US09008573B2

Signal processing methods and apparatus are disclosed, including a method of receiving a signal using at least first and second antennas, the method comprising obtaining a first signal comprising a component of the received signal received at said first antenna, obtaining a second signal comprising a component of the received signal received at said second antenna, wherein the first and second signals comprise at least partially orthogonal components of the received signal, performing operations on said first signal and said second signal to obtain first and second modified signals, wherein the operations substantially maximize a level of the received signal in the first modified signal and substantially minimize a level of the received signal in the second modified signal, and processing the first modified signal.
US09008571B2

One or more circuits of a satellite reception assembly may be operable to receive a satellite signal, recover content carried in the satellite signal, and broadcast a signal carrying the content for reception by one or more mobile devices. The satellite reception assembly may be mounted to the residence of a satellite subscriber. The signal carrying the content may be frequency locked to a reference signal that is available to the satellite reception assembly and to one or more other satellite reception assemblies. The reference signal may be a GNSS signal. The one or more circuits may communicate with the one or more mobile devices to provide a key to the one or more mobile devices, where the key is required for descrambling and/or decryption of the content carried in said signal.
US09008569B2

An image forming system includes an image forming unit to print an image on a sheet based on a job, a postprocessing unit to carry out postprocessing to the sheet based on the job, and a control unit to manage the job, and to control the print and the postprocessing, the control unit can determine whether the postprocessing execution job includes an applying prohibition sheet or not, and if a predetermined condition such as a page other than first and last pages is satisfied in predetermined postprocessing such as bundle processing, permits the job for the predetermined postprocessing to carry out an output such as insertion of the applying prohibition sheet, for which the postprocessing is prohibited in applying due to a difference in sheet size from a prescribed size and the like, into a bundle of applying permission sheets.
US09008567B2

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member that transfers a toner image to a surface of a recording medium, a transport member that transports the recording medium, with the surface of the recording medium on which the toner image has been transferred by the transfer member facing down, a fixing member that fixes the toner image onto the recording medium while nipping and transporting the recording medium, and a guide member that contacts a back side of the recording medium to guide the recording medium toward the fixing member, the guide member having a clearance part, the clearance part being formed in a portion that guides an outer side portion of a width direction of the recording medium, the clearance part being so shaped as to be clear of the back side of the recording medium.
US09008559B2

A fixing device includes an endless belt and an opposed rotary body contacting an outer circumferential surface of the belt. A nip formation pad contacting a first part of an inner circumferential surface of the belt presses against the opposed rotary body via the belt to form a fixing nip between the belt and the opposed rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A heat conductor disposed opposite a second part of the inner circumferential surface of the belt not contacted by the nip formation pad is interposed between a heater and the belt to conduct heat from the heater to the belt. A reflector disposed inside the loop formed by the belt reflects light from the heater toward the heat conductor. The reflector and the heat conductor surround the heater.
US09008556B2

A development device includes a developer bearer to carry developer thereon and receive a development bias and a developer regulator to adjust an amount of developer carried on the developer bearer. Multiple recesses recessed from a reference surface area are formed in a surface of the developer bearer, the developer bearer includes a conductive base in which the recesses are formed, and the conductive base in the reference surface area is coated with an insulative surface layer.
US09008554B2

A toner supplying device includes a toner storing portion for storing toner, a toner feeding path in which the toner fed from the toner storing portion is to be fed, and a toner feeding member for feeding the toner in the toner feeding path. An executing portion executes an operation in a filling mode in which the toner is filled in the toner feeding path by intermittently driving the toner feeding member in a preparatory period before image formation.
US09008551B2

An electrophotographic photoreceptor is removably installed and used in a device main unit of an electrophotography application device so as to form a process cartridge. The device main unit includes a driving-side power transmission portion. The photoreceptor includes a photosensitive drum including a cylindrical conductive base having a photosensitive layer containing a photoconductive material. A flange is fitted to the photosensitive drum. The flange includes a driven-side driving force transmission portion that has a cylindrical member and engaging protrusions. The flange transmits to the photosensitive drum a rotational driving force from the driving-side power transmission portion. A center of the cylindrical member is disposed on a central axis of the photosensitive drum. The protrusions are parallel to the central axis at positions on the outer periphery of the cylindrical member that trisect the cylindrical member. Each protrusion protrudes in a radial direction and engages the driving-side power transmission portion.
US09008549B2

An image forming apparatus includes a structure having an image formation device to form an image, a cover pivotally attached to the structure around a rotary shaft, and an opening angle restricting device to restrict an opening angle of the cover regarding the structure. The opening angle restricting device includes a pivotable cover rotation restriction member coaxially arranged with the rotary shaft to contact a downstream side of the pivotable cover in a cover opening direction at its first end to restrict the rotation of the pivotable cover in the opening direction.
US09008544B2

An image forming apparatus may include a moving unit configured to support a cartridge and to slide in a generally horizontal direction between multiple positions. For example, the positions may include a position where the moving unit is located inside the main body and a position where the moving unit is located outside the main body. Additionally or alternatively, the moving unit may also move between one interior position and another interior position located below the one interior position. The moving unit may be configured to electrically connect electrical contacts between the moving unit and a main body of the image forming apparatus based on its movement. In one example, the moving unit may include two electrical contacts disposed in the sliding direction of the unit, the electrical contacts configured to connect with electrical contacts of the main body.
US09008541B2

An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt including a first plane and a second plane, a waste toner container, a first feeding path extending between a first feed roller and a secondary-transfer roller, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet, a second feed roller arranged in an overlapping position to at least partially overlap with the waste toner container when viewed along a horizontal plane and in a position out of a course of the waste toner container being installed in and removed from the chassis. The second plane of the intermediate transfer belt extends downwardly in an inclined angle with respect to the first plane. The waste toner container is movable along the second plane of the intermediate transfer belt to be settled in the chassis.
US09008535B2

An image forming apparatus including: a fixing unit including a heating rotational body, and configured to perform heat-fixing by putting a sheet having an unfixed-image formed thereon in contact with the heating rotational body; and a mechanism including a plate-like water droplet guiding member and a condensation collection container, and configured to receive water droplets at an upper surface of the water droplet guiding member, guide the water droplets towards the condensation collection container, and collect the water droplets at the condensation collection container, the water droplets generated above the fixing unit by condensation of water vapor that rises from the sheet during the heat-fixing and falling therefrom. When viewing the image forming apparatus from above in a vertical direction, the condensation collection container is disposed outside a sheet passing region in a sheet width direction.
US09008531B2

A constant current-type high-voltage power supply apparatus which is used in an image forming apparatus includes a leakage current detection unit that detects a leakage current leaked from at least one output terminal of the constant current-type high-voltage power supply apparatus and outputs the detected leakage current, a direct current voltage output unit that outputs different direct current (DC) voltages according to whether the leakage current detected by the leakage current detection unit is input, and a power control unit that controls power supply to the constant current-type high-voltage power supply apparatus according to the output DC voltage.
US09008521B2

Provided is an optical receiver including a first delay interferometer, a second delay interferometer, and an input light splitting portion for inputting modulated light. The first delay interferometer includes a first light splitting portion for splitting the input light into first light and second light, a first reflecting portion and a second reflecting portion for causing the first light and the second light to return to the first light splitting portion. The second delay interferometer includes a second light splitting portion for splitting the input light into third light and fourth light, a third reflecting portion and a fourth reflecting portion for causing the third light and the fourth light to return to the second light splitting portion. A region between the first light splitting portion and the second reflecting portion intersects with a region between the second light splitting portion and the fourth reflecting portion.
US09008519B2

A method of registering a wireless device located in premises in a wireless network which is constructed in the premises. The method includes receiving a light signal, which includes network identification information of the wireless network constructed in the premises from at least one illumination device installed in the premises, and registering the wireless device in the wireless network constructed in the premises, by using the network identification information of the wireless network included in the received light signal.
US09008516B2

A method, an apparatus, and a system for transmitting information in a passive optical network are provided. The method mainly includes: obtaining OAM information that an RE device needs to report to an OLT device, performing modulation processing, according to the OAM information, on a downlink optical signal sent by the OLT device, and returning the downlink optical signal after the modulation processing to the OLT device; or, obtaining OAM information that an OLT device needs to deliver to an RE device, performing modulation processing, according to the OAM information, on a downlink optical signal sent by the OLT device to the RE device, and sending the downlink optical signal after the modulation processing to the RE device.
US09008509B2

A system, a device, and a method include a network interface device that measures optical power of a passive optical device; generates optical power data, and stores the optical power data. The system, the device, and the method, also includes generating alarms based on the optical power data and communication with remote network interface devices via the passive optical device.
US09008501B2

Disclosed herein are optical distribution networks and corresponding methods for providing physical-layer redundancy. Example embodiments include a head-end passive optical splitter-combiner (OSC) to split optical signals from an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) onto primary and secondary optical paths for redundant distribution to optical network terminal(s) (ONTs), a passive access OSC for tapping the redundant signals, and an optical switch for selecting between the redundant signals and providing an ONT access to the selected signal. Example optical distribution networks and corresponding methods provide multiple drop points, a fully cyclical path, and autonomous protection switching, all at low cost. A further advantage of these networks and methods is that where faults may occur, maintenance may not be required for a certain time.
US09008495B2

An apparatus for heating water and steam, that has a first container with cold water and a second container with hot water, the two containers being in fluid communication via an intermediary pipe having a one-way valve to permit flow only from the first container to the second container. The first container has a water level monitor that controls when an input pipe allows water to refill the first container. The second container has a heat exchanger, a steam input pipe, a steam output pipe, and a heating element. The second container may be connected to a steam press, a boiler, and a washing machine.
US09008489B2

Extraction of scenes of interest from video content is disclosed, which includes: collecting comments from a comment server, which contain keywords associated with the video content; segmenting the video content into scenes; measuring the number of ones of the comments which were posted for each scene, as a post count; detecting ones of the scenes, each of which has the post count equal to or larger than a predetermined number, as a plurality of scenes of interest; extracting, per each scene-of-interest, at least one of the keywords which is contained in the comments with a number equal to or larger than a pre-selected number, as a comment keyword; and tagging each scene of interest with the comment keyword, per each scene-of-interest.
US09008482B2

An optical cable terminal box for distributing an optical cable with a plurality of cores to subscriber lines is provided. The optical cable terminal box may include a housing having a slot, the slot having a first receiving groove formed at an edge of the slot. The optical cable terminal box may also include a cover member coupled to the housing to close the slot, and the cover member may have a second receiving groove formed at an edge of the cover member. When the cover member closes the slot, the first and second grooves may be coupled to each other to form a wiring hole that is configured to pass an optical cable therethrough.
US09008480B2

In order to provide a method of efficiently manufacturing an optical waveguide core having an endface inclined at a predetermined angle, the following method of manufacturing an optical waveguide core is employed. The method includes: a core material layer forming step of forming a core material layer formed of a photosensitive material on a surface of a cladding layer that has been formed on a substrate; a high refractive index substance covering step of covering a surface of the core material layer with a substance having a refractive index higher than 1 by bringing the high refractive index substance into close contact with the core material layer surface; an exposure step of pattern exposing the core material layer in a predetermined core-forming shape to from a core by irradiating the core material layer on a side covered with the high refractive index substance with exposure light inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the cladding layer surface; a high refractive index substance removing step of removing the high refractive index substance from the surface of the core material layer exposed in the exposure step; and an development step of developing the core material layer from which the high refractive index substance has been removed in the high refractive index substance removing step so as to form the core having an inclined endface.
US09008477B2

Alignment of a single-mode polymer waveguide (PWG) array fabricated on a polymer with a silicon waveguide (SiWG) array fabricated on a silicon (Si) chip and thereby realizing an adiabatic coupling. A stub and a groove are fabricated with high precision and made to function as the absolute positioning reference to provide a self-alignment according to the groove and the stub. In a PWG patterning by photolithography, plural masks are used, but the fabrication is made along the alignment base line for mask and thus a high precision is achieved with respect to error δx. In a PWG patterning by nano imprint, a high precision in the fabrication is also achieved with respect to error δx and δy.
US09008469B2

A Mach-Zehnder optical modulator with a travelling wave electrode has a signal transmission line conductor (S) carrying an input electrical signal, and two ground transmission line conductors (G1 and G2) providing a return path for the electrical signal. The signal transmission line conductor is positioned between the first and second ground lines, and the first and second optical waveguide branches are positioned between the signal transmission line conductor and the first ground line. The modulator therefore has a GSG structure providing an asymmetrically-loaded configuration.
US09008461B2

An image-processing technique implements image processing including division with high calculation precision using an image processing apparatus for executing image transformation processing for an input image including: a parameter calculation unit configured to calculate a plurality of transformation parameters each represented by a fixed point number having an n-bit length; and a calculation unit configured to perform calculation for coordinate conversion processing in the image transformation processing using the plurality of transformation parameters calculated by the parameter calculation unit.
US09008456B2

An image processing apparatus includes a smoothing processing unit which performs smoothing processing, a thinning processing unit which performs thinning processing, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction with respect to each pixel of the image data and a blending processing unit which decides a pixel value of each pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at same time. In the image processing apparatus, the blending processing unit decides a pixel value of a target pixel of when the thinning processing and the smoothing processing are realized at the same time depending on a combination of whether the thinning processing is performed or not and whether the smoothing processing is performed or not on the target pixel.
US09008437B2

An information processing apparatus sets a plurality of reference locations of data in information as one reference location pattern and acquires a feature amount obtained from a value of data of one of the plurality of pieces of reference information in one reference location pattern for each of a plurality of reference location patterns and the plurality of pieces of reference information. The apparatus extracts data included in the input information according to each of the plurality of reference location patterns, selects the reference location pattern for classification of the input information from the plurality of reference location patterns based on a value of data included in the extracted input information, and executes classification of the input information by using the feature amount in the selected reference location pattern and data included in the input information at a reference location indicated by the reference location pattern.
US09008426B2

A camera system (10) is provided for generating an image presegmented into regions (106a-b) of interest and of no interest, having an evaluation unit (20) which is designed to divide the raw image into part regions (106a-b) to calculate a contrast value for each part region (106a-b) and to decide with reference to the contrast value whether the respective part region (106a-b) is a region of interest (106a) or a region of no interest (106b). In this respect, the evaluation unit (20) has a preprocessing unit (22) which is implemented on an FPGA, which respectively accesses the pixels of a part region (106a-b) and generates summed values (a), b) for the respective part region (106a-b) and has a structure recognition unit (24) which calculates the contrast value of the part region (106a-b) from its summed values (a, b) without accessing pixels of the part region (106a-b).
US09008411B2

A method, system and apparatus is provided for identifying pharmaceutical products. A database of known pharmaceuticals is provided with links to virtual 3D models of each pharmaceutical. When a pill needs to be identified, an image of the pill is transmitted to the database CPU. The CPU screens out non-matching records and obtains perspective data based on the orientation of the pill. The CPU manipulates a 3D model into the same perspective as the pill to facilitate identification.
US09008407B2

Noise reduction processing for measured spectrum data is performed without any information loss due to discrete data characteristics of the measured spectrum data. Optical spectra in one or more cross-sections are measured through use of a signal correlated with a substance distributed in a biological tissue, and a biological tissue image having reduced noise is reconstructed from the spectra.
US09008406B2

Provided are a method capable of discriminating between a colony of differentiated pluripotent stem cells and a colony of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells, and a method for automatically culturing undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and a system thereof.A differentiated colony composed of differentiated pluripotent stem cells, an undifferentiated colony composed of undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and a multilayered colony having pluripotent stem cells stacked in multiple layers are discriminated by processing a photo image of a colony including pluripotent stem cells in a culture vessel. Specifically, a colony having a luminance higher than a first threshold A is determined as a differentiated colony, a colony having a luminance equal to or lower than the first threshold A and equal to or higher than a second threshold B is determined as an undifferentiated colony, and a colony having a luminance lower than the second threshold B is determined as a multilayered colony.
US09008402B2

According to one embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprises an X-ray generating unit, an X-ray detecting unit, a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit, a reconstruction processing unit configured to reconstruct first images respectively corresponding to volumes, a shift detecting unit configured to detect shifts of an object image due to warp of the top within a reconstruction coordinate system of the reconstruction processing unit, which shifts respectively correspond to the first images, and a control unit configured to move an origin of the reconstruction coordinate system for each of the volumes based on each of the detected shifts and control the reconstruction processing unit to reconstruct second images, which shifts respectively correspond to the volumes from the output from the X-ray detecting unit on the reconstruction coordinate system whose origin has been moved.
US09008397B2

A tomography system based on Cerenkov tomography, comprising: a detector of Cerenkov fluorescence for acquiring optical plane images; a structural imaging system for acquiring three-dimensional structural images; a bed device for supporting an object to be imaged; a computer for forming an optical image, a structural image and a CLT image. The invention adopts the SP3 model and the semi threshold iterator to implement the global reconstruction of the CLT, and obtains the three-dimensional tomography image of the distribution of the radiopharmaceutical and the molecular probe in vivo within a short time. Since ordinary CCD camera is used, the cost of the imaging system has been sharply reduced for the equipment's construct and maintenance compared with PET/SPECT or γ camera. Therefore the present invention expands the options of the molecular probe, and application of the medicine Imaging.
US09008394B2

Methods and apparatus for determining brain cortical thickness are provided. One method includes determining an intensity profile at each of a plurality of cortical surface points of an imaged brain using brain tissue image data and calculating a cortical thickness based on a parametrically determined transition point of each intensity profile.
US09008385B2

Systems, devices, and methods are described for tracking, registering, etc. of medical staff, patients, instrumentation, events, or the like according to a treatment staging plan. For example a medical apparatus includes a right-patient verification device having an interrogation interface device that elicits at least one of identification data, authorization data, or treatment plan data from a medical procedure authorization device associated with a patient; and a right-site verification device that generates patient-specific treatment staging data consistent with the at least one of the identification data, the authorization data, or the treatment plan data.
US09008370B2

A method and system for tracking a customer history data utilizing a combination of vehicle and facial information. A license plate image with respect to a customer vehicle can be captured and information with respect to the license plate obtained. The license plate information can be employed as an unique customer identifier with respect to customer history data, if the customer places an order (e.g., drive-through service). Facial images of the customer upon entry to a store and/or upon checkout can be captured and processed. The checkout image can be matched against a set of images in order to associate customer order information with customer history data identified from the license plate information for tracking an in-store order transaction.
US09008369B2

A vehicular vision system includes a forward facing camera at a windshield of a vehicle with a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield. The camera is operable to capture image data for a plurality of driver assistance systems of the vehicle. Responsive to processing by an image processor of captured image data, a lane of a road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined and an oncoming vehicle approaching the vehicle is detected, and the vision system determines whether a detected oncoming vehicle is in a lane to the right of the determined lane along which the vehicle is traveling or is in a lane to the left of the determined lane along which the vehicle is traveling. The at least three driver assistance systems of the vehicle includes a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and at least another driver assistance system.
US09008367B2

Apparatus and methods are described for imaging a portion of a body of a subject that undergoes a motion cycle, including acquiring a plurality of image frames of the portion of the subject's body. A given feature is identified in at least some of the image frames. At least some image frames are image tracked with respect to the feature, and the image frames that have been image tracked with respect to the given feature are displayed as a stream of image frames. Visibility of a periphery of the displayed stream of image frames is at least partially reduced. Other applications are also described.
US09008358B2

An image of a prescribed frame of images of respective frames is set as a target image, and an area including a prescribed pattern is detected from the target image as a specific area. An image other than the target image is set as a non-target image, and the specific area in the non-target image is predicted. The images of the respective frames are encoded so that the specific area is encoded to have higher image quality than an area other than the specific area. In encoding, the images of the respective frames are encoded so that the specific area in the non-target image is not referred to from another frame.
US09008348B1

Disclosed loudspeakers include a frame, a magnetic yolk affixed to the frame, a voicecoil, a spider, a resilient surround, and a cone. The yoke includes a slotted sidewall and a central slug that form an air-gap. The voicecoil is within the gap and includes a former, with top and bottom edges, and at least one winding on the former. The voicecoil moves when receiving alternating electrical potentials. The spider has a flexible outer portion, has an inner portion with rigid members that always extend through the yolk slots, and is affixed to the former bottom edge. The cone includes an inner portion affixed to the former top edge and an outer portion affixed to the frame through the surround, wherein the inner portion includes rigid members capable of movement within the sidewall slots with movement of the voicecoil.
US09008344B2

In accordance with methods and systems of the present disclosure, a mobile device may include an enclosure adapted such that the enclosure is readily transported by a user of the mobile device, a speaker associated with the enclosure for generating sound, and a controller within the enclosure, communicatively coupled to the speaker. The controller may be configured to receive a signal from the speaker, the signal induced at least in part by sound incident on the speaker other than sound generated by the speaker and process the signal.
US09008341B2

A system and method for identification of a peripheral device is provided. A system and method for automatic parameter adjustment of a destination device based on the identification of a peripheral device is provided.
US09008340B2

A method and apparatus to a hearing ability and a hearing aid using the same are described. The hearing aid outputs a sound to test a hearing ability of a user, to detect an electrical signal generated in a body of the user as a result of the output sound, amplifies the electrical signal detected by an electrode unit, and to determine an amplification ratio of a surrounding sound detected by the hearing aid based on characteristics of peaks of waveforms of the amplified signal.
US09008338B2

An audio reproduction apparatus is provided which is capable of maintaining the sense of dimensions in an acoustic space even when multi-channel input audio signals are reproduced using speakers having different frequency characteristics. The audio reproduction apparatus includes: a sound source position parameter calculating unit (3) that calculates a localization position of a sound image when reproduced by each of the first and second speaker groups; a reproduction signal generating unit (4) that generates a reproduction signal by separating, from audio signals corresponding to the second speaker group, audio signals representing a sound having a sound pressure level higher when reproduced by the first speaker group than the second speaker group; and a signal correction unit (8) that corrects reproduction signals such that the sound image localized according to the reproduction signals are localized at a substantially identical position to the calculated localization position; and a delay time adjusting unit (9).
US09008327B2

A multi-channel acoustic echo canceller arrangement comprises a microphone (111) providing a microphone signal having contributions from at least two audio sources (107, 109) to be cancelled. An echo canceling circuit (113, 115) performs echo cancellation of the two audio sources (107, 109) based on channel estimates for channels from each of the audio sources (107, 109) to the microphone (111). An estimation circuit (117) generates each of the channel estimates as a combination of a previous channel estimate and a channel estimate update where the combination includes applying a relative weight to the channel estimate update relative to the previous channel estimate. A weight processor 119 varies the relative weight in response to a time value. The arrangement may provide improved echo-cancellation for scenarios wherein the rendering of sound from the audio sources (107, 109) is time varying, such as when time varying decorrelation filters are used.
US09008326B2

The performance of an echo canceller is assessed using a) a test signal launched from originating test equipment and b) a simulated echo of the test signal launched from terminating test equipment. The launch of the simulated echo signal is timed in such a way that it arrives at the tandem echo canceller(s) at a particular point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal, at the tandem echo canceller(s), when the tandem echo canceller(s) is (are) not able to cancel the simulated echo signal. The latter thus arrives uncanceled at the target echo canceller. The launch of the simulated echo signal is further timed in such a way that it arrives at the target echo canceller at a point in time relative to the arrival of the test signal, at the target echo canceller, when the target echo canceller is able to cancel the simulated echo signal. As a result, any residual echo received at the originating test equipment is a measure of the performance of the target echo canceller exclusive of the performance of the tandem echo canceller(s).
US09008325B2

The sound pressure level at the eardrum may be determined by constructing an optimized model of the ear canal and then calculating the simulated sound pressure level at the eardrum. The model is obtained by comparing real-ear-to-coupler differences between the sound pressure level measured at a fixed distance from a hearing instrument and a simulation of the measurement, optimizing the model by varying the length and/or diameter of the canal model, repeating the simulation and determination of simulated real-ear-to-coupler difference until the differences between the measured and simulated values are minimized. The optimized real-ear-to-coupler difference at the eardrum may then be determined and in turn the sound pressure level at the eardrum may be calculated. The sound pressure level at the eardrum may then be used to acoustically fit the hearing instrument to the person.
US09008316B2

Implementations for providing role-based distributed key management (DKM) replication are described. A server node receives a request from a requester node to perform a DKM create or update function. The server node determines the role of the requester node based on a public key of the requester node. The server node determines whether the role of the requester node indicates that the requester node is authorized to request the DKM create or update function. If the requester node's role is authorized to request the DKM create or update function, then the server node performs the requested function. The DKM create or update function may involve a replication function. Public key and trust chains may be derived from physical cryptographic processors, such as TPMs.
US09008307B2

The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for delivering satellite services at multiple security levels. More specifically, there is provided a method comprising determining a level of security supported by a first set top box (22a), encoding a first IP packet containing a satellite service using the level of security supported by the first set top box (22a), transmitting the first IP encoded packet to the first set top box (22a), determining a level of security supported by a second set top box (22b), wherein the level of security supported by the second set top box (22b) is different from the level of security of the first set top box (22a), encoding a second IP packet containing a satellite service using the level of security supported by the second set top box (22b); and transmitting the second encoded IP packet to the second set top box (22b).
US09008305B2

An aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in one or more computer-implemented methods that include obtaining a master playlist document including references to sub-playlist documents that reference video documents of different video quality for use in a video streaming on demand system, parsing the master playlist document to extract the references, digitally signing the references, generating a protected master playlist document from the digitally signed references, and providing the protected master playlist document for use in the video streaming on demand system.
US09008299B1

The invention disclosed is a new system and method for providing the mutual sharing of resources devoted to customer service. The system utilizes a telecommunications switching apparatus to rout incoming customer contacts to one or more pools of customer service agents. The system provides for a universal customer service interface that allows customer service agents to assist customers of other related companies. The automated system for sharing customer service resources includes a mutual assistance routing system in communication with requesting users of customer service agents, responding providers of customer service agents, databases containing customer information, thereby allowing customers who contact the requesting user to be served by shared agents.
US09008296B2

Various technologies described herein pertain to retaining content of a conference call for accelerated replay. The content of the conference call can be recorded. Further, establishment of a connection of a participant to the conference call can be detected. For instance, the connection can be established with a computing device of the participant. Moreover, the establishment of the connection of the participant to the conference call can be detected subsequent to initiation of the recording of the content of the conference call. Responsive to detection of the establishment of the connection of the participant to the conference call, at least a portion of recorded content of the conference call can be transmitted to the computing device for playback at a playback speed that is greater than a speed at which the content is recorded.
US09008270B2

The sample cooling apparatus is used in an X-ray diffractometer for rotating a sample supported by a sample rod about an ω axis, directing X-rays thereto, and detecting X-rays deflected from the sample using an X-ray detector. The apparatus has a nozzle for blowing a cooling gas on the sample; and a gas-suctioning device for suctioning, via an aperture, gas that has passed over the sample. The sample rod moves when rotated about the ω axis forming a conical surface having the sample as a vertex. The nozzle is provided so that the extension direction of the sample rod and the direction of the blown gas form an acute angle of 90° or less. The gas-suctioning device suctions the gas so the path of gas having contacted the sample rod bends when the extension direction of the sample rod and the blown direction of the gas form an acute angle.
US09008269B2

A method for adjusting a field of view for exposure of an X-ray system is provided. The method comprises: capturing an image of a patient on an examining table of the system by an image sensor, wherein the image sensor is placed at a predetermined position in the system; displaying the captured image on a display for selection of a region of interest or a point of interest by a user on the image; automatically determining a target position of an X-ray source in response to the selection of the region of interest or the point of interest on the image, wherein a desired field of view for exposure covering the region of interest or the point of interest is obtained when the X-ray source is located at the target position; and automatically locating the X-ray source at the target position in response to the determination of the target position.
US09008267B2

A medical viewing system comprises an X-ray source, a collimator for limiting the X-ray radiation output of the X-ray source and a flat X-ray detector, wherein the collimator is adjustable such that the subsequent X-ray images acquired by the X-ray detector comprise a rectangular shape with variably rounded corners. The acquired X-ray images have a shape, which is in-between a circular shape and a rectangular or square shape. Acquired images with this shape may then be displayed on a display unit, wherein the borders or the images are distant from the borders of the designated screen area of the display unit in order to define a gap on the display. On rotation of an acquired image the rounded corners move towards the borders of the screen and are dimensioned such that they never cross the borders of the display. The used area of the screen 30 is approximately 30% larger than that of a circular image, e.g. taken by means of an image intensifier.
US09008264B2

Described is an apparatus for use in HVL measurement as well as methods of making measurements. One version of the apparatus is a cage structure having a central axis and a central opening defined by a filter encircling the central axis, with the filter having a thickness that varies peripherally around said central axis. The filter can be formed from multiple spaced-apart plates having varying thicknesses or can be formed from a cylinder having a continuously increasing thickness.
US09008257B2

Disclosed embodiments include electromagnetic flow regulators for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive fluid, nuclear fission reactors, systems for regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant, and methods of regulating flow of an electrically conductive reactor coolant in a nuclear fission reactor.
US09008244B2

Communication devices coupled via a communication link may comprise physical layer devices that may be operable to determine presence of a received signal and to mitigate noise in the signal prior to processing and/or validating the signal. Analog and/or digital signal processing may be utilized to process the signal and/or mitigate noise in the signal. Noise mitigation may comprise near-end crosstalk cancelling and/or echo cancelling and/or may utilize local transmit signal information. Subsequent to noise mitigation, samples of the noise reduced signal may be accumulated and/or an average signal strength and/or average signal power level may be determined. The average signal strength and/or average signal power level may be compared to one or more thresholds which may be configurable and/or programmable.
US09008227B2

An analog modem circuit and carrier recovery method are disclosed for use between an RF receiver and a digital modem circuit configured for receiving a baseband RF input signal, and including an up-converter with frequency supplied by an up-converter voltage controlled oscillator, VCO; a down-converter with frequency supplied by a down-converter VCO; a Costas loop sub-module; and baseband outputs from the down-converter to a digital modem circuit. The up-converter feeds the down-converter, and the Costas loop module performs Costas loop functionality on the output of the down-converter to control the up-converter VCO frequency output to thereby control modification of rotation of symbols of the baseband signal.
US09008221B2

A spurious frequency attenuation servo is provided. The spurious frequency attenuation servo includes a first function generator that generates a first signal at a first frequency and at a spurious frequency; a second function generator that generates a second signal in-phase with the first signal and at the spurious frequency; a third function generator that generates a third signal ninety degrees out-of-phase with the first signal and at the spurious frequency; in-phase and quadrature-phase mixers to input a feedback signal and the second and third signals, respectively; in-phase and quadrature-phase error accumulators; an in-phase and quadrature-phase multiplier to multiply an output from the in-phase and quadrature-phase error accumulators with the second and third signals, respectively; and a summing node to sum the first signal with output from the in-phase and quadrature-phase multipliers to form an output signal that is fed back to the in-phase mixer and the quadrature-phase mixer.
US09008215B2

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for asymmetric multimode interconnect (MMI) are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system for receiver-side asymmetric MMI includes a receiver that receives binary-encoded input signals from a multichannel interconnect, encodes the received binary-encoded signals according to a multimode encoding equation to produce multimode-encoded signals having voltage levels according to the multimode encoding equation, adjusts the timing of the multimode-encoded signals to compensate for multichannel interconnect channel delays to produce delay-adjusted multimode-encoded signals, and decodes the delay-adjusted multimode-encoded signals according to a multimode decoding equation to produce binary-encoded output signals. According to another aspect, a system for transmitter-side asymmetric MMI includes a transmitter that receives binary-encoded input signals, pre-adjusts the timing of the input signals to compensate for expected multichannel interconnect channel delays, multimode-encodes the timing-compensated binary-encoded input signals, multimode-decodes the multimode-encoded signals, and transmits the multimode-decoded signals over the multichannel interconnect.
US09008213B2

A multiple antenna system including a mobile station and a base station are operable to perform a method for transmitting control information for interference mitigation. A Mobile Station (MS) can transmit control information for interference mitigation. The MS determines a first Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) and a second PMI for interference from an adjacent Base Station (BS). Based on a correlation level from correlation values between one of the first PMI and second PMI and the remaining PMIs in the codebook, the MS determines a level of a subset of PMIs, and feeds back information indicating the correlation level.
US09008209B2

The present invention relates to a method including signalling by a receive node at least one first transmission rank r to a transmit node, where 1≦r ≦R, wherein R is a maximum available rank for a transmission, and at least one predefined precoding matrix corresponds to the first transmission rank r, determining by the transmit node a second transmission rank r′ for transmitting data from the transmit node to the receive node, where 1≦r′ ≦R, defining at least two subsets of precoding matrices for at least one of the at least one first transmission rank r, selecting one of the at least two subsets of precoding matrices in accordance with a channel quality estimate for a radio channel, and signalling the selected one subset of precoding matrices, wherein the selected one subset of precoding matrices is associated with said the at least one predefined precoding matrix.
US09008208B2

Generating a channel codebook by identifying a subset of antenna configurations from a plurality of antenna configurations of an antenna associated with a transmitter by: transmitting a sequence of symbols from the transmitter to a receiver using the plurality of antenna configurations, wherein each antenna configuration provides a unique transmission characteristic to the receiver; receiving feedback from the receiver that identifies the subset of antenna configurations; and, generating channel codebook entries corresponding to the subset of antenna configurations; and, transmitting data from the transmitter to the receiver using the channel codebook.
US09008203B2

A receiver comprises a demodulator configured to detect a signal representing the OFDM symbols and to generate a sampled digital version of the OFDM symbols in the time domain. A Fourier transform processor is configured to receive the time domain digital version of the OFDM symbols and to form a frequency domain version of the OFDM symbols, from which the pilot symbol bearing sub-carriers and the data symbol bearing sub-carriers can be recovered. A detector is configured to recover the data symbols from the data bearing sub-carriers of the OFDM symbols and to recover the pilot symbols from the pilot bearing sub-carriers of the OFDM symbols in accordance with the scattered pilot symbol pattern and the continuous pilot symbol pattern. The scattered pilot symbol pattern is one of a plurality of scattered pilot symbol patterns and the continuous pilot pattern is independent of the scattered pilot symbol pattern.
US09008202B2

A device and method for estimating multipath jointly sparse channels. The method comprises receiving a number K of signal components by a number P of receiving antennas, where P≧2. The method further comprises estimating the sparsity condition of the multipath jointly sparse channels. The method further comprises, if the sparsity condition is not satisfied, estimating the channels by using a non-sparse technique. The method further comprises, if the sparsity condition is satisfied, estimating the channels by using a sparse technique.
US09008201B2

When a UE (12) is configured with MF-HSDPA and HARQ-ACK information associated with cells (14, 16) (characterized by potentially different downlink timing) is jointly encoded, only part of the existing Rel-9 HARQ-ACK codebook is reused. In one embodiment, only the codebook conflict arising from reuse of encodings is resolved. This is achieved by introducing a new codeword for at least one of the HARQ-ACK code words that are used multiple times in the existing Rel-9 codebook. In another embodiment, all codewords in the Rel-9 HARQ-ACK codebook having a Hamming distance smaller than a predetermined value (but not all codewords) are replaced. In yet another embodiment, all codewords in the Rel-9 HARQ-ACK codebook having a Hamming distance smaller than a predetermined value (but not all codewords) that would cause ambiguity at the NodeB receiver (i.e. where the interpretation of the HARQ-ACK information for one cell (14) depends on the number of streams transmitted at the other cell (16)) are replaced.
US09008200B2

A user equipment (UE) receives a radio signal which includes a time-frequency grid of radio resource elements. A UE detector measures a signal quality parameter associated with a subset of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid. The subset of the radio resource elements is less than a total number of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid and corresponds to an individual radio channel. Radio circuitry in the UE reports to a network node the signal quality parameter measured for the subset of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid to enable an operation related, for example, to the individual radio channel.
US09008192B2

In one embodiment, a first set of digital data (e.g., an image) is tested for the presence of a certain feature (e.g., a certain face), yielding one of two outcomes (e.g., not-present, or present). If the testing yields the first outcome, no additional testing is performed. If, however, the testing yields the second outcome, further testing is performed to further check this outcome. Such further testing is performed on a second set of digital data that is based on, but different from, the first set of data. Only if the original testing and the further testing both yield the same second outcome is it treated as a valid result. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09008191B2

A video compression encoder which does not require a video frame buffer is disclosed. Without a frame buffer, incoming pixels can not be compared to pixels previously sent to the decoder. Instead, the disclosed encoder only stores check values for groups of pixels sent. If a group's check value has not changed, the encoder sends a command to the decoder not to change that pixel group. Also, without a frame buffer, an incoming video frame can not be captured and later sent to the decoder as network throughput permits. Instead, if throughput is insufficient to send an encoded group of pixels, the encoder leaves the check value for that group unchanged and sends a command instructing the decoder not to change those pixels. This defers updating that group until the next screen update is sent to the decoder. Grouping of pixels can be done in any fashion, for example; a group can be a single video line, a portion of a line, multiple lines or screen rectangles containing portions of multiple lines.
US09008190B2

An apparatus for processing images may include a de-multiplexer that receives a data stream and de-multiplexes a video signal and channel information from the data stream, a first decoder that provides a decoded video signal, a thumbnail generator coupled to the first decoder to generate at least one of a still picture thumbnail or a moving picture thumbnail based on the decoded video signal, and an encoder coupled to the thumbnail generator and the de-multiplexer. The encoder encodes the thumbnail with the channel information to provide a thumbnail data stream to provide thumbnails of moving pictures and/or still pictures on a display.
US09008179B2

An apparatus used in video encoding comprising a processor configured to generate a prediction block for a current block, compute a difference between the current block and the prediction block to generate a residual block, wherein the residual block comprises a plurality of residual values, and if the plurality of residual values include at least one non-zero residual value comprising at least one sign and at least one residual level, perform entropy encoding on the at least one sign; and perform entropy encoding on the at least one residual level, wherein one non-residual value comprises one sign and one residual level.
US09008175B2

This disclosure relates to techniques for reducing the amount of additional data encoded with a block encoded using intra-predictive coding. Particularly, the techniques provide apparatus and methods of applying a smoothing filter to prediction samples used in intra-predictive coding. For example, in fixed mode-dependent intra-predictive coding, a video encoder may determine the type of smoothing filter applied to prediction samples based on block size and intra-prediction mode combination associated with the current block, where the combination is used to look up a filter in a first filter table. In adaptive mode-dependent intra-predictive coding, the encoder uses two filters, one from the first filter table and another from a second filter table, applies both filters, and determines which yields better results. When the second filter table filter yields better results, the encoder encodes a filtering indication. When a filter from the first filter table is used, no filtering indication is encoded.
US09008174B2

There are provided methods and apparatus for illumination compensation of intra-predicted video. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding a picture using non-local intra prediction. The encoder includes an illumination compensation processing unit for applying illumination compensation to predicted data obtained from the non-local intra prediction. Another apparatus includes a decoder for decoding a picture using non-local intra prediction. The decoder includes an illumination compensation processing portion for applying illumination compensation to predicted data obtained from the non-local intra prediction.
US09008169B2

A 1/n-rate decision feedback equalizer (DFE) and method include a plurality of branches. Each branch includes a summer circuit configured to add a feedback signal to a received input, and a latch configured to receive an output of the summer circuit in accordance with a clock signal. A feedback circuit includes a multiplexer configured to receive as input, an output of each branch, the multiplexer having a clocked select input and configured to multiplex the output of each branch to assemble a full rate bit sequence, and a filter configured to provide cancellation of intersymbol interference (ISI) from the received input to be provided to the summer circuit of each branch.
US09008165B2

An apparatus of automatic power control for burst mode laser transmitter and method are provided. In one implementation a method includes: pushing a first multi-bit data into a data memory; modifying the data memory to remove a condition of frequent transition in the data memory, if the condition of frequent transition is found; establishing a list of indices pointing to data transition of the data memory; and sequentially examining a respective run length of the data indexed by each entry in the list, modifying the associated data to lengthen the respective run length if the respective run length is too short, modifying the associated data to shorten the respective run length if the respective run length is too long, and outputting a second multi-bit data by taking data from the data memory.
US09008162B2

An exemplary system comprises at least one antenna, first and second signal paths, and an N-plexer. The antenna may be configured to receive first and second diversity receive signals. The antenna is further configured to transmit first and second diversity transmit signals. The first signal path may have a frequency converter configured to downconvert the first diversity receive signal to an intermediate frequency and to upconvert the first diversity transmit signal to a radio frequency. The second signal path may have a frequency converter configured to downconvert the second diversity receive signal to an intermediate frequency and to upconvert the second diversity transmit signal to the radio frequency. The N-plexer may be configured to provide the first and second diversity receive signals to a cable and to provide from the cable the first and second diversity transmit signals to the first signal path and the second signal path, respectively.
US09008153B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a microwave predistorted signal generating method and apparatus. A microwave receiver receives a first received signal that has undergone analog-to-digital conversion; performs channel compensation on the first received signal, to obtain a second received signal; estimates a first transmitted signal according to the second received signal, where the first transmitted signal is a transmitted signal of a microwave transmitter before digital-to-analog conversion; performs predistortion coefficient computation according to the second received signal and the first transmitted signal; performs, by using a first-order coefficient obtained through the predistortion coefficient computation, linear distortion compensation on the second received signal that is before the first transmitted signal is estimated; and sends other predistortion coefficients except for the first-order coefficient to the microwave transmitter, so that the microwave transmitter performs non-linearity predistortion on a transmitted signal.
US09008142B2

A system and method for adjusting the coherence length of a tunable laser to optimize measurements and reduce artifacts. A tuning element of the laser system modulates, adjusts, or controls parameters associate with the tunable laser, such that the output wavelength of the tunable laser is modulated or adjusted over a wavelength range within a time interval. Modulation of the parameter has the effect of increasing a linewidth of the tunable laser.
US09008130B2

A remote enclosure houses multiple subsystems. A first subsystem is coupled to a central office over a high-speed communication channel such as an OC-3 channel. The first subsystem extracts a downstream message from a first embedded operations channel included in the high-speed communication channel. The first subsystem also, when the downstream message is targeted to a first unit included in the first subsystem, forwards the message to a unit that processes the message for the first unit. When the message is not targeted to any unit included in the first subsystem, the first subsystem forwards the downstream message to another subsystem housed within the remote enclosure via a second embedded operations channel included in a second communication channel. The second subsystem is subtended from the first subsystem and is connected thereto by the second communication channel. In the upstream direction, the second subsystem sends an upstream message to the first subsystem over the second embedded operations channel. The first subsystem extracts the upstream message and transmits the upstream message on the first embedded operations channel.
US09008126B2

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for configuring an access point in a wireless network. During operation, the access point discovers one or more existing access points associated with the wireless network. The access point then obtains a set of configuration information from one existing access point, and synchronizes a local timestamp counter to a selected existing access point, thereby allowing the access point to be configured without using a centralized management station.
US09008120B2

The present invention provides methods and devices for enabling communication between a mobile device and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) devices. In one embodiment, a communication gateway includes a home base station for receiving a data communication request from a mobile device associated with a radio network, where the data communication request indicates type of communication. The communication gateway also includes a mediation entity for signalling an UPnP router that the data communication request is associated with an UPnP type communication. Moreover, the communication gateway includes an UPnP router for providing data communication from the mobile device to one or more UPnP devices connected to the UPnP router.
US09008119B2

An integrated circuit may comprise a tuner operable to digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of television channels, a crossbar operable to select one or more of the plurality of television channels output by the tuner, a plurality of demodulators operable to receive the selected one or more television channels from the crossbar and demodulate the selected one or more television channels to recover a plurality of transport streams, a transport module operable to multiplex the plurality of transport streams into a single packet stream, and a framer operable to: encapsulate packets of the plurality of transport streams into transport stream frames of a serial datastream, and insert filler frames into the serial datastream after every Nth transport stream frame of the serial datastream, where N is an integer.
US09008117B2

Methods and a media system and storage system for cross-media storage coordination include but are not limited to storing a first data version of specified content based on a particular media format: storing at least a second data version of related content based on a different media format: providing a cross-reference between the first data version and the at least second data version to enable coordinated management by a designated user and/or an approved device for search and possible retrieval of the first data version and/or the at least second data version: and implementing communication access by one or more parties and/or the designated user via a communication type that is correlated with the first data version and/or the at least second data version.
US09008113B2

A network interface device for connection between a network and a data processing system, the network interface device comprising: an I/O interface for connection to a data processing system; a set of physical data ports for connection to a network; a unified memory comprising a plurality of buffers; a plurality of ingress ports operable to receive data packets for buffering at the unified memory, a first subset of the plurality of ingress ports being configured to receive data packets on a transmit path from said I/O interface, and a second subset of the plurality of ingress ports being configured to receive data packets on a receive path from said set of physical data ports; a memory manager configured to store representations of a plurality of virtual queues held in the unified memory, each virtual queue being a linked logical sequence of buffers of the unified memory; and an ingress interface configured to service the ingress ports in a predetermined order and write data packets received at the ingress ports to buffers of the unified memory selected by the memory manager; wherein the memory manager is arranged to select buffers of the unified memory so as to cause the ingress interface to populate the plurality of virtual queues with data packets, and the ingress interface is arranged to contiguously write data packets into the linked logical sequence of buffers representing each virtual queue.
US09008107B1

Meeting and conferencing systems and methods are implemented in a variety of manners. Consistent with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for operating an audio conference system that includes at least one logic circuit and a caller interface involves receiving incoming telephony calls at the caller interface. A logic circuit is used to authenticate incoming telephony calls. Menu options are provided to authenticated, incoming telephony calls. In response to a selection of the menu options, an incoming telephony call is prompted to select a callback number. The logic circuit monitors for a trigger event. A participant is called back using the selected call back number in response to detecting the trigger event. The called-back participant is then placed into a conference.
US09008102B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for managing virtual network services provided to a network. Network services may be provided to a client network having a first network fabric at a self-contained network services system implementing a number of redundant instances of a network service application. The self-contained network services system may have a second network fabric. The second network fabric may be adapted to distribute network service tasks received from the client network which are associated with the network service application among the redundant instances of the network service application.
US09008093B2

Some aspects of the methods and systems presented relate to performing stateless address translation between IPv4 capable devices to IPv6 capable networks and devices. Stateless address translation may form a new IPv6 addresses by combining the IPv4 address of a device with an IPv6 prefix address assigned to the translator. The translation may also combine the IPv4 destination address and UDP port information with the new IPv6 address. Existing Domain Name Systems (DNSs) may be leveraged for resolving the IPv4 and IPv6 addresses across different networks.
US09008092B2

In one embodiment, a network device determines a set of routes to one or more reachable addresses and also a set of no-routes to one or more non-reachable addresses in a computer network. The routes and no-routes may then be aggregated into one or more reachable route prefixes with one or more corresponding non-reachable no-route prefix exceptions. As such, the aggregated combination of route prefixes and no-route prefix exceptions may be utilized by the network device.
US09008089B2

A technique allows stations to utilize an equal share of resources (e.g., airtime or throughput). This prevents slow stations from consuming too many resources (e.g., using up too much air time). Fairness is ensured by selective dropping after a multicast packet is converted to unicast. This prevents slow stations from using more than their share of buffer resources. Multicast conversion aware back-pressure into the network layer can be used to prevent unnecessary dropping of packets after multicast to unicast (1:n) conversion by considering duplicated transmit buffers. This technique helps achieve airtime/resource fairness among stations.
US09008084B2

Systems and methods are provided to detect when a virtual machine moves across a switch device boundary, keep existing application sessions alive, and provide optimal forwarding for new application sessions with graceful address migration. Virtual machine movement can be detected on the new switching device by comparing the Device ID in the Source Address of the ND-NA with the Device ID of the new switching device. A temporary hardware forwarding sub-optimal path is maintained for existing application sessions. A new IP address is assigned to the moved virtual machine and an optimal forwarding path is programmed in hardware for new application sessions. The temporary sub-optimal hardware forwarding path is removed after all old application are terminated.
US09008082B2

A method applied in a routing node, and a forwarding engine implemented in a routing node, are provided for handling data packets received at the routing node. A N-tuple comprising N elements is extracted from a first header of a data packet. A default meta-field is added to the N elements, providing a N+1-tuple. The N+1-tuple is used to make a first lookup of inspection rules. The default meta-field makes the inspection rules apply to the first header. The data packet is handled according to a result of the first lookup, wherein a possible outcome is a finding of a second header within the data packet. If a second header is found, a new meta-field value is set and a second lookup is made. The second lookup of the inspection rules is made according to N elements from the second header and the new value of the meta-field.
US09008080B1

A packet forwarding network may include switches that perform network forwarding operations to forward network traffic between end hosts that are coupled to the packet forwarding network. An analysis network that is controlled by a controller may be coupled to the packet forwarding network. The analysis network and the packet forwarding network may overlap. Switches such as hybrid switches in the overlapping network portions may be controlled by the controller to copy network packets without interfering with the network forwarding operations of the packet forwarding network. The analysis network may include a central portion to which analysis tools are coupled and one or more isolated portions. The controller may control the client switches of the central portion and the isolated portions to establish tunneling paths through the forwarding network.
US09008078B2

A gateway device, provided in a customer premises, receives a call from a user device, and detects dialed information associated with the call. The gateway device identifies the call as an emergency call based on the dialed information, and terminates all other calls communicated by the gateway device except for the emergency call. The gateway device notifies an outdoor broadband unit, associated with the customer premises, about the emergency call.
US09008069B2

A method of transmitting data by at least one access terminal (AT) in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes ceasing all transmissions by the at least one AT during a duration corresponding to a duration used by an access node (AN) to transmit a superframe preamble, wherein the superframe comprises a plurality of physical frames.
US09008065B2

Methods and network nodes are described. A network node receives an attach request message from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) via a cellular radio access network (RAN). The attach request message includes a mobile station (MS) radio access capability information element (IE), and the MS radio access capability IE includes a field that indicates whether the WTRU is capable of receiving services from a core network via a non-cellular wireless access network. The network node provides services from the core network to the WTRU.
US09008062B2

A method and apparatus are disclosed for supporting access point (AP) discovery by a handset/station (STA) using a fast initial link setup (FILS) discovery frame. An embodiment method includes transmitting a plurality of FILS discovery frames at faster time intervals than designated for transmitting standard AP beacons, wherein the FILS discovery frames have a smaller size than standard AP beacons. An embodiment apparatus includes a processor and a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions to broadcast a standard AP beacon for advertising a basic service set (BSS) repeatedly at subsequent time intervals, and broadcast a FILS discovery frame for advertising the BSS repeatedly at faster subsequent time intervals than for the standard AP beacon, wherein the FILS discovery frame has a smaller size than the standard AP beacon.
US09008047B2

In an aspect of the present disclosure, presented is a method for wireless communication that includes obtaining at least one transport format combination (TFC), determining a minimum TFC (MinTFC) mode based on at least one TFC state of at least one TFC inside or outside a MinTFC set, and controlling at least one TFC based on the MRAB MinTFC mode. Through this method, pack-switched transmission power can be managed in a manner that will cause a circuit-switched call to function properly in challenging power conditions.
US09008041B2

The present invention discloses a processing method supporting handover, and communication apparatus, which can reduce an impact on an existing network. The method includes: A handover service function entity receives an identifier of a first AP from an MS, where the first AP is discovered in a WiFi network, and determines, according to the identifier of the first AP, an authenticator entity corresponding to the first AP corresponding to the identifier; establishes a connection with the MS; receives from the MS a probe request message for probing an AP to be associated; and returns to the MS a probe request response message that carries an identifier of an AP to be associated with the MS, so that the MS associates with the AP corresponding to the identifier of the AP to be associated, and accesses the WiFi network through the AP to be associated and the authenticator entity.
US09008040B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a handover method, User Equipment (UE), and a network side device, which can shorten a handover delay of a control plane and an interrupt delay of user plane data. A handover method includes: obtaining, by a UE, a Time Advance (TA) of a target cell before a handover; and obtaining an Uplink Grant (UL Grant) sent by the target cell; and then sending a Handover Complete message to the target cell with the TA on a resource that is corresponding to the UL Grant.
US09008036B2

The present invention employs a pilot scheme for frequency division multiple access (FDM) communication systems, such as single carrier FDM communication systems. A given transmit time interval will include numerous traffic symbols and two or more short pilot symbols, which are spaced apart from one another by at least one traffic symbol and will have a Fourier transform length that is less than the Fourier transform length of any given traffic symbol. Multiple transmitters will generate pilot information and modulate the pilot information onto sub-carriers of the short pilot symbols in an orthogonal manner. Each transmitter may use different sub-carriers within the time and frequency domain, which is encompassed by the short pilot symbols within the transmit time interval. Alternatively, each transmitter may uniquely encode the pilot information using a unique code division multiplexed code and modulate the encoded pilot information onto common sub-carriers of the short pilot symbols.
US09008012B2

The present invention provides a method for notifying a UE of monitored component carriers. The method comprises the following steps: an evolved Node B (eNB) sends an monitoring changing instruction and Component Carriers (CC) corresponding to the instruction to a UE with a Media Access Control (MAC) layer control command; according to the monitoring changing instruction and the corresponding CC, the UE activates or deactivates monitoring of the corresponding CC. The present invention allows the MAC PDU for instructing the UE to increase, decrease or change the monitored CC. Therefore, the configuration can be achieved in a simple and flexible manner and has higher reliability.
US09008011B2

A method and apparatus of transmitting an ACK/NACK signal for a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) in a wireless communication system is provided. A first ACK/NACK resource index and a second ACK/NACK resource index based on resources used to transmit a downlink control channel is determined. An ACK/NACK signal for a downlink transport block is transmitted through a plurality of antennas using first ACK/NACK resources obtained from the first ACK/NACK resource index and second ACK/NACK resources obtained from the second ACK/NACK resource index. An HARQ ACK/NACK signal can be reliably transmitted through a plurality of antennas.
US09008006B2

A method of performing random access procedure in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a first message transmitted to count the number of user equipments attempting to receive the broadcast/multicast service from a network, transmitting a preamble for a random access to the network, receiving a second message including a user equipment identifier for identifying the user equipment and uplink (UL) radio resource allocation information in response to the preamble from the network, transmitting a third message to the network using the uplink radio resource allocation information, and stopping the random access in case of receiving a contention resolution message from the network.
US09008001B2

A Level-1 (L1) signaling flag is mapped to unused (invalid) bit sequences in Part 1 of the HS-SCCH—that is, Part 1 bit encodings that are not defined in the UTRAN specifications—and a corresponding L1 command is encoded in Part 2. This allows UE (18) to detect early that the HS-SCCH is pure L1 signaling, and the UE (18) may avoid wasting power by not processing an accompanying HS-PDSCH. Alternatively, in CPC HS-SCCH-less mode, the UE (18) may blind decode the HS PDSCH. In one embodiment, a general DRX mode is defined and controlled via L1 signaling. In one embodiment, a UE (18) acknowledgement improves the L1 signaling accuracy. In one embodiment, a L1 signal and UE (18) acknowledgement protocol are utilized to “ping” a UE (18).
US09007993B2

One embodiment of a method for inter-base station signaling includes receiving, at a first base station, first information from a second base station. The first information indicates commitments regarding transmission power by the second base station. The embodiment further includes determining, at the first base station, whether the second base station will follow the commitments indicated in the first infatuation based on second information. The second information indicates for at least one of the first and second base stations which subframes in a series of subframes will be special subframes. Each special subframe has at least one of less transmit power than a maximum transmission power and less data than a fully loaded subframe.
US09007977B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for establishing time alignment by a terminal in a mobile communication system. First information for discontinuous reception (DRX) operation is received from a base station. A downlink control channel is monitored based on the first information. Second information for identifying a dedicated preamble on the downlink control channel is received from the base station. The dedicated preamble is transmitted to the base station based on the second information. A response message to the transmitted dedicated preamble is received from the base station on a downlink shared channel. The response message includes timing adjustment information and third information for a channel quality indicator (CQI) report. Time alignment is established based on the timing adjustment information included in the response message. The CQI report is transmitted to the base station based on the third information.
US09007972B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe devices, methods, computer-readable media and systems configurations for managing state transitions of communication circuitries in wireless networks. Embodiments manage radio resource control (RRC) state transitions and/or discontinuous reception (DRX) state transitions. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09007969B1

A wireless LAN station having a MAC address and receiving beacon frames indicating a beacon interval selects a sub-interval from the beacon interval for transmission and reception of wireless signals. The beacon sub-interval used by each set of stations for transmission and reception is preferably ½n of the beacon interval, where n is the number of device-unique assignment bits, such as MAC address. Each station thereby self-assigns itself one of the sub-intervals as a segment for transmission and reception, thereby reducing collisions and re-transmissions in a congested access point.
US09007967B2

In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a network coordinator module configured to coordinate operation in one or more wireless network architecture modes and configured to communicate to a network station an active mode of the one or more wireless network architecture modes that is active for communication; and a scheduler module that is configured to schedule communication to the network station.
US09007963B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure describe determining a downlink (DL) hybrid automatic repeat request (HARD) timing linkage between a first component carrier and a second component carrier, the first component carrier having a different uplink (UL) and DL configuration than the second component carrier. A derived downlink association set can be determined. A PUCCH resource in a subframe can be identified based on a first downlink association set associated with the first component carrier and the derived downlink association set.
US09007957B2

The present invention relates to a wireless network that operates in accordance with the IEEE 802.11n standards and comprises at least one router (2) by which the connections established with the other devices are routed via a wireless network (1), at least one access point (3) which serves as a data transmission point in the network, and at least one client device (4) that uses the network sources; and to a wireless network setup and configuration distribution method (100) which enables to easily configure the devices that connect to the said networks.
US09007951B2

A method comprises: detecting a first change of a physical property of a signal; starting a measurement of a duration of a first time interval that begins with the detection of the first change; detecting a second change of the physical property; stopping the measurement of the duration of the first time interval and starting a second measurement of a duration of a second time interval in response to the detection of the second change; detecting a third change of the physical property, and stopping the second measurement in response to detecting the third change; determining a relation of the durations of the first time interval and the second time interval from the first measurement and the second measurement; and determining the received data value based on the determined relation of the durations of the first time interval and the second time interval.
US09007948B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a distance measurement and alarm method and apparatus. The method includes: sending pairing request information for establishing a connection with a receiving terminal; after the receiving terminal is paired with, calculating a current distance to the receiving terminal; comparing the current distance with a preset distance threshold, and if the current distance exceeds the distance threshold, displaying distance prompt information.
US09007944B2

Some implementations include routing and/or delivering communications within a network system. In one example, a packet source may be configured to recursively encode a data delivery tree so that any sub-tree formed from the data delivery tree compresses a continuous data block of the data delivery tree.
US09007928B2

A method of selectively employing acknowledgment in a communication system is presented herein. In one implementation of the method, at least one indication of a communication quality of a link coupling a first communication node and a second communication node is processed. After processing the indication, a message from the first communication node is transmitted over the link to the second communication node. The message includes an acknowledgment request if the processing of the indication signifies that the communication quality of the link is below a predetermined level. Oppositely, the message does not include an acknowledgment request if the processing of the indication signifies that the communication quality of the link at least attains the predetermined level.
US09007927B2

Methods and apparatuses for multicasting within a wireless communications system are disclosed. In one embodiment a method of multicasting within a wireless communications system operating in accordance with a given wireless communication protocol includes monitoring multicast messages associated with a given multicast session in a first sector. A handoff occurs from the first sector to a second sector. It is determined whether the second sector is transmitting multicast messages associated with the given multicast session. Then, based on the determination, a registration request for the given multicast session within the second sector is transmitted on a reverse link access channel in an earlier slot than a next designated slot for registration requests as defined by the wireless communication protocol.
US09007925B2

Systems and methods provide remote performance monitoring and testing to a cell site in a cellular communications network. The systems and methods include a network management center having remote monitoring and testing capabilities utilizing an intelligent customer service unit that traps and makes available alarm information on the transport link.
US09007924B2

Balancing load distributions of loopback ports includes determining that a load distribution among loopback ports of a switch is unbalanced, determining whether the load distribution is balanceable, and balancing the load distribution.
US09007918B2

Techniques for efficiently updating routing information in a network device such as a router. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the routing information is updated upon creation or deletion of an overlay tunnel without the network device having to regenerate a Shortest Path Tree (SPT) by performing full Shortest Path First (SPF) processing.
US09007917B2

After statically provisioned paths are created through an Ethernet network, trunks may be created to extend along those paths. The trunks extend between pairs of NNI interfaces on either end of the path, and Ethernet OAM may be run over the trunks to detect connectivity along the paths. Service instances and service groups may be provisioned over particular paths through the network. Each service instance/service group is associated with a trunk and the Ethernet OAM service on the trunk may be used to provide Ethernet connectivity OAM for the service instance/service group. Upon detection of a failure on the trunk, the service instances/service groups associated with the trunk may be caused to failover to an alternate path through the network. Thus, a single Ethernet OAM service instance may be used to provide connectivity verification so that connectivity detection does not need to be performed on each individual service instances/service group.
US09007911B2

The disclosure provides a method and a system for implementing a direct interface between access network nodes. The method includes: establishing, by an access network node, a direct interface with a proxy node (300); exchanging, by the access network node, information with an access network node managed by the proxy node through the established direct interface (301). By establishing a direct interface between access network nodes and performing a direct interface flow through a proxy node, the disclosure simplifies the establishment and maintenance of the direct interface on the premise that the handover speed is increased and the signaling load of a core network is decreased, thereby reducing the complexity of the establishment and maintenance of the direct interface.
US09007908B2

A system and method for remote and mobile patient monitoring service is provided using heterogeneous wireless access in which each patient is equipped with a remote monitoring device with a heterogeneous wireless transceiver. This can be a value-added service provided by a Healthcare service provider (i.e., a hospital or healthcare center) for which the Healthcare service provider can pay to the wireless network service provider (i.e., a network operator). With heterogeneous wireless access, a remote/mobile patient can use different types of wireless technologies (e.g., WiMAX-based WMAN and WiFi-based WLAN technologies) to transfer monitored bio-signal data to the healthcare center. The monitoring device can buffer and then transmit the bio-signal data to the healthcare center through the heterogeneous radio access network. In this device, there can be two buffers used to store bio-signal data, each with different priority. The scheduler in this device can make an optimal decision on data transmission. Also, a method is provided to minimize the cost of network connections for remote/mobile patient monitoring.
US09007903B2

Some embodiments provide a network system that includes several non-edge switching elements that are each for forwarding network data to other non-edge switching elements. The network system includes several edge switching elements that are each for (1) coupling to a set of network hosts and (2) forwarding network data to the non-edge switching elements and to the set of network hosts. Each of the non-edge switching elements of the several non-edge switching elements is further for forwarding network data to the several edge switching elements. The network system includes a set of network controllers for (1) receiving a definition of a logical switching element that couples to the sets of network hosts and (2) managing the several edge switching elements by configuring the several edge switching elements to forward network data between the sets of network hosts based on the definition of the logical switching element.
US09007891B2

A system and method for determining a state of a communications system. A determination is made whether a communications path is fully functional, impaired, or non functional. A maximum capacity available to the communications path is determined in response to determining the communications path is impaired. The communications path is limited to a maximum capacity available in response to determining the maximum capacity of the connection as impaired.
US09007888B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for uplink MIMO transmissions in a wireless communication system. In some particular aspects, scheduling of the uplink MIMO transmissions may make a determination between single stream, rank=1 transmissions and dual stream, rank=2 transmissions based on various factors. Further, when switching between single and dual stream transmissions in the presence of HARQ retransmissions of failed packets, the scheduling function may determine to transmit the HARQ retransmissions on a single stream transmission or to transmit the HARQ retransmissions on one stream while transmitting new packets on the other stream.
US09007884B2

The present technology relates to an optical recording medium for realizing an optical recording medium capable of high-capacity recording. A groove and a land are formed, the groove being concave and the land being convex when seen from a side of a laser light incident surface, both of the groove and the land being recording tracks where recording or reproduction of information is performed. According to this recording layer, a pitch between the groove and the land that are adjacent recording tracks is within a range of 250 nm to 200 nm. Moreover, recording or reproduction of information is performed with respect to the recording tracks by irradiation of laser light whose wavelength is 400 nm to 415 nm by an optical system whose NA is 0.85±0.1.
US09007880B2

A thermally assisted magnetic recording medium (1) includes a substrate (101), an underlayer (3) that is formed above the substrate (101), and a magnetic layer (107) that is formed on the underlayer (3) and contains an alloy having an L10 structure as a main component. The underlayer (3) is formed by continuously laminating a first underlayer (104) having a BCC structure with a lattice constant that is 0.302 to 0.332 nm, a second underlayer (105) that has a NaCl structure including C, and a third underlayer (106) that is composed of MgO.
US09007878B2

An aspect of the present invention relates to glass for a magnetic recording medium substrate, which includes essential components in the form of SiO2, Li2O, Na2O, and one or more alkaline earth metal oxides selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO, wherein a molar ratio of a content of MgO to a combined content of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO (MgO/(MgO+CaO+SrO+BaO)) is equal to or greater than 0.80, and which has a Young's modulus of equal to or greater than 80 GPa, and a glass transition temperature of equal to or greater than 620° C.
US09007876B2

An electronic timepiece includes a GPS receiving section, which captures a satellite signal emitted from a positional information satellite and receives the satellite signal, and is capable of obtaining at least one of time information and positioning information, and a reception mode setting section adapted to set a reception mode selectively to at least a time measurement mode and a positioning mode. The GPS receiving section is provided with a base band section as a correlation section, and the correlation section is capable of changing the frequency resolution in a plurality of levels. Further, the correlation section sets the minimum value of the frequency resolution to be changed in the time measurement mode to a value larger than the minimum value of the frequency resolution to be changed in the positioning mode.
US09007875B2

A medicine station or stand-alone alert device has a processor having access to memory, wherein the memory stores a control module, and the processor is configured to execute the modules stored in the memory. The medicine station or stand-alone alert device also includes one or more indicators. The control module is configured to periodically check for an external notification from a primary alert device that it is time to take a medication. Upon receiving the external notification, the control program is configured to cause the medicine station or stand-alone alert device to enter an amplified alert mode with respect to the primary alert device via the one or more indicators.
US09007870B2

Techniques are disclosed relating to determining or executing a survey pattern for a marine seismic survey vessel. The survey pattern may be determined based on a determined subsurface illumination area. The subsurface illumination area may be identifiable from primary reflections and higher-order reflections detected by sensors disposed in a sensor streamer configuration that may be towed behind the survey vessel. The sensor streamer configuration may include a plurality of streamers.
US09007869B2

An ultrasonic imaging system for generating an ultrasonic image of a motion status of an object according to at least an ultrasonic motion signal generated by detecting the motion of the object is provided. The ultrasonic imaging system includes a demodulation module, an analog sub-array beamformer, a filter, an analog-to-digital converter and an image processing module. The demodulation module receives and demodulates the ultrasonic motion signal so as to generate and send at least a demodulated signal. The analog sub-array beamformer receives the demodulated signal, generates and sends an analog sub-array beam signal according to the demodulated signal. The filter receives and filtering the analog sub-array beam signal. The analog-to-digital converter converts the analog sub-array beam signal filtered by the filter into a digital sub-array beam signal. The image processing module receives the digital sub-array beam signal so as to generate an ultrasonic image of the motion of the object.
US09007864B2

A host device includes a voltage source which is connected to a voltage line via a host voltage switch and which supplies a first voltage to the voltage line, a host regulator which is connected to the voltage line and which outputs the first voltage or a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage, a host IO driver for driving a data line with the output of the host regulator as a power source, a host voltage detection circuit for detecting whether the voltage of the data line is the second voltage or a voltage that is higher than the second voltage, and a host control unit for detecting a mismatch of interface voltages between the host device and a memory card based on the output voltage of the host regulator and the detection result of the host voltage detection circuit.
US09007861B2

A clock generating circuit includes a delay line that generates an internal clock signal, a phase-controlling unit that adjusts a phase of the internal clock signal by controlling the delay line, and a mode switching circuit that switches an operation mode of the phase-controlling unit. The phase-controlling unit has a first operation mode in which a phase of the internal clock signal is changed in synchronization with a sampling clock signal and a second operation mode in which the phase of the internal clock signal is fixed. The mode switching circuit shifts the phase-controlling unit to the first operation mode in response to a trigger signal, such as a refresh signal, and, shifts the phase-controlling unit to the second operation mode in a state where the internal clock signal attains a predetermined phase.
US09007849B2

A buffer control circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a delay unit configured to determine delay amounts for a command in response to a plurality of command latency signals, delay the command according to a clock, and generate a plurality of delayed signals; and a buffer control signal generation unit configured to receive the plurality of command latency signals and the plurality of delayed signals, and generate a buffer control signal.
US09007844B2

A nonvolatile memory device includes a discharge circuit configured to selectively connect circuit nodes to discharge terminals through corresponding discharge paths, and an accumulation device for accumulating electric charge. A driving circuit is for driving the discharge circuit in such a way to connect at least a part of such circuit nodes to the discharge terminals if the value of the external supply voltage falls below a corresponding threshold. A supply circuit is for supplying the driving circuit with an intermediate supply voltage. Each one of the intermediate supply voltages is the corresponding external supply voltage when the value of the external supply voltage is higher than the corresponding threshold, or it is an internal voltage locally generated by the supply circuit by exploiting the electric charge stored by the accumulation device when the value of the external supply voltage is lower than the corresponding threshold.
US09007842B2

A method for determining a retention time in a solid state device (SSD), comprising the steps of providing a plurality of write operations to a memory, determining a reference voltage for each of the write operations, determining a difference between (i) the reference voltage after each of the write operations and (ii) a target reference voltage and if the difference is above a predetermined value, generating a flag indicating an excessive retention has occurred.
US09007840B2

A non-volatile memory apparatus includes a memory cell array, a power supply configured to generate an operation voltage according to an operation mode and provide the memory cell array with the operation voltage, and a controller configured to provide the memory cell array with a first verification voltage and a second verification voltage in a program verification operation, detect a high speed program cell by the first verification voltage and the second verification voltage from selected memory cells to be programmed and set the high speed program cell to be in a program inhibition state, and detect a low speed program cell by the second verification voltage.
US09007832B2

Methods for programming memory cells and memory devices are disclosed. One such method for programming includes performing a program verify operation of a group of memory cells. A number of potential CS2 situations are detected. If the number of detected potential CS2 situations is greater than a threshold, programming compensation for a CS2 situation is used in a subsequent programming operation.
US09007831B2

In an embodiment, each block of a plurality of blocks includes a respective plurality of strings of memory cells, where each of the plurality of strings of a block is coupled to a respective select transistor, and wherein each of the select transistors coupled to the plurality of strings of the block is coupled to a common first select line. The plurality of blocks includes N block sizes, where N may be an integer greater than or equal to three. N−1 blocks of one block size of the N block sizes collectively include a first number of second select lines. A group of blocks consisting of a respective block of each remaining block size of the N block sizes collectively include a second number of second select lines that is equal to the first number of select lines or that is less than the first number of second select lines.
US09007826B2

In one embodiment, a control circuit executes a first page writing operation, a first verify operations, a second page writing operation, a second verify operations, a step-up operation. The control circuit executes the first page writing operation which forms an intermediate distribution, and a first read operation which reads data form the intermediate distribution by using a determine voltage higher than a first verify voltage with a first value, and changes a second verify voltage based on the result of the first read operation.
US09007823B2

A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a first transistor including a gate connected to a first interconnection, a first source, and a first drain, one of the first source and the first drain being connected to a second interconnection; and a second transistor including a gate structure, a second source, and a second drain, one of the second source and second drain being connected to a third interconnection and the other of the second source and second drain being connected to a fourth interconnection. The gate structure includes a gate insulation film, a gate electrode, and a threshold-modulating film provided between the gate insulation film and the gate electrode to modulate a threshold voltage, the other of the first source and first drain of the first transistor is connected to the gate electrode.
US09007816B2

To reduce power consumption, a memory circuit includes a latch unit in which first data and second data are rewritten and read in accordance with a control signal, a first switch unit that controls rewrite and read of the first data stored in the latch unit by being turned on or off in response to the control signal, and a second switch unit that controls rewrite and read of the second data stored in the latch unit by being turned on or off in response to the control signal. The latch unit includes a first inverter and a second inverter. At least one of the first inverter and the second inverter includes a first field-effect transistor, and a second field-effect transistor that has the same conductivity type as the first field-effect transistor and has a gate potential controlled in accordance with the control signal.
US09007812B2

An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to propose a memory device in which a period in which data is held is ensured and memory capacity per unit area can be increased. In the memory device of one embodiment of the present invention, bit lines are divided into groups, and word lines are also divided into groups. The word lines assigned to one group are connected to the memory cell connected to the bit lines assigned to the one group. Further, the driving of each group of bit lines is controlled by a dedicated bit line driver circuit of a plurality of bit line driver circuits. In addition, cell arrays are formed on a driver circuit including the above plurality of bit line driver circuits and a word line driver circuit. The driver circuit and the cell arrays overlap each other.
US09007811B1

A word line driver circuit allows for dynamic selection of different word line voltages for selection and deselection of memory cells included in a resistive memory array in a manner that reduces circuit complexity, device count, and leakage currents.
US09007800B2

A system, method and computer program product for operating a three-dimensional memory array. An example array includes access transistors with first, second and gate terminals. Bit lines are coupled to the first terminals, word lines coupled to the gate terminals, and vertical lines are coupled to the second terminals. The bit, word, and vertical lines are perpendicular to one another. Memory cells are positioned along the vertical lines, including a bidirectional access device coupled in series with a memory element. The memory element is programmable to first and second states by application of first and second write voltages, opposite in polarity to one another. The array includes conductive plates parallel to the word and bit lines, and perpendicular to the vertical lines. The conductive plates are coupled to memory cells of the same height and separated by insulating layers.
US09007795B2

The power conversion device includes a plurality of semiconductor modules, each having a main body section including a switching element therein. In a module unit, a positive module and a negative module are disposed such that main surfaces of the respective main body sections oppose each other. A positive terminal, a first intermediate terminal, a negative terminal, and a second intermediate terminal project in a Z direction perpendicular to X direction in which the positive module and the negative module oppose each other. A first vector V1 from the positive terminal towards the first intermediate terminal and a second vector V2 from the second intermediate terminal towards the negative terminal are configured such that these vector components V12 and V22 in a Y direction perpendicular to both the X and Z directions are opposite to each other.
US09007794B2

A power supply control system for a power supply having a first half-bridge leg and a second half-bridge leg. In the control system, a first plurality of drive signals are configured to operate a half-bridge as a forward leg while a second plurality of drive signals are configured to operate a half-bridge as a backward leg. A switch element is intermediate the first and second plurality of drive signals and the first and the second half-bridge legs, the switch element being adapted to operate the first half-bridge as a forward leg and the second half-bridge as a backward leg in a first operating mode, the switch element being further adapted to operate the first half-bridge as a backward leg and the second half-bridge as a forward leg in a second operating mode.
US09007791B2

Representative implementations of devices and techniques minimize switching losses in a switched capacitor dc-dc converter. The slope of the charging and/or discharging phase may be modified, smoothing the transitions from charge to discharge and/or discharge to charge of the switched capacitor.
US09007789B2

The present invention provides an electric circuit wherein a multi-phase bridge is connected in series with a plurality of single-phase bridges. The multi-phase bridge is composed of a plurality of 3-level diode clamped legs, while the single-phase bridges each is composed of two 3-level diode clamped legs. The present invention also provides control strategy for synthesizing multi-level voltage waveforms from output voltages of the multi-phase bridge and the plurality of single-phase bridges.
US09007788B2

The present invention provides an excitation control circuit and the electrically excited wind power system having the same. The excitation control circuit includes a plurality of full-power converters, each of which has a generator-side converter and a grid-side converter; a DC excitation module including a plurality of DC-DC converters; and a control module, controlling or switching any DC-DC converter working normally, and controlling excitation switch turning ON or turning OFF.
US09007784B2

A device and/or method mount and affix a microchannel plate in a micro system. The device and/or method has at least one conductive spring structure, formed to accept a microchannel plate, for aligning, fixing and making electrical contact with the microchannel plate. The device and/or method also has at least one stop against which the microchannel plate is pushed or pressed when affixed by at least one conductive spring structure, wherein the at least one conductive spring structure and the at least one stop are being applied on a non-conductive substrate.
US09007781B2

Analyte sensor connectors that connect analyte sensors, e.g., conductive members of analyte sensors, to other devices such as sensor electronics units, e.g., sensor control units, are provided. Also provided are systems that include analyte sensors, analyte sensor connectors, and analyte sensor electronics units, as well as methods of establishing and maintaining connections between analyte sensors and analyte sensor electronics units, and methods of analyte monitoring/detection. Also provided are methods of making analyte sensor connectors and systems that include analyte sensor connectors.
US09007780B2

According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a third housing between the first housing and the second housing, the third housing being rotatably connected to the first housing and the second housing, and an antenna in the third housing.
US09007778B2

A signal wiring of a touch panel mainly extends a bonding portion of a touch sensing unit from a signal wire on a substrate outside the substrate. The bonding portion is further attached to a signal bus so as to shrink the wiring area of the touch sensing unit and the edge frame as well. The bonding portion outside the substrate is allowed to be formed larger for improving improving the stability and yield of the connection between the touch sensing unit and the signal bus.
US09007767B2

A power inverter includes a metallic chassis having a containing space at an inner portion thereof, having a lid on one side in a vertical direction, the other side thereof being enclosed by a bottom, a cooling block of forming a coolant path along a bottom side in the vertical direction of the chassis, and a side portion of the inner portion of the chassis, plural semiconductor modules each incorporating a semiconductor chip for configuring an inverter circuit of converting a direct current power into an alternate current power, and provided with a direct current terminal for making a current flow to the semiconductor chip and a control terminal for controlling an operation of the semiconductor chip to be protruded to an outer portion.
US09007763B2

An adjustable blocking arrangement for electronic hardware or computer racks, for preventing the undesired leakage of air through rack spaces not filled with hardware. An airflow control device is provided comprising a flexible web and a magazine adapted to receive the part of the flexible web that is not deployed. The device is adapted such that a length of the web may be deployed to sealingly block a space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, to prevent the flow of air through the space. The device may comprising a detection system adapted to detect the space in the rack that is not filled with hardware modules, and a processing system adapted to receive a signal from the detection system, and as a function of the signal to automatically deploy or retract the flexible web so as to sealingly block the space.
US09007756B2

A display device is proposed. The display device includes a frame, a back plate, a display panel, a flexible printed circuit board, and a tape. The frame is assembled to the back plate to form an accommodation space. The display panel, is disposed in the accommodation space and situated on top of the back plate. The flexible printed circuit board is stuck to and electrically connected to the display panel. The tape includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the tape is disposed opposite the flexible printed circuit board on the display panel. The second portion of the tape is disposed between an edge of the display panel and a side wall of the frame. Therefore, light is prevented from being leaked from the display panel and the flexible printed circuit board is protected against being scratched in the present invention.
US09007739B2

A protective system is provided including a material comprising a first and second surface opposite one another and a thickness, and where the first surface has a low-electrical resistance and the second surface has a high-electrical resistance that is higher than the electrical resistance of the low-electrical resistance surface, and the material conducts charge from the first surface to the second surface through the thickness. This can be provided in a bilayer structure where a first protective layer having a low-resistivity is disposed upon a second protective layer having a high-resistivity. This protective system is particularly useful for dissipating electrical charge, for example as a lightning strike protection system for composite aircraft.
US09007737B2

The overvoltage protection circuit in accordance with the present invention includes a resistor divider, a reference voltage supply unit, a comparator, and an inverter, wherein the inverter consists of a series-parallel combination circuit of first to third semiconductor switching elements which are driven by receiving an output of the comparator and the first semiconductor switching element and the second semiconductor switching element or the third semiconductor switching element are driven by receiving the output of the comparator, output an external voltage when the external voltage is within the range of the voltage required for an internal circuit, and flow the external voltage to a ground and thus make the voltage supplied to the internal circuit 0(zero)V to protect the internal circuit from an external overvoltage when the external voltage is a voltage (overvoltage) higher than the required voltage for the internal circuit.
US09007733B2

An improved method of fault detection in a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission line is provided. The fault detection is based on fault-induced travelling waves. The method comprises estimating an amplitude of fault-induced travelling waves at the fault location, and calculating a fault resistance (Rf) based on the estimated amplitude, an estimated pre-fault voltage at the fault location, and a surge impedance of the transmission line. The estimated fault amplitude and the estimated pre-fault voltage are calculated from voltage measurements performed at both ends of the transmission line. Further, a fault detection device is provided.
US09007730B2

A surge protection circuit for a circuit having a rectification module. The surge protection circuit includes a first diode, a second diode, a capacitor and a discharge device. The anode of the first diode is connected to a first input of the rectification module, and the anode of the second diode is connected to a second input of the rectification module. The cathodes of the first and second diodes are both connected to the first plate of the capacitor. The second plate of the capacitor is connected to the negative output of the rectification module. The capacitor is configured such that it is consistently charged to substantially the peak value of a supply voltage during normal operation between surge events. The discharge device is connected to the first plate of the capacitor and is configured to discharge the capacitor when the voltage across the capacitor is in excess of the peak of the maximum value of the normal supply voltage and not discharge the capacitor when the voltage across the capacitor is not in excess of the peak of the maximum value of the normal supply voltage.
US09007726B2

Various embodiments concern a suspension assembly of a disk drive. The suspension assembly includes a load beam comprising a major planar area formed from a substrate. The load beam further comprises a window in the substrate, a dimple formed from the substrate, and a flange. The flange is a region of the major planar area that extends partially around the dimple but does not extend along an edge of the dimple. The edge of the dimple is adjacent to the window. The dimple is in contact with the flexure. A HAMR block or other element can extend through the window. The lack of a full flange can minimize the necessary clearance between the dimple and the HAMR block or other element and thereby allow the window to be enlarged to accommodate the HAMR block or other element.
US09007710B1

Systems and methods are disclosed for performing a rewrite operation on recording bands of a data storage medium. In some embodiments, data may be read from a target band including a plurality of tracks, and modified. A portion less than all of the modified data is stored to a nonvolatile memory, and all of the modified data is written to the target band. In some embodiments, modified data corresponding to the first two tracks of the target band is stored to the nonvolatile memory, and modified data corresponding to the third track of the target band is written back to the first physical track. Each track may be written in order, ending with the modified data corresponding to the first two tracks. The result may be that data for each track in the band has shifted up two tracks, with data for the first two tracks moved to the end.
US09007708B2

According to at least one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus includes a disk, a random number generator, a determination module, and a refresh module. The disk includes a plurality of tracks. A random number generator generates a random number within a range of N integers in accordance with writing to a first area of a first track of the plurality of tracks. A determination module determines whether the generated random number includes a predetermined number. A refresh module refreshes a second area of a second track near the first track based on a result of determination of the determination module. The second area corresponds to the first area.
US09007702B2

A five-piece optical lens system comprises, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a negative refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface; a third lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a stop; a fourth lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface; a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface, each of the second, third, fourth and fifth lens elements has at least one aspheric surface. Thereby, such a system has a wide field of view and can improve the yield rate when being applied to biomedicine, car recorder, camera or other electronic products.
US09007699B2

A lens position adjustment apparatus includes: a transmission unit that is displaced in a first direction oriented from one end point toward the other end point or a second direction oriented from the other endpoint toward the one endpoint to transmit power of a drive source; a conversion unit that moves a lens by using the power supplied from the transmission unit; a drive control unit that controls the drive source; a position detection unit that detects a current position of the transmission unit; and a storage unit that stores a registered position and a registered direction, wherein the drive control unit controls the drive source in such a way that a final displacement direction is the second direction in case that the registered position is within a predetermined amount of displacement from the one end point, and that the final displacement direction is the registered direction otherwise.
US09007684B2

A microscope includes: a first epi-illumination light-source unit to perform fluorescence observation; a second transmitted-illumination light-source unit to perform transmission observation, the second transmitted-illumination light-source unit including a light source provided with a light emitting element that emits excitation light and a fluorescent substance that emits fluorescence upon irradiation with the excitation light; and an incidence limiting section configured to limit an incidence of light on the light source from an outside of the second light source unit during a light-off period of the light emitting element. The incidence limiting section is configured to remove an incidence limitation of the light from the outside while the light emitting element is being lit.
US09007683B2

A passively athermalized infrared imaging system includes an object side meniscus lens that forms at least one aspheric surface, and an image side meniscus lens that forms two aspheric surfaces. Each of the meniscus lenses are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a chalcogenide glass, germanium, silicon, gallium arsenide, zinc selenide and glass. An optical power of the image side meniscus lens is at least 1.6 times an optical power of the object side meniscus lens such that an effective focus position of the imaging system is athermalized over a range of 0 to +40 degrees Celsius.
US09007675B2

In an optical modulation device, a first drive signal and a first bias signal are applied to a phase modulation unit, a second drive signal and a second bias signal are applied to a phase modulation unit, and a third bias signal is applied to a π/2 phase shift unit. A control unit adjusts the third bias signal in a first adjustment period, adjusts the first drive signal and the first bias signal in a second adjustment period next to the first adjustment period, and adjusts the second drive signal and the second bias signal in a third adjustment period next to the second adjustment period. The control unit starts the second adjustment period before a gap between the current value of an adjustment reference signal and a target value is filled, and starts the third adjustment period before a gap in the second adjustment period is filled.
US09007672B2

Disclosed is a transmitter optical module which includes an electro-absorption modulated laser modulating a light into an optical signal through a high-frequency electrical signal; a first sub-mount transferring the high-frequency signal to the electro-absorption modulated laser; and a second sub-mount receiving the high-frequency signal from the electro-absorption modulated laser to terminate the electro-absorption modulated laser. A length of a first wire connecting the first sub-mount and the electro-absorption modulated laser is different from a length of a second wire connecting the second sub-mount and the electro-absorption modulated laser.
US09007667B2

According to an embodiment, an image reader for reading an original image formed on a surface of a recording medium is disclosed. The image reader comprises an illumination unit configured to illuminate the surface with a white light source, a light receiving unit comprising a plurality of color image sensors each configured to receive light reflected from the surface to form a monochromatic image, and an image processing synthesis unit configured to process the monochromatic images from the light receiving unit to form a synthesized image. The image reader further comprises an operation unit configured to designate a specific color, and a control unit configured to control the image processing synthesis unit to exclude, from the synthesized image processing, the monochromatic image from the color image sensor that corresponds to the specific color designated in the operation unit.
US09007665B2

Documents in a large-format scanning system are scanned by coarsely recognizing longitudinal or transverse transition regions between a reflector roller and a document by the substeps of dividing the scanning image transversely into uniform image strips, determining statistical parameters for each image strip, examining the scanning image in the image strips with fixed threshold values for deviations such that, if a value of one the statistical parameters of an image strip exceeds the threshold value, this region is recognized as being a transverse transition region between the reflector roller and the document, and examining the image strips to determine the longitudinal transition region by line-by-line generation of an average value and determining sufficiently strong and steep edges, the image strips being rotated incrementally from the transverse of the document to an acute angle. Then longitudinal or transverse document edges within the transition regions detected by coarse recognition are finely recognized.
US09007663B2

An light irradiation system for irradiating light a document face includes a light source; a light guiding member to guide light emitted from the light source; and a reflector to reflect a part of light exiting from the light guiding member to the document face. A direction that emission light intensity of the light emitted from the light source becomes the strongest is different from a direction extending from the light source to an irradiation area. The irradiation area is irradiated by a reflection light reflected by the reflector, and a direct light exiting from the light guiding member without reflection at the reflector. The light guiding member including an incidence surface, an exit surface, and a light guiding part including a total reflection face. Light quantity irradiated to the document face by reflection light is smaller than light quantity irradiated to the document face by direct light.
US09007661B2

In an image reading device, a movable part provided below a document platen in a housing is moved in a sub scanning direction. A reflection control part extending along a movement range of the movable part is fixed to the housing near the movable part. The reflection control part has first reflection parts having a relatively large reflectance and second reflection parts having a relatively small reflectance arranged along the movement range. A detection light irradiation part provided in the movable part irradiates the reflection control part with detection light. A detection light reception part receives the detection light reflected by the reflection control part. A signal generating part generates a binary signal corresponding to the detection light received by the detection light reception part. A movement deciding part decides movement state of the movable part according to the binary signal generated by the signal generating part.
US09007648B2

The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can provide configurable entities in connection with electronic archival of print-based media. In accordance therewith, print-based media can be archived electronically (e.g., by imaging or scanning the print-based media) in a remastered form that provides for displaying the original work with readily modifiable entities, such as advertisements. Media or entities can be selected based upon the original advertiser, the original product, or another element or feature of the print-based media, and can also be selected based upon a profile associated with the media consumer.
US09007645B2

The disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for executing steps on a computer. An operation terminal that is connected to a printed matter producing apparatus comprising a memory configured to store a database comprising a plurality of records each allocating character string data to a plurality of fields. The steps comprise an information acquiring, an object data determining, a print data creating, and a print data outputting. In the information acquiring, identification information of the field comprising a reference character string data is acquired and a plurality of offset values relating to each of a plurality of pieces of print object data are acquired. In the object data determining, the plurality of pieces of print object data is determined by using the identification information and by applying the plurality of offset values, respectively.
US09007641B2

An information processing apparatus instructs a printing apparatus to stop print processing for a print command to be processed by the printing apparatus via a universal serial bus, if status information indicating a status of the printing apparatus indicates that the printing apparatus is in a state where the print processing cannot be continued, wherein the print command is generated by a printer driver configured not to include a language monitor.
US09007639B2

An information providing device, which is capable of communicating with an information processing terminal and one or more information processing apparatuses executing processing responding to a request from the information processing terminal, including a position data obtaining unit configured to obtain position data of the information processing terminal and the information processing apparatuses; a specifying unit configured to specify, based on the obtained position data of the information processing terminal, a region where the information processing terminal is, and specify, based on the obtained position data of the information processing apparatuses, one or more of the information processing apparatuses which are in the region; and an instruction unit configured to, responding to the request from the information processing terminal, instruct an information processing apparatus of the specified information processing apparatuses specified by the specifying unit and specified by the request to execute the processing also specified by the request.
US09007638B2

An information processing system includes a first information processing apparatus, and a second information processing apparatus. The second information processing apparatus periodically acquires information from the first information processing apparatus, and stops periodically acquiring information if there is a factor for shifting a power state of the first information processing apparatus into a power saving state. The second information processing apparatus transmits information to the first information processing apparatus in a case where periodically acquiring information from the first information processing apparatus is stopped. The first information processing apparatus shifts into the second power state if the information is received.
US09007622B2

A replaceable printer component includes a memory device and a communication link. The memory device includes a memory and a circuit configured to atomically update data stored in the memory. The communication link is configured to communicatively link the memory device to a printer controller when the replaceable printer component is installed in a printing system. The circuit is configured to receive a write request including data, a data length, and an address from the printer controller; copy the data length of data stored at the address to a backup area of the memory; store the data length and the address in the memory; set a write state stored in the memory to a first state; update the data length of data stored at the address with the received data; and set the write state stored in the memory to a second state.
US09007614B2

A printing system comprising a printing apparatus and an information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus comprises a unit configured to transmit a status acquisition request to the printing apparatus, and the printing apparatus comprises: a timeout processing unit configured to manage a timeout of a job to be processed; a determination unit configured to determine whether the status acquisition request contains an identifier of the job; and a unit configured not to reset a lapse of the timeout time of the job by the timeout processing unit when the determination unit determines that the status acquisition request does not contain the identifier of the job, and to reset the lapse of the timeout time of the job by the timeout processing unit when the determination unit determines that the status acquisition request contains the identifier of the job.
US09007613B2

A secure mobile printing method and system allow a user to unlock remotely submitted print jobs without having to remember job identifiers and without imposing onerous barcoding requirements on printer firmware or requiring the user to scroll through a list of print jobs on a printer's front panel display screen. An exemplary method, performed on a mobile device, comprises initiating a print job, assigning a job identifier for the print job, selecting a printer for the print job, sending to the selected printer the print job and the job identifier whereby the print job is locked on the selected printer, imaging a printed printer identification code (PIC) on an exposed surface of the selected printer, resolving the printed PIC image to the job identifier, and sending to the selected printer the job identifier whereby the print job is unlocked.
US09007606B2

An image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming portion 12, a setting acceptance portion 101, an identification information acquisition portion 92, and a control portion 100. The setting acceptance portion 101 accepts a job setting content from a user. After the job setting content is accepted by the setting acceptance portion 101, the identification information acceptance portion 92 acquires identification information of the user through communication with a key card 8. When the acquired identification information is authentic and the key card 8 is incommunicable with the identification information acquisition portion 92, the control portion 100 executes a job according to the job setting content.
US09007598B1

A ring laser gyroscope configured to reduce alignment shifts in at least one critical alignment of the ring laser gyroscope is provided. The ring laser gyroscope includes reflective components configured to direct clockwise optical beams and counter-clockwise optical beams in at least one lasing plane; at least one ring-laser-gyro mounting feature having at least one respective through hole; and at least one minimally-threaded screw positioned in the at least one respective through hole. An unthreaded section of the minimally-threaded screw is contactlessly encased in the at least one respective through hole. A threaded-end of the at least one minimally-threaded screw is threaded in a respective at least one threaded hole in a gyro frame, the gyro frame spanning a reference mounting plane.
US09007594B1

The present invention provides a fiber laser gas detection system using active feedback compensation by a reference cavity, said system comprising: an optical fiber laser consists of a laser diode pump source, a wavelength division multiplexer, an active optical fiber and a fiber Bragg grating connected successively; an optical isolator coupled with said wavelength division multiplexer for blocking a reverse light transmission in said active fiber; a coupler connected with said optical isolator for dividing the laser light after being isolated by the optical isolator into a reference beam, a detecting beam and an intensity measuring beam according a certain ration power. The gas detection system according to the present invention can take advantages of the unique superiority of compact structure and narrow linewidth of the laser output of the fiber laser, and achieve a gas detection method with high sensitive and high precision by feedback controlling.
US09007590B2

An apparatus for measuring transmittance which can realize reliability for measurement of the transmittance of a piece of patterned glass by post dispersion of light. The apparatus includes a light source which is disposed in front of an object that is to be measured, and directs light into the object. An integrating sphere is disposed in the rear of the light source and integrating light incident thereinto. The object is mounted on the front portion of the integrating sphere. A light dispersing part is disposed in the rear of the integrating sphere, and disperses light that has been integrated by and then emitted from the integrating sphere. An optical receiver is disposed adjacent to the light dispersing part, and receives light that has been dispersed by the light dispersing part.
US09007587B1

A set of images of an object are captured from a set of lenses positioned at different angles. A common point is determined, which has a color value that differs among the images. Color at the point is mathematically expressed as a set of equations. The equations comprise a recorded color value for the point, an ambient contribution, a diffuse contribution, and a specular contribution. The ambient and diffuse contributions are set as equal across the equations. The specular contribution is determined, such as by quantifying the light sources and solving for the specular contribution using a Phong lighting model equation. True color for the point, which is based on the ambient and diffuse contribution, is determined by solving a set of simultaneous equations once the specular contribution is known. An image is created where the point has the true color as determined above.
US09007557B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a liquid crystal panel and a fabricating method thereof and a display. The liquid crystal panel comprises: an array substrate and a color filter substrate bonded by a first sealant, with a region surrounded by the first sealant between the array substrate and the color filter substrate forming a liquid crystal panel display region filled with liquid crystal. In addition, the liquid crystal panel further comprises: a liquid crystal buffer region, located at the outer side of the first sealant; a liquid crystal channel, through which the liquid crystal buffer region and the liquid crystal panel display region are connected; and a covering layer, covering at least a position where the liquid crystal channel connects with the liquid crystal panel display region.
US09007553B2

A liquid crystal device including a first substrate including a plurality of picture elements; a second substrate including a common electrode; and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. The first substrate and the second substrate are arranged to be opposite to each other, and each of the plurality of picture elements has a plurality of elongated electrodes configured to apply voltages to the liquid crystal layer in cooperation with the common electrode. The elongated electrodes within one of the plurality of picture elements extend in eight directions, and each of the plurality of picture elements is divided into eight regions based upon the eight directions. In each of the eight regions of one of the plurality of picture elements, two or more of the plurality of elongated electrodes extend along a corresponding one of the eight directions.
US09007546B2

Light can be uniformly distributed in the bezel area by diffusing the light in the bezel area blocked by an upper case, or by providing an optical pattern for light concentration. Accordingly, the brightness of light is similar for all positions at the boundary between the bezel area and the display area, thereby solving the hot spot problem caused by a brightness difference depending on position.
US09007545B2

A backlight device (20) is combined with a display device (10) that has a display panel (11), such as a liquid crystal panel. The backlight device includes a chassis (21), a light guide plate (22) and optical sheets (23) arranged on the rear surface of the display panel (11), and an LED package (24) that illuminates an edge face of the light guide plate. A light reflecting face formed of a material that has silver as a main component is provided in the LED package. An adsorbing material (30) that adsorbs gas such as halogen gas and hydrogen sulfide, which have characteristics that lower the reflectance of silver, is coated onto a substrate (25) on which the LED package is mounted.
US09007543B2

This invention discloses an edge-lit LED backlight module, a liquid crystal display device and a method for fixing a reflection sheet. This backlight module comprises a backplate, a sidewall connected to the backplate, a light guide plate arranged on the backplate, a light-emitting device arranged on the backplate, and a reflection sheet arranged between the backplate and the light guide plate; wherein the light guide plate has a light-exiting top surface and a light-entering side adjacent to the light-exiting top surface, and the light-emitting device is located between the light-entering side and the sidewall. This backlight module further includes at least a first tension member and a second tension member with their both ends respectively connected to the reflection sheet and the backplate. The backlight module herein can effectively prevent the reflection sheet from warping caused by thermal expansion and further improve the optical quality of the backlight module.
US09007538B2

A barrier functional film that includes a substrate, at least one side wall barrier structure, a releasing film, and an adhesive is provided. The side wall barrier structure is located on the substrate. The releasing film is located above the substrate, and the side wall barrier structure is located between the substrate and the releasing film. The adhesive covers the side wall barrier structure and is located between the substrate and the releasing film. An environmental sensitive electronic device, a display apparatus, and a manufacturing method of a barrier functional film are also provided.
US09007526B2

A display device and a method of upgrading the same are disclosed. The display device, such as a Smart TV, may include a broadcast receiver for receiving a broadcast signal, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the received broadcast signal, a decoder for decoding the demultiplexed broadcast signal, and a display for displaying the decoded broadcast signal. The display device may also include an external device interface for receiving upgrade data from an upgrade device. A controller may be configured to process the received broadcast signal for display on the display and to upgrade the display device using the received upgrade data. The upgrade data may include at least one function. A control module may be configured to assign the at least one function to at least one of the upgrade device or the controller to execute the function on the display device.
US09007523B2

Provided are a system and a method for controlling a motion using time synchronization between a picture and the motion, and more particularly, a motion code corresponding to a time code is prestored before showing the picture and the motion is controlled according to the prestored motion code when the picture showing starts while a current motion driving time is compared with a reference time of the picture and then synchronized to provide a high-resolution precision motion to a user while achieving accurate synchronization with the picture.
US09007517B2

An imaging module is provided with: a front case, in which a lens unit is mounted on a side of the subject to be imaged; a back case, which is attached to the front case and seals an imaging substrate in an inside space formed with the front case; and a bracket attached to the back case, and the back case is attached to the front case by case a case fastening screw that is screwed into a screw hole and a case screw-fastening through-hole, and the positioning protrusion 5a is inserted into the case screw-fastening through-hole, so that the back case is positioned on the bracket.
US09007512B2

A focusing method includes operations (a) through (d). In (a), a maximum focus value generated during a searching is set as a first maximum focus value. In (b), the focus lens moves to a first position that is the position of the first maximum focus value. In (c), a focus value generated when the focus lens moves to the first position is set as a second maximum focus value. In (d), if it is determined that a difference value between the first maximum focus value and the second maximum focus value is greater than a first set allowance value, a position of a focus value, whose difference value from the first maximum focus value is less than a second set allowance value, is searched for within a second range that has the first position as its center and is narrower than the first range.
US09007507B2

A camera system includes an imaging optical system, an imaging unit, a reflecting mirror that is in a first state of being positioned in an optical path extending from the imaging optical system to the imaging unit or in a second state of being retracted from the optical path, an aperture adjustment unit, an image adjustment unit, a release button, and a control unit. The imaging unit performs focusing by detecting contrast in an image of the subject, and while the reflecting mirror is kept in the second state, the image adjustment unit increases the brightness of the image on a display when the aperture adjustment unit changes the aperture value of the imaging optical system to a larger aperture value, and by operation of the release button, the imaging unit performs the focusing, and then the photographing of the subject is started.
US09007504B2

Circuitry to reduce signal noise characteristics in an image sensor. In an embodiment, a bit trace line segment is located between neighboring respective segments of a source follower power trace and an additional trace which is to remain at a first voltage level during a pixel cell readout time period. In another embodiment, for each such trace segment, a smallest separation between the trace segment and the respective neighboring other one of such trace segments is substantially equal to or less than some maximum length to provide for parasitic capacitance between the bit line trace and one or more other traces.
US09007502B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of unit pixels. Each unit pixel has a photodiode, a reading transistor, a floating diffusion, a capacitance adding transistor, and a reset transistor. The reading transistor reads signal electric charges from the photodiode. The floating diffusion accumulates the signal electric charges read from the reading transistor. The capacitance adding transistor selectively adds capacitance to the floating diffusion. The reset transistor resets an electric potential of the floating diffusion.
US09007501B2

A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, wherein the pixel array has a region formed from one of an electrical conductor and a semiconductor to which a fixed electric potential is supplied, each pixel includes a photoelectric converter, a charge-voltage converter which converts charges generated by the photoelectric converter into a voltage, and an amplification unit which amplifies a signal generated by the charge-voltage converter by a positive gain and outputs the amplified signal to an output line, and the output line comprising a shielding portion arranged to shield at least part of the charge-voltage converter with respect to the region.
US09007498B2

A plurality of kinds of color filters are disposed at each of pixels in accordance with a color array of two rows and two columns at a pixel section of a solid state imaging device. A first signal outputting circuit and a second signal outputting circuit each perform an addition read of electrical signals from the pixels of one/the other color included in a line to be read. An addition controlling circuit shifts sampling positions of the pixels which are added at a time of the addition read by a unit of the color array between the first signal outputting circuit and a second signal outputting circuit.
US09007496B2

According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a signal level comparing circuit. The signal level comparing circuit compares the levels among the signals of first peripheral pixels, the levels among the signals of second peripheral pixels, the levels among the signals of third peripheral pixels. The first peripheral pixels are arranged with the pixels for colors other than the color for the target pixel interposed between the first peripheral pixels and the target pixel. The second peripheral pixels are disposed on extension lines in directions from the target pixel to the first peripheral pixels, and the third peripheral pixels are disposed between the second peripheral pixels.
US09007493B2

Disclosed are an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. The image processing method includes receiving an image, dividing the received image into a plurality of regions in a unit of a frame, acquiring information of brightness of a pixel included in each divided region, detecting a region having a flare among the divided regions by using the acquired brightness information, determining an image processing condition to be applied to the detected region having the flare, and processing the received image based on the determined image processing condition. The image processing condition applied to the region having the flare is different from an image processing condition applied to other regions.
US09007489B2

Electronic devices may be provided with image sensors and light sources. The image sensors may include image pixels each having a photosensitive element, first and second storage nodes, and first and second transfer transistors coupled between the photosensitive element and the first and second storage nodes. The first and second transfer transistors may be synchronized with the light source so that charges generated by the photosensitive element of each image pixel when the light source is on are transferred to the first storage node of that pixel and charges generated by the photosensitive element of each image pixel when the light source is off are transferred to the second storage node of that pixel. The light source may be an oscillating light source that is configured to turn on and off multiple times during an image exposure. The generated charges may be used in flash-matting operations.
US09007486B2

An image capturing apparatus determines a scene of a captured image, and, depending on the scene determination result, performs image capture with an expanded dynamic range, or performs a dynamic range contraction process based on the captured image. In the case of executing the dynamic range expansion process, the image capturing apparatus performs image capture at a decreased ISO speed, and performs tone correction for compensating the decrease in ISO speed with respect to the captured image. The image capturing apparatus is thereby capable of performing image capture with a dynamic range that takes into consideration the subject and the scene.
US09007468B2

An image stabilization control apparatus including a mechanism which causes a vibration when the mechanism moves is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vibration correction unit configured to correct image shake occurring due to vibration applied to the image stabilization control apparatus. A correction value of an angular velocity of the vibration is calculated based on signals based on the angular velocity and an acceleration of the vibration, frequency bands of the signals are narrowed. During the mechanism is moving, the image shake is corrected by driving the vibration correction unit based on the angular velocity of the vibration which is corrected by the corrected value calculated before the mechanism moves.
US09007463B2

Video frames of a baseball game are analyzed to determine a track for the participants in the game and to update a digital record of the game. The merging of participants in a video frame is resolved by associating the participants' tracks before and/or after the merging with a most likely participant role, such as a player, coach or umpire role. The role of one merged participant can be used to deduce the role of the other merged participant. In this way, the digital record can be completed even for the merged period. The role of a participant can be based, e.g., on the location of the participant relative to a base, a coach's box region, a pitcher's mound, a dugout, or a fielding position, or by determining that a participant is running along a path to a base or performing some other movement.
US09007462B2

A driving assist apparatus acquires vehicle information which includes a gear state and speed of a vehicle; judges a state of preparing for movement, a state of starting movement, and a state during movement; generates a wide-angle image that is an image that can see a wide range although having distortion when the vehicle state is the state of preparing for movement or the state of starting movement; and generates a no-distortion image that is an image in which the distortion due to the lens shape and the distortion by the projection system are eliminated from the camera image when the vehicle state is the state during movement.
US09007458B2

A method for monitoring the quality of the primer layer applied to the body of a motor vehicle prior to painting (enamelling) envisages provision of at least one manipulator robot carrying a monitoring head. The monitoring head includes a light source constituted by an array of LED sources and a videocamera that are held in a position fixed with respect to one another while they are displaced with respect to the surface to be monitored following the profile of said surface. The signals at output from the videocamera are processed by dividing the area monitored into an array of sub-areas and executing the same processing procedure simultaneously on all the sub-areas.
US09007456B2

Semiconductor wafer inspection device comprising a wager transport arm provided with at least one wafer support element, a wafer gripper, the gripper having two distant branches designed to take hold of the opposed edges of the wafer, the gripper being mounted so as to rotate on a shaft in order to be able to rotate the wafer between an approximately horizontal position and an approximately vertical position, and at least two inspection systems placed on one side of the wafer and on the other, in an approximately vertical position symmetrically with respect to the plane passing through the wafer.
US09007454B2

Various embodiments are directed to imaging systems and methods for generating an image of a sub-surface feature of an object through a surface of the object. An illumination array may comprise a plurality of illumination sources positioned around the sub-surface feature of the object. An imaging device may comprise an objective. A computer system may be in communication with the illumination array. The computer system may be programmed to calculate an optimized illumination pattern of the plurality of illumination sources for imaging the sub-surface feature; activate the optimized illumination pattern; and instruct the imaging device to capture an image of the sub-surface feature with the imaging device based on reflected illumination from the optimized illumination pattern.
US09007448B2

A video-assisted customer experience is disclosed. Generally, the experience includes a communications link between a user and a business representative facilitated by an external apparatus such as an ATM, mobile device, user's workstation, teleconferencing system, etc. The communications link may be a one or two-way video link such that the user may view video of the business representative or a representation of the business representative. The experience utilizes speech-recognition technology to incorporate subtitles in the video stream.
US09007430B2

The present invention relates to a system and method for capturing video of a real-world scene over a field of view that may exceed the field of view of a user, manipulating the captured video, and then stereoscopically displaying the manipulated image to the user in a head mounted display to create a virtual environment having length, width, and depth in the image. By capturing and manipulating video for a field of view that exceeds the field of view of the user, the system and method can quickly respond to movement by the user to update the display allowing the user to look and pan around, i.e., navigate, inside the three-dimensional virtual environment.
US09007427B2

An approach for providing virtual conferencing is described. A virtual conference platform receives, in real-time, images representing users of the respective mobile devices, selects a virtual environment among a plurality of virtual environments, and integrates the images into the selected virtual environment.
US09007406B2

This invention provides a display control apparatus capable of more quickly displaying the next image while suppressing a decrease in viewability. The apparatus displays an image together with an added non-image area when displaying, in a display area of a display unit to be used to display an image, the image having an aspect ratio different from that of the display area. Upon accepting a scroll operation of instructing scroll display of the image displayed in the display area, the apparatus performs the scroll display in accordance with the scroll operation. At this time, the apparatus adjusts the non-image area to decrease the width of the non-image area in the moving direction of the scroll during execution of the scroll display as the operation amount of the accepted scroll operation increases.
US09007397B2

An image control apparatus wherein an acquisition unit acquires position information from attribute information of the image, a setting unit sets a display scale of a map when displaying the image on the map, and a generation unit generates display data for displaying the map and the image on a display device using the acquired position information and the set display scale, when the set display scale is lower than a predetermined display scale, the generation unit generates display data in which the image is laid out at a position corresponding to the position information on the map, and when the display scale is higher than the predetermined display scale, the generation unit generates display data in which the image and the map are laid out without laying out the image on the map.
US09007394B2

This disclosure generally relates to digital image and video signal processing, and more particularly to methods and systems for dynamic brightness correction. In one embodiment, an electronic circuit configured to perform an image correction method is disclosed, the method comprising: obtaining a pixel value of a color space component from an image; determining whether to perform mid-tone correction for the pixel value of the color space component; calculating, via the electronic circuit, a corrected pixel value based on the determination of whether to perform the mid-tone correction for the pixel value of the color space component; and outputting the corrected pixel value. The color space component may be one of: an Intensity component from a Hue-Saturation-Intensity color space; a Value component from a Hue-Saturation-Value color space; a Lightness component from a Hue-Saturation-Lightness color space; and a Brightness component from a Hue-Saturation-Brightness color space.
US09007381B2

An exemplary method includes a transition animation system detecting a screen size of a display screen associated with a computing device executing an application, automatically generating, based on the detected screen size, a plurality of animation step values each corresponding to a different animation step included in a plurality of animation steps that are to be involved in an animation of a transition of a user interface associated with the application into the display screen, and directing the computing device to perform the plurality of animation steps in accordance with the generated animation step values. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09007375B2

A method of automatically analyzing data from at least one data set including a plurality of process factors of interest and a process output of interest to determine the relationship between the factors of interest and the output of interest at a given significance level and preserving model hierarchy. The method includes the steps of calculating the effects of the factors of interest against the process output of interest, developing a model including the significant factors of interest and respective estimated coefficients and omitting the insignificant factors of interest, generating a representation of the model, and generating at least one graphical representation of the factors of interest.
US09007363B2

A display apparatus includes a display panel, a barrier panel, and a barrier panel controller. The display panel includes a plurality of pixel columns divided into a first pixel column groups and a second pixel column groups based on a selection signal used to determine a focal length of a three-dimensional image. The barrier panel forms a plurality of first barrier patterns spaced apart from each other and a plurality of second barrier patterns spaced apart from each other. The barrier panel controller controls a distance between the first barrier patterns and a distance between the second barrier patterns based on the selection signal.
US09007354B2

Provided is a display device including a panel, a driving circuit board connected to the panel, a driving unit mounted on the driving circuit board and driving the panel, a printed circuit board connected to the driving circuit board, and a memory unit mounted on the printed circuit board and storing calibration data for calibrating a data signal supplied to the panel.
US09007353B2

In one aspect of the invention, a display includes a substrate, and a plurality of pixels formed on the substrate and arranged in an array. Each pixel has a driving transistor having a gate electrode, a drain electrode and a source electrode, formed on the substrate, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) having a cathode layer, a anode layer and an emissive layer formed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, and formed over the driving transistor such that the anode layer of the OLED is electrically connected to the source electrode of the driving transistor, a bias electrode formed over the substrate, and a photo sensor having a photosensitive layer formed between the anode layer of the OLED and the bias electrode.
US09007350B2

A display assembly includes a flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is formed of a flexible material supporting a first display panel and a second display panel. A mechanism is operatively connected to the flexible sheet. The mechanism moves the flexible sheet from a first position in which said first display panel may be viewed to a second position in which said second display panel may be viewed.
US09007331B2

A touch sensitive pad with a plurality of touch sensitive elements and processing circuitry coupled to a communications interface and to the touch sensitive pad for scanning the plurality of touch sensitive elements to measure a plurality of touch sensitive element values. The plurality of touch sensitive element values is compared to a hovering finger threshold pattern. Upon a favorable comparison, a hovering finger condition is determined, and a position of the hovering finger in three-dimensions is detected with respect to the touch sensitive pad. The plurality of touch sensitive element values is compared to a touching finger threshold pattern. Upon a favorable comparison, a touching finger condition is determined, and a position of the touching finger is detected upon the touch sensitive pad.
US09007327B1

An apparatus for controlling an aviation display is provided. The apparatus includes processing electronics configured to cause a first representation of a first aviation data to be shown in a first format of the first aviation data, and to cause, in response to a first user input in relation to the first format, a second representation of the first aviation data to be shown in a second format of the first aviation data, the second format of the first aviation data comprising a first predefined location on a first region of a display.
US09007320B2

The present invention is provided with: a touch panel for detecting the positions of inputs; a vibrating body provided to the touch panel; a first chassis having a base, positioned facing the touch panel across a space, and a frame body, positioned on the base so as to surround the touch panel in plan view; an operating unit, positioned on the front-surface-side of the touch panel so as to cover the touch panel in plan view; and a flexible part that is provided along the whole circumference of the frame body and supports the operating unit.
US09007318B2

A vehicle includes a multi-touch screen and a controller. A method for providing information related to a vehicle function includes visually displaying on the multi-touch screen a representation of a portion of the vehicle including a plurality of operating sections including a plurality of vehicle functions and a HELP icon. One of the vehicle functions is selected in response to a user action that includes a dragging motion on the multi-touch screen between the HELP icon and the selected vehicle function. Information related to the selected vehicle function is accessed. A preferred mode is employed to communicate the information related to the selected vehicle function to the user.
US09007312B2

A device and method for transmitting data can conveniently perform data transmission between two portable terminals. The device preferably includes a first portable terminal transmitting data on which a drag operation has occurred to a second portable terminal when the second portable terminal is coupled to the first portable terminal using a time and a moving speed of the drag operation when the drag operation occurs from the first terminal to the second portable terminal. The second portable terminal receives the data from the first portable terminal using the time and the moving speed of the drag operation when the drag operation occurs from the first portable terminal to the second portable terminal coupled to the first portable terminal through near field communication.
US09007310B1

Touch sensor methods, devices and systems are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a touch sensing system comprising a sensing device for sensing one or more touches on a sensor surface made of multiple conductive strips in one direction and a dual processing device for determining a horizontal position and a vertical position of each touch by processing currents generated in response to the touch, where the currents charge and discharge a capacitor formed between the touch and the sensor surface.
US09007309B2

An input device includes an input panel, a cover member that is provided with a housing portion, in which the input panel is housed, and a film member that is disposed over a main surface of the input panel provided in the housing portion and a main surface of the cover member.
US09007302B1

A defined class of input devices is disclosed, consisting of a graspable body in two forms. Both forms include a scroll wheel-style mechanism that functions as a button from multiple directions, both include an apparatus providing six degrees of gestural freedom in three dimensions, and both provide for the wireless transmission capacity of these inputs, user data, audio, and other communications for the purpose of carrying credentials among various host electronic devices, and for manipulating and navigating an associated user interface for hierarchy visualization of structured information to be displayed on those host devices.
US09007300B2

Various embodiments include devices, methods, circuits, data structures, and software that allow for control of a process through detecting of movements in bends in a flexible display device. In an example, a method for controlling a process through bend movements can include detecting movement of a bend in a deformable display panel and modifying a process running on a computing device response to detecting the movement of the bend.
US09007299B2

Techniques for using a motion sensitive device as a controller are disclosed. A motion controller as an input/control device is used to control an existing electronic device (a.k.a., controlled device) previously configured for taking inputs from a pre-defined controlling device. The signals from the input device are in a different form from the pre-defined controlling device. According to one aspect of the present invention, the controlled device was designed to respond to signals from a pre-defined controlling device (e.g., a touch-screen device). The inputs from the motion controller are converted into touch-screen like signals that are then sent to the controlled device or programs being executed in the controlled device to cause the behavior of the controlled device to change or respond thereto, without reconfiguration of the applications running on the controlled device.
US09007286B2

The present invention relates to a phase modulating apparatus capable of highly accurately and easily correcting the phase modulation characteristic of a reflective electric address spatial light modulator even when a condition of input light is changed. In the LCOS phase modulating apparatus, an input unit inputs the condition of the input light, and a processing unit sets an input value for each pixel. A correction value deriving unit determines a correction condition according to the condition of the input light. A control input value converting unit converts the input value set for each pixel into a corrected input value based on the correction condition. An LUT processing unit converts the corrected input value into a voltage value, and drives each pixel by using a drive voltage equivalent to the converted voltage value.
US09007281B2

This embodiments herein relate to an organic light emitting diode display device comprising: a display panel configured to include a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form, wherein each of the pixels including: a driving TFT, an organic light emitting diode, a control circuit including first to fourth TFTs, capacitors. The embodiments described herein may improve accuracy of sensing a threshold voltage of the driving TFT even though the organic light emitting diode display device drives high frequency such as 240 Hz because sensing periods are long enough to sense the threshold voltage of the driving TFT. Also, the embodiments described herein may compensate a drop of a high potential voltage due to compensating the current between a drain electrode and a source electrode of the driving TFT by using the high potential voltage dropped.
US09007280B2

A current pixel circuit of a display device includes a switching transistor which may be turned on in response to the current selection signal to transfer a data signal, a driving transistor for outputting a current corresponding to the data signal, and first and second transistors being turned on in response to the previous selection signal. In the display device, the gate electrodes of the switching transistor of a previous pixel and the first and second transistors of the current pixel are coupled to one scan line for transferring the previous selection signal. Accordingly, the transistors are arranged in the order of the switching transistor of the previous pixel and the first and second transistors of the current pixel on the scan line at an area between two adjacent data lines.
US09007272B2

A portable unit with an endfire antenna and operating at 60 GHz makes an optimum communication channel with an endfire antenna in an array of antennas distributed over the area of a ceiling. The portable unit is pointed towards the ceiling and the system controlling the ceiling units selects and adjusts the positioning of an endfire antenna mounted on a 3-D adjustable rotatable unit. Several transceivers can be mounted together, offset from one another, to provide a wide coverage in both azimuth direction and elevation direction. These units can be rigidly mounted as an array in a ceiling apparatus. The system controlling the ceiling array selects one of the transceivers in one of the units to make the optimum communication channel to the portable unit. The system includes the integration of power management features by switching between Wi-Fi in favor of the 60 GHz channel.
US09007268B2

An antenna has an antenna body having a plurality of first antenna elements, which are disposed along a first straight line. A hollow conductor, which extends between the first antenna elements, is disposed in the antenna body. The first antenna elements are developed as openings running between the hollow conductor and a surface of the antenna body. The antenna is designed to radiate a signal in a spatial direction that is a function of a frequency of the signal. The antenna body has an electrically insulating material that is coated with a conductive material.
US09007262B1

The described invention allows for rapid geolocation of one or more RF emitters using a single moving collection platform. Inaccuracies of conventional frequency of arrival (FOA) geolocation methods are overcome by solving simultaneously for emitter location and a potential emitter drift associated with an observed emitter frequency. Certain embodiments may utilize particle filtering algorithms to recursively update multimodal state densities that are typical of solutions involving both unknown emitter location and nonstationary emitter carrier drift. Moreover, certain properties of particle filters may be exploited to provide a geolocation solution given a complex multimodal state space composed of emitter location and a non-stationary emitter frequency required for FOA.
US09007261B2

A data model containing orbital parameters is stored in a mobile device. When a First Fix is required by a GNSS system within the mobile device, these stored orbital parameters are used to rapidly generate accurate satellite trajectory data model. The stored orbital parameters may be modified in part or in whole as required by changing coefficients of the stored parameters.
US09007254B2

The present invention provides, among other things, antenna beam control devices, systems, architectures, and methods for radar and other applications, such as wireless communications, etc., to improve transmit and/or receive performance of the devices and systems employing such antennas by deploying beam control elements (20) to increase antenna gain at an angle less than a first angle relative to the antenna gain at angle greater than a first angle. Beam control elements are deployed in combination with the one or more antennas (12) in various systems of the present invention, such that the impact of reflected radiation from wind mill, communication, or other towers supporting the system or other nearby structures, as well as radiation from nearby wireless communication networks is decreased to an acceptable level. The beam control elements can include absorbing and reflective material and can be placed in the antenna near field to minimize costs.
US09007229B1

User devices are used to access various forms of electronic content. Sensors in the user device or information about environmental data associated with the device, such as weather at the locale of the user device, may be used to determine the occurrence of physical events. Recommendations such as offers for sale of extended warranties, warranty replacement, and so forth may be provided based at least in part on the physical events.
US09007221B2

A server rack holds a number of modular servers configured for liquid cooling by passing a liquid coolant through interiors of the servers. Failure management of the cooling system is by management of the servers in segregated fault domains. Each fault domain comprises a number of the servers serviced by a dedicated coolant circuit that is segregated from the cooling circuits of the other fault domains. Potential liquid coolant leaks in a specific fault domain can be identified by monitoring liquid coolant levels in the respective coolant circuits. Each fault domain can include a separate, dedicated heat exchanger and a separate, dedicated coolant reservoir.
US09007219B2

A sleep disrupting apparatus disposed in a vehicle includes a processor and at least one vibration generator. The vibration generator is connected to the processor and is located in the vehicle in a position proximate to a passenger such that vibrations generated by the vibration generator are transmitted to the passenger. The processor determines a time index, generates at least three vibration signals consistent with the time index, and transmits the three vibration signals to the at least one vibration generator. The three vibration signals are separated from one another by two time intervals. The two time intervals are not equal to one another.
US09007217B1

A helmet with wireless sensor system for monitoring of surrounding objects. The helmet with wireless sensor system comprises a wireless transceiver connected to a number of patch antennas to transmit a particular signal and receive reflected signals from surrounding objects, a processing unit that uses the information from reflected signal received by wireless transceiver to calculate the speed, distance, and direction of the object to determine when and where an impact will occur, and a number of inflatable/deflatable pads installed on the helmet and external to the helmet that will be activated prior to an impact.
US09007201B2

A method for self-testing notification appliances in an alarm system, including the steps of measuring ambient noise at a notification appliance, comparing the measured ambient noise to a threshold ambient noise level, and performing a self-test of the notification appliance if the measured ambient noise does not exceed the threshold ambient noise level. The method may further include the step of recording a fail result for the notification appliance if the measured ambient noise exceeds the threshold ambient noise level. Performing the self-test of the notification appliance may include the steps of activating a notification feature of the notification appliance, measuring output of the notification feature, comparing the measured output to a predefined value, recording a pass result for the notification appliance if the measured output exceeds the predefined value, and recording a fail result for the notification appliance if the measured output does not exceed the predefined value.
US09007189B1

An approach to facilitate providing leaderboards based upon in-game events within a game space. The leaderboards based on user progress to achieving one or more administrator defined objectives within the game space, where each objective requires the completion of one or more activities. An objective metric for the first user, indicating the first user's progress toward achieving the objective may be determined, based upon one or more activity metric values for the first user. The activity metric values providing an indication of the first user's progress toward completing activities required to be completed to achieve the objective, as defined by an administrator.
US09007184B2

In a method for operating a household appliance, a portable operating unit is docked to a selected one of a plurality of household appliances. The selected household appliance is identified using the portable operating unit which is then configured to operate the selected household appliance only. The portable operating unit includes at least one docking element for docking to a docking station of the selected household appliance, an identification device for identifying the selected household appliance, and a configuration device for configuration of the operating unit for operating the selected household appliance only.
US09007181B2

A system and method for monitoring the status of wireless node devices in a network. A network controller polls one or more sensor devices for status information. The sensor devices are in communication with at least one wireless node device. More than one sensor device may be associated with a single wireless node device. The wireless node device appends its own status information to the transmission frame of the sensor device's response message, and the transmission frame, containing the address and status information for both the sensor device and the wireless node device, is transmitted to the network controller. The inclusion of the wireless node device address and status information is done without the knowledge of the sensor device.
US09007178B2

In one aspect where a load or a subset of one or more tags is in motion relative to an RFID reader system, the RFID system obtains tag readings and derives tag scalar or vector motional data e.g. tag velocity, tag acceleration, and/or rate of change of tag acceleration which can be compared to known tag motional information to distinguish true tags of interest from false positives which are unavoidably also within the field of the reader system. An antenna system may also make readings during distinctive movement patterns of true tags, such as vertical or arcuate movement and utilize computed tag motional data based on the tag readings to distinguish true tags from false positives. Two components of the RFID system may communicate information on identified tags, and/or interact (e.g. by silencing tags), so as to cooperate in identifying true positive tags.
US09007177B2

A method for generating a behavior pattern based on information from radio frequency identification tags is disclosed. The method includes identifying a plurality of radio frequency identification tags, generating a radio frequency identification group that corresponds to the plurality of radio frequency identification tags, receiving behavior information that corresponds to the radio frequency identification group from a user device, matching the radio frequency identification group with the behavior information, generating a behavior pattern corresponding to the matched radio frequency identification group and the behavior information, and storing the behavior pattern in a database.
US09007175B2

Embodiments of a biometric system with an optically adaptive interface are described. In some embodiments, an optically adaptive interface changes optical characteristics in response to the placement of a finger on the optically adaptive interface. In some embodiments, the optically adaptive interface can include an active layer and a surface layer. The active layer and the surface layer can have different optical properties. For example, one layer may be opaque and the other transparent, the two layers may have complementary colors, the two layers may have orthogonal polarization reflectors, one layer may be reflective and the other absorptive, etc. Moreover, the active layer can be a fluid with either high or low viscosity. For example, the viscosity can be such that the active layer fluid is either completely displaced or not displaced in locations corresponding to finger valleys.
US09007174B2

A server receives a service personnel identification verification request from a computing device. The request includes identification information obtained via the computing device from a security badge. The computer determines whether there is a security concern with the identification information by comparing the identification information to stored service personnel information in a service personnel database. A response is sent to the computing device indicating the result of the determination, for presentation to a user who may be interacting with a person having the security badge.
US09007168B2

A wireless control system is configured to be trainable to control any number of remotely controlled devices. The system can be configured to gather and learn information relating to a signal transmitted by the original transmitter in a manner that is blind to a user of the system. The system can be designed to learn signals automatically such that fewer steps are necessary for a user to train the system to control a particular remotely controlled device. The system can train to remotely controlled devices in this manner with little or no user action required.
US09007166B2

An over-current protection device comprises a PTC material layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The PTC material layer has opposite first and second surfaces and opposite first and second lateral surfaces. The first electrode layer is in physical contact with the first surface of the PTC material layer and extends to the first lateral surface. The second electrode layer is in physical contact with the first surface of the PTC material layer and extends to the second lateral surface. The second electrode layer is insulated from the first electrode layer by a first separation. The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer are substantially laterally symmetrical, and serve as interfaces for current flowing in and out of the device when the over-current protection device is in use.
US09007164B2

The present invention provides a complex type fusible link which includes an insulative block base including a plurality of cavities; a conductive connecting plate which is integrally embedded in the insulative block base, a part of the conductive connecting plate being exposed to at least one of the cavities; a plurality of fusible elements each of which is accommodated in corresponding one of the cavities and includes a first end which is connected to the part of the conductive connecting plate and a second end; and a plurality of terminals each of which is integrally embedded in the insulative block base and includes a first end which is connected to the second end of corresponding one of the fusible elements and a second end which is exposed from the insulative block base.
US09007163B2

A device for protecting an electrical installation from surges. The device includes a protective component for protecting from overvoltages and two thermal disconnectors. Each thermal disconnector includes a respective mobile contact suitable to move from a closed position to an open position to disconnect the protective component from the electrical installation, and a respective thermosensitive element for making the mobile contact move from the closed position to the open position when the temperature of the protective component exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09007156B2

An electromagnetic relay includes a first stationary contact; a second stationary contact that is aligned with the first stationary contact in a first direction; a first movable contact that is movable toward/away from the first stationary contact in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a second movable contact that is movable toward/away from the second stationary contact in the second direction; and a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet that face each other. A first contact part, formed by the first stationary contact and the first movable contact, and a second contract part, formed by the second stationary contact and the second movable contact, are interposed between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet in the first direction. The first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet extend in a third direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.
US09007154B2

A hinged armature arrangement, for a magnetic tripping device of an electrical switching device, includes a yoke, a hinged armature and a hinged armature spring for embodying a spring force on the hinged armature. The hinged armature is mounted at a first end in a hinged armature bearing. The hinged armature bearing includes a contact surface and a stop surface. The hinged armature spring is arranged on the hinged armature such that at least one first part of the spring force acts against a magnetic force, which is exerted on the hinged armature when a current path is energized. In a particular embodiment, the contact surface and the stop surface are arranged at an angle α of less than 90° relative to one another.
US09007146B2

A duplexer includes a package substrate having layers stacked, a transmission filter and a reception filter that are provided on an upper surface of a first layer that is one of the layers of the package substrate, the transmission and reception filters being acoustic wave filters, a metal pattern provided on the upper surface of the first layer and formed to surround the transmission and reception filters, a transmission line provided on an upper surface of a second layer that is one of the layers of the package substrate and is positionally lower than the first layer, the transmission line electrically connecting the transmission filter and a transmission terminal together, and a reception line that is provided on the upper surface of the second layer and electrically connects the reception filter and a reception terminal. The thickness of the first layer is greater than that of the second layer.
US09007141B2

In one or more embodiments, circuitry is provided for isolation and communication of signals between circuits operating in different voltage domains using capacitive coupling. The capacitive coupling is provided by one or more capacitive structures having a breakdown voltage that is defined by way of the various components and their spacing. The capacitive structures each include three capacitive plates arranged to have two plates located in an upper layer and one plate located in a lower layer. A communication signal can be transmitted via the capacitive coupling created between the lower plate and each of the upper plates, respectively.
US09007134B2

A constant-temperature piezoelectric oscillator includes: a piezoelectric vibrator; an oscillation circuit; a frequency voltage control circuit; a temperature control section; and an arithmetic circuit, wherein the temperature control section includes a temperature-sensitive element, a heating element, and a temperature control circuit, the frequency voltage control circuit includes a voltage-controlled capacitance circuit capable of varying the capacitance value in accordance with the voltage, and a compensation voltage generation circuit, and the arithmetic circuit makes the compensation voltage generation circuit generate a voltage for compensating a frequency deviation due to a temperature difference between zero temperature coefficient temperature Tp of the piezoelectric vibrator and setting temperature Tov of the temperature control section based on a frequency-temperature characteristic compensation amount approximate formula adapted to compensate the frequency deviation, and then applies the voltage to the voltage-controlled capacitance circuit to compensate the frequency.
US09007133B2

A ring oscillator has a plurality of elementary units connected in cascade and linked in order to make a chain with the respective output terminals connected to the input terminals of the successive elementary units of the chain, the elementary units being crossed by a cyclic signal during a time period of activation, each of said elementary units comprising an auxiliary recovery terminal for temporarily resetting each elementary unit during each loop of said cyclic signal, said auxiliary recovery terminal being connected to an output terminal of a successive elementary unit of the chain.
US09007129B2

The disclosure relates to an amplifier device comprising an integrated circuit die (701a; 701b) having a first amplifier (702a; 702b) and a second amplifier. A Doherty amplifier may be implemented in accordance with the present invention. The amplifier device also comprises a first connector (706a; 706b) having a first end coupled to the first amplifier and a second end for coupling with a circuit board (718a; 718b), a second connector (708a; 708b) having a first end coupled to the second amplifier (704a; 704b) and a second end for coupling with a circuit board (718a; 718b), a shielding member (710a; 710b) having a first end coupled to the integrated circuit die (701a; 701b) and a second end for coupling with a circuit board (718a; 718b), the shielding member (710a; 710b) situated at least partially between the second connector and the first connector (706a; 706b) and a capacitor. The capacitor has a first plate and a second plate. The first plate of the capacitor is configured to be coupled to ground when in use. The second plate of the capacitor is coupled to one of the ends of the shielding member (710a; 710b). The other end of the shielding member (710a; 710b) is configured to be coupled to ground when in use.
US09007127B2

The electronic circuit (1) includes, in an automatic gain control loop, an input amplifier (2), an AGC unit connected to the amplifier output to detect the amplitude of an output signal and a unit (10) for attenuating an input signal of the amplifier based on an adaptation signal (VAGC) from the AGC unit. The attenuation unit includes a means of comparing the adaptation signal to a reference signal (VREF) and for supplying an attenuation current as a function of the difference between the adaptation and reference signals, to a diode-connected PMOS replica transistor (M2), which is connected by a source to a common mode voltage (VCM) dependent on the input signal of the amplifier. The replica transistor controls a PMOS shunt transistor (M1) defining a shunt resistance connected to the amplifier input, whose resistive value depends on the attenuation current passing through the replica transistor.
US09007125B2

In general, an RF power amplifier comprises a controller, a driver, a splitter, a final stage, and a combiner coupled together to function as the RF power amplifier. One or more of the above components are arranged on one or more motherboards, e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB). A heat sink defines a base of the RF power amplifier, and in some embodiments includes at least two grooves formed therein, wherein the electrical components of the splitter and electrical components of the controller fit within one or more of the grooves so that these components can substantially disposed within the heat sink. In some embodiments, a power rail is also provided, and is also disposed substantially within the heat sink. The power rail groove of the heat sink and the carrier of the final stage provide an EMI shield of the power rail.
US09007109B2

A phase-locked loop digital bandwidth calibrator includes a digital loop filter having a gain multiplier memory and a perturbation unit configured to generate a calibration offset signal to initiate a calibration. Additionally, the phase-locked loop digital bandwidth calibrator also includes a digital bandwidth calibration unit configured to provide a corrected nominal gain for storage in the gain multiplier memory, wherein a digital gain correction for the corrected nominal gain is determined by a digital integration stage and a correction database. A phase-locked loop digital bandwidth calibration method is also provided.
US09007102B2

An exemplary gate drive circuit and method are disclosed for controlling a gate-controlled component, the gate drive circuit having a PI controller adapted to receive an input reference signal and to control a gate voltage of the gate-controlled component. The gate drive circuit can include a first feedback loop for the PI controller, the first feedback loop having a first gain (kv), a second feedback loop for the PI controller, the second feedback loop having a second gain (ki), and a clipping circuit adapted to modify a feedback signal in the second feedback loop during turn-on of the gate-controlled component when the time derivative of the collector current is negative. The first feedback loop can include a first blanking circuit adapted to cut the feedback loop when the gate-controlled component is in a blocking state.
US09007100B2

A high-side semiconductor-switch driving method includes generating power for controlling a high side semiconductor switch. The high side semiconductor switch has a control terminal and the power allows a current to flow into the control terminal of the high side semiconductor switch to switch the high side semiconductor switch. The voltage at the control terminal of the high side semiconductor switch is quantified. The power dependent on the voltage at the control terminal of the high side semiconductor switch is controlled so that the current provided is increased when the voltage at the control terminal indicates that the current is not sufficient to switch the high side semiconductor switch.
US09007091B2

In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port positive level sensitive preset data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes high, CLKZ goes low, preset control signal PRE is low and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLKZ, the retain control signals RET and RETN, the preset control signal PRE and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, RETN, PRE, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signals RET and RETN determine when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode.
US09007088B2

Preservation of quantum entanglement in a two-qubit system is achieved by use of the disclosed systems. Three different example two-qubit systems are shown: (1) a system employing a weak measurement, (2) a system in which a generalized amplitude dampening occurs without use of a weak measurement, and (3) an extended system in which the system is prepared in a more robust state less susceptible to decoherence prior to a generalized amplitude dampening.
US09007085B2

A semiconductor package testing apparatus and testing a semiconductor package, the apparatus including a test circuit substrate that electrically tests a semiconductor package having connection terminals; a socket electrically connecting the test circuit substrate with the semiconductor package; a socket guide having an open region delimiting the socket; an insert that fixes the semiconductor package and positions the semiconductor package in the open region of the socket guide; a pusher that presses the semiconductor package to make contact between the socket and the semiconductor package; and an alignment part that aligns the semiconductor package with the open region, wherein the alignment part is configured to selectively apply a magnetic force to align keys of the semiconductor package, the align keys being formed of a magnetic material.
US09007077B2

A flexible current and voltage sensor provides ease of installation of a current sensor, and optionally a voltage sensor in application such as AC branch circuit wire measurements, which may require installation in dense wiring conditions and/or in live panels where insulating gloves must be worn. The sensor includes at least one flexible ferromagnetic strip that is affixed to a current sensing device at a first end. The second end is secured to the other side of the current sensing device or to another flexible ferromagnetic strip extending from the other side of the current sensing device to form a loop providing a closed pathway for magnetic flux. A voltage sensor may be provided by metal foil affixed to the inside of the flexible ferromagnetic strip. A clamp body, which can be a spring loaded handle operated clamp or a locking fastener, can secure the ferromagnetic strip around the wire.
US09007065B2

A battery monitoring apparatus for monitoring a battery condition of an assembled battery. In the apparatus, a control unit transmits, to a monitoring unit that is powered by the assembled battery and monitors its battery condition, a first mode-switching instruction signal for instructing the monitoring unit to transition from a normal mode to a dark-current mode. Subsequently, the control unit transmits to the monitoring unit a second mode-switching signal for instructing the monitoring unit to transition from the dark-current mode to the normal mode, and acquires an increased count value of a timer circuit in the monitoring unit for a time period from transmission of the first mode-switching instruction signal to transmission of the second mode-switching instruction signal. When it is determined that the increased count value is greater than an abnormality diagnosis criterion value, then the control unit determines that the dark-current mode of the monitoring unit is malfunctioning.
US09007061B2

Featured are methods for magnetic resonance imaging of a volume, such a volume having susceptibility-generating objects or interfaces having susceptibility mismatches therein. Such a method includes selectively visualizing one of susceptibility-generating objects or interfaces having susceptibility mismatches as hyperintense signals, where such visualizing includes controlling variable imaging parameters so as to control a geometric extent of a signal enhancing effect, m more particular aspects of the present invention, such selectively visualizing includes attenuating or essentially suppressing signals from fat and/or water, namely on-resonant water protons, so as to thereby enhance a signal(s) associated with magnetic susceptibility gradient(s). Also featured are MRI systems, apparatuses and/or applications programs for execution on a computer system controlling the MRI data acquisition process embodying such methods.
US09007060B2

An electronic device includes a number of n Hall effect regions with n>1, wherein the n Hall effect regions are isolated from each other. The electronic device also includes at least eight contacts in or on surfaces of the n Hall effect regions, wherein the contacts include: a first and a second contact of each Hall effect region. A first contact of the (k+1)-th Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the k-th Hall effect region for k=1 to n−1, and the first contact of the first Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the n-th Hall effect region. The at least eight contacts include at least two supply contacts and at least two sense contacts. Each Hall effect region includes at most one of the at least two supply contacts and at most one of the at least two sense contacts.
US09007059B2

Methods and apparatuses for calibrating eddy current sensors. A calibration curve is formed relating thickness of a conductive layer in a magnetic field to a value measured by the eddy current sensors or a value derived from such measurement, such as argument of impedance. The calibration curve may be an analytic function having infinite number terms, such as trigonometric, hyperbolic, and logarithmic, or a continuous plurality of functions, such as lines. High accuracy allows the omission of optical sensors, and use of eddy current sensors for endpoint detection, transition call detection, and closed loop control in which a process parameter is changed based on the measured magnetic flux density change in one or more processing zones.
US09007057B2

The device to measure the absolute rotation angle of a rotating shaft includes a rotating disc, fixed to the shaft. A group of permanent magnets of different sizes and polarities is disposed on a circular track. Further, a group of Hall sensors, fixed to a static part of the device, are disposed on a circular path, in proximity of the rotating disc magnets tracks, and generate electric signals proportional to the strength of the magnetic field produced by the magnets in proximity. The signs of these electric signals are used to calculate a code characteristic of a low resolution absolute angular position. Two analog signals are associated to the obtained code, according to a predefined table. The associated analog signal having the closest value to zero is used as an entry to a pre-recorded table containing the correspondent angular position of the shaft.
US09007054B2

An angle sensor to provide sensor-to-magnet misalignment detection and correction capability in rotation angle measurement applications is presented. The angle sensor has magnetic field sensing elements to sense magnetic field associated with a rotating magnet. The angle sensor includes circuitry to generate signals based on the sensing by the sensing elements. The signals provide information that can be combined according to an error function to provide misalignment detection. The angle sensor can be used with or can be incorporated in an angle measurement device that employs a processing unit to produce a rotation angle value. In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to implement the error function and correct the angle value for detected misalignment. In another embodiment, the error function is performed by a programming device and detected misalignment is corrected through mechanical adjustment of sensor-to-magnet position.
US09007045B2

An output device includes an output transistor that outputs an output current, a first driver that drives the output transistor so that a feedback voltage of an output voltage of the output transistor is in agreement with a reference voltage, an RC circuit that has a capacitor connected to the ground and a resistor connected in series to the capacitor, and a second driver that drives the output transistor to increase the output current when a potential difference between ends of the resistor, generated by the feedback voltage supplied between ends of the RC circuit, is increased by a decrease of the output voltage.
US09007044B2

An embodiment of a driving device is proposed for supplying at least one regulated global output current to a load. The driving device includes programming means for programming a value of the global output current within a global current range. Reference means are provided for supplying a reference voltage, which has a value corresponding to the value of the global output current. Conversion means are then used for converting the reference voltage into the global output current. The conversion means may further include a plurality of conversion units for corresponding partial current ranges, which partition the global current range.
US09007042B2

In a DC/DC converter, a first operation section calculates a first operation value, based on a difference voltage between an instruction value for a high-voltage-side voltage and a detected value of a high-voltage-side voltage, a second operation section calculates a second operation value, based on a difference voltage between a voltage instruction value for a charge-discharge capacitor and a voltage detected value of the charge-discharge capacitor, and a switching control section obtains a conduction ratio, based on the first operation value and the second operation value, and controls, based on the conduction ratio, switching operations of first to fourth semiconductor circuits, thereby controlling the high-voltage-side voltage, and the voltage of the charge-discharge capacitor.
US09007039B2

Provided is a single inductor multiple output (SIMO) direct current-to-direct current (DC/DC) converter that may perform DC/DC conversion by transferring, to output nodes, input current that is input and thereby stored in a single inductor. An output selection unit of the SIMO DC/DC converter may select, from output nodes, a first output node to be supplied with current from a driving unit, and provide output voltage of the first output node and reference voltage of the first output node to a hysteresis comparison unit. The hysteresis comparison unit may control on-time and/or inductor peak current by determining whether the output voltage of the first output node is higher than the reference voltage of the first output node by at least a first threshold, and whether the output voltage of the first output voltage is lower than the reference voltage of the first output voltage by at least a second threshold.
US09007034B2

An electric power generation control system for a vehicle, which enables generation of electric power by a generator as much as possible while preventing an electrical component from being overheated by power generation by the generator. The electric power generation control system selectively switches a mode of the generator between first and second modes in which an instruction voltage is higher and not higher than an allowable voltage of a wire harness, respectively. A counter value is counted up in the first mode and down in the second mode. When the counter value has reached a higher limit value, the first mode is inhibited and the power generation mode is set to the second mode. This increase the proportion of an execution time period of the first, and accordingly, when a possibility of overheating the wire harness becomes high, the instruction voltage is lowered.
US09007031B2

A power source is electrically connected with a battery and an electrical load. The power source has an output voltage and provides current for the battery and electrical load. A charging voltage for the battery is determined based on temperature of the battery. An offset voltage is determined based on the provided current to the battery. The output voltage is determined based on the charging and offset voltages.
US09007020B2

Charging service vehicles with battery and generator sources are disclosed. The service vehicle is a vehicle having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, removably mounted battery module(s) or a battery module connection point, and an alternator or generator transported by the vehicle. The alternator or generator is configured to provide power to the battery module or to the charging equipment. Battery modules used may be quick-disconnecting or have their discharge monitored and controlled by an onboard controller device, and in some cases are automotive SLI batteries. Some embodiments have connection points that can be configured as charging points to recharge battery modules on the vehicle or as discharging points to provide power to the EV charging equipment. These features are beneficial to extend the utility of batteries in a service vehicle, provide additional power for EV charging, and to efficiently utilize vehicle electronics and generation capability.
US09007019B2

A non-contact charging method, in which a battery-powered device is set down on a charging platform, a power receiving coil in the battery-powered device is electromagnetically coupled to a power transmission coil in the charging platform, power is transmitted from the power transmission coil to the power receiving coil by electromagnetic induction, and a battery (52) in the battery-powered device is charged. The charging current of the battery is detected on the battery-powered device side, the transmission efficiency is detected from the detected charging current, the detected transmission efficiency is compared to an efficiency threshold value, it is determined that a foreign object is on the charging platform when the detected charging efficiency is less than the efficiency threshold value and it is determined that a foreign object is not on the charging platform when the detected charging efficiency is greater than the efficiency threshold value.
US09007003B2

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling an inverter for driving a swing motor, and particularly, maximally generates braking torque of the swing motor upon generation of failure of the inverter by switching on/off a lower-phase switch or an upper-phase switch of the inverter in order to prevent an upper swing body from freely rotating which is generated when a semiconductor switch of the inverter is switched off upon the generation of over-current and over-voltage of the inverter that drives the swing motor, thereby being capable of protecting the inverter, rapidly stopping the upper swing body, and preventing the risk of accidents.
US09007001B2

A power supply system includes: a first electrical storage device; a charging device charging the first electrical storage device with external power from an external power supply; a second electrical storage device supplying an auxiliary load with a voltage lower than an output voltage of the first electrical storage device; a first converter stepping down a voltage of power from the first electrical storage device and supplying the auxiliary load and the second electrical storage device with a voltage; a second converter having a capacity smaller than that of the first converter and charging the second electrical storage device with the external power; and a controller, when the external power is charged, controlling charging power from the charging device to the first electrical storage device and charging power from the second converter to the second electrical storage device based on a state of charge of the second electrical storage device.
US09006998B2

In a single lighting device including a large number of light-emitting elements (LEEs), the LEEs are divided into separately powered groups, and different combinations of the groups are fully energized to achieve the desired overall brightness. In some embodiments, the number of LEEs in each group has a binary relationship to the other groups. The resolution of the dimming is the brightness of the smallest group. In one example of five binary weighted groups of LEEs, 32 brightness levels can be achieved while the LEEs in the energized groups are fully ON. Thus, since there is no high frequency switching, there is substantially no power dissipation by the dimming control system, and there is limited noise or EMI created. The dimming control can be easily implemented with a logic circuit controlling a transistor switch for each group.
US09006996B2

Apparatuses, methods and systems for controlling a luminaire are disclosed. One embodiment includes a lighting control sub-system. The lighting control sub-system includes a luminaire, a controller coupled to the luminaire, and a sensor coupled to the controller. The sensor generates a sensed input. The lighting control sub-system further includes a communication interface, wherein the communication interface couples the controller to an external device. The controller is operative to control a light output of the luminaire based at least in part on the sensed input, and to communicate at least one of state or sensed information to the external device.
US09006991B2

A state cycling apparatus uses a capacitor instead of complicated and expensive microcontroller to fulfill a state cycling function of a system. The state cycling apparatus includes an internal circuit in the system connected to the capacitor. In a first embodiment, the internal circuit reads the voltage level on the capacitor at power on to determine a current state for the system, and writes the voltage level corresponding to a next state of the system to the capacitor. In a second embodiment, the system reads the state data stored in the internal circuit to determine a current state for the system at power on, the capacitor is charged during the system is under power on, and the capacitor provides power for the internal circuit to store a state data after the system is powered off.
US09006990B1

A replacement light tube for replacing a fluorescent light tube includes a bulb portion having a first end and a second end, a first end cap and a second end cap disposed at the first end and the second end, respectively, each configured to fit with a socket for the fluorescent light tube, a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed inside and extending between the first and second ends of the bulb portion, a pulse width modulator configured to receive power from a power source and modulate the received power to one of a first brightness level and a second brightness level, the second brightness level being different than the first brightness level and a current limiter comprising an inductive element coupled between the pulse width modulator and at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes.
US09006985B2

A light emitting diode driving integrated circuit with a multi-step current setting function includes a regulator circuit, a variable resistor circuit, and a current generation unit. The regulator circuit provides a supply voltage to a first terminal of at least one series of light emitting diodes to drive the at least one series of light emitting diodes, and regulates a second terminal voltage of the at least one series of light emitting diodes to a target voltage. The variable resistor circuit is used for changing a resistance of the variable resistor circuit in a plurality of steps according to a switching signal. The current generation unit is coupled to the variable resistor circuit for changing current flowing through the at least one series of light emitting diodes in a plurality of steps according to a reference voltage and variation of the resistance of the variable resistor circuit.
US09006984B2

When a pulsating current is applied to an LED string included in an LED lighting device, and the number of LEDs caused to light up is changed, the LED lighting device is in efficient, since there are LEDs lighting up for a long period of time and LEDs lighting up only for a short period of time. The LED string includes LED string 407 that lights up for a long period of time and LED string 408 that lights up only for a short period of time within a period of the pulsating current. The element size of the LED 102 included in LED string 407 is different from the element size of LED 203 string 408. Thus, the amount of light emission per unit area LED string 407 may be equal to the amount of light emission per unit area LED string 408.
US09006978B2

A driving circuit with an over-voltage protection device for modulating an electrical parameter of a driven device includes at least a boost circuit, a signal processing circuit, an over-voltage protection device, a modulation device and a control circuit. The output terminal of the boost circuit is electrically coupled in series to a driven device, a transistor and a grounded feedback resistor sequentially, wherein the output terminal of the boost circuit is further electrically coupled to a voltage dividing circuit for outputting a voltage dividing signal. The signal processing circuit is provided for outputting a processing signal to the over-voltage protection device and the modulation device according to the voltage dividing signal and a modulation signal. The control circuit is provided for turning on the transistor or not according to an output signal of the over-voltage protection device and an output signal of the modulation device.
US09006975B2

Described herein is a method and apparatus for removing metal oxides on a surface of a component via electron attachment. In one embodiment, there is provided a field emission apparatus, wherein the electrons attach to at least a portion of the reducing gas to form a negatively charged atomic ions which removes metal oxides comprising: a cathode comprising an electrically conductive and comprising at least one or more protrusions having a high surface curvature, wherein the cathode is surrounded by a dielectric material which is then surrounded by an electrically conductive anode wherein the cathode and anode are each connected to an electrical voltage source, and the dielectric material between the cathode and anode is polarized to provide an electric field at one or more protrusions and thereby electrons from the cathode.
US09006974B2

A switching power supply apparatus according to an embodiment includes a switching element, an inductor, a drive circuit, a mounting substrate, and an insulating substrate. The switching element is connected between a power supply and a lighting load. The inductor is connected in series to the switching element. The drive circuit controls the switching element, converts a voltage supplied from the power supply, and is mounted on the mounting substrate. The insulating substrate is thermally connected to the switching element, and has thermal conductivity higher than the mounting substrate.
US09006971B2

A planar helix slow-wave structure with straight edge connections where the structure consists of two arrays of thin, parallel, conductors printed on top and bottom faces of a low-loss dielectric material or substrate, the conductors in the arrays printed on the top and bottom surfaces being inclined at different but symmetric pitch angles on the surface of the planar surface, the conjunction ends of the conductors on the top and bottom faces being connected by vertical conductors with circular rings with a diameter greater than the diameter of the vertical conductors to ensure proper connections between them, and a vacuum tunnel inside the planar helix structure.
US09006964B2

The present invention relates to afield emission cathode, comprising an at least partly electrically conductive base structure, and a plurality of electrically conductive micrometer sized sections spatially distributed at the base structure, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of micrometer sized sections each are provided with a plurality of electrically conductive nanostructures. Advantages of the invention include lower power consumption as well as an increase in light output of e.g. a field emission lighting arrangement comprising the field emission cathode.
US09006956B2

Methods, systems, and devices for providing cooling for a mobile device using piezoelectric active cooling devices. Some embodiments utilize piezoelectric actuators that oscillate a planar element within an air channel to fan air within or at an outlet of the air channel. The air channel may be defined by at least one heat dissipation surface in thermal contact with components of the mobile device that generate excess waste heat. For example, the air channel may include a surface that is in thermal contact with a processor of the mobile computing device. In embodiments, the piezoelectric active cooling device may be used in an air gap between stacked packages in a package on package (PoP) processor package. The described embodiments provide active cooling using low power, can be controlled to provide variable cooling, use highly reliable elements, and can be implemented at low cost.
US09006945B2

This disclosure discloses a rotating electrical machine that is integrally formed with a reduction device having an input shaft and an output shaft and employs one of a field system and an armature as a rotor and the other of the field system and the armature as a stator, including a rotating shaft to which the rotor is fixed and that is coaxially connected to the input shaft of the reduction device, and a bearing support member configured to support bearings that rotatably support the input shaft of the reduction device, wherein the stator is provided to the bearing support member.
US09006935B2

A wireless power feeder/receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a power feed/receive coil; a power feed/receive capacitor to configure a resonance circuit together with the power feed/receive coil; a coupling coil electromagnetically coupled to the power feed/receive coil; a power adjustment section performing at least any one of adjustment for AC power to be transmitted from the power feed/receive coil and adjustment for AC power to be received by the power feed/receive coil; a switching section switching connection of the power feed/receive coil, the power feed/receive capacitor, and the coupling coil to the power adjustment section; and a switching control section controlling the switching section.
US09006933B2

A method of damping power system oscillations includes obtaining an AC measurement signal from a power system location and determining oscillation frequency values in the AC measurement signal. A plurality of single signal components are extracted from the AC measurement signal by subtracting a plurality of processed measurement signals from the AC measurement signal and a damping signal is generated based on the plurality of single signal components. Each of the plurality of processed measurement signals are generated by time delaying the AC measurement signal with a time delay associated with each of the oscillation frequency values other than the oscillation frequency value of the single signal component to be extracted.
US09006931B2

Devices that include one or more functional semiconductor elements that are immersed in static electric fields (E-fields). In one embodiment, one or more electrets are placed proximate the one or more organic, inorganic, or hybrid semiconductor elements so that the static charge(s) of the electret(s) participate in creating the static E-field(s) that influences the semiconductor element(s). An externally applied electric field can be used, for example, to enhance charge-carrier mobility in the semiconductor element and/or to vary the width of the depletion region in the semiconductor material.
US09006925B2

A protection system for a power distribution system includes a bus voltage sensing unit to measure a bus voltage or a load voltage and a demand response module for estimating available demand resources on the distribution system for a period of interest. A distribution system analyzer is provided in the system for analyzing the bus voltage or the load voltage and system parameters to obtain voltage trip points for the available demand resources. A load control circuit controls the available demand resources based on the voltage trip points.
US09006924B2

An internal power circuit lowers a battery voltage supplied always from an external side to generate a standby power voltage. A timer continues to measure an elapse of time in a standby state, after a main relay is turned off and supply of a power voltage is interrupted. A measured time data of the timer is saved to a save register during a time measurement operation of the timer. When a stop condition for stopping the time measurement operation of the timer is satisfied, a control circuit stops the operation of the internal power circuit. When the main relay is turned on, the internal power circuit is activated to start its operation again by the control circuit so that the measured time data saved to the save register is restored to the timer.
US09006914B2

An AC current generator for generating an CA current and method therefor and includes a stator and a rotor. The stator includes an outer shell of non-magnetic material enclosing an evacuated chamber and having a distribution of a plurality of ferromagnets attached thereto. The rotor includes an inner core of non-magnetic material located at a stability location within said evacuated chamber and having a distribution of a plurality of diamagnets attached thereto. In addition, the AC current generator includes at least one magnetic flux detection unit located within at least one magnetic field generated by at least one group of ferromagnets of the plurality of ferromagnets. Displacing the rotor from the stability location towards the at least one group of ferromagnets generates a change in magnetic flux in the magnetic field thereby generating an AC current in the at least one magnetic flux detection unit.
US09006910B2

An interconnection structure includes: first and second differential signal interconnections provided to transmit a differential signal; and first and second voltage interconnections applied with predetermined voltages. The first voltage interconnection, the first differential signal interconnection, the second differential signal interconnection and the second voltage interconnection are arranged in this order. An interval between the first and second differential signal interconnections is longer than an interval between the first voltage interconnection and the first differential signal interconnection and is longer than an interval between the second differential signal interconnection and the second voltage interconnection. When a first connection point and a second connection point nearest to the first connection point are provided on any of the first and second differential signal interconnections and the first and second voltage interconnections, a distance between the first connection point and the second connection point is in a range of 1/16 of a wavelength of the differential signal to ⅛ of the wavelength thereof.
US09006909B2

A device is provided. The device may comprise an integrated circuit package. The integrated circuit package may comprise a first layer and a solder mask. The first layer may comprise a top surface wherein the solder mask is disposed on the top surface of the first layer. The solder mask may comprise a vertical edge. The vertical edge may form an angle between the top surface of the first layer and the vertical edge of not less than 90 degrees. The angle may be not less than 120 degrees or not less than 150 degrees.
US09006906B2

A capacitor is formed in nano channels in a conductive body. Embodiments include forming a source contact through a first inter layer dielectric (ILD), forming a conductive body on the first ILD, forming a second ILD on the conductive body, forming drain and gate contacts through the second ILD, conductive body, and first ILD, forming nano channels in the conductive body, forming an insulating layer in the channels, and metalizing the channels. An embodiment includes forming the nano channels by forming a mask on the second ILD, the mask having features with a pitch of 50 nanometers (nm) to 100 nm, etching the second ILD through the mask, etching the conductive body through the mask to a depth of 80% to 90% of the thickness of the conductive body, and removing the mask.
US09006905B2

A semiconductor device with a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and an opposite-facing second surface, a through electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor element and penetrating the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface, and a conductor, not electrically connected to the semiconductor element, penetrating the semiconductor substrate from the first surface to the second surface, where the through electrode and the conductor have different shapes in plan view.
US09006904B2

An electronic package includes a substrate wafer with an interconnect network. A first chip is fixed to a front of the substrate, connected to the interconnect network and encapsulated by a body. A second chip is placed on a back side of the substrate wafer and connected to the interconnect network by back-side connection elements interposed between the back side of the substrate and a front side of the second chip. Front-side connection elements are placed on the front side of the substrate and connected to the interconnect network. The connection elements extend beyond the frontal face of the body. The package may be mounted on a board with an interposed thermally conductive material.
US09006903B2

A semiconductor memory device of the present invention includes a first dielectric layer located on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate including contact area and a non-contact area, an etching stop layer pattern formed to expose the first dielectric layer in the non-contact area and cover the first dielectric layer in the contact area, a contact hole extended to the semiconductor substrate of the contact area through the etching stop layer pattern and the first dielectric layer, a contact plug located in the contact hole, and a conductive line connected to the contact plug.
US09006900B2

A connective structure for bonding semiconductor devices and methods for forming the same are provided. The bonding structure includes an alpad structure, i.e., a thick aluminum-containing connective pad, and a substructure beneath the aluminum-containing pad that includes at least a pre-metal layer and a barrier layer. The pre-metal layer is a dense material layer and includes a density greater than the barrier layer and is a low surface roughness film. The high density pre-metal layer prevents plasma damage from producing charges in underlying dielectric materials or destroying subjacent semiconductor devices.
US09006897B2

An integrated circuit includes a number of metallization levels separated by an insulating region disposed over a substrate. A housing includes walls formed from metal portions produced in various metallization levels. A metal device is housed in the housing. An aperture is produced in at least one wall of the housing. An external mechanism outside of the housing is configured so as to form an obstacle to diffusion of a fluid out of the housing through the at least one aperture. At least one through-metallization passes through the external mechanism and penetrates into the housing through the aperture in order to make contact with at least one element of the metal device.
US09006894B2

There is provided a wiring board for mounting a light emitting element thereon. The wiring board includes: an insulating layer; a wiring pattern on the insulating layer; a reflecting layer on the insulating layer to cover the wiring pattern, wherein the light emitting element is to be mounted on a surface of the reflecting layer; and a silica film on the surface of the reflecting layer.
US09006892B2

A method and system of stacking and aligning a plurality of integrated circuits. The method includes the steps of providing a first integrated circuit having at least one funnel-shaped socket, providing a second integrated circuit, aligning at least one protrusion on the second integrated circuit with the at least one funnel-shaped socket, and bonding the first integrated circuit to the second integrated circuit. The system includes a first integrated circuit having at least one funnel-shaped socket, a metallization-diffusion barrier disposed on the interior of the funnel-shaped socket, and a second integrated circuit. The at least one funnel-shaped socket is adapted to receive a portion of the second integrated circuit.
US09006879B2

The invention is to provide a semiconductor apparatus configured to position a semiconductor device reliably and easily without having a protruding portion formed in the bottom surface of the semiconductor device in the semiconductor apparatus. A semiconductor apparatus is fabricated by attaching a semiconductor device of a surface mount package type and a wiring member to a heat sink. A fitting portion in which the semiconductor device is fit is provided to the wiring member, so that the semiconductor device is positioned by fitting the semiconductor device into the fitting portion provided to the wiring member. According to the semiconductor apparatus of the invention, it becomes possible to position the semiconductor device at a high degree of accuracy.
US09006875B2

Provided is a semiconductor device and method of fabricating the semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor device may be formed by forming a first welding groove along outside edges of one case of a pair of upper and lower cases, forming a first welding protrusion along outside edges of the other case, the first welding protrusion being formed to correspond to the first welding groove and having a volume larger than a volume of the first welding groove. The method may further include inserting the first welding protrusion into the first welding groove to enclose a memory module in an inner accommodating space of the upper and lower cases, melting the first welding protrusion so that a first portion of the first welding protrusion fills the first welding groove and a second portion of the first welding protrusion fills a space between welding portions of the upper case and the lower case, and solidifying the first and second portions of the first welding protrusion.
US09006867B2

A monitoring structure and a relevant monitoring method for the silicon wet etching depth are provided. The structure includes a wet etched groove formed on a monocrystalline silicon material with at least two top surfaces thereof being rectangular; and the top surface widths of the grooves are Wu and W1 respectively, Wu=du/0.71, and W1=du/0.71, where du is the maximum wet etching depth to be monitored, and d1 is the minimum of the wet etching depth to be monitored. The method includes: performing anisotropic wet etching on a monocrystalline silicon wafer according to a pattern with a monitoring pattern, forming an etched groove to be monitored and a structure for monitoring the depth of the groove, and then monitoring the structure to monitor the wet etching depth. The etching depth of the groove can be monitored with low costs, and a higher monitoring accuracy is obtained.
US09006862B2

An embodiment of an electronic device includes first and second semiconductor bodies. The first semiconductor body houses a first conductive strip having a first end portion and a second end portion, and houses a first conduction terminal electrically coupled to the first end portion and facing a surface of the first semiconductor body. The second semiconductor body houses a second conductive strip having a third end portion and a fourth end portion, and houses a second conduction terminal electrically coupled to the third end portion and facing a surface of the second semiconductor body. The first and second semiconductor bodies are arranged relative to one another so that the respective surfaces face one another, and the first conduction terminal and the second conduction terminal are coupled to one another by means of a conductive element so as to form a loop of an inductor.
US09006851B2

A stand-alone device comprising a silicon wafer having its front surface including a first layer of a first conductivity type and a second layer of a second conductivity type forming a photovoltaic cell; first vias crossing the wafer from the rear surface of the first layer and second vias crossing the wafer from the rear surface of the second layer; metallization levels on the rear surface of the wafer, the external level of these metallization levels defining contact pads; an antenna formed in one of the metallization levels; and one or several chips assembled on said pads; the metallization levels being shaped to provide selected interconnects between the different elements of the device.
US09006847B2

In a sensor module for accommodating a pressure sensor chip and for installation into a sensor housing, a module wall is connected monolithically to the module bottom and surrounds the pressure sensor chip. Multiple connecting elements which are conducted through the module wall to the outside run straight at least in the entire outside area. Furthermore, the connecting elements are exposed on their top and bottom sides for affixing and electrically connecting at least one electrical component and for electrically integrating the sensor module into the sensor housing. In this way, a two-sided use of a sensor module having an identical external geometry and identical connectors is possible.
US09006841B2

A dual port SRAM has two data storage nodes, a true data and complementary data. A first pull down transistor has an active area that forms the drain region of the first transistor and the true data storage node that is physically isolated from all other transistor active areas of the memory cell. A second pull down transistor has an active area that forms the drain region of a second transistor that is the complementary data node that is physically isolated from all other transistor active areas of the memory cell.
US09006840B2

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor chips in a stack structure and a through-silicon via suitable for passing through the chips and transfer a signal from or to one or more of the chips. Each of the chips includes a buffering block disposed in path of the through-silicon via, and suitable for buffering the signal, an internal circuit, and a delay compensation block suitable for applying delay corresponding to the buffering blocks of the chips to the signal, wherein the delay compensation blocks of the chips compensates for delay difference of the signal transferred to and from the internal circuit of the chip, due to operations of the buffering block, based on stack information for distinguishing the chips.
US09006836B2

A method for manufacturing a device including an n-type device and a p-type device. In an aspect of the invention, the method involves forming a shallow-trench-isolation oxide (STI) isolating the n-type device from the p-type device. The method further involves adjusting the shallow-trench-isolation oxide corresponding to at least one of the n-type device and the p-type device such that a thickness of the shallow-trench-isolation oxide adjacent to the n-type device is different from a thickness of the shallow-trench-isolation oxide adjacent to the p-type device, and forming a strain layer over the semiconductor substrate.
US09006834B2

A semiconductor device fabrication process includes forming insulating mandrels over replacement metal gates on a semiconductor substrate with first gates having sources and drains and at least one second gate being isolated from the first gates. Mandrel spacers are formed around each insulating mandrel. The mandrels and mandrel spacers include the first insulating material. A second insulating layer of the second insulating material is formed over the transistor. One or more first trenches are formed to the sources and drains of the first gates by removing the second insulating material between the insulating mandrels. A second trench is formed to the second gate by removing portions of the first and second insulating materials above the second gate. The first trenches and the second trench are filled with conductive material to form first contacts to the sources and drains of the first gates and a second contact to the second gate.
US09006830B2

Provided is a semiconductor device having high ESD tolerance. A first via (16) is used for electrically connecting a pad (22) to a drain of an NMOS transistor of an ESD protective circuit. The first vias (16) are formed under the pad (22) only on one side of a rectangular ring-shaped intermediate metal film (17) and on another side thereof opposed to the one side. In other words, all the first vias (16) for establishing an electrical connection to the drains are present substantially directly under the pad (22). Consequently, a surge current caused by ESD and applied to the pad (22) is more likely to flow uniformly among all the drains. Then, respective channels of the NMOS transistor of the ESD protective circuit are more likely to uniformly operate, and hence the ESD tolerance of the semiconductor device is increased.
US09006824B2

In one implementation, a power semiconductor device includes an active region and a termination region. A depletion trench finger extends from the active region and ends in the termination region. An arched depletion trench surrounds the depletion trench finger in the termination region, the arched depletion trench enables one or both of an increased breakdown voltage and a reduced on-resistance in the power semiconductor device.
US09006822B2

A trench-gate device with lateral RESURF pillars has an additional implant beneath the gate trench. The additional implant reduces the effective width of the semiconductor drift region between the RESURF pillars, and this provides additional gate shielding which improves the electrical characteristics of the device.
US09006816B2

A memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, and a memory transistor in the semiconductor substrate. The memory transistor may include source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and a channel region therebetween, and a gate stack. The gate stack may include a first dielectric layer over the channel region, a first diffusion barrier layer over the first dielectric layer, a first electrically conductive layer over the first diffusion barrier layer, a second dielectric layer over the first electrically conductive layer, a second diffusion barrier layer over the second dielectric layer, and a second electrically conductive layer over the second diffusion barrier layer. The first and second dielectric layers may include different dielectric materials, and the first diffusion barrier layer may be thinner than the second diffusion barrier layer.
US09006809B2

A method for contacting MOS devices. First openings in a photosensitive material are formed over a substrate having a top dielectric in a first die area and a second opening over a gate stack in a second die area having the top dielectric, a hard mask, and a gate electrode. The top dielectric layer is etched to form a semiconductor contact while etching at least a portion the hard mask layer thickness over a gate contact area exposed by the second opening. An inter-layer dielectric (ILD) is deposited. A photosensitive material is patterned to generate a third opening in the photosensitive material over the semiconductor contact and a fourth opening inside the gate contact area. The ILD is etched through to reopen the semiconductor contact while etching through the ILD and residual hard mask if present to provide a gate contact to the gate electrode.
US09006805B2

A semiconductor device includes at least two fin-shaped structures, a gate structure, at least two epitaxial structures and a silicon cap. The fin-shaped structures are disposed on a substrate and are covered by the gate structure. The epitaxial structures are disposed at one side of the gate structure and respectively directly contact each fin-shaped structure, wherein the epitaxial structures are spaced apart from each other. The silicon cap simultaneously surrounds the epitaxial structures.
US09006802B2

Semiconductor device manufacturing methods and methods of forming insulating material layers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a composite insulating material layer of a semiconductor device includes providing a workpiece and forming a first sub-layer of the insulating material layer over the workpiece using a first plasma power level. A second sub-layer of the insulating material layer is formed over the first sub-layer of the insulating material layer using a second plasma power level, and the workpiece is annealed.
US09006801B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that includes forming a first metal semiconductor alloy on a semiconductor containing surface, forming a dielectric layer over the first metal semiconductor alloy, forming an opening in the dielectric layer to provide an exposed surface the first metal semiconductor alloy, and forming a second metal semiconductor alloy on the exposed surface of the first metal semiconductor alloy. In another embodiment, the method includes forming a gate structure on a channel region of a semiconductor substrate, forming a dielectric layer over at least a source region and a drain region, forming an opening in the dielectric layer to provide an exposed surface the semiconductor substrate, forming a first metal semiconductor alloy on the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate, and forming a second metal semiconductor alloy on the first metal semiconductor alloy.
US09006787B2

A semiconductor device includes a nitride semiconductor stacked structure including a carrier transit layer and a carrier supply layer; a p-type nitride semiconductor layer provided over the nitride semiconductor stacked structure and including an active region and an inactive region; an n-type nitride semiconductor layer provided on the inactive region in the p-type nitride semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode provided over the active region in the p-type nitride semiconductor layer.
US09006776B2

Disclosed are a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer, an electrode connected to the first conductive semiconductor layer. First to third conductive layers are disposed under the second conductive semiconductor layer. A protective layer is disposed outward further than the first conductive layer. A support member is disposed under the third conductive layer. A buffer layer is disposed between protective layer and the third conductive layer. The protective layer includes a first opening, a first portion, and a second portion. The second portion of the protective layer and the buffer layer is overlapped with the third conductive layer and is disposed outwardly further than a lateral surface of the first conductive layer.
US09006766B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a p-side electrode, an n-side electrode, an inorganic insulating film, a p-side interconnection portion, an n-side interconnection portion, and an organic insulating film. The organic insulating film is provided on the inorganic insulating film, at least on a portion between the p-side interconnection portion and the n-side interconnection portion. An end portion of the p-side interconnection portion on the n-side interconnection portion side and an end portion of the n-side interconnection portion on the p-side interconnection portion side override the organic insulating film.
US09006765B2

In one aspect, there is an apparatus that comprises a plurality of light emitting chips that each have active areas that have elongated aspect ratios. This chips are mounted in a generally rectangular package. The chips are each arranged around a periphery of the package so that each narrow side of each chip abuts either a sidewall forming the periphery of the package or a long side another of the chips. Some of the chips receive a biasing voltage through one or more other of the chips.
US09006759B2

A light-emitting device is provided that aims not to affect a service life and characteristics of light emission and includes two electrodes formed on the upper surface of a substrate with a gap at a central portion of the upper surface of the substrate between the two electrodes, a first light-emitting diode element mounted on the first electrode, and a second light-emitting diode element mounted on the second electrode. The first light-emitting diode element includes a pair of element electrodes on an upper surface of the first light-emitting diode element and the second light-emitting diode element includes a pair of element electrodes on an upper surface of the second light-emitting diode element. The first light-emitting diode element is connected by a wire to the first electrode and/or the second electrode. The second light-emitting diode element is connected by a wire to the first electrode and/or the second electrode.
US09006753B2

An electroluminescent display comprising semiconductor nanocrystals, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystals are selected to emit light at a predetermined wavelength and are disposed in a predetermined pattern. In certain embodiments, semiconductor nanocrystals that emit light at different predetermined wavelengths are disposed in the display to create a predetermined multi-color pattern.
US09006739B2

A method of testing an integrated circuit (IC) chip and a related test structure are disclosed. A test structure includes a monitor chain proximate to at least one solder bump pad, the monitor chain including at least one metal via stack, each metal via stack extending from a lower metal layer in the IC chip to an upper metal layer in the IC chip, such that the monitor chain forms a continuous circuit proximate to the at least one solder bump pad, and where each metal via stack is positioned substantially under the solder bump. A method for testing to detect boundaries of safe effective modulus includes performing a stress test on an IC chip containing the test structure joined to a semiconductor package.
US09006738B2

The invention relates to an electronic device for measuring and/or controlling a property of an analyte (100). The electronic device comprises: i) an electrode (Snsr) forming an interface with the analyte (100) in which the electrode (Snsr) is immersed in operational use, the interface having an interface temperature (T), and ii) a resistive heater (Htr) being thermally and capacitively coupled to the electrode (Snsr), the resistive heater (Htr) being configured for setting the interface temperature (T) by controlling a current through the resistive heater (Htr). The resistive heater (Htr) is provided with signal integrity protection for reducing the capacitive charging of the electrode (Snsr) by the resistive heater (Htr) if the current through the resistive heater (Htr) is modulated. The invention further relates to an electrochemical sensor for determining a charged particle concentration in the analyte (100) using the thermo-potentiometric principle, the electrochemical sensor comprising such electronic device. The invention also relates to an RFID tag and a semiconductor device comprising such electrochemical sensor. The effect of the feature of the invention is that the capacitive charging effect between the resistive heater and the electrode is reduced by the signal integrity protection.
US09006730B2

A metal oxide semiconductor structure and a production method thereof, the structure including: a substrate; a gate electrode, deposited on the substrate; a gate insulation layer, deposited over the gate electrode and the substrate; an IGZO layer, deposited on the gate insulation layer and functioning as a channel; a source electrode, deposited on the gate insulation layer and being at one side of the IGZO layer; a drain electrode, deposited on the gate insulation layer and being at another side of the IGZO layer; a first passivation layer, deposited over the source electrode, the IGZO layer, and the drain electrode; a second passivation layer, deposited over the first passivation layer; and an opaque resin layer, deposited over the source electrode, the second passivation layer, and the drain electrode.
US09006729B2

It is an object to provide a method for manufacturing a highly reliable semiconductor device having a thin film transistor formed using an oxide semiconductor and having stable electric characteristics. The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film overlapping with a gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween; and a source electrode and a drain electrode which are in contact with the oxide semiconductor film. The source electrode and the drain electrode include a mixture, metal compound, or alloy containing one or more of a metal with a low electronegativity such as titanium, magnesium, yttrium, aluminum, tungsten, and molybdenum. The concentration of hydrogen in the source electrode and the drain electrode is 1.2 times, preferably 5 times or more as high as that of hydrogen in the oxide semiconductor film.
US09006724B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a pixel part on a substrate, the pixel part being configured to display an image, a peripheral part at a peripheral area of the pixel part, the peripheral part including a chip on film connection part, and a chip on film connected to the chip on film connection part, the chip on film connection part including a chip on film bonding part, the chip on film being attached to the chip on film bonding part, and an array test part separated from the chip on film bonding part, the array test part being contacted with a probe pin.
US09006723B2

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a substrate, an organic light-emitting portion, a sealing member, and first and second connecting members. The organic light-emitting portion includes a first electrode positioned on the substrate, an organic light-emitting layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic light-emitting layer. The sealing member includes a first conductive layer positioned on the organic light-emitting portion and electrically connected to the second electrode, a second conductive layer electrically connected to the first electrode, and an insulating layer interposed between the first and second conductive layers. The first connecting member is connected to the first conductive layer to supply a first power source, and the second connecting member is connected to the second conductive layer to supply a second power source.
US09006715B2

A method of making an electronic device comprising a double bank well-defining structure, which method comprises: providing an electronic substrate; depositing a first insulating material on the substrate to form a first insulating layer; depositing a second insulating material on the first insulating layer to form a second insulating layer; removing a portion of the second insulating layer to expose a portion of the first insulating layer and form a second well-defining bank; depositing a resist on the second insulating layer and on a portion of the exposed first insulating layer; removing the portion of the first insulating layer not covered by the resist, to expose a portion of the electronic substrate and form a first well-defining bank within the second well-defining bank; and removing the resist. The method can provide devices with reduced leakage currents.
US09006711B2

Disclosed is a white light-emitting organic electroluminescent device, which is excellent in stability of emission chromaticity over a long operation period, while having high electrical efficiency, long life, excellent storage stability and excellent color rendering properties. Also disclosed is an illuminating device using such an organic electroluminescent device. Specifically disclosed is an organic electroluminescent device having a light-emitting layer between an anode and a cathode, which is characterized by comprising a light-emitting layer A having a maximum emission wavelength of not more than 480 nm and containing a phosphorescent dopant having a maximum emission wavelength of not more than 480 nm, and a light-emitting layer B arranged between the light-emitting layer A and the anode, which has a maximum emission wavelength of not less than 510 nm and contains a phosphorescent dopant. This organic electroluminescent device is also characterized in that the concentration of the phosphorescent dopant contained in the light-emitting layer A varies in the thickness direction of the light-emitting layer A. Also specifically disclosed is an illuminating device using such a white light-emitting organic electroluminescent device.
US09006700B2

A resistive memory device and a method for fabricating the resistive memory device. The memory device includes a first electrode and a resistive memory element in electrical contact. The memory device also includes a non-programmable stabilizer element in electrical and thermal contact with the resistive memory element. The stabilizer element has at least one physical dimension based on a physical characteristic of the resistive memory element such that the maximum resistance of the stabilizer element is substantially less than the maximum resistance of the resistive memory element.
US09006696B2

Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells and methods of fabricating thereof. A ReRAM cell includes an embedded resistor and resistive switching layer connected in series. The embedded resistor prevents excessive electrical currents through the resistive switching layer, especially when the resistive switching layer is switched into its low resistive state, thereby preventing over-programming. The embedded resistor includes aluminum, nitrogen, and one or more additional metals (other than aluminum). The concentration of each component is controlled to achieve desired resistivity and stability of the embedded resistor. In some embodiments, the resistivity ranges from 0.1 Ohm-centimeter to 40 Ohm-centimeter and remains substantially constant while applying an electrical field of up 8 mega-Volts/centimeter to the embedded resistor. The embedded resistor may be made from an amorphous material, and the material is operable to remain amorphous even when subjected to typical annealing conditions.
US09006694B2

Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an x-ray shielding system including a flexible layer including a support structure having a plurality of interconnected interstitial spaces that provide a circulation network for an x-ray shielding fluid composition.
US09006693B2

An energy degrader includes: a damping unit that attenuates energy of incident charged particles and has a thickness changing stepwise or continuously according to a position of a two-dimensional coordinate system within a plane crossing a traveling direction of charged particles; and a driving unit that performs translational driving of the damping unit in first and second axial directions that are directions of two axes crossing each other in the two-dimensional coordinate system.
US09006689B2

The source bushing assembly has a source bushing having an internal vacuum side and an external atmosphere side, a first shield of annular shape disposed at one end of the source bushing in spaced concentric relation to reduce formation of an electrically conductive coating on the source bushing, a second shield of annular shape disposed at an opposite end of the source bushing in spaced concentric relation to prevent arcing on the source bushing and an internally disposed concentric X-ray shield.
US09006688B2

Herein, an improved technique for processing a substrate is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be achieved using a mask for processing the substrate. The mask may be incorporated into a substrate processing system such as, for example, an ion implantation system. The mask may comprise a first base; and a plurality of fingers spaced apart from one another to define one or more gaps.
US09006677B2

An intensity modulator for controlling the intensity of ions, such as protons, controllably block a portion of sub-areas of an area beam to control the average intensity within that sub-area. A fan beam is then created by a focusing process that reforms the area beam while blurring intensity variations in each sub-area to a corresponding beamlet in the fan beam of uniform intensity.
US09006672B2

A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
US09006670B2

An X-ray detector includes a top receiving container in which one or more subjects are disposed, an X-ray detection unit that detects shadow images of the one or more subjects when X-rays are radiated to the one or more subjects and calculates an X-ray radiation angle of the radiated X-rays based on the shadow images of the one or more subjects, and a bottom receiving container having a receiving space in which the X-ray detection unit is received.
US09006665B2

A radiation detection apparatus including a sensor unit having photoelectric conversion units two-dimensionally arranged and a scintillator layer which converts radiation into light, comprising a first member disposed on the sensor unit, and a second member disposed on the first member, wherein the scintillator layer is disposed on the second member, and letting n1 be a refractive index of the first member, n2 be a refractive index of the second member, and n3 be a refractive index of the scintillator layer, a relationship of n1
US09006663B2

A method for real-time RL and/or ROSL dose rate measuring in an environment exposed to a radiation source(s). The method comprises the steps of exposing a dosimeter to the environment for irradiation by the radiation source(s), the dosimeter comprising a phosphor-doped fluoroperovskite compound, sensing the RL or ROSL emitted light from the dosimeter during irradiation by the radiation source(s) and generating a representative light detection signal, and recording or generating a real-time measure of dose rate in the environment based on the light detection signal. A radiation dosimeter detection system comprising a phosphor-doped fluoroperovskite compound, the dosimeter coupled to a detector by an optical fiber. The detector comprises first and second optical stimulation sources that transmit light over the optical fiber to the dosimeter in first and second wavelength ranges. An optical detector senses light emitted from the dosimeter from which read-out dose information is generated.
US09006657B2

In an optical measuring device, the visual observation section includes: a white light source which emits white light; a first objective lens arranged between the white light source and measurement object, through which the white light emitted from the white light source and return light from the measurement object transmit; a plurality of tube lenses which change a magnification of the return light passing through the first objective lens to a predetermined magnification; and a lens switching mechanism which can selectively switch the tube lenses so as to select one of the tube lenses to be arranged on the return light, and the special observation section includes: a special light source which emits special light; and a second objective lens arranged between the special light source and measurement object, through which the special light emitted from the special light source and return light from the measurement object transmit.
US09006653B2

Provided is an electron microscope capable of enhancing a magnetic shield function even though the structure thereof has an objective tens that projects into a sample chamber space. The electron microscope includes: an objective lens (6) which focuses an electron beam to irradiate a sample (4) with; a sample chamber (5) which forms a sample space to contain the sample (4); a sample chamber magnetic shield (7) provided inside the sample chamber (5); and an objective lens magnetic shield (8) of a tubular shape which surrounds the periphery of the objective lens (6). A first and a second hole, which face to each other in a traveling direction of the electron beam, are provided in an upper plate (10) serving as an upper wall of the sample chamber (5) and in an upper shield (9) of the sample chamber magnetic shield (7). The objective lens (6) is held inside the first hole provided in the upper plate (10). A lower end of the objective lens (6) is disposed at a position lower than a lower end of the upper plate (10), and at a position of the second hole provided in the upper shield (9) or at a position near this position. The objective lens magnetic shield (8) is positioned inside the first hole, and a lower end thereof is connected to the upper shield (9).
US09006645B2

A through casing formation evaluation tool string 1000, 2000, 3000 including a conveyance string 100, a sonic array tool 200, a pulsed neutron tool 400 and one or more downhole memory modules 160, 540, 550. A method of through casing formation evaluation and casing and cementing integrity evaluation includes lowering a tool string into a cased wellbore; concurrently collecting data with the sonic array tool and pulsed neutron tool and transmitting at least a portion of the collected data via a conveyance string to a CPU located at the surface of the earth; storing a portion of the collected data in a memory module disposed in the tool string; removing the tool string from the wellbore; processing the collected data in the CPU to obtain selected rock property data about the one or more of the geologic formations and/or cement integrity.
US09006638B2

A capacitive transimpedance amplifier for a detector unit capable of generating first and second detection currents comprises: a read-out circuit including an integration capacitor coupled between an input node connected to the detector unit, and a common node between first and second transistors connected in series, and a sampling and holding unit coupled between the first common node and an output node for sampling and holding a voltage at the first common node; and a switch unit connected to control ends of the first and second transistors and the input node, and operable between a first state, where the first detection current is read out, and a second state, where the second detection current is read out.
US09006635B2

To provide a photodetector circuit capable of obtaining signals in different periods without being affected by characteristics of a photoelectric conversion element. The photodetector circuit has n signal output circuits (n is a natural number of 2 or more) connected to the photoelectric conversion element. Further, the n signal output circuits each include the following: a transistor whose gate potential varies in accordance with the amount of light entering the photoelectric conversion element; a first switching element which holds the gate potential of the transistor; and a second switching element which controls a signal output from the transistor. Thus, after data based on the amount of light entering the photoelectric conversion elements is held as the gate potentials of the transistors, the second switching elements are turned on, whereby signals in different periods can be obtained without being affected by characteristics of the photoelectric conversion element.
US09006620B2

A transparent or translucent glass-ceramic plate, capable of covering or receiving at least one underlying heating element. The plate has a coating which at least partly masks the underlying heating element(s), while still allowing the heating element(s) and optional displays to be detected. At least 90% of the coating is on the face of the plate to be turned toward the heating element(s) and optional displays in the use position. The coating has a region or a group of regions known as a background region(s), wherein the background region(s) occupy most of the surface of the coating. The coating also has a region or a group of regions known as indicating region(s), wherein the indicating region(s) making it possible to display, relative to the background region(s), a pattern, a sign and/or the location of functional elements while also making it possible to detect if the elements are in operation.
US09006604B2

A system and method for precision cutting using multiple laser beams is described. The system and method includes a combination of optical components that split the output of a single laser into multiple beams, with the power, polarization status and spot size of each split beam being individually controllable, while providing a circularly polarized beam at the surface of a work piece to be cut by the laser beam. A system and method for tracking manufacture of individual stents is also provided.
US09006600B2

An electrode assembly for a circuit breaker is provided. The electrode assembly includes a conductive assembly and a heat transfer assembly. The conductive assembly includes a stem portion and a contact portion. The heat transfer assembly includes a number of elongated bodies, a first heat transfer surface, and a second heat transfer surface. The first heat transfer surface is disposed on the conductive assembly. Each heat transfer assembly body includes a second heat transfer surface. Each heat transfer assembly body is coupled to the conductive assembly with the first heat transfer surface coupled to a number of second heat transfer surfaces.
US09006593B2

Improvements in an emergency switch for an end cap flashlight that allows conducting power to the light source by applying side or rotational force on the end caps of the flashlight. The cap is designed to give faster and more convenient access to light in an emergency, or when needed. The end cap connects to the inner conductor with a castled shape that allows the conductors to be moved in or out alignment to allow or prevent contact. The gasket or washer provides insulation and spacing of the conductors. Side forces on the end cap overcome the spacing of the washer to make electrical contact. The end cap may also support a glass breaking device. The glass breaker is a hardened tip on the end of the cap.
US09006591B2

An appliance control knob assembly includes an encoder with a rotatable shaft. A control knob is connected to the shaft and is mounted on a protuberance that extends into the control knob and provides a bearing mounting surface. The control knob has a hub portion rotationally supported by a bearing mounted within the protuberance, and which engages the rotatable encoder shaft. The encoder is mounted such that prior to attachment of the hub portion with the encoder shaft, the encoder is allowed a degree of movement to come into alignment with the hub portion.
US09006590B2

A process analytic device includes a metallic enclosure having electronics disposed therein. The enclosure has an enclosure wall with a reference surface. A plurality of operating rods is provided. Each operating rod is configured to pass through an aperture in the enclosure wall and to cooperate with the enclosure wall to provide a flame quenching pathway. A plurality of electrical switches is provided where each electrical switch is aligned with a respective operating rod, and is mounted a controlled distance from the reference surface. Each operating rod transfers movement to a respective electrical switch through the flame quenching pathway.
US09006586B2

One embodiment provides a wiring substrate including: a core substrate having an insulative base member, the insulative base member having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of linear conductors penetrating through the insulative base member from the first surface to the second surface; an inorganic material layer joined to at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the insulative base member; and a penetration line penetrating through the inorganic material layer, wherein one end of the penetration line is electrically connected to a corresponding part of the linear conductors, without intervention of a bump.
US09006581B2

A printed wiring board, including a printed wiring member which respectively has object conductor that is subjected to electromagnetic wave shielding on at least one surface of an insulating layer; and an electromagnetic wave shielding member which has an electromagnetic wave shielding layer composed of a low-resistance section and a high-resistance section on at least one surface of a base film. The printed wiring member and the electromagnetic wave shielding member are bonded together with interposition of insulating adhesive layers, and with arrangement of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer separately and in opposition so that the object conductor is covered. The electromagnetic wave shielding layer and the object conductor are composed of the same type of conductive material, and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer is not exposed at the circumferential end faces of the printed wiring board.
US09006576B2

A superconductive cable which has a cryostat with two concentric metal pipes where the cryostat has at least a first axial section with a first axial spring constant, and at least a second axial section which has a second axial spring constant which at most is 20%, more preferred at most 10%, of the axial spring constant of the first section.
US09006569B2

A junction box used for making electrical connections to a photovoltaic panel. The junction box has two chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber and a wall common to and separating both chambers. The wall may be adapted to have an electrical connection therethrough. The two lids are adapted to seal respectively the two chambers. The two lids are on opposite sides of the junction box relative to the photovoltaic panel. The two lids may be attachable using different sealing processes to a different level of hermeticity. The first chamber may be adapted to receive a circuit board. The junction box may include supports for mounting a printed circuit board in the first chamber. The second chamber is configured for electrical connection to the photovoltaic panel. A metal heat sink may be bonded inside the first chamber. The first chamber is adapted to receive a circuit board for electrical power conversion, and the metal heat sink is adapted to dissipate heat generated by the circuit board.
US09006566B2

A photoelectric conversion device comprising: an inorganic photoelectric conversion film; and an organic photoelectric conversion film, wherein an insulating film between the inorganic photoelectric conversion film and the organic photoelectric conversion film has a thickness of from 1 to 6 μm, wherein the organic photoelectric conversion film has a multilayer structure comprising four or more layers, or wherein a protective film having a multilayer structure comprising three or more layers is provided on the organic photoelectric conversion film.
US09006565B2

A fluoropolymer composition having a total luminous transmittance (TT) of less than 15%, when measured according to ASTM D1003 on a sample having a thickness of about 50 μm, said composition comprising: at least one hydrogen-containing fluoropolymer [polymer (A)]; from 5 to 80% by weight of (A) of at least one inorganic pigment [pigment (I)]; and from 1 to 99% by weight of (I) of at least one per(halo)fluoropolymer chosen among tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymers having a dynamic viscosity at a shear rate of 1 rad×sec−1 of less than 100 Pa×sec at a temperature of 280° C. [polymer (B)]. By adding polymer (B) to the composition based on polymer (A) it is advantageously possible to obtain an even dispersion of the pigment (I) so that a composition possessing outstanding opacity and still being processable under the form of films, so as to provide adequate mechanical properties, can be manufactured therefrom.
US09006550B2

With this invention to learn how to read music, neither the teacher nor student needs to have any knowledge of music at all. It is a box, divided into one section for the student and one for the teacher. Each side has a keyboard marked with music notes. There are 16 cards, eight for each clef marked with a music note and its staff position. Through a slot the teacher inserts one card a this time. The student can only see his/her side of the card, not the teacher's side which has the name of the note. The student identifies the note on his/her side of the card and pushes the note guessed key, then the teacher's keyboard lights up that note. If the student is correct or wrong the teacher pushes on a green or red light and then presses the correct key, playing the music note.
US09006536B1

A novel sorghum variety designated PHA4CZQIT and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a plant that comprise crossing sorghum variety PHA4CZQIT with another plant. Methods for producing a plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHA4CZQIT through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the sorghum seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid sorghum seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the sorghum variety PHA4CZQIT or a locus conversion of PHA4CZQIT with another sorghum variety.
US09006529B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety OW1113014 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety OW1113014 and its progeny, and methods of making OW1113014.
US09006524B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XB53T13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB53T13, cells from soybean variety XB53T13, plants of soybean XB53T13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB53T13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB53T13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB53T13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB53T13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB53T13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB53T13 are further provided.
US09006523B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XBP27009 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP27009, cells from soybean variety XBP27009, plants of soybean XBP27009, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP27009. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP27009 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP27009, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP27009, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP27009. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP27009 are further provided.
US09006521B2

The present invention relates to novel Lactuca sativa plants resistant to Bremia, and to seeds of said plants. The present invention also relates to methods of making such plants and their seeds. The invention further relates to markers and the use thereof in marker assisted breeding and for identifying the Bremia resistance trait.
US09006512B1

A novel maize variety designated PH17W6 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17W6 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17W6 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH17W6 or a locus conversion of PH17W6 with another maize variety.
US09006507B2

One exemplary embodiment can be a process for isomerizing a feed stream including one or more C4-C6 hydrocarbons. The process may include contacting the feed stream in an isomerization reaction zone with an isomerization catalyst at isomerization conditions to produce an isomerization zone effluent; passing at least a portion of the isomerization zone effluent to a stabilizer zone and recovering a stabilizer overhead stream, a bottom stream, and a stripper feed stream; passing the stripper feed stream to a stripping zone and separating the stripper feed stream into a stripper overhead stream and a stripper bottom stream; and recycling at least a portion of the stripper bottom stream to a deisopentanizer zone and passing a stream from the deisopentanizer zone to the isomerization reaction zone. Usually, the stabilizer overhead stream includes one or more C5− hydrocarbons, the bottom stream includes at least about 85%, by weight, one or more C6+ hydrocarbons, and a stripper feed stream including at least about 10%, by weight, one or more C5+ hydrocarbons. Often, a stripper overhead stream includes at least about 5%, by weight, one or more C4− hydrocarbons and a stripper bottom stream includes at least about 90%, by weight, one or more C5+ hydrocarbons.
US09006505B2

A method for processing plastic waste, in particular polyolefins, and a device for processing plastic waste, in particular polyolefins, are used especially in the industrial utilization of plastic waste. The method consists in that a primarily refined charge after being fed into a reactor (6) is fluidized and cracked during forced progressive-rotational movement coinciding with heating. A gas-steam fraction obtained during a utilization process is continuously guided out to a cooling system whereas impurities are periodically guided out from the reactor (6) to a waste tank (22).
US09006498B2

Process for the chlorination of an organic compound comprising at least one aliphatic hydroxyl group, said process comprising the steps of actively adding to said organic compound (i) hydrogen chloride and (ii) a HCl desolubilizer or a precursor thereof, and heating the resulting mixture at a reaction temperature in the range 20°-160° C., wherein said chlorination is performed in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group consisting of (a) ketones, (b) aldehydes, (c) carboxylic acids with 1-8 carbon atoms, (d) organic compounds comprising a β-diketone moiety or a β-keto aldehyde moiety, and (e) organic polymers comprising at least one carbonyl group, having a vapor pressure at the reaction temperature of less than 1 mbar, a weight average molecular weight Mw of 500 g/mole or more, and are soluble in the reaction mixture at the reaction temperature, and wherein the HCl desolubilizer is an alkali metal chloride salt, an alkaline earth metal chloride salt, or an acid.
US09006489B2

Method for pretreating the copper-based catalyst having the steps of dehydrating the copper-based catalyst at an elevated temperature, reducing the dehydrated copper-based catalyst with hydrogen, and passivating the activated copper-based catalyst to obtain a catalyst suitable for N-alkylation. The dehydration and reduction steps may be conducted simultaneously.
US09006468B2

The invention disclosed in this document is related to the field of pesticides and their use in controlling pests. A compound having the following structure is disclosed.
US09006455B2

The present disclosure relates to methods for making compounds useful in the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
US09006454B2

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, X1, X2, Y, Ra, Rb, Q have the meanings given in claim 1. The compounds are useful e.g. in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and also in the treatment of cancer disorders.
US09006451B1

The present invention provides a compound of general formulae A useful as potential antitumor agents against human cancer cell lines and a process for the preparation thereof.
US09006450B2

The invention relates to new piperidine derivatives of the formula I to their use as medicaments, to methods for their therapeutic use and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US09006449B2

The invention relates to cyclopropylamine compounds, in particular the compounds of Formula (I), and their use in therapy, including e.g. in the treatment or prevention of cancer, a neurological disease or condition, or viral infection.
US09006427B2

Various photochromic materials are provided that are essentially free of polymerizable unsaturated groups, and comprise: a) an indeno[2′,3′:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyran; and b) an electron-withdrawing, non-conjugating group bonded at the 11-position of the indeno[2′,3′:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyran. Alternative embodiments include various substituents at other positions of the indeno[2′,3′:3,4]naphtho[1,2-b]pyran.
US09006424B2

The invention concerns a new process for the resolution of ivabradine and of intermediates of synthesis thereof.
US09006421B2

Provided herein is a method for the synthesis of cephalosporin antibiotic compounds comprising the conversion of a protected 7-amino group into a 7-carboxamide moiety in a single step.
US09006419B2

A method for isolating nucleic acids is provided. The method includes providing a biological sample containing at least one nucleic acid, and mixing the biological sample with an isolating agent under a suitable condition to isolate the nucleic acids from the biological sample in single step, wherein the isolating agent contains 1-40 wt % of PEG and/or more than 30 wt % of low molecular weight alcohol, a salt, and a detergent. Isolated nucleic acids are bound to a solid support by changes in the solubility of nucleic acids. Additionally, the present invention further provides an isolating agent and kit for isolating nucleic acids.
US09006408B2

The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, thrombosis, and for decreasing or prevention of accumulation of cholesterol in a subject by modifying LCAT polypeptide.
US09006397B2

The present disclosure provides proteins comprising antibody antigen binding domains that bind to Fn14 and uses thereof. The present disclosure also provides methods for treating wasting disorders, such as cachexia.
US09006393B1

Stalled ribosome:nascent molecule of interest complexes and methods of using same are provided. Plasmids, particularly DNA plasmids, comprising a stall segment are also disclosed. The methods provide for the facile and stable formation of stalled ribosome:nascent molecule of interest complexes that may be used to examine protein synthesis and protein conformational events, as well as in the creation of desired ribosomal displays. Cells transformed with these plasmids are also provided, and include both eukaryotic and prokaryotic transformed cells. Stall elements that provide for ribosomal stalling of eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomes are also disclosed. Various therapeutic and clinical applications of these methods are also provided and used in diseases associated with defects in protein accumulation in vivo.
US09006390B2

The invention relates to kinase ligands and polyligands. In particular, the invention relates to ligands, homopolyligands, and heteropolyligands that modulate MEK activity. The ligands and polyligands are utilized as research tools or as therapeutics. The invention includes linkage of the ligands, homopolyligands, and heteropolyligands to a cellular localization signal, epitope tag and/or a reporter. The invention also includes polynucleotides encoding the ligands and polyligands.
US09006389B2

A repeat protein from a collection of repeat proteins, wherein each repeat protein of said collection comprises a repeat domain, which comprises a set of consecutive repeat modules, wherein the repeat modules have the same fold and stack tightly to create a superhelical structure having a joint hydrophobic core, wherein each of the repeat modules is derived from one or more repeat units and wherein the repeat units comprise framework residues, which contribute to the folding topology of the repeat unit or contribute to an interaction with a neighboring repeat unit, and target interaction residues, which contribute to an interaction with a target substance, wherein the repeat proteins of the collection differ from other repeat proteins in the collection in at least one amino acid position of the repeat modules is described as are related pharmaceuticals and nucleic acid molecules.
US09006383B2

Provided is a process for producing a copolymer of a diallylamine and sulfur dioxide which copolymer has a higher molecular weight and water-solubility than that obtained by a conventional production process by copolymerizing the diallylamine and sulfur dioxide in the presence of an acid and a radical polymerization initiator in a polar solvent.
US09006382B2

The present invention related to compositions and methods of producing polyesters with two and/or more different structural units and the materials of polyesters with structure sequence exactly specified therefore produced, and various articles produced from such exactly sequenced polyesters. More particularly, homogeneous copolymers with precisely defined sequences of various hydroxyl acids and their derivatives are produced according to the present invention.
US09006380B2

This invention relates to polymer compositions comprising at least one ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer and a branched and/or high melt strength polypropylene, methods of making the polymer compositions, and molded, overmolded, extruded into profiles or thermoformed products made from the polymer compositions. The polymer compositions may have reduced post-thermoformed sheet and post extruded (profile) gloss properties and/or improved scratch-resistant properties.
US09006378B2

A plastic article formed from a thermoplastic composition including a polycarbonate having repeating structural carbonate units according to the formula: in which at least 60 percent of the total number of R1 groups contain aromatic moieties and the balance thereof are aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic. The composition also includes an epoxy additive having at least two epoxy groups per molecule and a phenolic diphosphite derived from pentaerythritol. The thermoplastic composition exhibits a dE (2000 hrs.) value of less than 1.5 after 2000 hours of heat aging at 130° C., measured according ISO 11664-4:2008(E)/CIE S 014-4/E:2007 using CIE illuminant D65 and a 2.5 mm thick molded plaque of the thermoplastic composition.
US09006372B2

Branched silicone (organopolysiloxane) resins and preparation method and use thereof are provided, which contain at least one group selected from phosphonate and phosphinate groups and at least one organic group containing nitrogen. Such silicone resins can be used in thermoplastic, thermosetting or rubber organic polymer compositions to reduce the flammability of the organic polymer compositions.
US09006370B1

Optically clear abrasion (or scratch) and chemical-resistant coatings for use on plastic surfaces and methods for making the coating. These coatings can also be used on metallic substrates for improving their hardness and anti-corrosion (or barrier) properties. The coating composition includes at least one silane which has at least one non-hydrolyzable radical containing an epoxy group, at least one aluminum alkoxide, at least one hydrolyzable silicon compound, at least one acid, and water. The coating composition is a molecular composite formulation and is free from particulate materials.
US09006368B2

A propylene/ethylene/1-hexene terpolymer containing from 1.0 wt % to 2.5 wt %, of ethylene derived units and from 2.0 wt % to 3.5 wt % of 1-hexene derived units, the sum of the amounts of propylene, ethylene and 1-.hexene derived units being 100, having the following features: a) the amount (Wt %) of 1-hexene (C6) and the amount (Wt %) of ethylene (C2) fulfill the following relation (i): 0.5
US09006367B2

Disclosed herein are broad molecular weight distribution olefin polymers having densities in the 0.895 to 0.930 g/cm3 range, and with improved impact and tear resistance. These polymers can have a ratio of Mw/Mn in the 8 to 35 range, a high load melt index in the 4 to 50 range, less than about 0.008 LCB per 1000 total carbon atoms, and a reverse comonomer distribution.
US09006363B2

Process for the activation of a supported chromium oxide based catalyst in a fluidized bed activation reactor which has a catalyst bed being fluidized by a fluidization gas. The activation includes treatment at temperatures above 500° C., in which in an initial stage, where there is an initial temperature increase, the fluidization velocity (Vf1) of the fluidization gas is maintained below 6.5 centimeters per second (cm/sec) until the temperature inside the activation reactor reaches at least 200° C., and the fluidization gas is then brought to a value (Vf2) which is at least 1 cm/sec higher than Vf1.
US09006362B2

Living radical polymerization processes, reaction products of such processes, and compositions containing such reaction products are provided. More particularly, a living radical polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid monomers employing having a defined order of introduction of the reactants and/or a specific set of reaction conditions, is provided.
US09006359B2

Medical devices having a wettable, biocompatible surface are described herein. Processes for producing such devices are also described.
US09006357B2

A curable composition comprises (a) at least one polyorganosiloxane, fluorinated polyorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydroxysilyl moieties; (b) at least one polyorganosiloxane, fluorinated polyorganosiloxane, or combination thereof comprising reactive silane functionality comprising at least two hydrosilyl moieties; and (c) a catalyst composition comprising (1) at least one base selected from amidines, guanidines, phosphazenes, proazaphosphatranes, and combinations thereof, and (2) at least one Lewis acid; wherein at least one of the components (a) and (b) has an average reactive silane functionality of at least three.
US09006352B2

Provided is a photosensitive alkali-soluble resin comprising a compound of formula (I), a method of preparing the same, and a color photosensitive resist containing the same, wherein n1, n2, R1, R2 and R3 are defined as herein. The photosensitive alkali-soluble resin is prepared by: copolymerizing ethylene oxide with α-hydroxyalkyl phenyl ketone to obtain the first intermediate product, followed by copolymerizing the first intermediate product with a copolymerization product of glycerin acrylate, styrene, and maleic anhydride to obtain the second intermediate product, and oxidizing the second intermediate product to produce the photosensitive alkali-soluble resin.
US09006339B2

A process for preparing mechanically stabilized polyazoles, comprising the following steps: I) treating at least one polyazole having at least one amino group in a repeat unit with a solution comprising (i) at least one strong acid and (ii) at least one stabilizing reagent, the total content of stabilizing reagents in the solution being in the range from 0.01 to 30% by weight, II) performing the stabilization reaction directly and/or in a subsequent processing step by heating to a temperature greater than 25° C., the stabilizing reagent used being at least one polyvinyl alcohol. The polyazoles thus obtainable are notable especially for a high conductivity and a very good mechanical stability. They are therefore especially suitable for applications in fuel cells.
US09006338B2

An aqueous resin composition with gas barrier properties contains (i) polyurethane resin having aurethane group and a urea group in a total concentration of 25 to 60% by weight and having a acid value of 5 to 100 mgKOH/g, (ii) a swelling inorganic layered compound (e.g., a water-swelling mica, and a montmorillonite), and (iii) a polyamine compound having an amine value of 100 to 1900 mgKOH/g. The polyurethane resin (i) is obtained by a reaction of (A) an aromatic, araliphatic or alicyclic polyisocyanate, (B) a polyhydroxyalkanecarboxylic acid, and at least one component selected from (C) a C2-8alkylene glycol and (D) a chain-extension agent (e.g., diamine, hydrazine and a hydrazine derivative), and neutralized with a neutralizing agent. The proportion of the acid group of the polyurethane resin (i) relative to the basic nitrogen atom of the polyamine compound (iii) is 10/1 to 1/5 as the equivalent ratio. A laminated film with high gas barrier properties is obtainable by coating a base film with the aqueous resin composition. The present invention provides an aqueous resin composition with excellent gas barrier properties, and a laminated film using the same.
US09006335B2

The present invention relates to a pneumonic tire and a rubber composition used in the same, both of which are capable of preventing static charge build-up on a tire surface without degrading various tire performances such as rolling resistance and so on, and particularly to a rubber composition comprising 10 to 30 parts by mass of an ionic liquid and 5 to 95 parts by mass of silica per 100 parts by mass of a rubber component containing at least 50% by mass of styrene-butadiene rubber, as well as a pneumatic tire using such a rubber composition in a tread portion.
US09006322B1

Compositions comprising polyoxymethylene polymers and at least one organopolysiloxane polymer. Adding organopolysiloxane polymers to polyoxymethylene polymers provides compositions that exhibit at least a 50 percent reduction in melt viscosity compared to the melt viscosity of an identical, melted composition lacking the organopolysiloxane polymer, and promote easier molding of the compositions into complex article shapes.
US09006309B2

An agitating and mixing device 1 of the present invention includes a container 2 for storing the composition, an agitating member 3 for agitating the composition, which is inserted in the container 2, and a driving device 4 for vibrating the container 2. The agitating member 3 has a rod-like portion 32 having one end portion and another end portion, a plate-like portion 31 provided on the one end portion of the rod-like portion 32 and the grip portion 33 provided on the other end portion of the rod-like portion 33. The plate-like portion 31 is perpendicular to the rod-like portion 32. The agitating member 3 is configured to agitate the composition by spacing the plate-like portion 31 apart from the bottom surface of the container 2.
US09006308B2

The present invention describes a reinforcing filler for rubber comprising the synergistic combination of precipitated silica with a pore structure defined by a maximum between 25 nm and 35 nm, a total pore volume between 1.3 cm3/g and 1.6 cm3/g, and a compression factor between 1.3 10−2 and 2.3 10−2 MPa−1, and at least one crystalline alkaline silicate corresponding to the general formula of the crystalline alkaline silicates, said crystalline alkaline silicate being swelled and/or layered in the presence of an organic cationic compound in the form of ammonium salt of the +NR4 type according to the formula [CnH2n+1N(CH3)3]+. The rubber formulation obtained by this reinforcing filler composition does present a great reduction of energy dissipated in the tread without compromising the abrasion resistance and elastic modulus properties.
US09006286B2

A disinfecting shower cleaner composition including a medium-chain fatty acid coupled with a nonionic surfactant providing temperature stable antimicrobial compositions. The invention specifically relates to antimicrobial compositions including fatty acid antimicrobial agents coupled with an ethoxylated amine and methods of using the antimicrobial compositions.
US09006281B2

The present disclosure is directed to compounds and methods for treating irritable bowel syndrome, chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease by administering to a subject in need thereof a compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the compound has the structure
US09006280B2

Pyrazolone derivative formulations are provided. The formulations include a pyrazolone derivative active agent, e.g., edaravone, and an amphiphilic solubilizing agent. Also provided are methods of making and using the subject formulations.
US09006277B2

The present invention relates to substituted triazole compounds and compositions comprising substituted triazole compounds. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting the activity of Hsp90 in a subject in need thereof and methods for preventing or treating hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer, in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a substituted triazole compound of the invention, or a composition comprising such a compound.
US09006275B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, salts of prodrugs, or combinations thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and L2, are defined in the specification, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US09006269B2

Compounds of formula (I) are inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase, (FAAH), and which are useful in the treatment of diseases or medical conditions which benefit from inhibition of FAAH activity, such as anxiety, depression pain, inflammation, and eating, sleep, neurodegenerative and movement disorders: Wherein Ar1 is optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted monocyclic heteroaryl having 5 or 6 ring atoms; Ar2 is optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted monocyclic heteroaryl having 5 or 6 ring atoms or optionally substituted fused bicyclic heteroaryl having 5 or 6 ring atoms in each fused ring; and Ar3 is a divalent radical selected from the group consisting of optionally substituted phenylene and optionally substituted monocyclic heteroarylene radicals having 5 or 6 ring atoms.
US09006265B2

The use of substituted fused pyrimidinones and dihydropyrimidinones of the formula (I) or salts thereof where the radicals of the formula (I) are each as defined in the description, for enhancing stress tolerance in plants to abiotic stress, and for invigorating plant growth and/or for increasing plant yield.
US09006257B2

The present disclosure is directed to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as mPGES-1 inhibitors. These compounds are inhibitors of the microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) enzyme and are therefore useful in the treatment of pain and/or inflammation from a variety of diseases or conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute or chronic pain and neurodegenerative diseases.
US09006251B2

Aminoquinazolinyl compounds of formula (I) are described, which are useful as prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors. Such compounds may be used in pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by prolyl hydroxylase activity. Thus, the compounds may be administered to treat, e.g., anemia, vascular disorders, metabolic disorders, and wound healing.
US09006248B2

The present invention relates to a method of treating a patient suffering from a disorder of the central nervous system associated with 5-HT1A receptor subtype, comprising as an active ingredient a carbostyril derivative or a salt thereof represented by the formula (1): wherein the carbon-carbon bond between 3- and 4-positions in the carbostyril skeleton is a single or a double bond.
US09006247B2

Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, compositions containing the compounds and methods of treating diseases during which is expressed anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein.
US09006243B2

HIV replication inhibitors of formula R1 is hydrogen; aryl; formyl; C1-6alkylcarbonyl; C1-6alkyl; C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl; R2, R3, R6 and R7 are hydrogen; hydroxy; halo; C3-7cycloalkyl; C1-6alkyloxy; carboxyl; C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl; cyano; nitro; amino; mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)amino; polyhaloC1-6alkyl; polyhaloC1-6alkyloxy; —C(═O)R9; optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl or C2-6alkynyl; R4 and R5 are hydroxy; halo; C3-7cycloalkyl; C1-6alkyloxy; carboxyl; C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl; formyl; cyano; nitro; amino; mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)amino; polyhaloC1-6alkyl; polyhaloC1-6alkyloxy; —C(═O)R9; cyano; —S(═O)rR9; —NH—S(═O)2R9; —NHC(═O)H; —C(═O)NHNH2; —NHC(═O)R9; Het; —Y-Het; optionally substituted C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl or C2-6alkynyl; R5 is pyridyl, —C(═O)NR5aR5b; —CH(OR5c)R5d; —CH2—NR5eR5f; —CH═NOR5a; —CH2—O—C2-6alkenyl; —CH2—O—P(═O)(OR5g)2; —CH2—O—C(═O)—NH2; —C(═O)—R5d; X is —NR1—, —O—, —CH2—, —S—; pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds as active ingredient and processes for preparing said compounds and compositions.
US09006240B2

The present invention provides a method of predicting the antitumor effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor. It is possible to predict the antitumor effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor by evaluating the EGF dependency of a tumor cell for proliferation and/or survival and using the EGF dependency as an indicator. Since the antitumor effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor correlates with the EGF dependency of a tumor cell for proliferation and/or survival, the angiogenesis inhibitors is capable of producing excellent antitumor effect when combined with a substance having EGF inhibitory activity.
US09006239B2

Provided is a compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or stereoisomer thereof: wherein Ar represents R5, R7, R8, R2′, R4′, R5′, R6′, R7′, R8′ independently represent H, OH, F, Cl, Br, methoxyl group, NH2 group or NMe2 group; X represents NH, O or S; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of: pyrrolidinyl group, piperidinyl group, morpholino group, methoxyl group, and dimethylamine group. The present invention also provides a composition comprising the compound of formula I. The compound and the composition in accordance with the present invention are effective on treating or alleviating a disease or disorder, such as malignant glioma.
US09006230B2

Compounds of Formula (I), their preparation and use in preventing or treating bacterial infections are disclosed.
US09006228B2

Substituted cyclopropyl compounds of the formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are disclosed as useful for treating or preventing type 2 diabetes and similar conditions. The compounds are useful as agonists of the G-protein coupled receptor GPR-119. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treatment are also included.
US09006226B2

The present invention relates to dihydropteridinones, their use as modulators of γ-secretase and to pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds. In particular, the present invention relates to compounds which interfere with γ-secretase and/or its substrate and therefore modulate the formation of Aβ peptides.
US09006223B2

Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US09006217B2

Novel synthetic routes, which are highly applicable for industrial preparation of therapeutically beneficial oxidized phospholipids, are disclosed. Particularly, novel methods for efficiently preparing compounds having a glycerolic backbone and one or more oxidized moieties attached to the glycerolic backbone, which are devoid of column chromatography are disclosed. Further disclosed are novel methods of introducing phosphorus-containing moieties such as phosphate moieties to compounds having glycerolic backbone and intermediates formed thereby. Further disclosed is substantially pure 1-hexadecyl-2-(4′-carboxy)butyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (CI-201).
US09006216B2

A combination biocide (Glutaraldehyde or OPA), quaternary phosphonium biocide (preferably TTPC), alcohol (preferably isopropyl alcohol), and functional excipients for the oil and gas recovery industry. The functional excipients for the oil and gas recovery industry are a cellulose type proppant, a poloxamer wetting agent, a friction-reducing pluronic block copolymer, a drag reducing agent such as polyethylene oxide, and a flocculating agent. The OPA may be of the dialdehyde C6H4(CHO)2 form, and the Glutaraldehyde of formula C5H8O2. Both will produce an inherent bacteriostatic effect and lower surface tension and thus aids in the spread of the TTPC on the biofilm covered surface where it is readily absorbed by the negative surfaces of proteins and bacteria. It thus serves as a binding agent between the TTPC and the application surface. The foregoing constituents are combined in preferred concentrations within acceptable ranges to provide a synergistic biological chemical complementarity system.
US09006214B2

The present invention is directed to a topical ophthalmic composition for a liquid comprised of clear colloidal polar nanolipids delivered in submicron sized particles, aqueous colloidal lubricants, aqueous polymers, emulsifies, and a unique stabilizing buffer system, which undergoes a liquid-gel phase transition in the eye. Said composition is designed to deliver advanced eye lubricants, protect the three (3) layers of corneal film from dryness, and provide a unique system of Dry Eye treatment that addresses and treats all three layers of corneal tear film. Said composition is further designed to provide a superior delivery system of various Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), and/or anti-infective/antibiotic/anti-fungal agents, accepted as safe and efficacious for ophthalmic use.
US09006212B2

Provided herein are compositions and kits comprising carbohydrate-based inhibitors that bind GNBP and/or inhibit β(1,3)-glucanase activity. Also provided are methods of using such inhibitors to protect against or treat pest infestation, as are compositions and kits comprising subparts of the carbohydrate-based inhibitors.
US09006197B2

This invention relates to compositions containing double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) in a SNALP formulation, and methods of using the compositions to inhibit the expression of the Eg5 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), and methods of using the compositions to treat pathological processes mediated by Eg5 and VEGF expression, such as cancer.
US09006195B2

The present disclosure relates to regulation of functions of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by delivering of miRNAs, including miR-125b, miR-126, and miR-155, to HSCs. For example, in some embodiments, blood output in a mammal can be increased by administering miR-125b, miR-126, and/or miR-155 oligonucleotides. Also disclosed are methods for promoting hematopoietic stem cell engraftment and method for treating a myeloproliferative disorder.
US09006192B2

Described herein are methods and compositions for stimulating proliferation of cells that express adherent junctions and cease proliferation, for example, human corneal endothelial cells, by downregulation of certain cell-cell junctions. In one embodiment, downregulation is achieved using RNA interference, and contacting the cells with mitogenic growth factors and an agent that elevates intracytoplasmic cAMP. Furthermore, described herein are methods of isolating human corneal endothelial cells from keratocytes, and methods of preserving and maintaining viability of human corneal endothelial cell aggregates. Also described are surgical grafts comprising human corneal endothelial cells that have been isolated, optionally stored, and transiently contacted with an agent that downregulates expression of p 120, and a biocompatible support. The methods and compositions described herein can be used in novel therapies to help expand human corneal endothelial cells during in vitro tissue engineering and for in vivo treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction.
US09006188B2

The present invention provides novel co-crystal forms of dapagliflozin, namely a dapagliflozin lactose co-crystal and a dapagliflozin asparagine co-crystal, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, methods for their preparation and uses thereof for treating type 2 diabetes.
US09006186B2

The present invention provides a composition and related methods for delivering cargo to a mitochondria which includes (a) a membrane active peptidyl fragment having a high affinity with the mitochondria and (b) cargo. The cargo may be selected from a wide variety of desired cargoes which are to be delivered to the mitochondria for a specific purpose. Compositions and methods are disclosed for treating an illness that is caused or associated with cellular damage or dysfunction which is caused by excessive mitochondrial production of reaction oxygen species (ROS). Compositions which act as mitochondria-selective targeting agents using the structural signaling of the β-turn recognizable by cells as mitochondria) targeting sequences are discussed. Mitochondria and cell death by way of apoptosis is inhibited as a result of the ROS-scavenging activity, thereby increasing the survival rate of the patient.
US09006184B2

A cancer vaccine composition for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*0206-positive persons, comprising a protein product of the tumor suppressor gene WT1 or a partial peptide thereof.
US09006178B2

The invention relates to a derivative of a GLP-1 analog, which analog comprises a first K residue at a position corresponding to position 18 of GLP-1(7-37) (SEQ ID NO: 1), a second K residue at another position, and a maximum of twelve amino acid changes as compared to GLP-1(7-37); which derivative comprises two protracting moieties attached to said first and second K residue, respectively, via a linker, wherein the protracting moiety is selected from Chem. 1: HOOC—(CH2)x—CO—*, and Chem. 2: HOOC—C6H4-0-(CH2)y—CO—*, in which x is an integer in the range of 6-18, and y is an integer in the range of 3-17; and the linker comprises Chem. 3: *—NH—(CH2)q—CH[(CH2)w—NH2]—CO—*, wherein q is an integer in the range of 0-5, and w is an integer in the range of 0-5; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, amide, or ester thereof. The invention also relates to the pharmaceutical use thereof, for example in the treatment and/or prevention of all forms of diabetes and related diseases, as well as to corresponding novel peptides and side chain intermediates. The derivatives are potent, protracted, and suitable for oral administration.
US09006177B2

The present disclosure relates to fused tricyclic compounds of formula (I) or its tautomers, polymorphs, stereoisomers, prodrugs, solvate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods of treating conditions and diseases that are mediated by thereof as A2A adenosine receptor antagonists. The compounds of the present disclosure are useful in the treatment, prevention or suppression of diseases and disorders that may be susceptible to improvement by the mediation of adenosine A2A receptor. Such conditions include, but are not limited to, Parkinsons disease, restless leg syndrome, Alzheimers disease, neurodegenerative disorder, inflammation, wound healing, dermal fibrosis, nocturnal myoclonus, cerebral ischaemia, myocardial ischemia, Huntington's disease, multiple system atrophy, corticobasal degeneration, Wilson's disease or other disorders of basal ganglia which results in dyskinesias, post traumatic stress disorder, hepatic cirrhosis, sepsis, spinal cord injury, retinopathy, hypertension, social memory impairment, depression, neuroprotection, narcolepsy or other sleep related disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, drug addiction, post traumatic stress disorder and vascular injury and the like. The present disclosure also relates to methods for the preparation of such compounds, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US09006174B2

The invention concerns derivatives of CMAP27, which have a good antimicrobial activity and a low haemolytic activity as compared to the wild-type CMAP27 peptide. These derivatives can be used for antibiotic therapy or in a bacteriocidal composition. Further comprised in the invention is the use of CMAP27 and/or its derivatives as adjuvant.
US09006171B2

To provide ACE inhibitory peptides which can effectively inhibit ACE by a small amount of ingestion and have no fear of causing side effects and which can be orally ingested easily during daily life by persons having high blood pressure, and compositions comprising the peptides. The peptides represented by the following structural formulae (1) to (9), and salts thereof are provided. (1) Asp-Arg-Pro, (2) Asn-Trp, (3) Val-Gly-Leu, (4) Ile-Gly-Val, (5) Gly-Val-Pro, (6) Ile-Pro-Tyr, (7) pyroGlu-Pro, (8) Tyr-Thr, (9) Pro-Trp.
US09006164B2

The present invention is directed to provide a resist remover composition for semiconductor substrate which enables to remove a resist simply and easily in the photolithography process in the semiconductor field, and a method for removing a resist comprising that the composition is used. The present invention relates to a resist remover composition for semiconductor substrate, comprising [I] a carbon radical generating agent, [II] an acid, [III] a reducing agent, and [IV] an organic solvent, and having pH of lower than 7, and a method for removing a resist, comprising that the composition is used.
US09006156B2

A composition is provided for use as a friction modifier for an automatic transmission, which comprises a condensation product of a hydroxypolycarbox-ylic acid, such as 2,3-di-hydroxybutanedioic acid or 2-hydroxybutanedioic acid, with an N,N-di(hydrocarbyl)alkylenediamine, where each hydrocarbyl group contains 1 to 22 carbon atoms, provided that the total number of carbon atoms in the two hydrocarbyl groups is at least about 9, and the alkylene group contains 2 to 4 carbon atoms.
US09006152B2

Methods and compositions are provided that relate to cement compositions comprising sub-micron calcium carbonate and latex. An embodiment includes a cement composition comprising: cement, water, sub-micron calcium carbonate having a particle size in a range of from greater than 100 nanometers to about 1 micron, and latex.
US09006150B2

Disclosed is a composition comprising the nucleic acid and a chemical compound, said composition forming a star structure defining 3 or more stems extending from a reaction center. The stems are formed by a nucleic acid duplex and the chemical compound has been formed in the reaction center as the reaction product of 3 or more chemical groups. The advantage of the composition is that a close proximity is provided between the chemical groups in the reaction center, thereby promoting a reaction. The invention also relates to a method for preparation of the composition. The advantage of the method is that it does not require the pre-synthesis of a large number of templates and that it is not dependent upon codon/anti-codon recognition for an encoded molecule to be formed.
US09006148B2

Methods of using a progressive cavity pump as a bioreactor are disclosed. Methods of isolating a biological product, such as pancreatic islet cells, using the bioreactor are also disclosed.
US09006147B2

An electrochemical finishing system for super conducting radio frequency (SCRF) cavities including a low viscosity electrolyte solution that is free of hydrofluoric acid, an electrode in contact with the electrolyte solution, the SCRF cavity being spaced apart from the electrode and in contact with the electrolyte solution and a power source including a first electrical lead electrically coupled to the electrode and a second electrical lead electrically coupled to the cavity, the power source being configured to pass an electric current between the electrode and the workpiece, wherein the electric current includes anodic pulses and cathodic pulses, and wherein the cathodic pulses are interposed between at least some of the anodic pulses. The SCRF cavity may be vertically oriented during the finishing process.
US09006145B2

The present invention is directed towards microcapsules, uses and methods of microencapsulation with improved properties regarding agglomeration, bleeding and control of the reaction. The invention is especially suitable for chemical compounds with at least one carboxamide group, preferably for microencapsulation of those compounds wherein the carbonyl group is attached to a nitrogen atom or nitrogenated heterocycle and wherein the microencapsulation reaction may be too vigorous. The microcapsules are characterized by a mixed glycoluril-polyurea polymer wall, wherein the polyurea groups come from a urea-formaldehyde resin and not from isocyanate monomers or prepolymers. The process of making such microcapsules a dispersant in the oil phase of the type of block copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone/vinylalkene and/or vinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate and the microencapsulation reaction may be carried out without the presence of any polyamine/polyol acting as a catalyst.
US09006141B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a protective layer on a surface of a plant, to a protective layer for a surface of a plant, to a plant coated with said protective layer, to a composition for carrying out the method and for producing the protective layer, and to uses of said composition. According to the invention, a method is proposed, wherein at least one sol gel having nano-scale particles is formed by the hydrolysis of at least one precursor in water and at least one nano-scale layer of the sol gel is applied onto the surface of the plant. The protective layer according to the invention comprises a nano-scale SiO2 layer, and the composition according to the invention comprises at least one SiO2-producing substance.
US09006134B2

The application relates to the particulate water absorbing agent of the present invention composed primarily of a polyacrylic acid- or polyacrylate-based water absorbing resin and containing a chelating agent and a phosphorous compound. Accordingly, the particulate water absorbing agent composed primarily of a water absorbing resin achieves both excellent water absorbing properties and anti-coloring effect which would normally be incompatible. A particulate water absorbing agent for absorbent core is provided that is suitable for actual use.
US09006125B2

In a process for producing xylene by transalkylation of a C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock with a C6 and/or C7 aromatic hydrocarbon, the C9+ aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock, at least one C6 and/or C7 aromatic hydrocarbon and hydrogen are contacted with a first catalyst comprising (i) a first molecular sieve having a Constraint Index in the range of about 3 to about 12 and (ii) at least first and second different metals or compounds thereof of Groups 6 to 12 of the Periodic Table of the Elements. Contacting with the first catalyst is conducted under conditions effective to dealkylate aromatic hydrocarbons in the feedstock containing C2+ alkyl groups and to saturate C2+ olefins formed so as to produce a first effluent. At least a portion of the first effluent is then contacted with a second catalyst comprising a second molecular sieve having a Constraint Index less than 3 under conditions effective to transalkylate C9+ aromatic hydrocarbons with said at least one C6-C7 aromatic hydrocarbon to form a second effluent comprising xylene.
US09006123B2

A catalytic reforming process including a reaction zone and a separate catalyst regeneration zone where catalyst is collected in a catalyst collector in the reaction zone and then directed to the catalyst regeneration zone wherein the catalyst collector is purged with a net gas stream.
US09006118B2

A filler cloth includes cellulosic fibers treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a char length of less than about nine inches when tested in accordance with NFPA 701, such that thermal shrinkage of the filler cloth at 400° F. is less than about 35% in any direction, and such that the filler cloth maintains flame and heat resistant integrity when impinged with a gas flame in accordance with testing protocols set forth in Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The filler cloth cellulosic fibers are treated with a flame retardant chemistry such that the filler cloth has a Frazier air permeability of less than about 400 cfm and a thermal resistance rating of at least about 3 when tested according to NFPA 2112.
US09006117B2

Laminates are described having a durable outer film surface for use in making lightweight liquidproof articles of apparel, such as outerwear garments. A method of making the laminate and a lightweight outerwear garment having an abrasion resistant exterior film surface is described.
US09006111B2

A pattern-formation process including: providing a substrate material having on a major surface a difficult-to-access recess formed by a 1st mask; depositing a 2nd mask having a higher etching resistance than the 1st mask by physical evaporation on the upper surface of the 1st mask and peripherally on a side of the recess, the second mask forming a series of films; and etching the substrate material via the 1st and 2nd mask, wherein forming the 2nd mask includes depositing the 2nd mask material by physical evaporation vertically onto the major surface of the substrate material; and the recess is sized such that, upon deposition, the 2nd mask material cannot substantially reach the bottom of the recess. Accordingly, portions of the recesses formed by the etching masks can be processed by etching even when those recesses are 25 nm or less, and especially 20 nm or less in size.
US09006107B2

A method for fabricating a patterned structure in a semiconductor device is provided. First, a substrate with a first region and a second region is provided. Then, a plurality of sacrificial patterns is respectively formed within the first region and the second region. A first spacer is then formed on the sidewalls of each of the sacrificial patterns followed by forming a mask layer to cover the sacrificial patterns located within the first region. Finally, the first spacer exposed from the mask layer is trimmed to be a second spacer and the mask layer is then removed.
US09006105B2

A method of patterning a platinum layer includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. A platinum layer is formed on the substrate. An etching process is performed to pattern the platinum layer, wherein an etchant used in the etching process simultaneously includes at least a chloride-containing gas and at least a fluoride-containing gas.
US09006103B2

A method of manufacturing a wiring substrate, includes, forming an etching stop layer and a first wiring layer on a supporting member, forming a first insulating layer on the first wiring layer, forming a via hole reaching the first wiring layer, and forming the wiring layers of an n-layer and the insulating layers of an n-layer, removing the supporting member and the etching stop layer, thereby forming a build-up intermediate body, forming a second insulating layer on the wiring layer of an n-th layer, and forming a third insulating layer on first wiring layer, forming a via hole reaching the wiring layer of the n-th layer, and forming a via hole reaching the first wiring layer, forming a roughened face to the third insulating layer, and forming a second wiring layer connected to the wiring layer, and forming a third wiring layer connected to the first wiring layer.
US09006087B2

In one aspect, a method of fabricating an electronic device includes the following steps. An alternating series of device and sacrificial layers are formed in a stack on an SOI wafer. Nanowire bars are etched into the device/sacrificial layers such that each of the device layers in a first portion of the stack and each of the device layers in a second portion of the stack has a source region, a drain region and a plurality of nanowire channels connecting the source region and the drain region. The sacrificial layers are removed from between the nanowire bars. A conformal gate dielectric layer is selectively formed surrounding the nanowire channels in the first portion of the stack which serve as a channel region of a nanomesh FET transistor. Gates are formed surrounding the nanowire channels in the first and second portions of the stack.
US09006086B2

Stress regulated semiconductor devices and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a stress regulated semiconductor device can include a semiconductor layer, a stress regulating interface layer including a carbon layer formed on the semiconductor layer, and a heat spreader coupled to the carbon layer opposite the semiconductor layer. The stress regulating interface layer is operable to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion difference between the semiconductor layer and the heat spreader to less than or equal to about 10 ppm/° C.
US09006084B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor substrate, includes forming a first semiconductor layer on a substrate, forming a metallic material layer on the first semiconductor layer, forming a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer and the metallic material layer, etching the substrate using a solution to remove the metallic material layer and a portion of the first semiconductor layer, and forming a cavity in the first semiconductor layer under where the metallic material layer was removed.
US09006078B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device formed by the method. The method includes form a stack conductive structure by stacking a first conductive pattern and an insulation pattern over a substrate; forming a sacrificial pattern over sidewalls of the stack conductive structure; forming a second conductive pattern having a recessed surface lower than a top surface of the stack conductive structure; forming a sacrificial spacer to expose sidewalls of the insulation pattern by removing an upper portion of the sacrificial pattern; reducing a width of the exposed portion of the insulation patters; forming a capping spacer to cap the sidewalls of the insulation pattern having the reduced width over the sacrificial spacer; and forming an air gap between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern by converting the sacrificial spacer to volatile byproducts.
US09006066B2

A semiconductor structure in fabrication includes a n-FinFET and p-FinFET. Stress inducing materials such as silicon and silicon germanium are epitaxially grown into naturally diamond-shaped structures atop the silicon fins of the n-FinFET and p-FinFET areas. The diamond structures act as the source, drain and channel between the source and drain. The diamond structures of the channel are selectively separated from the fin while retaining the fin connections of the diamond-shaped growth of the source and the drain. Further fabrication to complete the structure may then proceed.
US09006065B2

In plasma doping a non-planar semiconductor device, a substrate having a non-planar semiconductor body formed thereon is obtained. The substrate having the non-planar semiconductor body may be placed into a chamber. A plasma may be formed in the chamber and the plasma may contain dopant ions. A first bias voltage may be generated to implant dopant ions into a region of the non-planar semiconductor body. A second bias voltage may be generated to implant dopant ions into the same region. In one example, the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage may be different.
US09006064B2

A gate dielectric can be formed by depositing a first silicon oxide material by a first atomic layer deposition process. The thickness of the first silicon oxide material is selected to correspond to at least 10 deposition cycles of the first atomic layer deposition process. The first silicon oxide material is converted into a first silicon oxynitride material by a first plasma nitridation process. A second silicon oxide material is subsequently deposited by a second atomic layer deposition process. The second silicon oxide material is converted into a second silicon oxynitride material by a second plasma nitridation process. Multiple repetitions of the atomic layer deposition process and the plasma nitridation process provides a silicon oxynitride material having a ratio of nitrogen atoms to oxygen atoms greater than 1/3, which can be advantageously employed to reduce the leakage current through a gate dielectric.
US09006058B1

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is described. A semiconductor substrate is provided, wherein the substrate has a first area and a second area. A first gate structure and a second gate structure are formed over the substrate in the first area and the substrate in the second area, respectively. A first spacer is framed on the sidewall of each gate structure. At least one etching process including at least one wet etching process is performed. The first spacer is removed. A second spacer is formed on the sidewall of each gate structure. A mask layer is formed in the second area. Ion implantation is formed using the mask layer, the first gate structure and the second spacer as a mask to form S/D extensions in the substrate beside the first gate structure in the first area. The mask layer is then removed.
US09006056B2

A method of performing an ultraviolet (UV) curing process on an interfacial layer over a semiconductor substrate, the method includes supplying a gas flow rate ranging from 10 standard cubic centimeters per minute (sccm) to 5 standard liters per minute (slm), wherein the gas comprises inert gas. The method further includes heating the interfacial layer at a temperature less than or equal to 700° C. Another method of performing an annealing process on an interfacial layer over a semiconductor substrate, the second method includes supplying a gas flow rate ranging from 10 sccm to 5 slm, wherein the gas comprises inert gas. The method further includes heating the interfacial layer at a temperature less than or equal to 600° C.
US09006036B2

To provide a semiconductor device having an improved quality. The semiconductor device of the invention has a tape substrate having a semiconductor chip thereon, a plurality of land pads placed around the semiconductor chip, a plurality of wires for electrically coupling the electrode pad of the semiconductor chip to the land pad, and a plurality of terminal portions provided on the lower surface of the tape substrate. An average distance between local peaks of the surface roughness of a first region between the land pad of the tape substrate and the semiconductor chip is smaller than an average distance of local peaks of the surface roughness of a second region between the land pad of the tape substrate and the first region.
US09006025B2

A semiconductor device which includes an oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer covering the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode over the gate insulating layer is provided. The thickness of the oxide semiconductor layer is greater than or equal to 1 nm and less than or equal to 10 nm. The gate insulating layer satisfies a relation where ∈r/d is greater than or equal to 0.08 (nm−1) and less than or equal to 7.9 (nm−1) when the relative permittivity of a material used for the gate insulating layer is ∈r and the thickness of the gate insulating layer is d. The distance between the source electrode and the drain electrode is greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 1 μm.
US09006023B2

Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells having diffusion barrier layers formed from various materials, such as beryllium oxide or titanium silicon nitrides. Resistive switching layers used in ReRAM cells often need to have at least one inert interface such that substantially no materials pass through this interface. The other (reactive) interface may be used to introduce and remove defects from the resistive switching layers causing the switching. While some electrode materials, such as platinum and doped polysilicon, may form inert interfaces, these materials are often difficult to integrate. To expand electrode material options, a diffusion barrier layer is disposed between an electrode and a resistive switching layer and forms the inert interface with the resistive switching layer. In some embodiments, tantalum nitride and titanium nitride may be used for electrodes separated by such diffusion barrier layers.
US09006021B2

The amorphous silicon film formation method includes forming a seed layer on the surface of a base by heating the base and flowing aminosilane-based gas onto the heated base; and forming an amorphous silicon film on the seed layer by heating the base, supplying silane-based gas containing no amino group onto the seed layer on the surface of the heated base, and thermally decomposing the silane-based gas containing no amino group.
US09006016B2

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for fabricating piezoresistive polysilicon on a substrate by low-temperature metal induced crystallization by: (1) providing the substrate having a passivation layer; (2) performing, at or near room temperature in a chamber without breaking a vacuum or near-vacuum within the chamber, the steps of: (a) creating a metal layer on the passivation layer, and (b) creating an amorphous silicon layer on the metal layer, wherein the metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer have approximately the same thickness; (3) annealing the substrate, the passivation layer, the metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer at a temperature equal to or less than 600° C. and a period of time equal to or less than three hours to form a doped polysilicon layer below a residual metal layer; and (4) removing the residual metal layer to expose the doped polysilicon layer.
US09006003B1

A method of detecting bitmap failure associated with physical coordinates is provided. In the method, data of wafer mapping inspection are obtained first, and the data include images of defects in each of layers within a wafer and a plurality of physical coordinates of the defects. Thereafter, a bitmap failure detection is performed to obtain digital coordinates of failure bits within the wafer. The digital coordinates are converted into a plurality of physical locations, and the physical locations are overlapped with the physical coordinates so as to rapidly obtain correlations between the failure bits and the defects.
US09005996B2

The current invention is a capture-particle comprising: a) a molecular sieve portion; and b) an analyte binding portion; wherein the molecular sieve portion, analyte binding portion or both further comprise a cross-linked region having modified porosity. Capture particles wherein the molecular sieve portion, analyte binding portion or both comprise pore dimensions sufficient to exclude molecules larger than about 60 kDa. These particles are useful in purification and diagnostic methods. Kits comprising the capture particles are also described.
US09005995B2

The present invention relates to a nanoscale or microscale particle for encapsulation and delivery of materials or substances, including, but not limited to, cells, drugs, tissue, gels and polymers contained within the particle, with subsequent release of the therapeutic materials in situ, methods of fabricating the particle by folding a 2D precursor into the 3D particle, and the use of the particle in in-vivo or in-vitro applications. The particle can be in any polyhedral shape and its surfaces can have either no perforations or nano/microscale perforations. The particle is coated with a biocompatible metal, e g gold, or polymer e g parvlene, layer and the surfaces and hinges of the particle are made of any metal or polymer combinations.
US09005994B2

The present application pertains to improved methods of detecting biomolecules in a biological sample (or system), In particular, embodiments discussed herein allow for the detection of biomolecule complexes. The embodiments enable for the first time the elucidation of the significance of biomolecule complexes for certain disease states, which in turn enables the diagnosis of disease states based on the identity and complexing level of a biomolecule complex in a particular biological sample.
US09005993B2

The present disclosure provides methods and/or kits for detecting an analyte in a sample. Some embodiments provide a method for detecting a non-nucleic acid analyte in a sample using a solid substrate comprising a bound immobilization agent and an antibody capture agent and a detectable agent, which can bind to the analyte. The antibody capture agent comprises, at a plurality of sites, a ligand for the immobilization agent. A complex between the analyte, the antibody capture agent and a detectable agent is formed and immobilized on the solid substrate by binding between the immobilization agent and the ligand. In some embodiments, the ligand and the immobilization agent are a binding pair comprising a peptide tag and an anti-peptide tag antibody.
US09005989B2

The invention relates to optoelectronic systems for detecting one or more target particles. The system includes a reaction chamber, a specimen collector, an optical detector, and a reservoir containing cells, each of the cells having receptors which are present on the surface of each cell and are specific for the target particle to be detected, where binding of the target particle to the receptors directly or indirectly activates a reporter molecule, thereby producing a measurable optical signal.
US09005988B2

A method for the assessment of a multiphase (aqueous and organic) sample phase, the method comprising adding at least one detection molecule to the multiphase sample; detecting a signal emitted from the detection molecule/multiphase sample mixture, the signal being detectably different when the at least one detection molecule is present in one of either an organic phase, an aqueous phase or an interface between said organic phase and said aqueous phase of the multiphase sample; and analyzing the detected signal to assess the properties of a phase or an interface between phases. A system for use in such a method, use of at least one detection molecule for the assessment of a multiphase sample, and a composition for use in the assessment of a multiphase sample are also disclosed.
US09005986B2

A method for rapidly measuring melatonin adulteration of Chinese patent medicines and healthcare foods comprises: (1) extracting melatonin added to a Chinese patent medicine or healthcare food by using ethyl acetate; and (2) adding p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde to the extracted solution, and observing color. The method is rapid, simple and convenient, has strong specificity, high accuracy, reaction sensitivity, and a wide application range, and is applicable to on-site detection of melatonin adulteration of a Chinese patent medicine or healthcare food.
US09005985B2

This invention provides compositions that have a light emitting reporter linked to biomolecules, preferably, nucleotide oligomers. The light reporter particles are silylated and functionalized to produce a coated light reporter particle, prior to covalently linking the biomolecules to the light reporter particle. The light reporter particles of the invention can be excited by a light excitation source such as UV or IR light, and when the biomolecule is DNA, the attached DNA molecule(s) are detectable by amplification techniques such as PCR.
US09005982B2

The present disclosure is generally related to pulmonary autoantigens. The disclosure provides methods and kits for assessing whether a subject has or is predisposed to interstitial lung disease. Additionally the present disclosure provides methods of treatment and animal models of interstitial lung disease.
US09005972B2

Provided herein is an apparatus for printing cells which includes an electrospinning device and an inkjet printing device operatively associated therewith. Methods of making a biodegradable scaffold having cells seeded therein are also provided. Methods of forming microparticles containing one or more cells encapsulated by a substrate are also provided, as are methods of forming an array of said microparticles.
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