: oligomerizing an olefin or a mixture of olefins having the structural formula Cn-2H2n-3—CH═CH2, wherein n is an integer from 4 to 22, in the presence of an oligomerization catalyst, so as to form a vinylidene containing olefin oligomer; hydroformylating the vinylidene containing olefin oligomer in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst so as to form a hydroformylated olefin oligomer; and dimerizing the hydroformylated olefin oligomer by means of a Guerbet reaction so as to form the alcohol.
US08609919B1

A new family of aluminosilicate zeolites designated UZM-44 has been synthesized. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula. NanMmk+TtAl1−xExSiyOz where “n” is the mole ratio of Na to (Al+E), M represents a metal or metals from zinc, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 and or the lanthanide series of the periodic table, “m” is the mole ratio of M to (Al+E), “k” is the average charge of the metal or metals M, T is the organic structure directing agent or agents, and E is a framework element such as gallium. UZM-44 may be used to catalyze an aromatic transformation process by contacting a feed comprising at least a first aromatic with UZM-44 at hydrocarbon conversion conditions to produce at least a second aromatic.
US08609910B1

A new family of coherently grown composites of TUN and IMF zeotypes has been synthesized and shown to be effective catalysts for catalytic pyrolysis of biomass. These zeolites are represented by the empirical formula. NanMmn+RrQqAl1-xExSiyOz where M represents zinc or a metal or metals from Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 or the lanthanide series of the periodic table, R is an A,Ω-dihalosubstituted paraffin such as 1,4-dibromobutane, Q is a neutral amine containing 5 or fewer carbon atoms such as 1-methylpyrrolidine and E is a framework element such as gallium. The process involves contacting a carbonaceous biomass feedstock with UZM-39 at pyrolysis conditions to produce pyrolysis gases comprising hydrocarbons. The catalyst catalyzes a deoxygenation reaction converting oxygenated hydrocarbons into hydrocarbons and removing the oxygen as carbon oxides and water. A portion of the pyrolysis gases is condensed to produce low oxygen biomass-derived pyrolysis oil.
US08609907B2

One or more hydrochlorofluoroalkenes can be produced by dehydrofluorination of a hydrochlorofluoroalkane over a X-ray amorphous high surface metal fluoride or a X-ray amorphous or weakly crystalline metal oxide fluoride wherein the metal is selected from the 2nd, 3rd or 4th main group or any subgroup of the periodic system of elements. High-surface aluminum fluoride or aluminum oxide fluoride are especially suitable as catalysts. For example, CF3CH2CHClF is reacted to produce CF3CH═CHCl, and CF3CH2CClFCH3 is reacted to form CF3CH2CCl═CH2 and/or CF3CH═CClCH3.
US08609894B2

A process for preparing aminopolycarboxylates proceeding from the corresponding polyalkanolamines by oxidative dehydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst comprising 1 to 90% by weight of copper, based on the total weight of the catalyst, using a base, which comprises first performing a partial conversion of the polyalkanolamine to a reaction mixture comprising the aminopolycarboxylate at a temperature in the range from 140 to 180° C. until at least 10 to 90 mol% of the polyalkanolamine has been depleted, and then continuing the conversion at elevated temperature.
US08609893B2

The present invention relates to the manufacture of bioresourced acrolein and bioresourced acrylic acid from glycerol as starting material and more particularly comes within the scope of a process for the manufacture of acrolein and acrylic acid according to which the reaction for the dehydration of glycerol to give acrolein is carried out and the organic compounds which are heavier than water liable to be present in the various streams of the process arc removed, so as to obtain a stream which can be recycled to the dehydration stage without accumulation of heavy impurities, while minimizing the consumption of water and the discharge of polluted aqueous streams.
US08609890B1

A method is disclosed for the production of taurine by a cyclic process of reacting ethylene oxide with sodium bisulfite and ammonium to obtain sodium taurinate. After excess ammonia is removed from the reaction mixture, sodium taurinate is neutralized with sulfur dioxide or sulfurous acid to recover taurine and to regenerate sodium bisulfate, which is then reacted with ethylene oxide.
US08609885B2

The present invention provides improved methods for the chemical synthesis of methylene malonates using the Knovenagel synthesis reaction. The method of the invention provides for improved methylene malonates by significantly reducing or eliminating the formation of alternative and/or deleterious side products, significantly reducing or eliminating unwanted consumption of methylene malonates, and significantly reducing or eliminating the degradation of methylene malonates. These advantages result in methylene malonates, which upon recovery, are of higher quality, greater purity, improved yield and possess overall improved performance characteristics (e.g., improved cure speed, retention of cure speed, improved shelf-life and/or stability).
US08609876B2

The present invention relates to modification of the chemical structure of ricinoleic acid, which is present to an extent of 85-90% in castor oil into triacyloxy alkyl ester derivatives. Accordingly, 9,10,12-trihydroxy octadecanoic acid rich fatty acid mixture was prepared from castor oil and converted to their alkyl esters followed by acylation of hydroxy groups to get 9,10,12-triacyloxy octadecanoic acid alkyl ester rich fatty acid alkyl esters mixture. The 9,10,12-triacyloxy octadecanoic acid alkyl esters were purified from the crude product and characterized by 1H NMR studies. The crude products were also evaluated for acid value (A.V.), hydroxyl value (H. V.), iodine value (I. V.), viscosity, viscosity index (V.I.), pour point, flash point and copper strip corrosion and found to be potential base stocks for hydraulic, metal working fluids and other industrial fluids.
US08609873B2

The invention relates to a process for making HOF.RCN and using it to oxidise organic substrates in a quick and safe way. The process comprises passing diluted fluorine through a conduit and RCN in water through another conduit into a microreactor to form HOF.RCN and reacting this with an organic substrates.
US08609871B2

An industrial process for production of high-purity optically active amine derivatives in high yield while inhibiting the formation of by-products, which comprises subjecting (E)-2-(1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-ylidene)ethylamine to asymmetric reduction, catalytically reducing the obtained product at a reaction temperature of 40 to 100° C. and a pH of 3 to 9, subjecting the obtained (S)-2-(1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl)ethylamine to propionylation, and then crystallizing the reaction mixture.
US08609863B2

The present invention provides pharmaceutical formulations of lyophilized bendamustine suitable for pharmaceutical use. The present invention further provides methods of producing lyophilized bendamustine. The pharmaceutical formulations can be used for any disease that is sensitive to treatment with bendamustine, such as neoplastic diseases.
US08609862B2

The present invention relates to a method of treating a disease or disorder characterised by increased stress hormone levels and/or decreased androgen hormone levels in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by formula (I): wherein n is 1 or 3; R is hydrogen or —C(O)N(Ra)(Rb) wherein Ra and Rb are independently —(C1-C4)alkyl, or —(C1-C4)alkyl-(C5-C7)aryl, wherein each of Ra and Rb is optionally substituted by —(C1-C4)alkoxy; R1, R2, and R3, are independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano or —(C6-C10) aryl, wherein said —(C6-C10)aryl is optionally substituted by halogen, with the proviso that no more than one of R1, R2, and R3 is hydrogen; and R4 and R5 are hydrogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08609859B2

A one pot process for the synthesis of Irbesartan comprising reacting 2-n-Butyl-1,3-Diazaspiro[4,4]Non-1-en-4-one (Formula III) and Bromomethyl Cyanobiphenyl (Formula IV) in the presence of base and water with the optional use of PTC to give formula II from which Irbesartan is obtained by reacting with sodium azide and triethylamine hydrochloride in the presence of a non polar solvent.
US08609846B2

The present invention relates to compounds of the formulae Ia and Ib in which the variables R, n, A, B, R1 and R2 are each as defined in the description. The present invention further relates to the use of compounds of the formula Ia or Ib or mixtures of compounds of the formulae Ia and Ib and/or isomers or mixtures of the isomers of the compounds of the formulae Ia and Ib as photosensitizers in solar cells and photodetectors, and to solar cells and photodetectors which comprise such compounds of the formula Ia or Ib or mixtures of compounds of the formulae Ia and Ib and/or isomers or mixtures of the isomers of the compounds of the formulae Ia and Ib as photosensitizers.
US08609842B2

In the present invention, a synthesis method of Imatinib is disclosed, which comprises the following steps: the Imatinib, namely 4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-ylmethyl)-N-[4-methyl-3-[4-(3-pyridinyl)-pyrimidin-2-ylamino]-benzami de shown in formula (III), is formed by reacting 4-methyl-N-3-(4-pyridin-3-yl-pyrimidin-2-yl)-1,3-benzenediamine shown in formula (I) with 4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-methyl)-benzoic ester shown in formula (II), under the action of a base and in a non-protonic organic solvent, in the above generic chemical structural formula, R represents aliphatic alkyl having 1-10 carbon, phenyl, substituted phenyl, benzyl or substituted benzyl. The present invention provides a new synthesis method of Imatinib, which is formed under mild reaction conditions, and is environmentally friendly with a high-yield.
US08609840B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising compounds useful for stimulating neurogenesis. The methods and compositions comprising compounds are also useful for inhibiting neuronal degeneration. Thus, the present invention can be used in the treatment of diseases and conditions characterized by neuronal loss and reduced neurogenesis including Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, traumatic nerve injury, and depression. This invention is useful for research products including single agents or mixtures of agents to promote, proliferate, differentiate, or maintain neurons from stem or progenitor cells.
US08609837B2

A compound in the form of a metallized tetrpyrollic photosensizer linked to a fluorescent dye where the photosensitizer (PS), is linked by a structure that does not have detrimental radiation emmitance or absorbing characteristics, to a fluorophore, usually a cyanine dye (CD). The photosensitizer in accordance the invention is a metallized analog of porphyrins, chlorins, purpurinimides, bacterio pupurinimides, phthalocyanines, expanded porphyrins, benzoporphyrin derivatives and purpurins. The fluorophore is usually a cyanine dye with variable substituents. And, A method for determining effectiveness of PDT by comparing proportion of STAT-3 monomer with crosslinked STAT-3 dimer after PDT where the relative proportion of STAT-3 monomer to crosslinked STAT-3 directly correlates to efficacy of the PDT.
US08609836B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (Ia) or (Ib), the N-oxide forms, pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts, quaternary amines, stereoisomers, tautomers, racemics, metabolites, prodrugs, hydrates, or solvates thereof, wherein Y1, m, n, R1; X1; X2; R2; X3; X4; R3; and R4 have the meaning defined in the claims. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy. The invention particularly relates to compounds that are kinase inhibitors useful for the treatment of disease states mediated by kinase, especially PLK4, in particular such compounds that are useful in the treatment of pathological processes which involve an aberrant cellular proliferation, such as tumor growth, rheumatoid arthritis, restenosis and atherosclerosis.
US08609835B2

The present invention relates to purification and use of a novel emulsion stabilizing polysaccharide. In particular, a polyelectrolyte exopolysaccharide with high molecular weight comprising a high molecular weight polymer with a tri-saccharide repeating unit is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods are directed to isolating and purifying a high molecular weight exopolysaccharide (EPS) from a cell supernatant. In another aspect, methods are disclosed for isolating a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and a high molecular weight Acinetobacter polyelectrolyte exopolysaccharide (APE) from Acinetobacter bacteria. Compositions are also directed to lipid nanoparticles comprising a therapeutic agent encapsulated by a high molecular weight polysaccharide and nanoparticles comprising a therapeutic agent bound to a cationic polysaccharide cross-linked with a polyanion.
US08609834B2

The present invention discloses a method of synthesizing sucrose-6-acetic ester, comprising the following steps: adding sucrose into a polar aprotic solvent, and stirring the solvent to dissolve it, then generate a suspension solution of sucrose; adding a acetylation agent acetylnitrile into said suspension solution and stirring the solution; adding water into the aforesaid reaction solution, and then concentrating it to generate a concentrated product; adding a crystalline solvent into the concentrated product, stirring to dissolve it, and depositing for crystallization, then filtering and drying it to get a product of sucrose-6-acetic ester. The benefit of the present invention is that the method of synthesizing sucrose-6-acetic ester has simple operation, mild reaction condition, high selectivity, high yield, and is suitable for industrial production.
US08609830B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for gene silencing by RNA interference. In particular, the invention provides methods for gene silencing or RNA knockdown using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) having partial sequence homology to its target gene. The invention also provides methods for identifying common and/or differential responses to a plurality of different siRNAs targeting a gene. The invention also provides methods for evaluating the relative activity of the two strands of an siRNA. The invention further provides methods of designing siRNAs for gene silencing. The invention further provides methods of using siRNAs as therapeutics for treatment of diseases.
US08609814B2

The present invention relates to a modified porphyrin-based oxygen-carrying protein, such as haemoglobin, which has been found, in its unmodified state to have a low affinity site of electron transfer and a high affinity electron transfer between a reductant and ferryl haem iron via one or more protein amino acids. The invention provides such proteins that comprise a modification to enhance this pathway.
US08609812B2

The present invention is directed, in part, to a method of measuring β-2-microglobulin to assess glomerular alteration or damage of the kidney.
US08609811B2

The present invention relates to variants (mutants) of polypeptides, in particular Termamyl-like alpha-amylases, which variant has alpha-amylase activity and exhibits an alteration in at least one of the following properties relative to said parent alpha-amylase: substrate specificity, substrate binding, substrate cleavage pattern, thermal stability, pH/activity profile, pH/stability profile, stability towards oxidation, Ca2+ dependency, specific activity, and solubility, in particular under production conditions.
US08609810B2

The present invention relates to compounds which inhibit or antagonize the binding of methylglyoxal (MG) and/or other reactive carbonyl species (RCS) to an arginine- or lysine- containing protein, preferably an arginine- or lysine-containing cellular protein, such as a sodium ion channel, e.g. the sodium ion channel Na(v)1.8. Preferred scavenger compounds are peptides comprising several or multiple repeats of the amino acid sequence motif Gly-Glu-X-Pro (GEXP), wherein X is Arg or Lys, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The present invention furthermore relates to the use of the compounds as scavenger or antagonists of methylglyoxal and/or related reactive carbonyl species (RCS). The present invention furthermore relates to the use of the compounds for the prevention and/or treatment of pain, hyperalgesia and pain related diseases, in particular pain and/or hyperalgesia caused by or associated with methylglyoxal and/or reactive carbonyl species (RCS).
US08609808B2

A method for forming a biodegradable aliphatic polyester suitable for use in fibers is provided. In one embodiment, for example, an aliphatic polyester is melt blended with an alcohol to initiate an alcoholysis reaction that results in a polyester having one or more hydroxyalkyl or alkyl terminal groups. By selectively controlling the alcoholysis conditions (e.g., alcohol and polymer concentrations, catalysts, temperature, etc.), a modified aliphatic polyester may be achieved that has a molecular weight lower than the starting aliphatic polyester Such lower molecular weight polymers also have the combination of a higher melt flow index and lower apparent viscosity, which is useful in a wide variety of fiber forming applications, such as in the meltblowing of nonwoven webs.
US08609807B2

The invention relates to a technically advantageous method of producing low-dust granules of polymer additives or polymer additive mixtures. The granule-forming polymer additives are mixed together, the mixture is converted into a workable mass and pressed through an orifice. The pre-shaped strand-like extruded mass is cooled and, while still in a workable state, formed into granules by rolling, impressing, cooling and comminuting.
US08609801B2

Polymers and copolymers containing 1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-one units have been synthesized under conditions generally used for the synthesis of poly(aryl ether)s. 1H- benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-one behaves like a biphenol in the polymerization reaction. The soluble homopolymer has a very high glass transition temperature (348° C.), good thermal stability, and forms flexible transparent films. Because of the low molecular weight (134.14) of the benzoimidazolone monomer in the copolymer formed with 4,4′-biphenol that contains 30 mole % of the benzimidazolone unit, only 8.9 weight % is required to raise the Tg of the poly(arlyl ether)sulfone from 220° C. to 269° C.
US08609800B2

Silylated polyurethanes can be manufactured by reacting at least one polyol compound, having a molecular weight from 4000 to 20,000 dalton, with a diisocyanate, with a stoichiometric excess of the diisocyanate compound with respect to the polyol compound or compounds, with the result that a polyurethane prepolymer that is isocyanate-terminated is formed; and by subsequently reacting the polyurethane prepolymer with one or more OH-terminated silanes of formula (1) to yield a polyurethane having predominantly terminal alkoxysilyl groups. In formula (1), m is equal to 0, 1, or 2, R1 is an alkyl residue having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 is an alkyl residue having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 is a divalent organic residue having 1 to 12 atoms, selected from C, N, S, and/or O, in the chain, but by preference exclusively carbon atoms, R4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl residue having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R is a difunctional organic group, preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The silylated polyurethanes are suitable for use in a preparation as an adhesive, sealant, or coating agent.
US08609799B2

Heteroatom doped silane compounds, e.g., phosphorus-containing silane compounds, are provided. The application also provides methods of producing the heteroatom doped silane compounds from halogen substituted silanes via reaction with a heteroatom-containing nucleophile.
US08609797B2

A room-temperature vulanizable (RTV) polymeric composition comprising organosiloxane or polyurethane units having at least one terminal methyl isopropyl ketoximino or methyl propyl ketoximino moiety, as well as methods of making the same.
US08609796B2

A novel nanosized or microsized material having electroconductivity that can be produced simply and in a large amount is provided. A method for producing a poly(N-alkylcarbazole) columnar structure having electroconductivity obtained by chemically polymerizing N-alkylcarbazole including alkyl having 1 to 4 carbons by adding an oxidizing agent to a solution obtained by dissolving the N-alkylcarbazole in a solvent is provided.
US08609795B2

A water and oil repellent composition having excellent durability, which can impart excellent water and oil repellency to an object, even in a process at low temperatures, and which enables water and oil repellent treatment providing a soft hand. A water and oil repellent composition which comprises, as an essential component, a copolymer containing polymerization units of the following monomer (a) and polymerization units of the following monomer (b): monomer (a): an Rf group-containing monomer which forms a photopolymer having no melting point or a melting point of at most 55° C. attributable to fine crystals derived from the Rf groups and having a glass transition point of at least 20° C. monomer (b): a monomer having no Rf group and having a cross-linkable functional group.
US08609786B2

A method of making a thermoplastic composition comprises melt blending a reaction mixture comprising a first polycarbonate comprising repeat units derived from monoaryl monomers (II) and (III) and a diaryl monomer (IV), wherein the sum of the mole percent of the repeat units derived from monomers (II) and (III) is greater than or equal to 30 mole percent, and the mole percent of the repeat units derived from monomer (IV) is 5 to 70 mole percent, each based on the total moles the repeat units derived from monomers (II), (III), and (IV), and the total weight of the repeat units derived from monomers (II), (III), and (IV) is greater than or equal to 90 wt. % of the first polycarbonate; and an additional polycarbonate, comprising 50 to 100 mole percent of repeat units derived from a bisphenol cyclohexane.
US08609783B2

The present invention relates to a blend of sulfo-modified copolyester wherein the diacid is aromatic or cyclic and polyglycolic acid. The blend of sulfo-modified copolyester and polyglycolic acid can be used to prepare containers with good transparency and high gas barrier properties. The preferred sulfo-modified copolyester composition comprises terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and 5-sulfoisophthalic acid. A method of preparing a blend of sulfo-modified copolyester and polyglycolic acid is disclosed, as well as master batch processes. The present invention also relates to a method of making a container wherein the sulfo-modified copolyester is blended with the polyglycolic acid at an injection molding machine used to make preforms, which are then blown into bottles.
US08609782B2

A process of degrading nitrile rubbers comprises subjecting them to a metathesis reaction in the presence of specific catalysts with increased activity.
US08609768B2

A hot melt adhesive composition employing a thermoplastic polyurethane, which has a high adhesive strength even under bonding conditions of low temperature and short time or even to nylon cloth, and which has a favorable adhesive strength in a wide temperature range of from room temperature to low temperature. A hot melt adhesive composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane (A) having a flow initiation temperature of from 80 to 150° C. and a phenolic hydroxy group-containing compound (B) having phenolic hydroxy groups and having a molecular weight of at least 1,000.
US08609763B2

A resin composition for vibration damping material for a vibration damping material exhibiting high vibration damping performance in a wider temperature range and a vibration damping material using the same are provided. The resin composition contains 100 parts by weight of a resin component A as a matrix and 5 to 300 parts by weight of a resin component B dispersed in the matrix. The resin component B has two or more cyclic structures selected from the group consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbon group, and a heteroaromatic group, and is in a glassy state at use temperature.
US08609759B2

The present invention relates to a latex composition comprising a) an opaque polymer having a pigment volume concentration of from 18 to 28; b) fully or partially polymer encapsulated TiO2 particles having a pigment volume concentration of from 8 to 18; c) an extender having a pigment volume concentration of from 0 to 10; d) a binder; e) a thickener; and f) water. Notwithstanding the surprisingly high pigment volume concentration of opaque polymer, the composition—upon application to a substrate—gives a coating with a gloss or semi-gloss finish, excellent hiding, and acceptable burnish resistance.
US08609758B2

An inflatable article such as a pneumatic tire provided with a puncture-resistant layer comprising, by way of a self-sealing composition, an elastomer composition comprising at least, as predominant elastomer, a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer, more than 200 phr of an extender oil and more than 20 phr of a hydrocarbon resin, the glass transition temperature of which is greater than 0° C. The puncture-resistant layer is advantageously combined with an airtight layer, for example based on butyl rubber, so as to form, in the pneumatic article, an airtight puncture-resistant laminate.
US08609752B2

Inventive composite materials are provided. The composite is preferably a nano-composite, and comprises an asphaltene, or a mixture of asphaltenes, blended with a polymer. The polymer can be any polymer in need of altered properties, including those selected from the group consisting of epoxies, acrylics, urethanes, silicones, cyanoacrylates, vulcanized rubber, phenol-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, imides, esters, cyanate esters, allyl resins.
US08609736B2

The present invention is directed to use of a series of compounds and compositions comprising the same for activating telomerase and treating diseases, disorders and/or conditions related thereto.
US08609730B2

This invention provides REL inhibitors which interfere with the DNA binding capacity of a REL protein. Additionally this invention provides methods of treating, abrogating, or preventing diseases which respond with a positive clinical score to a REL inhibitor. Methods of identifying REL inhibitor based on a REL protein three dimensional model are described.
US08609723B2

The invention provides a long acting curcumin derivative, preparation method and pharmaceutical use thereof, wherein said long acting curcumin derivative having the general structural formula disclosed herein, wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or methoxyl; R3 and R4 are each independently selected from C1-C50 alkyl. Compared with cuminoids, the inventive long acting curcumin derivative has a better release effect, a higher bioavailability and pharmaceutical activity, and thus can be useful for the treatment of diseases such as depression and cancer.
US08609722B2

Compositions having a mixture of lidocaine, prilocaine and tetracaine, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts. A preferred composition includes the following components in the indicated approximate w/w percentages: 1.5% lidocaine base; 1.5% prilocaine base; 4% tetracaine base and water. In some implementations, also included may be about 10% methylpynrolidone; 2% dimethyl sulfoxide; 0.08% topical hyaluronidase; 1.5% guar gum; 1% polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate; 0.5 polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate, and water to 100%. Such compositions exhibits a high concentration on skin, a deep anesthetic effect and a significantly more rapid onset of the anesthetic effect than comparable transdermal anesthetics.
US08609719B2

A method for treating an individual who has been identified as having Alzheimer's disease by administering orally to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of ladostigil or a pharmaceutically active salt thereof, wherein the therapeutically effective amount is 70 mg per day, 140 mg per day, or 200 mg per day. Also, a unit dosage form of ladostigil or a pharmaceutically active salt thereof in an amount of 50 mg, 70 mg, 80 mg or 100 mg.
US08609717B2

The present invention discloses β-diketones, γ-diketones or γ-hydroxyketones or analogs thereof, that activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling and thus treat or prevent diseases related to signal transduction, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthropathy; osteogenesis imperfecta, bone defects, bone fractures, periodontal disease, otosclerosis, wound healing, craniofacial defects, oncolytic bone disease, traumatic brain injuries related to the differentiation and development of the central nervous system, comprising Parkinson's disease, strokes, ischemic cerebral disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia; eye diseases such as age related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema or retinitis pigmentosa and diseases related to differentiation and growth of stem cell, comprising hair loss, hematopoiesis related diseases and tissue regeneration related diseases.
US08609715B2

Compounds represented by formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful as hyperglycemic inhibitors having a serine protease inhibitory action and as prophylactic or therapeutic drugs for diabetes.
US08609710B2

A compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein A represents a C3 to C12 cycloalkyl group which may be substituted by one to three selected from a fluoro group, a hydroxy group, a C1 to C6 alkyl group, etc; R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a fluoro group, or a C1 to C6 alkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a prodrug group; and Y represents —CH2—CHR5—CH2—NHR6 (wherein R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1 to C6 alkyl group, or a C1 to C6 alkoxy group, and R6 represents a hydrogen atom or a prodrug group), or the like exhibits excellent TAFIa inhibitory activity and is useful as a therapeutic drug for myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, acute coronary syndrome, cerebral infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and the like.
US08609698B2

The present application relates to novel substituted dipyridyldihydropyrazolone derivatives, processes for their preparation, their use for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and their use for the preparation of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular cardiovascular and hematological diseases and kidney diseases, and for promoting wound healing.
US08609697B2

An aqueous-based composition which includes a) at least one bispyridinium alkane (for example octenidine) and b) at least one stabilizer selected from antioxidants, complexing agents, reducing agents, UV filters and photoprotective agents, in particular α-tocopherol, and BHT. The composition can also include c) one or more auxiliaries selected from, for example, nonionic surfactants, ethers, solvents and polymers, in particular fatty alcohol alkoxylates and alkoxylated fatty acid monoglycerides. The presence of the stabilizer reduces or prevents the appearance of decomposition products of bispyridinium alkanes and, in the case of the presence of auxiliaries, of decomposition products of the auxiliaries, such as ethers and peroxides.
US08609692B2

Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, prodrugs, salts of prodrugs, or combinations thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and m are defined in the specification. Compositions comprising such compounds and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also disclosed.
US08609679B2

The present invention provides 2,4-diaminopyrimidine compounds useful as kinase inhibitors, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08609677B2

This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a sulfonated biological precursor of thymidine, such as a precursor of 4-thiothymidine (4-TT), and their use in the photodynamic treatment of skin hyperplasias, including cancer, psoriasis, actinic keratosis and keloids, by topical or systemic administration.
US08609672B2

The invention provides novel compounds based on piperazinylpyrimidine derivatives to be used as protein kinase inhibitors. The compounds may be useful in treating or preventing different cellular proliferation disorders, such as cancer. The present invention also provides methods of preparing these compounds, and methods of using the same.
US08609663B2

The present invention is directed to methods, kits, and uses of inhibitors of LCMV mediated NF-κB activation to treat viral infections and inflammatory conditions.
US08609662B2

The present invention relates to 1-aza-bicycloalkyl derivatives of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in the specification, to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals in the prevention and treatment of psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders. The claimed compounds act as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (NACHR) ligands.
US08609654B1

One aspect of the invention relates to inhibitors that preferentially inhibit immunoproteasome activity over constitutive proteasome activity. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the treatment of immune related diseases, comprising administering a compound of the invention. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the treatment of cancer, comprising administering a compound of the invention.
US08609652B2

A method of administering a methylene blue-curcumin hybrid useful in treating or preventing Alzheimer's Disease.
US08609647B2

A compound of the following general formula [I]: wherein each symbol has the same meaning as defined herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, and a pharmaceutical use of the same in treating organ transplant rejection, graft versus host reaction after transplantation, autoimmune disease, allergic disease and chronic myeloproliferative disease.
US08609646B2

The present invention relates to methods and compounds for decreasing the expression of hepcidin, a protein associated with regulation of iron metabolism.
US08609644B2

Compounds of formula (I) wherein: the groups are as defined in the description, are useful for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders, in particular heart failure and hypertension. The compounds are inhibitors of the enzymatic activity of the Na+, K+-ATPase. Said compounds are used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disease caused by the hypertensive effects of endogenous ouabain, such as renal failure progression in autosomal dominant polycystic renal disease (ADPKD), preeclamptic hypertension and proteinuria and renal failure progression in patients with adducin polymorphisms.
US08609635B2

The present invention relates to novel Fused Tricyclic Silyl Compounds of Formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein A, B, C, D, M1, X1 and X2 are as defined herein. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising at least one Fused Tricyclic Silyl Compound, and methods of using the Fused Tricyclic Silyl Compounds for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.
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