US07647635B2

A system and method for resolving an identity includes a security console, which displays security information regarding a secure network. The security information includes at least a first identity used to access the secure network. An operator selects the first identity, and the security console sends it to a resolver. The resolver connects with an identity server to find an access session record with an identity matching the first identity. A second identity is extracted from this record, and the resolver returns a result that includes the second identity. The security console displays the second identity; The first identity can be a user identity of a user, where the second identity is corresponding host identity, or vise versa. In this manner, an efficient interface to security information is provided to an operator, where the operator may resolve a user/host identity to a host/user identity interactively.
US07647634B2

One embodiment of the invention is directed to managing access of a host computer to a network. A first communication session with the host computer may be conducted to authenticate the host computer's identity. A second communication session with the host computer may be conducted to determine the health status of the host computer.
US07647628B2

Systems, methods, and program products are provided for switching identity of a user that has a first username associated with a first class of users. According to the method, login information is received from the user, with the login information including the first username, an alternate class, and a password. The user is authenticated based on the first username and the password, and access to the computer system is provided as the alternate class, with the alternate class being different than the first class. In one preferred embodiment, the login information further includes a second username, and access to the computer system is provided with the rights and privileges of the second username.
US07647624B2

Techniques are provided for preserving and managing identities within an audit log. Initial entries into a log do not include an explicit and direct reference to an agent that performs a transaction; rather, the agent acquires a temporary transaction identity for the transaction and an indirect reference to the transaction identity is written to the log while the transaction is pending. Once the transaction completes a direct reference to the transaction identity is written to the log, the identity of agent remains transparent until the identity of the agent expires, if at all.
US07647615B1

An audio input interface (122) receives a digital audio signal and identifies an audio bitstream which is optionally decrypted by a decryption unit (123), and decoded by an audio decoding unit (124). An audio digital to analog converter (126) converts the decoded audio bitstream to an analog audio signal which is optionally decrypted by an audio analog decryption unit (127) and output by an audio output interface (128) to an analog wireline device (100). A video input interface (142) receives a digital video signal and identifies a video bitstream which is optionally decrypted by a video digital decryption unit (143), and decoded by a video decoding unit (144). A video digital to analog converter (146) converts the decoded video bitstream to an analog video signal that is optionally decrypted by a video analog decryption unit (147) and output by a video output interface (148) to the analog wireline device (100).
US07647613B2

A remote user interface transmits a digital media request through a communication link to a control which is coupled to a digital audio-visual playback device for selecting and playing a stored digital media by the playback device. The control receives the digital media request and transmits digital media selection and/or the selected digital media content directly to a selected playback device or indirectly to the selected playback device through a playback device server. The communication between the control and the playback device can be through a global communication network.
US07647607B2

First rating information, together with a television broadcasting signal, is transmitted, and second rating information, together with electronic program guide information, is transmitted. A controller extracts the first rating information from video data decoded by a video decoder, and extracts the second rating information from EPG data decoded by an EPG processor. At the time of reserving a program, it is judged whether or not the program can be reserved by restricting viewing on the basis of the second rating information, and the result of the judgment is displayed on a program reservation setting guide.
US07647602B2

A disc device includes: a casing including: a casing body that has a housing section of a disc 4 and houses a device body including a drive unit for rotating the disc 4; and a cover section rotatably supported on the casing body for closing the housing section. The casing includes: a rotation stop mechanism 5 for stopping rotation of the disc 4 when the cover section is opened. The rotation stop mechanism 5 includes a lever 6 rotatably supported on the casing body and having a contact section 631 contacting with the disc 4 when the cover section is opened; a biasing unit 7 provided on the lever 6 for biasing the contact section 631 toward an edge face of the disc 4; and a first releasing unit 13B provided in a protruding state on the cover section, the releasing unit 13B contacting with the lever 6 to rotate the lever 6 for releasing contact between the contact section 631 and the disc 4 when the cover section is closed. The contact section 631 has a contact face 632 inclined against the rotational tangent direction of the disc 4.
US07647599B2

An IPC protocol/network allows for dynamic dedication of ports in order to reduce system latencies and power consumption. The IPC system allows for either the IPC server or any of the IPC clients to request that a port(s) be dedicated for use in the transfer of data, such as real-time data. The request for a port can occur for example by a client transmitting a control message to the server/another client requesting that a particular port be dedicated for its use. The server and client(s) negotiate the port dedication and once dedicated, the client can use the dedicated port to transfer its data either to the server or to another client. In one embodiment, the server can take away a dedicated port if it determines it needs the port for another data transfer that may be more critical or have a higher priority.
US07647595B2

The disclosed techniques for event notification enable applications that rely on event notifications to be ported transparently to clustered computing systems. The disclosed techniques for event notification exploit the characteristics of a clustered computing system and the characteristics of event notification in order to provide efficient event notification in clustered computing environments.
US07647594B2

A mechanism for recording a timing in which a high urgency process is started is provided, and upon entry to a critical section in the middle of a low urgency process, by referencing the record, it is inspected whether a high urgency process will be started during execution of the critical section. If it will not be started, the critical section is entered, and if it will be started, control is exerted so that entry to the critical section is postponed until the high urgency process is completed. Exclusive access control in a critical section can be performed suitably under conditions where a plurality of task execution environments exist.
US07647588B2

A method for updating values within the contents of a JAVA Archive (JAR) file without altering the JAR file structure. The present invention comprises a Smart Archive Program (SAP) and a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for implementing the SAP. The SAP creates a temporary directory in a computer's memory and stores the JAR file structure in the memory. The SAP then extracts the JAR file content into the temporary directory and allows the user to update the field values within the JAR file content. When the user has finished updating the field values in the JAR file content, the SAP archives the JAR file content into a new JAR file according to the JAR file structure stored in memory. Consequently, the present invention is able to update the field values within the JAR file content without altering the JAR file structure.
US07647586B2

A system and method for providing exceptional flow control in protected code through watchpoints is described. Code is generated. The generated code includes a sequence of normal operations and is subject to protection against copying during execution of the generated code. Execution points within the generated code are identified. A watchpoint corresponding to each of the execution points is set. An exception handler associated with each watchpoint is defined and includes operations exceptional to the normal operations sequence that are performed upon a triggering of each watchpoint during execution of the generated code.
US07647585B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed to detect patterns in an executing program. An example method disclosed herein develops a trace of a program; identifies a sequence of program states from the trace by comparing intersecting sets of data at least partially indicative of addresses associated with the trace; develops a set of probabilities of transitioning between pairs of program states in the series of program states; identifies a current program state of the program; and predicts a next program state of the program based on the current program state and at least one of the probabilities.
US07647565B2

A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed for selecting links in a page using an enhanced mouse pointer. The page is displayed in a data processing system that includes a mouse that includes a scroll wheel. Multiple links are included in the page. A standard mouse pointer is displayed in the page. An enhanced mouse pointer state is then invoked causing the standard mouse pointer to become an enhanced mouse pointer. In response to invoking the enhanced mouse pointer state, a closest one of the links in the page to the enhanced standard mouse pointer is determined. An enhanced mouse pointer indicator is displayed that extends from the enhanced mouse pointer to the determined closest one of the links. The links may be scrolled through by rotating the scroll wheel.
US07647563B2

Methods for displaying a set of hierarchical data and a set of non-hierarchical data on an electronic display comprise displaying at least part of the set of hierarchical data in a tree diagram that has a plurality of levels with one or more nodes present at each level, and displaying the set of non-hierarchical data in a plurality of auxiliary nodes that are provided in between levels of the tree diagram. Expansion handles may also be displayed adjacent nodes in the tree diagram. These expansion handles may be configured to expand or collapse the tree diagram at the node they are adjacent to. The expansion handles may optionally be configured to display or hide selected of the auxiliary nodes.
US07647558B2

A graphical user interface (GUI) for presenting representations of selected objects in a computer system. The GUI presents an object selected from a collection of objects using a selected visual representation selected from at least first and second visual representations to be initiated using different initiation techniques. A first input control causes the selected object to be presented using another visual representation instead of the selected visual representation. A second input control causes another object to be presented instead of the selected object using any visual configuration that is currently used in presenting the selected object. The first and second input controls may be located in an object header area that remains essentially unchanged when changing between the at least first and second visual representations.
US07647554B2

A spell checking method presents a selectable list of similarly spelled words, when a misspelled word is selected by the user who wishes to find the correct spelling. One feature determines the “content” or “topic” of a document. Based on the content, the spell checker presents likely replacement words for a misspelled word. In another feature, for each letter in the word, the spell checker checks for “nearby” letters on keyboard keys to improve the spell checker's list of replacement words. The system also monitors a user's history of use with respect to nearby or key (i.e. letter) substitutions and considers this information when presenting lists of alternative words. Another feature corrects spelling by monitoring a user's history of spell check corrections. Aggregate tables of corrections for more than one user may be maintained, shared, and provided by spell checkers. Various priorities may be used so that one approach is given favor over another. The priorities may be determined by manual input of a user or automatically provided by the system software. Another feature provides an auxiliary window that shows a user's most-frequently or most-recently misspelled words. The user can use a clipboard facility to copy and paste words of interest from the auxiliary window to a current document.
US07647543B2

An integrated system mitigates the effects of a single event upset (SEU) on a reprogrammable field programmable gate array (RFPGA). The system includes (i) a RFPGA having an internal configuration memory, and (ii) a memory for storing a configuration associated with the RFPGA. Logic circuitry programmed into the RFPGA and coupled to the memory reloads a portion of the configuration from the memory into the RFPGA's internal configuration memory at predetermined times. Additional SEU mitigation can be provided by logic circuitry on the RFPGA that monitors and maintains synchronized operation of the RFPGA's digital clock managers.
US07647533B2

Automatic Protection Switching (APS) and error signal processing coordination apparatus and methods are disclosed. If a communication module that enables communication signals and error signals to be exchanged with a remote communication module is configured in an APS protection group, error signal processing by the communication module is restricted. This prevents Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) T1/E1 Remote Defect Indication (RDI) signal processing, for example, from interfering with Synchronous Optical Network/Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SONET/SDH) unidirectional One-plus-One APS. Under certain conditions, however, a restricted communication module may be allowed to perform a restricted error processing operation or revert to normal unrestricted error signal processing.
US07647531B2

Having detected an anomalous fault in a peripheral I/O slot, a processor entity may need to perform some remedial action, wherein the peripheral slot may have a fault line. First a voltage may be detected on the slot. Processor entity may set a fault if a voltage is found. A hotplug controller which may provide outputs that the processing entity may store as a fault syndrome word. The service processor or operating system, either during initial program load, or at another time, may detect that the fault could be a false fault depending on a set of predefined conditions and following the mechanism described here can then clear the fault earlier set. If an action from a previous device list is set, then there may be a clearing of the voltage fault based on determining that the action is set.
US07647528B2

A method for automated software debugging includes steps of: receiving an interface configured for accessing a program; receiving a behavioral model of the program; receiving a failing input sequence from the program; executing the failing input sequence on both the behavioral model and the program; validating, after each executing step, an expected behavior of the program by executing specially constructed test sequences from the behavioral model; performing model mutation for creating a hypothesis of faulty behaviors; verifying hypothesized faulty behaviors; and scoring hypothesized faulty behaviors for producing a ranked list of diagnoses. The method also includes a step of presenting the ranked list of diagnoses to a user.
US07647527B2

Systems and methods for automating database table and application data collection into one process to facilitate remote diagnostics of a computer problem are disclosed. A customized batch file is created by a remote support technician that can be run on a user computer that has the actual data to be gathered for the computer problem to be diagnosed. An output data file is created by the running batch file compiling problem diagnosis data from the user computer. The data file can then be viewed via a single viewing process that displays the application and database data of the data file through a single GUI and allows easy viewing manipulation of that data through the GUI. Because the database table data may be saved in a string delimited format with table field names saved with it, the database program is not needed in order to view the tables.
US07647516B2

In a method for managing power consumption among compute nodes having respective power components, an increase in the power utilization of a first compute node of the compute nodes may be detected. In response to a detected increase, a sum of the power consumption levels of the compute nodes and the requested increase in power utilization of the first compute node is compared with an allowable power budget for a compute node pool. In addition, the power state of the first compute node power component is varied in response to the comparison.
US07647507B1

A secure hard drive comprises a storage medium that stores encrypted digital content and corresponding encrypted content keys. A public key decryption module receives one of the encrypted content keys from the storage medium and decrypts the encrypted content key using a private key to generate a content key. A block decryption module receives the encrypted digital content corresponding to the one of the encrypted content keys from the storage medium and the content key from the public key decryption module and decrypts the encrypted content using the content key. The storage medium is a magnetic storage medium. The public key decryption module and the block decryption module are implemented by a system on chip (SOC). A content player receives the decrypted digital content from the block decryption module and generates at least one of an analog output signal and a digital output signal.
US07647504B2

A method and system for efficiently retrieving secured data by securely pre-processing provided access information, provides data store security based on a single piece of access information, which is generally public, such as the proper name of a business or individual that is used to retrieve mailing address information. The access information is hashed for access to a secured data store and efficient access and low data storage for permutations of input access information are provided by verifying the presence of an entry for the hashed access information in a look-up table. If an entry is found, the data store is accessed using the hashed access information, but if an entry is not found, another look-up table corresponding to another information type may be tried or the input access information permuted and retried.
US07647502B2

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for encoding digital watermarks into content signals. Also disclosed are systems and methods for detecting and/or verifying digital watermarks in content signals. According to one embodiment, a system for encoding of digital watermark information includes: a window identifier for identifying a sample window in the signal; an interval calculator for determining a quantization interval of the sample window; and a sampler for normalizing the sample window to provide normalized samples. According to another embodiment, a system for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding at least one digital watermark using a digital filter is disclosed. According to another embodiment, a method for pre-analyzing a digital signal for encoding digital watermarks comprises: (1) providing a digital signal; (2) providing a digital filter to be applied to the digital signal; and (3) identifying an area of the digital signal that will be affected by the digital filter based on at least one measurable difference between the digital signal and a counterpart of the digital signal selected from the group consisting of the digital signal as transmitted, the digital signal as stored in a medium, and the digital signal as played backed. According to another embodiment, a method for encoding a watermark in a content signal includes the steps of (1) splitting a watermark bit stream; and (2) encoding at least half of the watermark bit stream in the content signal using inverted instances of the watermark bit stream. Other methods and systems for encoding/decoding digital watermarks are also disclosed.
US07647480B2

A data processing apparatus and method of handling conditional instructions in such a data processing apparatus are provided. The data processing apparatus has a pipelined processing unit for executing instructions including at least one conditional instruction from a set of conditional instructions, and a register file having a plurality of registers operable to store data values for access by the pipelined processing unit when executing the instructions. A register specified by an instruction may be either a source register holding a source data value for that instruction or a destination register into which is stored a result data value generated by execution of that instruction. The register file has a predetermined number of read ports via which data values can be read from registers of the register file. The pipelined processing unit is operable when executing the at least one conditional instruction to produce a result data value which, dependent on the existence of the condition specified by that conditional instruction, represents either the result of the computation specified by that conditional instruction or a current data value stored in the destination register for that conditional instruction. Further, each conditional instruction in the set is constrained to specify a register that is both a source register and a destination register for that conditional instruction, thereby reducing the minimum number of read ports required to support execution of that conditional instruction by the pipelined processing unit.
US07647479B2

An apparatus and method are provided for extending a microprocessor instruction set to specify non-temporal memory references at the instruction level. The apparatus includes translation logic and extended execution logic. The translation logic translates an extended instruction into a micro instruction sequence. The extended instruction has an extended prefix and an extended prefix tag. The extended prefix specifies a non-temporal access for a memory reference prescribed by the extended instruction, where the non-temporal access cannot be specified by an existing instruction from an existing instruction set. The extended prefix tag indicates the extended prefix, where the extended prefix tag is an otherwise architecturally specified opcode within the existing instruction set. The extended execution logic is coupled to the translation logic. The extended execution logic receives the micro instruction sequence, and executes the non-temporal access to perform the memory reference.
US07647468B2

A computing device is partitioned to include a host partition (HP) instantiated at least in part to provide storage capabilities, and also to include a client partition (CP) instantiated at least in part to consume such storage capabilities of the HP in the form of a virtual storage device at the CP. The HP implements the virtual storage device of the CP as an image file on a physical storage device. The image file at the HP is compacted while the CP is active and employing the corresponding virtual storage device.
US07647462B2

Disclosed is a technique for data synchronization. A first identifier for a portion of data on a primary volume is determined, wherein a unique identifier is associated with each portion of data at the primary volume. A second identifier for a portion of corresponding data at a secondary volume is determined, wherein a unique identifier is associated with each portion of data at the secondary volume. The first and second identifiers are compared. When the first and second identifiers do not match, the portion of corresponding data at the secondary volume in a storage device is replaced with the portion of data at the primary volume.
US07647457B2

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a processor for associating a data type with a memory location. The type is associated with a location by means of metadata that is generated and manipulated by hardware instructions that are typically generated by a compiler as it generates the other instructions that comprise the machine code version of a program. A determination is made as to whether a data value about to be stored is of the required data type for that location. The hardware indicates an error condition if the types do not match.
US07647455B2

An information processing apparatus for processing an access request to access a recording medium from an application includes the following elements. A setting unit sets a priority unique to the access request from the application or permission information indicating whether or not processing on the access request from the application is permitted. A queue controller stores the access request provided with the priority or the permission information in a queue. An access request processor processes the access request stored in the queue according to the priority or the permission information.
US07647454B2

A transactional shared memory system has a plurality of discrete application nodes; a plurality of discrete memory nodes; a network interconnecting the application nodes and the memory nodes, and a controller for directing transactions in a distributed system utilizing the shared memory. The memory nodes collectively provide an address space of shared memory that is provided to the application nodes via the network. The controller has instructions to transfer a batched transaction instruction set from an application node to at least one memory node. This instruction set includes one or more write, compare and read instruction subsets, and/or combinations thereof. At least one subset has a valid non null memory node identifier and memory address range. The memory node identifier may be indicated by the memory address range. The controller controls the memory node responsive to receipt of the batched transaction instruction set, to safeguard the associated memory address range during execution of the transaction instruction set. The batched transaction instruction set is collectively executed atomically. A notification instruction set may also be used to establish a notification, triggered upon a subsequent write event upon at least a portion of a specified address range.
US07647442B2

A control system includes a host device and a string of slave devices coupled in series. The host device includes a first transmission unit operable to transmit an encoded control signal provided by a first processing module, and to receive an encoded feedback signal for subsequent decoding by the first processing module. Each of the slave devices includes: a driven member responsive to a driving signal for generating an event; a driving unit operable to provide the driving signal; a detection unit generating an initial feedback signal based on the event; a second processing module capable of decoding the encoded control signal so as to drive the driving unit when an address code in the encoded control signal corresponds to the slave device, and of generating the encoded feedback signal; and a second transmission unit operable to receive the encoded control signal, and to transmit the encoded feedback signal.
US07647441B2

An embodiment includes a communication medium coupled to a plurality of the functional blocks in an integrated circuit. Three or more of the initiator functional blocks communicate with a target functional block by sending requests having an associated identifier to indicate a transaction stream that the request is part of. At least a first and a second of buffer are associated with the target functional block at an interface of the target functional block to the communication medium and receive requests having the associated identifiers from the three or more initiator functional blocks through a shared common connection point for the interface. The communication medium implements a mapping algorithm to map requests from a first initiator functional block as well as requests from a third initiator functional block to a first dedicated buffer based on the associated identifiers. The mapping algorithm also maps requests from a second initiator functional block to a second buffer based on the associated identifier.
US07647439B2

A building control or danger warning system includes a two-core circular bus for voltage supply and for communication with bus user circuits connected to the cores of the circular bus. The bus user circuits are looped-into the circular bus via FET (field effect transistor) polarity-reversal protection bridges, thereby simplifying connection of the bus user circuits to the circular bus. A bus user circuit is located between d.c. connection terminals and connected in parallel with two protection bridges. The bus user circuit measures the voltage conditions and polarity of the a.c. voltage input terminals of the bridges. According to the results of the measurement, the bus is relayed to the subsequent bus user circuit.
US07647438B1

A base address sorting device in a switching device is disclosed that includes an array of base address registers in which each base address register contains a base address, an address shifting device; and a control logic element electrically coupled to the array of base address registers and operable, upon receiving a configuration command comprising a new base address, to implement a method for reconfiguring the contents of the array of base address registers. The method includes determining an insertion point base address register in the array of base address registers into which to write the new base address, shifting the contents of one or more base address registers array to other base address registers to preserve the sorted order, and shifting the contents of the configuration command into the insertion point base address register. The inserting results in preserving the pre-determined order of the register array content.
US07647434B2

A technique is disclosed for managing in-order-delivery of data traffic in a storage area network which includes at least one host device adapted to communicate with at least one storage device via a fiber channel fabric. When a change in at least one route in the fiber channel fabric is detected, a first zone, flow and/or device in the network which is affected by the route change is identified, and frames associated with the first zone/flow/device are temporarily dropped for a temporary time period T. In one embodiment, the first zone/flow/device includes at least one device which is sensitive to the order in which data traffic is received. According to a specific implementation, a second zone/flow/device in the network which is affected by the route change, and which is not sensitive to the order in which data traffic is received may also be identified, and frames associated with the second zone/flow/device forwarded to their destination address during the temporary time period T.
US07647432B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-function peripheral which is easy for a user to operate. To achieve the object, according to the present invention, there is provided a peripheral connected to an information processing apparatus, which inputs and analyzes a job script constituted of packet data from the information processing apparatus, and subsequently generates an appropriate job file in accordance with the content of the job script.
US07647428B2

Even if an email attached with a moving image is sent to a terminal that is not capable of moving image display, pseudo moving image display can be carried out in high quality on the terminal. An email reception unit receives the email, and a model judgment unit judges the model of the terminal as a destination of the email. If the destination terminal cannot display the moving image, a moving image conversion unit generates a multimedia image data in a multimedia format from moving image data representing the moving image. An image attaching unit attaches the moving mage data or the multimedia image data to main content of the email, and an email transmission unit sends the image-attached email to the destination terminal.
US07647407B2

Disclosed is a server that provides session-persistent concurrent licenses for resources accessed by clients. In one embodiment, rather than requiring a license when the server is initially accessed, a license is not requested until a client seeks access to a licensed resource. In one implementation, scripts for Web pages associated with licensed resources include requests for licenses from a license management facility. Certain resources conditionally request a license based upon the origin of the access request: the license request may be bypassed for access requests from “pre-licensed” applications. Session-based licensing allows equitable assessment of compensation to a service provider for use of the services. The server includes many resources, some of which require a license for access while others do not. The services of premium value are the only ones for which customers are expected to obtain/claim a license.
US07647398B1

When an event (for example, an e-mail message) is received at a server it is saved into a log file (or a summary is saved). The log entry for each message includes a set of groups within an organization to which the message is considered to belong. An administrator who has authority over any one of those groups is allowed to view this message. When an administrator logs onto the system it is determined which group or groups the administrator owns, i.e., for which groups the administrator has the authority to view their e-mail messages. For each e-mail log entry it is determined whether there is a group in common between the set of groups stored in the log entry and the groups that the administrator owns. A group in common indicates that the administrator is allowed to view that particular e-mail message.
US07647397B2

A method and apparatus for monitoring at least one network connected device (monitored device) using a controller is disclosed. More specifically, a method of modifying monitored devices supported by the monitoring system includes updating information stored in a system support database (SSD) if the information stored in the SSD is insufficient to support the monitored device. The updating step is performed without reprogramming the monitoring system, thereby allowing flexibility in modifying the monitored devices supported by the monitoring system.
US07647396B2

A method, system, and product in a data processing system are disclosed for providing centralized management of an INFINIBAND distributed system-area network that includes multiple end nodes. A manager application is established in one of the end nodes. An agent application is established in one or more end nodes. Each agent application is independent from the manager application. The manager application maintains a current list of active agent applications and uses the list to manage the agent applications in the end nodes.
US07647386B2

A system, method, and computer program product for determining the configuration of an end user's computer system. In particular, the media players and network connection speed of the user are determined. This configuration information is then received by a delivery management server. The configuration information is used to format multi-media content for delivery to the user. Because the content is formatted according to the configuration information, the content is compatible with the user's configuration. The configuration determination process involves server contact code placed in the web page of the content provider. When the web page is loaded by the user, the server contact code directs the browser to retrieve code from the delivery management server. When the code is executed by the user, the media player of the user is determined. This information is saved in cookies at the user and is sent to the delivery management server. If the configuration information is indeterminate or incomplete, the user is presented with a preferences page in which the user can indicate the configuration. The preferences page also contains a mechanism for determining the connection speed of the user. The preferences page can also make specific recommendations to the user, e.g., recommend that the user choose a specific media player. The preferences page contains a block of data having a known size. The time required to transfer the block is measured, and the connection speed is then calculated and provided to the delivery management server.
US07647385B2

A network architecture in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network includes a resource sharing service to govern the distribution of resource information from a server to a recipient entity (such as rendering device or a control point). The network architecture includes one or more of the following provisions: (a) setting the server to operate in a predetermined private address range or an Auto IP range; (b) operating one or more parts of the network architecture on the same subnet; (c) setting a time to live (TTL) parameter associated with messages transmitted by the server to a predetermined number; (d) setting a number of permitted recipient entities to a predetermined number; (e) setting a number of permitted concurrent content distribution sessions to a predetermined session number; (f) granting access to a recipient entity on condition that the recipient entity has generated a message that conforms to the UPnP protocol; and (g) retiring a URL used to identify a location of a resource provided by the server after a predetermined amount of time.
US07647381B2

Systems and methods for reducing the number of challenge messages that are sent in response to an incoming message in situations where the incoming message is likely not unsolicited. The systems and methods include evaluating the behavior of a sender with regard to one or more federated messaging services and determining if the sender is approved or unapproved. If the sender is approved, the incoming message is deliver to a recipient's inbox without issuing a challenge message. Unapproved senders are required to respond to a challenge message.
US07647379B2

Method of re-routing mail traffic exchanged with a messaging system in a data transmission system in which at least one user connected to an IP transport network such as the Internet can transmit requests to and receive data from a plurality of servers through a load balancer, wherein at least one of the servers being a mail server in charge of mail exchange with the user through the IP transport network. This method comprises the steps of forwarding a routing context to an external service infrastructure partner (SIP) device when the system is triggered by an event A, reconfiguring the load balancer in order to be able to send a mail protocol to the SIP device when receiving the mail traffic to be re-routed to the SIP device, and forwarding a user context to the SIP device.
US07647378B2

A collaborative computing method can include the step of providing a collaborative computing system that includes at least one instant messaging client. The instant messaging client can be initialized within a graphical user interface. A search initializing action can be performed within the graphical user interface. A search view can be presented responsive to the search initiating action. A search pattern can be specified within the search view. A search result can be displayed within the search view, wherein the search result can include at least one online entity, such as a user and/or group.
US07647369B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for securely associating ownership information with an electronic device with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of securely associating ownership information with an electronic device. These modules in the described embodiments include a presentation component coupled to an electronic device, the presentation component configured to present ownership information; a latch connected to the presentation component and the electronic device, the latch configured to restrict access to the ownership information; and a controller coupled to the latch, the controller configured to free the latch to permit access to the ownership information. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would allow easy identification of the proper possessor of an electronic device and reduce the incidence of theft of the electronic device.
US07647367B2

An apparatus for calculating a modular multiplication includes an examiner for examining digits of the multiplier with a lookahead algorithm to obtain a multiplication shift value. In addition, a determinator and intermediate-result shift value are provided which determine a positive intermediate-result shift value. A calculator for calculating a multiplicand shift value as the difference between the intermediate-result shift value and the multiplication shift value. The intermediate result from the preceding iteration step as well as the multiplicand are then shifted by the corresponding shifting magnitudes to then perform a three-operands addition with the shifted values, if need be while considering lookahead parameters.
US07647353B2

Events can be searched by identifying a query that includes a time interval and a search component, determining a time increment associated with the time interval, and partitioning the time interval into partitions based on the time increment. For each partition, a relevance of each event in a collection of events that occur at a time in the partition is determined based on the query. A pre-determined number of the relevant events are displayed.
US07647351B2

A system for automatically locating and data-typing information originating from many Web pages, and then collecting that information in a database. The database is then made available via an online data marketplace which allows users from different organizations to buy and sell related data, associated advertisements, and access to the communities of end-users who may also view advertisements and make purchases.
US07647348B2

The present invention provides method and apparatus for supporting a legacy application programming interface (API) set between a component and a color management system. The legacy API set supports both the new capabilities as well as the legacy capabilities. The color management system determines the format type for an object that is referenced by an API call. If the object is associated with a legacy format, the API call is processed by a legacy processing module. If the object is associated with an advanced format, the API call is processed by an advanced processing module. If a plurality of objects is associated with an API call with mixed formats, the color management system converts some of the objects so that the objects have a consistent format. A common structure supports an object that may have either a legacy format or an advanced format.
US07647340B2

A JPEG2000 file includes a plurality of boxes containing data suitable to render an image including a metadata box that includes information within the box describing the content of the image. The information within the metadata box describing content may be MPEG-7 data, which is compliant with the MPEG-7 specification.
US07647336B2

According to the preferred embodiments, an apparatus and method is described for creating a real-time class package to class archive file mapping index that improves the performance of a class loader to load needed classes in an object oriented programming environment. In preferred embodiments, the class loader includes a mapping mechanism that creates and maintains a real-time class package to file archive mapping index. In preferred embodiments, the mapping mechanism optimizes access to the file archive mapping index. In a preferred embodiment, when the mapping mechanism finds a entry in the file archive mapping index for the package, but the class is not found, the class is searched in the class path beginning from the last file archive listed in the index to optimize the search. In other embodiments, the class loader includes a large package list that is used to further optimize access to the archive index.
US07647331B2

A duplicate image detection system generates an image table that maps hash codes of images to their corresponding images. The image table may group images according to their group identifiers generated from the most significant elements of the hash codes based on significance of the elements in representing an image. The image table thus segregates images by their group identifiers. To detect a duplicate image of a target image, the detection system generates a target hash code for the target image. The detection system then identifies the group of the target image based on the group identifier of the target hash code. After identifying the group identifier, the detection system searches the corresponding group table to identify hash codes that have values that are similar to the target hash code. The detection system then selects the images associated with those similar hash codes as being duplicates of the target image.
US07647326B2

An exemplary method and system for evaluating media-playing sets evaluates the likelihood of a selected performance condition occurring in a subject set including based on source data automatically collected from a sample group of the sets, systematic analysis of this data to form a decision tree model revealing prescribed values for characteristic input parameters that are determined to best relate to the condition, and automated comparison of the respective parameter values of the subject set to these prescribed values in order to screen each subject set for the likelihood of the condition occurring within a specified timeframe, which screening can be repeated for different conditions and timeframes using different decision tree models.
US07647325B2

A method for updating a catalog of hardware device and software object identifiers by identifying unknown identifiers and categorizing each of the unknown identifiers. The method further provides the categorized identifiers to a community of users for review and receives comments from the community of users on the provided categorization. The method further determines if the categorized identifiers should be recategorized based upon the received comments. Another method performs a search for an entity associated with an unknown identifier, determines a likely entity associated with the unknown identifier, and verifies the correctness of such determined likely entity. Another method generates a catalog of computer system components, receives information regarding the identity of a computer system component from at least two different sources, and determines the identity of the computer system component based upon the reputation of the sources of the received information.
US07647324B2

Methods and apparatus for controlling user access to a computing environment. In one embodiment, a user gains access to at least one computing device at a first time by providing credential information to authenticate the user's identity; presents to a first user interface for the at least one computing device a physical device comprising identifying information to associate the device with the authenticated user; and gains access at a second time by presenting the physical device to the first user interface or a different user interface without providing the credential information. In another embodiment, in response to a user seeking access by presenting a physical device comprising identifying information, granting access only when the device was previously associated with a user who, within a grace period, provided credential information to authenticate the user's identity.
US07647322B2

A system and method for retrieving and displaying data, such as economic data. The method can include receiving over a computer network a user request for a first item of economic data, retrieving the first item of economic data from a database, and providing a display description for view by the user over the computer network with the display description including the first item of economic data. The method can further include receiving a second item of economic data from the user over the computer network and at least reducing a fee from the user for receiving the first item of economic data. In another embodiment, the method can include displaying a plurality of discrete data items to the user and receiving a selection of one of the discrete data items from the user resulting from the user at least aligning a cursor on the graphical display with the selected discrete data item. The method can further include retrieving additional data corresponding to the selected discrete data item and providing instructions for displaying the additional data to the user.
US07647318B1

Techniques for controlling access to resources within a device are described. A device is described, for example, that includes a computer-readable medium and a management interface. The computer-readable medium stores configuration data and authorization data. The authorization data defines an access control attribute and an associated regular expression specifying a textual pattern. The management interface receives a text-based command to access the configuration data of the device, evaluates the command using the regular expression, and controls access to the configuration data based on the evaluation.
US07647309B1

Methods and systems for configuring the display of items in a network-based merchandising environment are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention identifies items within a catalog of items, computes a browse relevance score for each item, and configures the display of a Web page such that items with the highest browse relevance score are prominently displayed. In at least one embodiment, browse data, such as category fit data, popularity data, newness data, etc., are used to compute the browse relevance score for each item.
US07647307B2

Values for virtual reverse attributes are generated for distinguished name entries in a lightweight directory access protocol directory by navigating through a list of distinguished name values for an input virtual recursive attribute. An attribute list of the values for the virtual reverse attributes may be cached or indexed. In another aspect, the list of distinguished name values for the inputer virtual recursive attribute is generated.
US07647306B2

The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for using community annotations to content items as anchortext for search and index purposes. The method according to one embodiment comprises generating one or more items of personalized information by a user for storage in a user profile, the one or more items of personalized information associated with one or more content items, the one or more content items and the one or more items of personalized information comprising one or more words. One or more items of personalized information is selected from a given user profile. The method further comprises indexing the one or more words in the one or more content items and the one or more words in the selected personalized information into an index, identifying one or more content items responsive to on or more query words in a query of the index and returning the identified content items as a result set to the user.
US07647297B2

Optimizing operation of a media player during rendering of media files. The invention includes authoring software to create a data structure and to populate the created data structure with obtained metadata. The invention also includes rendering software to retrieve the metadata from the data structure and to identify media files to render. In one embodiment, the invention is operable as part of a compressed media format having a set of small files containing metadata, menus, and playlists in a compiled binary format designed for playback on feature-rich personal computer media players as well as low cost media players.
US07647294B2

A query engine, an indexing engine and methods of indexing and querying data. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a query engine for searching data including an artificial intelligence controller configured to select an appropriate combination of fuzzy logic and conventional logic based on query information and employ the combination to compare at least one element of the data with at least a portion of the query information to provide a comparison result.
US07647284B2

A controller for a plant having a fixed-weight recurrent neural network with at least one external input signal representative of a desired condition of the plant and actual condition of the plant, and an output connected as a control signal to the plant. The fixed recurrent neural network includes a set of nodes with fixed weight interconnections between the nodes and at least one feedback input interconnecting an output from at least one of the nodes to an input of at least one node. These nodes collectively determine the value of the output from the neural network as a function of the input signal and the feedback input. The controller also includes an adaptive neural network having a plurality of nodes with variable weight interconnections between the nodes. A cost input from the plant is connected to the adaptive neural network while an output from the adaptive neural network is coupled as a processed feedback signal to nodes of the fixed-weight recurrent neural network.
US07647280B1

Request processing is optimized. The request has elements. The method, computer program and database system includes selecting an access path for the request taking into consideration a stored actual request element cost, processing the request using the selected access path, producing one or more actual request element costs, and storing the one or more actual request element costs.
US07647278B1

A method includes inputting into the computer a digital content file of the merchant, the digital content file including a header with information related to purchasing a digital content product and the digital content product in encoded form. The computer reads the downloaded header and displays at least some of the information related to purchasing the digital content product while concurrently downloading the encoded digital content product into the computer.
US07647275B2

An automated payment system for processing payment by a customer to a company. The payment system includes a document scanning system which has an input receptacle adapted to accept a document. After receiving an authorization agreement from the customer, the scanner acquires at least one image from the document. Also provided is a first computer adapted to receive images from the document scanning system. Adapted to communicate information represented by the image, a first communication link couples the document scanning system and the first computer. The payment system also includes a second computer adapted to receive images which is in communication with the first computer via a second communication link. The second communication link is adapted to communicate images and payment information.
US07647269B2

An automated ticket auctioning system receives and evaluates bid information records received from a plurality of remote terminals. Each bid information record corresponds to at least one bid for one or more desired seats at a venue. Each bid information record may also include a plurality of additional bids identified for different seats in the venue. The separate bids in each bid information record are prioritized. The automated ticket auctioning system includes a central controlling computer operable to receive the bid information records and determine, in order of priority, whether any of the bids in a bid information record is accepted. If one bid in a bid information record is accepted, all lower priority bids in that bid information record are dismissed.
US07647267B2

The lowest trade price for a security within a predetermined period of time is determined, and a momentum liquidity replenishment price is determined by adding the greater of a predetermined price or a predetermined percentage of the last trade price to the lowest trade price for the security for the security within the predetermined period of time. In a similar fashion, another momentum liquidity replenishment price is determined from the highest trading price of the security within predetermined period of time.
US07647265B2

An investment allocation system, analysis module and method thereof for allocation of a total investment are disclosed. The investment allocation system comprises an input module, an analysis module and a allotment amount computation mode. The input module is used to input the historical data of a benchmark asset and multiple financial assets, and a threshold. The analysis module is used to calculate an adaptivity of each financial asset according to the threshold, and historical data of the benchmark asset and those financial assets. The allocation amount computation module is used to calculate an allocation ratio for each financial asset according to those adaptivities, related data, and a ratio computation procedure and the allocation ratio each of those financial assets being multiplied by the total investment to produce the amount of allocation for each financial asset.
US07647259B2

An intranet providing a multiple-carrel public-access kiosk provides free access to foreign and domestic informational e-commerce intranet sites as well as e-mail and public service educational and informational materials. The kiosk accepts anonymous pre-paid cards issued by a local franchisee of a network of e-commerce intranets that includes the local intranet. The paid services provided by each carrel may include video-conference and chat room time, playing and/or copying audio-visual materials such as computer games and music videos, and international e-commerce purchase support services such as customs and currency exchange. Third-party sponsored public service materials may include audio-visual instructional materials in local dialects introducing the user to the use of the kiosk's services and providing training for using standard business software programs.
US07647248B2

A shopping environment includes a server and a shopping device for broadcasting a wireless signal that identifies the identity of a shopper associated with the device. A network infrastructure conveys the wireless signal information to the server. A verification system is configured to detect the shopping device being in proximity to an exit of the shopping environment and to initiate precautionary action in response thereto. The shopping device may be enabled to permit the user to indicate purchase of an item and, responsive thereto, to communicate a purchase to the server as part of maintaining a virtual shopping cart of items selected for purchase by the shopper. The verification apparatus initiates the precautionary action if the shopper has not made payment arrangements. The verification apparatus is further enabled to display the number of items in the virtual shopping cart and the amount of time spent on the shopping trip.
US07647245B1

A security system-related marketing system includes a retail environment receptive of walk-in traffic and adapted to market goods and services to consumers. A security system-compliant device adapted to operate as a component of a security system is physically disposed in the retail environment, thereby permitting a purchaser to take physical possession of the device during a purchasing process. A security system component package is also marketed in the retail environment to purchasers of the device, thereby permitting a purchaser of the device to obtain rights to a predetermined set of security system components in the retail environment that substantially provide the security system. Security system services are further marketed in the retail environment to purchasers of the security system component package, thereby permitting a purchaser of the package to obtain rights to security system services in the retail environment.
US07647243B2

A method and apparatus for creating a computerized market for used and collectible goods by use of a plurality of low cost posting terminals and a market maker computer in a legal framework that establishes a bailee relationship and consignment contract with a purchaser of a good at the market maker computer that allows the purchaser to change the price of the good once the purchaser has purchased the good thereby to allow the purchaser to speculate on the price of collectibles in an electronic market for used goods while assuring the safe and trusted physical possession of a good with a vetted bailee.
US07647240B2

A computer-implemented system and method that prescreens the qualifications of clinical monitors, and quickly and efficiently matches qualified monitors with corresponding qualified clinical sponsors for work on a project. The system and method provide a secure platform for storage and searching of monitor profiles that may be continuously updated by the monitors. The system and method also checks the qualifications provided by monitors in their profiles to ensure that only qualified monitors are capable of being searched by the sponsors. The system and method also provides a secure platform for sponsors to post their clinical projects, and enables the sponsors to select the monitors they wish to view the project details. The system and method then provides the details of the project to the selected monitors, and the ones who are interested may be subsequently interviewed and selected by the sponsors. The system and method also provides a mechanism so that the sponsors and monitors may enter a contract regarding the project. The system and method dramatically reduces the time searching for qualified monitors needed to conduct studies, reduces costs for sponsors, and enables studies to be organized and started more efficiently.
US07647234B1

The disclosure relates to an interactive, web based cardiovascular healthcare management system which has an infomediary site with databases having information relating to cardiovascular disease risk factors such as age, blood pressure, LDL, HDL and subfractions thereof and cardiovascular disease management such as diet, exercise, drugs and cardiovascular education materials. The physician can communicate electronically with the infomediary site to obtain patient test results and formulate a patient treatment plan from the diet, exercise and drug data. The physician can electronically communicate treatment plans to the patient through a record in the infomediary site. The patient can electronically communicate compliance information to the physician through the patient record. The infomediary site may also provide a case manager to provide initial draft treatment plans to the physician, gather patient history data and/or patient treatment plan compliance data.
US07647224B2

A speech recognition apparatus includes a sound information acquiring unit that acquires sound information, a unit segment dividing unit that divides the sound information into plural unit segments, a segment information acquiring unit that acquires segment information that indicates a feature of each unit segment, a segment relation value calculating unit that calculates a segment relation value that indicates a relative feature of a target segment which is a unit segment to be processed with respect to an adjacent segment which is a unit segment adjacent to the target segment, based on segment information of the target segment and segment information of the adjacent segment among the segment information, a recognition candidate storing unit that stores recognition candidates that are targets of speech recognition, and a recognition result selecting unit that selects a recognition result from the recognition candidates stored in the recognition candidate storing unit utilizing the segment relation value.
US07647218B2

Disclosed is a method for detecting properties of a Metal Oxide Silicon (MOS) varactor, which includes: establishing a MOS varactor model equation in conjunction with an area of a gate; calculating values of the coefficients of the MOS varactor model equation through measurements for test materials; and extracting the properties of a capacitor of the MOS varactor using the calculated values of the coefficients. According to the method, the MOS varactor model equation can be expressed by Cgate=[Cigate×Area+Cpgate×Perimeter]×N, wherein, Cgate denotes gate capacitance for voltage applied to the gate, Cigate denotes intrinsic gate capacitance, Cpgate denotes perimeter gate capacitance, and N denotes the number of gate fingers. The MOS varactor model equation can be applicable to various sized capacitors, so that it is possible to estimate a gate capacitance for voltage applied to a gate, considering the differences due to the surface shapes of a device.
US07647216B2

A method for predicting the structural behavior of an object when a fire is applied to it for a given period of time, comprising the following steps: Preparing a computer-implemented 3D Finite Element Model of said object including its thermal relevant material properties and a computer-implemented 2D Finite Volume Model for simulating a fire inside said object and obtaining predicting information regarding its thermal effects; Obtaining the heat transfer coefficients of the structure using said predicting information regarding the thermal effects inside said object; Applying said heat transfer coefficients and other relevant thermal boundary conditions in said 3D Finite Element Model, simulating the application of a fire to said object and obtaining a thermal mapping of the object during said application of fire. The invention also refers to a system for carrying our said method.
US07647210B2

An electronic method for parametric modeling of a conceptual vehicle design. The method includes (a) receiving dimensional input including one or more vehicle level parameters and one or more component level parameters; (b) receiving geometrical input including one or more non-dimensional design inputs; and (c) generating a parametric concept model based on dimensional input and the geometrical input.
US07647200B2

A method of measuring one or more motion parameters of a main shaft in a gyratory or cone crusher is disclosed. Signals are directed from a stationary sensor means located apart from the main shaft to one or more signal reflective surfaces situated on a target located on or adjacent to an upper portion of the main shaft. The target rotates and otherwise moves in unison with the movement of the main shaft. From the elapsed time the distances from the sensor the reflective surfaces on the target are determined. Analyzing the distances over time will yield information on the movement of the main shaft.
US07647198B2

To facilitate the recognition and interpretation of actions undertaken within an environment, the environment is associated with a precision positioning system (PPS) and a controller in communication with the PPS. Within the environment, an entity moves about in furtherance of one or more tasks to be completed within the environment. The PPS determines position data corresponding to at least a portion of the entity, which position data is subsequently compared with at least one known action corresponding to a predetermined task within the environment. Using a state-based task model, recognized actions may be interpreted and used to initiate at least one system action based on the current state of the task model and correspondence of the position data to the at least one known action. Furthermore, based on the recognized action, the controller may provide information to the entity or captured event data may be associated with the recognized action.
US07647197B2

A method of transferring information stored in a mobile instrument, the information including a first information file containing metadata and a pointer indicative of a first auxiliary file address; and first auxiliary file containing image information, the first auxiliary file being located at the first auxiliary file address. The method includes the steps of: storing the metadata in a second information file; storing the image information in a second auxiliary file at a second auxiliary file address; generating a second pointer indicative of the second auxiliary file address; and storing the second pointer in the second information file. The instrument includes a camera; one or more spatial sensors; and an external sensor port. Power to the sensors can be controlled asynchronously. Various parsing methods are also described. The instrument includes a marker module configured to superimpose a marker on the image.
US07647195B1

A method and apparatus for a virtual accelerometer is described. The virtual accelerometer includes an active process identifier engine to identify any active application that may use accelerometer data. The virtual accelerometer also includes an intelligent signal interpretation and separation (ISIS) engine to separate raw accelerometer data for each of the active applications that use the accelerometer data. Additionally, the virtual accelerometer includes a universal application program interface (API) to provide separated accelerometer data to an application.
US07647178B2

A method and system for autonomous collision avoidance in multiple obstacle scenarios. A forward collision avoidance system detects obstacles in front of a vehicle hosting the system and estimates a position, a velocity and an acceleration of each of the obstacles. The maneuvers which the vehicle is capable of performing that will lead to a collision with each respective obstacle are evaluated separately. The union of maneuvers which will lead to collision with any one of the obstacles is formed. The set of maneuvers which the vehicle is capable of performing through which collision with any of the obstacles may be avoided is established, and the set used for deciding how to avoid or mitigate collision with any one of the obstacles. Finally, a collision avoidance maneuver based on the decision is executed autonomously.
US07647176B2

A system and method for wireless power transfer to an electronic device in motion, such as an inertial sensor assembly, is disclosed. In the method, a power level of a battery in the electronic device is monitored to determine whether the power level is at or below a prescribed threshold. One or more internal power ports of the electronic device are aligned with one or more external power ports when the power level is at or below the prescribed threshold. A wireless power signal is transmitted from the one or more external power ports to the one or more internal power ports. The power signal received by the one or more internal power ports is processed to charge the battery in the electronic device.
US07647164B2

A method and system for providing location data of a mobile device using a web service is provided. In one embodiment, a method for providing location data of a mobile device using a web service includes receiving location data associated with a mobile device, the mobile device operable to transmit a wireless signal including corresponding location data. A location request is received from a client using a web service. The location request comprising information identifying the mobile device and the client. A response to the location request is automatically communicated based on the location data associated with the mobile device.
US07647159B2

When the engine load is in a high-load zone, an absolute value control is executed, wherein the actual values of valve timings of an intake valve and an exhaust valve and a valve duration of the intake valve are controlled to coincide with respective target values set based on the operating state of an internal combustion engine. When the engine load is in a low-load zone, a relative value control is executed, wherein an actual value of a valve overlap amount of the intake valve and the exhaust valve is controlled to coincide with a target valve overlap amount obtained based on the target values. Therefore, a control method for the internal combustion engine that is appropriate for the operating state of the engine when the operating state of the engine is in transition is obtained.
US07647157B2

There are provided a control device, a control method, a control unit, and an engine control unit, which are capable of controlling a controlled object with relatively large phase delay and dead time, while attaining elimination of lag in control timing between the input and output of the controlled object and improvement of control accuracy at the same time. A state predictor calculates a deviation (output deviation) between an output from an oxygen concentration sensor and a predetermined target value at a predetermined deviation calculation period. Then, a DSM controller calculates a target air-fuel ratio for converging the output from the oxygen concentration sensor to the predetermined target value, according to the calculated deviation, based on any one of a Δ modulation algorithm, a ΔΣ modulation algorithm, and a ΣΔ modulation algorithm at a predetermined calculation period shorter than the predetermined deviation calculation period.
US07647154B2

A method and article of manufacture are provided for operating an internal combustion engine adapted to transmit torque to a hybrid transmission. The method comprises determining engine input torque transmittable to the hybrid transmission for a plurality of engine states the engine states comprising an all-cylinder operation and a cylinder-deactivation operation. Costs are determined for operating the engine and hybrid transmission in the engine states to substantially meet an operator torque request. The engine state is controlled to one of the all-cylinder operation and the cylinder-deactivation operation based upon the costs.
US07647153B2

A method is provided for controlling a vehicle while operating under a cruise control so as to improve response to driver braking operation and shorten the free running distance by applying a preliminary braking force to a braking device when a preceding vehicle can no longer be recognized during preceding vehicle following control. Basically, the method includes: detecting a preceding vehicle and an inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle from a host vehicle equipped with the vehicle driving control device; executing a preceding vehicle following control to control the inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle towards a target inter-vehicle distance when the preceding vehicle has been recognized; and generating a preliminary braking force upon determination that no preceding vehicle can be recognized during the preceding vehicle following control performed in which the preceding vehicle was previously detected.
US07647152B2

ECU executes a program including the steps of: detecting a mode input by a driver, detecting an accelerator opening degree TA to calculate an operation potential Pta based on the accelerator opening degree TA and an accelerator operation speed dTA, counting the number of times Pta exceeds a threshold value set according to a mode, as COUNT value, and learning a driver intention level in a sport direction when COUNT value is equal to or greater than the threshold value set according to a mode.
US07647147B2

A data communication interface connectable between a vehicle function-specific electronic device and a control module of a vehicle. The data communication interface includes a first programmable hardware for receiving signals from the control module of the vehicle and recognizing an identity of the vehicle based on the received signals. The data communication interface also includes a second programmable hardware for establishing a bi-directional connection between the vehicle function-specific electronic device and the control module of the vehicle when the identity of the vehicle is recognized.
US07647146B2

When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle (10) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center (20). The center (20) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer (30) at an automobile dealer. The center (20) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center (20) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle (10). The vehicle (10) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center (20). The center (20) transmits detailed abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer to the vehicle (10).
US07647144B2

An obstacle-sensing system for carriers, particularly autonomous carriers such as robot vacuum cleaners, enables the carriers to disengage themselves from any obstacle or obstruction with which they come into physical contact and proceed past the obstacle or obstruction. The obstacle-sensing system is established by constructing a carrier to have front and rear sections which, normally, are in a neutral relationship with respect to one another but which move relative to one another when the front section physically engages an obstacle or obstruction. The relative movement activates a guidance and control system that maneuvers the carrier around the obstacle or obstruction.
US07647132B2

A method of problem case packaging handling consists collecting manufacturing problem information from entities associated with fabrication of a semiconductor product; and distributing the manufacturing problem information into problem cases which are stored in a problem database, each problem case representing a respective manufacturing problem and being associated with manufacturing problem information related to that problem case.
US07647129B1

An FM transmitter accessory for a digital music player having a display screen uses a microprocessor to create image files that are transferred to the digital music player such that they are displayed on its screen. When a user input on the accessory is manipulated on the accessory to select a transmission frequency for the FM transmitter, the microcontroller generates a new image file that corresponds to the selected frequency and transfers the generated image file to the digital music player such that the selected frequency is displayed on the screen of the digital music player. In addition, by constantly generating new displays based upon user inputs, the accessory can display menus on the screen of the digital music player that can be manipulated by user to select between a number of displayed options.
US07647123B2

An interverterbral fissure can be treated by providing a catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, and an intradiscal section at the catheter's distal end on which there is at least one functional element. The next step is applying a force longitudinally to the proximal of the catheter which is sufficient to advance the intradiscal section through the nucleus pulposus and around an inner wall of an annulus fibrosus, but which force is insufficient to puncture the annulus fibrosus. Next the functional element is positioned at a selected location of the disc by advancing or retracting the catheter and optionally twisting the proximal end of the catheter. Then the functional unit treats the annular fissure. Optionally, there is an additional step of adding a substance to seal the fissure.
US07647120B2

A system for treating patients affected both by hearing loss and by balance disorders related to vestibular hypofunction and/or malfunction, which includes sensors of sound and head movement, processing circuitry, a power source, and an implantable electrical stimulator capable of stimulating areas of the cochlea and areas of the vestibular system.
US07647105B2

A method and an apparatus for treating cardiac arrhythmias are provided. An interval between first and second consecutive beats of a heart, having first and second chamber types, is determined. The heart is paced at a first rate if the first beat is from the first chamber type and the second beat is from the second chamber type and the interval is less than a predetermined amount of time or if the first and second beats are both from the second chamber type. The heart is paced at a second rate if the first beat is from the first chamber type and the second beat is from the second chamber type and the interval is more than the predetermined amount of time.
US07647103B2

In general, the invention is directed to techniques for detecting and addressing pacemaker syndrome. When a pacemaker detects a risk of pacemaker syndrome, the pacemaker paces one or more chambers of the heart to reduce the risk of pacemaker syndrome. One pacing technique is to apply ventricular paces, thereby reducing the delay between the atrial activation and the ventricular activation. Another technique, available to a patient who receives atrial pacing, is to decrease the atrial pacing rate.
US07647095B2

A method and apparatus for verifying a determined cardiac event in a medical device based on detected variation in hemodynamic status that includes a plurality of sensors sensing cardiac signals, and a physiologic sensor sensing physiologic signals to generate a plurality of variation index samples corresponding to the sensed signals. A microprocessor detects a cardiac event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, computes a variation index trend associated with a predetermined number of variation index samples of the plurality of variation index samples, determines a rate of change of the computed variation index trend, and confirms the determined cardiac event in response to the computed variation index trend and in response to the determined rate of change.
US07647090B1

An in-vivo sensing device may include, for example, an in-vivo sensing module attached to a functional module. The in-vivo sensing module may include, for example, an in-vivo imager or sensor. The functional module may include, for example, a power source, a transmitter, or other components.
US07647089B2

A method and a system of determining a surface location defining an interface between an object to image and an antenna is provided. The method uses geometric principles and the fact that an impedance mismatch at the interface results in significant reflection. A propagation time from the surface to each antenna of a plurality of antennas is estimated. The propagation time locates the surface on a circle centered at each antenna and having a radius calculated using the propagation time. A tangent line connects the intersection of adjacent circles with the surface. The surface is estimated to be located at the tangent point where the circle and the shared tangent line between adjacent antennas intersect. Multiple tangent points may be averaged for each interior antenna. A curve is fit to the set of tangent points to provide an estimate of the surface location.
US07647082B2

The invention relates to a cover for a portable device (10) comprising: a main body (2) with resilient parts, an opening (3) provided in a resilient part (8) for insertion and removal of the portable device (10); and a releasable cap (1) shaped and configured to close the opening (3) and fit over at least a part of the resilient part (8) surrounding the opening (3).
US07647081B2

The invention relates to a sliding mechanism and in particular to a sliding mechanism for an electronic device. The sliding mechanism comprises a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being slidably movable relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration; the first and second parts including respective first and second magnetic elements, the magnetic elements being arranged to attract one another to bias the first and second parts towards the first configuration.
US07647079B2

A battery cover latching assembly (50) is for a portable electronic device (100) including a housing (20), a first cover (10) configured for attaching to a first side of the housing, and a second cover (30) configured for attaching to a second side of the housing. The battery cover latching assembly includes a locking portion (131) and a latch (342). The locking portion is formed on the first cover. The latch is formed on the second cover. The latch includes a body (343) and a button portion (344) extending from the body. The body is engageable with the locking portion so as to lock the first cover and second cover with each other. The button portion is configured so as to be retained by the housing, and is operable to deform the body of the latch so as to unlock the first cover and the second cover.
US07647077B2

The present invention provides a wireless headset with echo control and noise cancellation. The present invention also provides a method with phase reversion for echo control of a wireless headset wherein the wireless headset comprises closely disposed speakers and acoustic sensors. The present invention further provides a method with beamforming for noise cancellation of a wireless headset wherein the wireless headset comprises two separate units disposed in distance, and wherein each unit comprises an acoustic sensor.
US07647075B2

In a terminal device equipped with a function of running an application program, operation of an application program is suspended when an event is detected, the type of the event is predetermined, and event data representing the detected event is stored. Then, the terminal device delivers stored event data to the application program, after the suspended application is resumed.
US07647068B2

A mobile terminal which includes a voltage comparing unit that compares a battery voltage to a reference voltage, and a controller that controls a booting operation of the mobile terminal according to the comparison.
US07647065B2

In a wireless communication system, an apparatus and a method are provided for controlling reverse link interference among access terminals that are power controlled by a sector of a base station. In an embodiment, the maximum effective noise power spectral density is used as a parameter for controlling the level of reverse link loading, by setting a reverse activity bit (RAB) to signal the access terminals to reduce their data rates in order to minimize interference between the access terminals if the maximum effective noise power spectral density is above a predetermined threshold.
US07647061B1

A method of detecting extra-system signals in a multi-node RLAN (radio local area network) involves: at each of a plurality of nodes in the RLAN, processing at least one respective received signal to produce detection results and deciding whether an extra-system signal has or has not been detected based on detection results of at least two of the plurality of nodes. The extra-system signal is for example a signal from a RADAR system. The detection results are produced using pulse pattern matching for example. Furthermore, in some implementations a decision as to whether an extra-system signal has or has not been detected is based on a comparison of a detection signature for at least two of the nodes to see if there is a substantial match. In some implementations the decision is further based on information representative of a direction of arrival of respective received signals.
US07647055B2

A wireless communication device, known as a mobile station (MS), contains a conventional wireless communication system and further comprises a wireless computer network communication subsystem and may also include GPS capability. The operator of the MS may utilize any or all of these subsystems to determine the current position of the MS. Based on the current position of the MS, location-based services are provided to the MS as sales information, schedules, prices, maps, and the like. In a typical implementation a plurality of computer network access points, or beacons, are distributed throughout a geographic region and used to determine the position of the MS with a reasonably high degree of accuracy. Based on the current position of the MS, the beacons can provide location-based services.
US07647053B2

An electronic device has first and second wireless transceiver modules using first and second communication protocol, respectively. Both wireless transceiver modules are coupled between an application layer and an at least partially shared physical layer of the electronic device. The second wireless transceiver module is equipped with a controller to avoid interference with external signals on a frequency used by the second communication protocol. To avoid destructive interference in the physical layer resulting from simultaneous communications from or to the first and second wireless transceiver modules, the electronic device further includes a mediator, which is responsive to an enabled communication involving the first wireless transceiver module, and which feeds a blocking signal into the controller to avoid interference between the enabled communication and a transmission of the second wireless transceiver module.
US07647047B2

Consumer configurable mobile communications solution enabling policy-enforcement services allowing authorized users to define, manage and enforce restrictions for voice, data, and mobile Web services of a secondary mobile device.
US07647041B2

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed to enable backup wireless devices. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving a first activation code from a first wireless device, comparing the first activation code associated with the first wireless device with a first activation code in a database, activating the first wireless device when the first activation code associated with the first wireless device matches the first activation code in the database, and when a second wireless device is active, deactivating the second wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code associated with the first wireless device.
US07647038B2

A method of delivering data from a source to a remote device is disclosed. The method of delivering data from a source to a remote device includes a network node, different from the source, developing a schedule for delivery of the data to the remote device based on scheduling parameters including an available RF spectrum of, a plurality of regional broadcast stations, the network node selecting a frequency and a particular one of the plurality of regional broadcast stations from among a set of available frequencies of the plurality of regional broadcast stations, communicating the data and the selected frequency to the particular one of the plurality of regional broadcast stations in accordance with the schedule, and the regional broadcast station broadcasting the data, in accordance with the schedule, via radio waves.
US07647035B2

A radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes an RF transmitter that generates an outbound RF signal at a carrier frequency that is based on a transmitter local oscillation. An RF front-end receives an inbound RF signal that includes a desired signal component that is based on the outbound RF signal and that includes an undesired signal component. The RF front-end includes a first RF combiner module that attenuates the undesired signal component to produce a desired RF signal. A down conversion module generates a down converted signal from the desired RF signal based on a receiver local oscillation. A receiver processing module generates inbound data from the down converted signal. A frequency control module controls a frequency of the transmitter local oscillation and a frequency of the receiver local oscillation, based on an interference rejection signal, to control the attenuation of the undesired signal component.
US07647033B2

A level converter level-converts an oscillation output signal of a reference frequency oscillator and supplies the level-converted signal to a phase comparator of a PLL/fractional synthesizer for controlling an oscillation frequency of an RF transmission voltage-controlled oscillator. The level converter includes a self-bias type voltage amplifier which amplifies a reference frequency signal of the reference frequency oscillator. The self-bias type voltage amplifier includes a coupling capacitor, an amplifying transistor, a load and a bias element and suppresses a variation in the level of each harmonic component even though an external power supply voltage varies.
US07647032B2

An oscillation control device for controlling a frequency of an oscillator located at the remote site from a standard laboratory having a standard oscillator. The control device includes: a comparison section to compare a frequency of the frequency signal synchronized with a radio signal produced by a signal processing section with a frequency of a oscillation signal outputted from an oscillator to be controlled, an acquisition section to obtain, through a communication network, a comparison result which is obtained by a comparison of a frequency of the standard oscillator held by the standard laboratory and a frequency of the radio signal, a calculation section to calculate deviation between the frequency of the oscillator to be controlled and the frequency of the standard oscillator based on their comparison, and a control section to control the frequency of the oscillator to be controlled, based on the deviation calculated.
US07647021B2

A multi-tier ASP delivery system. The system can include a host computing device configured to communicate both with a computer communications network and with a plurality of wireless devices in a personal area network (PAN). In particular, a short-range radio communications system can be provided with which wireless communications in the PAN can be established and maintained. A list of ASP services further can be provided which indicates those ASP services which can be accessed by the wireless devices in the PAN. The ASP services in the list can reside locally in the host computing device and remotely in ASP servers in the computer communications network.
US07647020B2

A multi-mode foldable electronic apparatus and the method thereof are provided. The multi-mode foldable electronic apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a first hinge, a second hinge and a system. The first hinge and the second hinge are used for connecting the first housing and the second housing. A first magnet and a second magnet are disposed in the first housing, and magnetism changes when the first and the second magnet being moved. A first magnetism sensor disposed in the second housing is used for sensing the changes in magnetism of the first magnet and generates a first signal thereby. A second magnetism sensor disposed in the second housing is used for sensing the changes in magnetism of the second magnet to generate a second signal thereby. The system commands the apparatus in one of different modes in response to the first and the second signals being received.
US07647015B2

A color image forming apparatus includes a color-shift-detection-image forming unit, a color shift detector, a recording-material color-shift correcting unit and a conveyance-unit color-shift correcting unit. The color-shift-detection-image forming unit selectively forms a color-shift detection image on a recording medium or a first conveyance unit. The color shift detector detects color shift based on the color-shift detection image. The recording-material color-shift correcting unit performs color-shift correction based on the color-shift detection information corresponding to the color shift on the recording medium. The conveyance-unit color-shift correcting unit performs color-shift correction based on an amount of change in the color-shift detection information corresponding to the color shift on the first conveyance unit. The amount of change is determined using the color-shift detection information corresponding to the color shift on the first conveyance unit, which is obtained after the recording-medium color-shift correcting unit performs the color-shift correction, as a reference.
US07647014B2

The present invention is made to provide a pretransfer charging device, which allows (i) reduction of generation of discharge products such as ozone and nitroxide, (ii) excellent uniform charging, (iii) continuous stable charging for a long period of time, and (iv) restraint of distortion of a toner image. The pretransfer charging device includes (i) ion generation needles each provided face to face with an image carrier such as a photoconductor drum or an intermediating transfer belt, and (ii) a high-voltage power supply for applying a negative voltage to each of the ion generation needles. The voltage to be applied from the high-voltage power supply is not less than an ion production threshold voltage but is less than a corona discharge threshold voltage. With this, no corona discharge occurs but negative ions can be generated. This makes it possible to solve various problems caused due to the corona discharge.
US07647012B2

A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, includes a main body for containing toner; a sealing portion for sealing the toner discharge opening; locking projections for snap fitting engagement with holes provided in a cylindrical member of an image forming apparatus, wherein the projections receive from the cylindrical member unsealing forces for unsealing the toner discharge opening by a relative movement between the sealing portion and the toner container, wherein a number of the locking projections is larger than a number of ribs provided between the holes of the cylindrical member.
US07647008B2

The invention relates to a liquid toner and imaging apparatus provided with an imaging surface having a liquid toner image formed thereon on fibrous toner particles and carrier liquid. The fibrous toner particles can be composed of a polymer portion and pigment dispersed therein, where the polymer portion comprises a surface of the fibrous toner particles and is insoluble in the carrier liquid at temperatures below 40° C., so that the polymer portion will not dissolve or solvate in storage. The polymer portion also is solvatable by the carrier liquid only at temperatures above 50° C. The carrier liquid has, as a major component, first liquid hydrocarbon having a first rate of evaporation, and, as a minor component, second liquid hydrocarbon having a second rate of evaporation which, at room temperature, is at least an order of magnitude less than the first rate of evaporation.
US07647006B2

An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of rotors, and an endless belt that is supported with tension by the plurality of rotors and rotated by the rotors. Herein, at least one of the plurality of rotors is provided, at a first end, with a belt restraining member that has a restraining face for restraining displacement of the endless belt toward the first end and that is rotatable with respect to the rotor; and the belt restraining member is arranged such that an angle between the restraining face of the belt restraining member and a rotation shaft of the rotor is greater at a contact start point at which the endless belt begins contact with the belt restraining member during rotation than at a contact end point at which the endless belt ends contact with the belt restraining member during rotation.
US07646980B1

The invention is directed toward a variable spectral phase encoder. The variable spectral phase encoder includes a plurality of switches and at least one encoder. The encoder is coupled between a first switch and second switch among the plurality of switches. The first switch selectively routes an optical signal to some combination of fixed encoders such that their collective product applies one of the Hadamard sequences to the optical signal.
US07646975B2

An imaging apparatus includes an exterior ease to which a lens device is attached, a base plate supported in the vicinity of an objective lens of the lens device, a flashlight device pivotally connected to the base plate and capable of moving between a pop-up position and a storage position through a turning arm, a spring device that makes the flashlight device pop up to be urged to the pop-up position with the spring device in contact with the base plate and the flashlight device and a holding device for holding the flashlight device in the storage position with the holding device fixedly connected to the base plate and releasably connected to the flashlight device in the storage position. The pop-up angle of the flashlight device is set at 20 degrees or less and a light emitting portion faces the front of a subject in the pop-up position.
US07646966B2

This invention provides a method for creating, updating, and recording information for seamless presentation of moving picture data in a rewritable recording medium. When recording moving picture data on a rewritable recording medium, seamless presentation information, a part of navigation data, is recorded along with the picture data for seamless presentation of the recorded picture data. The method for creating and recording seamless presentation information of the present invention can effectively reduce the amount of created seamless presentation information by omitting some fields of the seamless presentation information when they are unnecessary. If some video objects of recorded picture data are erased, navigation data related to the removed video objects should be erased and seamless presentation information should also needs proper modification. The method for updating and recording seamless presentation information of the present invention enables effective management of seamless presentation information by updating seamless presentation information related to the video object following erased video objects.
US07646965B2

The present invention relates to a recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and to reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium. The present recording medium has script files including additional information about moving picture data, e.g., scene descriptive text and introduction of characters, etc. In addition, information linking each script file with a section of moving picture data to be presented with contents of the script file is included in a link data file or is contained in a filename of the script file. In reproduction of the recording medium, a script file linked with presently reproduced moving picture data section is determined and searched for based on the link data file or every filename of the script files, and contents of the found script file are presented together with the presently reproduced moving picture data. Furthermore, previously presented additional information is removed depending on data or filename of the found script file.
US07646954B2

An optical fiber telecommunications cable includes micromodules positioned with a longitudinal central cavity formed by a jacket. Two strength members are arranged longitudinally in the jacket and define a bending axis of the cable. Each strength member has an elongated oval cross-sectional shape with a height perpendicular to the bending axis and a width parallel to the bending axis. The height-to-width ratio of each strength member is more than one and no more than two. The optical fiber telecommunications cable has a reduced diameter and good robustness, and can be manufactured at lower cost.
US07646949B2

An optical device includes a waveguide immobilized on a base. The device includes a port configured to receive light signals from the waveguide such that the light signals travel through the port. The light signals enter the port traveling in a first direction. The port is configured to change the direction of the light signals from the first direction to a second direction that is toward a location above the device or below the device. The device also includes a wedge configured to receive the light signals from the port such that the light signals travel through the wedge and then exit the wedge traveling in a direction that is at an angle in a range of 88° to 92° relative to the device and that is toward a location above or below the device.
US07646942B2

Provided is a high-speed ring optical modulator based on a silicon semiconductor, having increased optical modulation speed. The high-speed ring optical modulator includes a ring optical waveguide including a portion in which the refractive index varies, that is, a refractive index variation portion, and an optical waveguide having a constant refractive index. The refractive index variation portion comprises a bipolar transistor. Thus carriers can be supplied to and discharged from the refractive index variation portion, through which light is transmitted, at high speed, and thus the optical modulation speed can be increased.
US07646939B2

There is provided an electronic album editing system having a first storage section for storing a plurality of images captured by a user as an electronic album, a second storage section for storing each electronic album containing a plurality of images captured by cameramen other than the user by correlating with traveling routes of the cameramen of the images contained in the electronic albums, a traveling route calculating section for calculating a traveling route of the user in the plurality of images stored in the first storage section, an album detecting section for detecting an electronic album, out of the plurality of electronic albums stored in the second storage section, corresponding to a traveling route that presents a degree of coincidence of a reference value or more with respect to the calculated traveling route and an editing section for storing the images contained in the detected electronic album to the first storage section.
US07646938B2

A method for increasing the resolution of confocal images acquired through an image guide whereof the distal end is associated with an optical head for focusing the laser beam emitted by the image guide in an observation object. For a given position of the optical head, the method includes the following steps: producing a plurality of acquisitions through the image guide, each acquisition being produced for a specific spatial shift of the distal end of the guide image relative to the optical head which remains stationary; transforming the data of each acquisition into a point cloud; registering each scatter plot relative to a point cloud taken as reference; superimposing the thus registered point clouds; and reconstructing a final image from the superimposition. Advantageously, a controlled piezoelectric tube is used arranged about the distal end of the image guide to shift the latter.
US07646932B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for merging images of segments of a view. Methods include: receiving, from a network, a first image representing a first segment of the view and a second image representing a second segment of the view; determining the position of the second segment of the view relative to the first segment of the view; blending the first image with the second image based on the determined position of the second segment relative to the first segment to form a panoramic image of the view; and transmitting the panoramic image over the network.
US07646910B1

A method for processing a digital image is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (A) receiving the digital image, the digital image having (i) a Bayer color representation and (ii) two initial dimensions in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction respectively and (B) generating a resample image by down-sampling the digital image in the Bayer color representation such that (i) the resample image has two resample dimensions, (ii) at least one of the resample dimensions is smaller than a respective at least one of the initial dimensions and (iii) the respective at least one initial dimension is a non-integer multiple of the at least one resample dimension.
US07646899B2

A method for determining an orientation of a base (130) to which a fiducial marker (110) is detachably mounted. The method includes the steps of determining the axis of symmetry for the fiducial marker and choosing the determined axis of symmetry of the fiducial marker (110) as the axis of symmetry of the base (130).
US07646897B2

An apparatus for input and fingerprint recognition comprises a touch surface, and a data processor coupled to the touch surface. The touch surface comprises a first region and a second region. The second region is distinct from and coplanar with the first region and occupies a minor portion of a total surface area of the touch surface. The data processor is configured to selectively operate the touch surface in a touch input mode or a fingerprint detection mode. In the touch input mode, the data processor is configured to operate the second region at a first resolution comparable to that of the first region to detect a touch input anywhere on the touch surface. In the fingerprint detection mode, the data processor is configured to operate the second region at a higher resolution than the first resolution to detect a fingerprint on the second region.
US07646896B2

A device for user enrollment is adapted to capture an image of a pattern projected on a target and distorted on the three-dimensional (3D) surface of the target, such as a human face, and an image of a two-dimensional (2D) surface of the target. The device can include an illumination unit adapted to project a patterned light onto the surface of the target in an invisible light wavelength, a 3D image capturing device to capture an image of a pattern projected on the target and distorted on the 3D surface of the target. The device can also include a 2D image capturing device adapted to capture an image of a 2D frontal view of the target in visible light. The device can also include an orientation unit that displays the face of the target in order to facilitate the positioning of the target within the proper fields of view.
US07646891B2

There is provided an image processor and a method thereof for high-speed compensation for taken-image blurs produced by camera shakes or the like. In the first instance, a motion-detecting area is selected for each of two images taken by an image sensor. When projective data is calculated by means of computing in a predetermined direction pixels of the motion-detecting areas, the motion vector between the two images can be acquired based on the projective data. The image correlativity between the two images is then calculated in the direction that the motion vector designates; and the amount of pixel displacement between the two images is calculated based on the correlativity values acquired by the calculation. Moreover, the area that has been produced by displacing an image output area in a camera-shake compensation area designated in the second frame, by the pixel-displacement amount calculated by a displacement calculator is cut away from the camera-shake compensation area, and is outputted as an image for the image output area of the second frame.
US07646890B2

An image processor for an automotive vehicle includes: an imaging element for capturing an image of a road; a traffic lane line detection element for detecting a position of a traffic lane line by determining an edge of the traffic lane line; a distance distribution calculation element for calculating a distance distribution of an edge intensity corresponding to a distance to the traffic lane line from the imaging element; and a detection reliability calculation element for calculating a degree of reliability of detection of the traffic lane line on the basis of the distance distribution of the edge intensity of the traffic lane line.
US07646888B2

A vehicle tunnel detecting device includes an image pickup unit for picking up images of a forward area and an obliquely upper area with respect to a travel direction of a vehicle, an obliquely upper area brightness reduction detecting unit for judging whether an average brightness of the images of the obliquely upper area with respect to the travel direction picked up by the image pickup unit is lower than a predetermined value, a brightness difference detecting unit for calculating a difference in average brightness between the images of the forward and obliquely upper areas achieved by the image pickup unit when it is judged by the obliquely upper area brightness reduction detecting unit that the average brightness of the image of the obliquely upper area is lower than the predetermined value, and a tunnel identifying unit for identifying a tunnel when the difference in average brightness between the image of the forward area and the image of the obliquely upper area that is calculated by the brightness difference detecting unit is lower than a predetermined value.
US07646885B2

The inventive method is characterized in that the prepaid postage indicia are checked to see if they contain a predefined security feature. If they do not, at least one selected read area of the mail is checked to determine whether it contains a predefined graphic representation of a prepaid postage indicia.
US07646883B2

A digital watermark detection apparatus includes an extraction unit extracting a specific frequency component signal from an input image signal, a first transformation unit orthogonal-transforming the image signal, a second transformation unit orthogonal-transforming the specific frequency component signal, a combination unit combining first and second transformed image signals from the first and second transformation units, a third transformation unit orthogonal-transforming a combined image signal, an estimation unit estimating embedded watermark information by searching for a peak appearing in a third transformed image signal of the third transformation unit, and a compressor compressing a target signal in amplitude based on a compression characteristic varying according to an amplitude and frequency of the target signal to obtain a compression signal, the target signal formed of at least one of the first transformed image signal, the second transformed image signal and the combined image signal.
US07646876B2

A microphone bar for obtaining audio input for a video conferencing system includes a master module and one or more slave modules. The master module houses a first pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar, and each of the slave modules houses a second pair of unidirectional microphones for obtaining audio from opposite sides of the bar. Extensions connect the modules together, and at least one bus conducts audio signals through the extension from the microphones to the video conferencing system. The microphones are operable according to a broadside mode of stereo operation when a central axis of the bar is substantially orthogonal to a view angle of the conferencing system. Furthermore, the microphones are operable according to an end-fire mode of stereo operation when the central axis of the bar is substantially parallel to the view angle of the conferencing system.
US07646866B2

A slide module for a slide type electronic device includes a slide base having two opposite slide edges curling inside to form two longitudinal roll edges. A pair of slide rails are provided with a pair of slick guide recesses. The guide recess receives one roll edge sliding along the guide recess. A locating recess is defined above the guide recess. A guide hole is defined in the slide rail passing therethrough. A slide tray defines a pair of fixed blades located in the locating recesses respectively at two sides thereof. A torsion spring has two free ends. The first end is connected to the slide base and the second end is connected to the slide tray. A pair of guide rods are inserted in the guide holes respectively and equipped in both sides of the slide base. The guide rod slides along the guide hole.
US07646855B2

A computer-implemented method and system for processing a service request received from a telephone communication device. The telephony system and method utilizes a call management server and a voice interpreter server. The call management server receives an incoming call from a user, and the voice interpreter server processes the service request contained in the incoming call. Data communication encapsulation is used to communicate data between the call management server and the voice interpreter platform in order to process the service request.
US07646853B2

A security central station monitors a plurality of individual subscriber security systems installed in residential or commercial accounts. Each security system at an account is programmed to periodically place a telephone call to the security central station receiver, and then to send a signal to the security central station receiver over the placed telephone call. The ten digit telephone number of the account is programmed into the security central station as the ten digit account number of record. When the signal sent by the security system is received by the security central station receiver, the security central station compares the ten digit caller telephone number with the ten digit account number of record. Normally, the ten digit caller telephone number will match the ten digit account number. However, a mismatch between the two ten digit numbers indicates to the security central station that the telephone number of the account premises protected by the security system has been changed, and alerts the security central station to investigate the matter further.
US07646844B2

Method for operating a medical examination apparatus, having an image recording device, which is moved in a rotary motion through a predetermined angular range around the patient in order to produce image recordings of a periodically moving object, with several runs being carried out by the image recording device in order to produce the image recordings and the start of the individual runs being initiated as a function of a reference signal, which represents a current movement status of the organ to be mapped, such that image recordings are produced at different radiation angles with each run.
US07646843B2

A method is disclosed for producing projective and tomographic phase contrast images of an examination object, preferably a patient, with the aid of an X-ray system, and a corresponding X-ray system for carrying out this method. In at least one embodiment of the method, X-ray optical grating sets tuned to different energy ranges are used to determine energy-dependent phase shifts upon penetration of an examination object, a difference value is formed from these energy-dependent phase shifts, and tomographic or projective images are produced therefrom.
US07646842B2

A method for obtaining data includes scanning an object using a CT imaging system having at least two detector rows to acquire projection data, wherein the projection data includes at least some data obtained from at least two rows of the detector array, and reconstructing data representative an image of the object utilizing the projection data wherein the reconstruction includes pipelining the acquired projection data through a pipeline of operations including column-filtering, tomographic filtering, and backprojection. Thick reconstructed images using 3D backprojection can be obtained with significantly lessened artifacts relative to conventional 3D backprojection image reconstructions.
US07646840B2

A method of inputting data to an integrated circuit is disclosed. A plurality of data signals are serially received from a source external to the integrated circuit. A strobe signal is derived from the plurality of data signals. The deriving is done by circuitry within the integrated circuit. The data signals can be latched at an input of the integrated circuit using the strobe signal that was derived within the integrated circuit.
US07646836B1

Techniques are provided for calculating a clock rate for a serial clock of a transmitter where information sent by the transmitter is sent in packets from the transmitter over an asynchronous network. The techniques involve minimizing the number of adjustments to the clock rate that are needed to fine tune the clock rate to match the serial clock of the transmitter.
US07646831B2

The present invention relates to a method and a device for data extraction from a data stream containing at least one data packet. First, comparing a bit stream derived from a received digital data stream with an expected bit sequence is performed by packet detector to determine a correlation value (CorrVal) for detecting a data packet. Then, a data extraction unit is started for data extraction when the correlation value (CorrVal) exceeds a threshold value (CorrThres) indicating that a data packet has been detected. Therefore, comparing the received bit stream with the expected bit sequence to determine a new correlation value (CorrVal) is continued by the packet detector. Finally, restarting data extraction is initiated by a sync-control module when the new correlation value (CorrVal) exceeds the form correlation value (MaxCorrVal).
US07646823B2

A technique to determine sampling frequency offset (SFO) phase shift and perform channel estimation for symbols of a signal communicated across a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication channel, in which preambles utilized for channel estimation are sent over more than one time block. Because the transmission of preambles used for channel estimation are sent over multiple time blocks, a SFO phase shift that is linear across tones of an OFDM signal is experienced between preambles of the two time blocks. Upon detection of the SFO phase shift, a weighting matrix used for channel estimation is modified to account for the SFO phase shift, in order to perform the channel estimation with correction for the SFO phase shift.
US07646821B1

A baseband processor includes a demodulator that demodulates a symbol received by a maximum ratio combining (MRC) receiver via receive pathways. A viterbi decoder generates branch metrics for decoding the symbol. The branch metrics are generated based on a channel state information (CSI) of the symbol.
US07646816B2

A method and system including an improved generalized reference decoder that operates according to any number of sets of rate and buffer parameters for a given bit stream. Each set characterizes a leaky bucket model and contains three parameters representing the transmission bit rate, buffer size, and initial decoder buffer fullness. An encoder provides at least two sets of these parameters, whereby the decoder selects one or interpolates between them to operate at any desired peak bit rate, buffer size or delay. The generalized reference decoder may select the smallest buffer size and corresponding delay that decodes the bit stream without buffer underflow or overflow, or alternatively may select and operate at the minimum required peak transmission rate, or something between both. In practice, the buffer size, delay and/or the peak transmission rate can be reduced by significant factors, and/or the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be increased.
US07646812B2

Encoding functionality is described for producing encoded intra (I) pictures and predictive (P) pictures for consumption by an application running on a set-top box. The encoding functionality includes a pre-processing module which marks regions that should not be updated with a predetermined color code. An encoding module receives the output of the pre-processing module, and, in the event that the output contains the predetermined color code, produces a predictive (P) picture. In the predictive (P) picture, the encoding module produces macroblocks having zero motion vector and zero difference (or skipped macroblocks) corresponding to regions that were marked by the pre-processing module with the predetermined color code. The encoding module produces intra macroblocks for other regions of the picture (corresponding to update regions).
US07646809B2

A system and method are disclosed for decoding signals of a block of image data. The method comprises receiving a parameter or an index associated with a direction of a plurality of prediction directions and decoding a block of image data utilizing image data predicted from an adjacent block according to direction associated with the parameter. The prediction direction may be at least one of horizontal, vertical or diagonal. A system and method are also disclosed for encoding blocks of image data including a parameter or an index associated with a direction of a plurality of prediction directions.
US07646795B2

Methods and apparatus for maintaining a quality of a Raman medium in a Raman conversion cell. In various examples, a flow velocity of the Raman medium is tailored based on a spatial nonuniformity of heat deposition resulting from the Raman conversion in the cell. In particular, in one example, the flow velocity of the Raman medium may be tailored to be higher where the heat deposition/temperature rise is larger and smaller elsewhere in the cell. This type of flow velocity profile reduces the overall required volumetric flow of the Raman medium in the cell without significantly affecting a quality of the Raman medium.
US07646794B2

A laser apparatus is provided which is capable of achieving deep penetration into an aluminum-like metal material without causing welding defects such as spatters or cracks and performing high-speed pulse seam welding. The laser apparatus includes a pulse power source that generates a current signal and a mask signal for masking a fluctuation component included in the current signal, and which supplies a current signal in which a fluctuation component has been masked by the mask signal to a YAG pulsed laser oscillator. In addition, the laser apparatus sets the spot shape of a CW laser light oscillated by a CW laser oscillator to a rhombic streamlined shape, and causes a focus spot of the CW laser light to include a circular focus spot of a pulsed laser light.
US07646793B2

In order to satisfactorily transmit audio data of various formats through a transmission line, when data having a predetermined data length as a unit is transmitted by a predetermined format between devices connected to a predetermined transmission line, label data indicating a system of transmitted audio data is located at a starting portion of the data having the predetermined data length, sub-label data is located at an interval behind label data if necessary and data accompanying with audio data is located and transmitted, whereby a side which receives this data can easily identify a system of audio data or the like.
US07646790B2

A communication processor of a class, such as an Internet tuner, provides such desirable features (FIG. 2) as LAN support, an SPI interface (128), a dedicated port (56), and ADPCM (22) for audio applications. The invention provides a low-cost, low-power, easily manufactured, small form-actor network access module which has a low memory demand and provides a highly efficient protocol decode. The invention comprises a hardware-integrated system that both decodes multiple network protocols in a streaming manner concurrently and processes packet data in one pass, thereby reducing system memory and form factor requirements, while also eliminating software CPU overhead.
US07646786B2

A network device has a communications link to allow the device to communicate with customer devices and a processor. The processor is to receive neighbor discovery messages from requesting customer devices, examine the neighbor discovery messages to determine if the neighbor discovery message should be forwarded to other of the customer devices, and respond to the requesting customer devices.
US07646776B2

Method and apparatus for generating unique id packets in a distributed processing system. A method for facilitating processing over a network includes generating at a server location on the network a pointer that defines an information profile on the network. The pointer is then associated with the information profile, and the pointer and the associated information profile transmitted to at least two locations on the network. The pointer can then be transmitted to one of the at least two locations on the network from another location on the network during a processing operation on the network for the purpose of processing a network transaction at the receiving one of the at least two locations on the network, which network transaction requires the associated information profile, such that only transmission of the pointer is required for the processing operation.
US07646772B2

LDP label switching may be discontinued gracefully on one or more selected ones of multiple links interconnecting a pair of label switched routers (LSRs) while leaving label switching in operation on the remaining LDP-enabled links. Mechanisms for graceful shutdown of LDP on a selected link are added by way of modification to one or more of: e.g., LDP discovery Hello messages, LDP Label Withdraw/Label Release messages, LDP Notification messages.
US07646765B2

A call routing system comprises a signaling processor with an internal cache memory. The signaling processor receives a signaling message and searches the cache memory with a called number to determine whether or not the called number has an associated location route number or if a query is required. If the query is required, the signaling processor transfers the query and receives a response that indicates whether or not the called number has the associated location route number. If the called number has the associated location route number, the signaling processor processes the location route number to select a connection. If the called number does not have the associated location route number, the signaling processor processes the called number to select the connection. If the response is received, the signaling processor updates the cache memory to indicate whether or not the called number has the associated location route number.
US07646763B2

High compression rate codecs in gateways servicing Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Voice Band Data (VBD) calls distort modem/fax Answer Back Tones (e.g., 2100 Hz), which may lead to signal distortion and call hang-ups. To prevent such occurrences, a method or corresponding apparatus forces originating and terminating gateways to stay in a low complexity non-voice compression codec (e.g., ITU G.711) after prenegotiating a high complexity, voice compression codec (e.g., G.729 or G.726) during a short beginning period of a voice call. The low complexity codec avoids distorted answer back tone leakage associated with previous solutions that use a notch filter to block the leakage, thereby significantly improving the success rate of a VBD call by completely eliminating modem answer back tone distortion caused by high complexity codecs that use voice compression and by completely eliminating use of the notch filter.
US07646762B2

A communication system that includes a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) service provides re-broadcasts of an event to subscribers to the MBMS service. An infrastructure included in the communication system and comprising a server coupled to a RAN controller via a support node receives a first set of MBMS data from an MBMS content provider and conveys the first set of MBMS data along with an associated first Session Description to a subscribed mobile station. The infrastructure then receives a second set of MBMS data from the MBMS content provider, wherein the second set of MBMS data comprises a re-conveyance of the first set of MBMS data, and conveys an MBMS notification along with an associated second Session Description to the mobile station. The mobile station may then determine whether to receive the re-conveyance based on the first and second Session Descriptions.
US07646758B2

A method, apparatus and computer program product for coordinating adjacent channel transmissions on multiple-radio nodes is presented. A Maximum Channel Occupancy Duration (MCOD) limit for a length of an overall transmit period is defined. A set of timers (NNAV) for each neighbor node is maintained, each of said NNAV including a first timer (CTSNNAV) for the channel which, if set, indicates the maximum duration of a transmission to said neighbor node and a second timer (RTSNNAV) for a channel which, if set, prevents the neighbor node from authorizing a transmission the channel.
US07646748B2

A communications terminal using interleaving may be awakened at certain times. The paging message determines whether the terminal will remain awake or it can return to sleep. The amount of time that the communications terminal is awakened may be reduced by determining whether it is necessary to demodulate all of the available time slots. In many cases, it may be possible, based on the environment in which terminal finds itself and the quality of the signals it receives, to obtain the necessary information without demodulating symbols from all the time slots in which symbols of the message are transmitted. As a result the period to receive the paging message may be reduced and the power consumption may likewise be reduced.
US07646744B2

A method of operating a wireless data processing system to selectively enable a multi-antenna processor to demodulate N separate data signals from M separate antennas simultaneously. The multi-antenna processor is adapted to respond to changing channel conditions between two access points, so that it selectively kicks in if there is noise, interference, frequency fading, a need for an enhanced data rate, a need for an increased operating range, etc.
US07646736B2

A method configured to continuously receive frames from a plurality of video channels and transmit to each of a plurality of participants in a video conference individual frames containing information concerning each of the video channels. The method only transmits at any given instant new picture data for one of the participants in the video conference.
US07646729B2

A method and apparatus for determining network topology includes adapting a single sniffer to collect information from nodes associated with at least two selected areas of the network and determining a topology of at least a portion of the network using the collected information.
US07646723B2

A protocol test device has at least two channels which each have a transmit and a receive side, the protocol test device being designed to switch a signal transmitted from a first channel to the receive side of a second channel. A method for determining, by approximation, a transmit time of a data package in the protocol test device includes the following steps: a) transmitting a signal via the transmit side of the first channel, b) forwarding the signal to the receive side of the second channel, and, c) in the receive side of the second channel allocating a time stamp to the signal.
US07646719B2

A technique selects a traffic engineering (TE) label switched path (LSP) from among a plurality of TE-LSPs, each of which spans multiple domains of a computer network from a head-end node of a local domain to a tail-end node of a remote domain, in order to reach one or more address prefixes within the remote domain. The inter-domain TE-LSP selection technique comprises a selection algorithm executed by the head-end node and based on predetermined TE-LSP attributes (e.g., bandwidth, cost, etc.) and/or address prefix reachability attributes (e.g., cost from a tail-end node to the prefix) to select an appropriate inter-domain TE-LSP for the reachable address prefix. The selection algorithm is embodied in one of two modes: (i) a hierarchical selection mode, or (ii) a weighted selection mode. In addition, the technique comprises a load balancing aspect that cooperates with the selection algorithm to enable the head-end node to balance traffic loads among the multiple TE-LSPs based on the results of the selection algorithm.
US07646716B2

Techniques to process packets for a wireless network are described. Such techniques may include determining whether a packet received by a radio network controller (RNC) includes control information or payload information. If the packet includes control information, it is sent to a slow path processing module (SPPM). However, if the packet includes payload information, it is sent to a fast path processing module (FPPM).
US07646709B2

The decision within a packet processing device to transmit a newly arriving packet into a queue to await processing or to discard the same packet is made by a flow control method and system. The flow control is updated with a constant period determined by storage and flow rate limits. The update includes comparing current queue occupancy to thresholds and also comparing present queue occupancy to previous queue occupancy. The outcome of the update is a new transmit probability value. The value is stored for the subsequent period of flow control and packets arriving during that period are subject to a transmit or discard decision that uses that value.
US07646705B2

A method, system, and computer program for managing network connectivity between a plurality of nodes and a network resource. The network resource includes a primary path to the nodes and at least one redundant path. A detecting module is configured to determine if the primary path is unavailable to at least one affected node belonging to the plurality of nodes. A switching module is configured to presumptively switch the affected node to the redundant path if the primary path is unavailable. An initiating module configured to initiate a voting procedure among the plurality of nodes to select a new path to the network resource, wherein data flow at the affected node through the redundant path continues during the voting procedure.
US07646701B2

Apparatus and systems comprise a forward error correction (FEC) encoder to encode a data block to produce an encoded data block in a radio link control media access control (RLC-MAC) module. The EFC encoder may be coupled to a punctured subset selector to select a punctured subset of the encoded data block for transmission across a communication link. The punctured subset selector may be coupled to a modulator to modulate the punctured subset of the encoded data block using a selectable modulation type selected by a modulation selector coupled to the modulator. Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) logic may be coupled to the modulation selector to receive at least one of an acknowledgement (ACK) or a no-acknowledgement (NACK) that a previously-transmitted punctured subset of the encoded data block was successfully decoded at a receiving end of the communication link. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US07646694B2

A method and system for formatting of recording media.
US07646693B2

A method and apparatus for overwriting data in a probe-based data storage device wherein data is represented by the presence and absence of pits formed in a storage surface by a probe of the device is provided. Input data is first coded such that successive bits of a given value x in the coded input data (b0, b1, b2, . . . ,) are separated by at least d bits of the complementary value {tilde over (x)}, where d is a predetermined number≧2. Overwrite data bits (v0, v1, v2, . . . ,) are then generated by encoding the coded input data bits (b0, b1, b2, . . . ,).
US07646692B2

The present invention relates to apparatuses and processes for recording dye-based recordable DVD media in higher quality at higher linear recording velocity, and provides an apparatus for recording a dye-based recordable DVD medium comprising a shortest mark recording unit, a second mark recording unit, and a cooling pulse irradiating unit, wherein the dye-based recordable DVD medium comprises a substrate and a recording layer formed on the substrate, the substrate comprises a guide groove to which wobble is formed, and the recording layer comprises at least an organic dye, the shortest mark recording unit is configured to record each of the shortest marks by use of one pulse beam of which the rear edge is more energized than the front edge, the second mark recording unit is configured to record each of the marks other than the shortest marks by use of one pulse beam of which the two sites of front and rear edges are energized, the cooling pulse irradiating unit is configured to irradiate cooling pulse laser beams onto the backwards of the respective pulse beams at 0.1 mW/pulse or less of optical energy, and the recording of marks is performed on the recording layer at a recording linear velocity of 42 m/sec or more.
US07646689B2

To discriminate a disk in a short time, a calculating part 16 measures an amplitude of one of a focus error signal and a tracking error signal, which are output from a differential signal generating part 15, several times, and outputs the measured amplitudes to a controller 20. The controller 20 compares the input amplitudes with threshold values stored in a memory 21, respectively, and determines whether or not an amplification gain of one of the focus error signal and the tracking error signal is changed. If it is determined that the amplification gain of one of the focus error signal and the tracking error signal is changed, the controller 20 changes the amplification gain of one of the focus error signal and the tracking error signal to an amplification gain represented by one of the threshold values and discriminates the kind of an optical disk based on the changed amplification gain.
US07646685B2

As an optical disc is being rotated within an optical drive, an optical mechanism of the optical drive traces a discrete spiral path relative to the optical disc. As the discrete spiral path is traced by the optical mechanism of the optical drive, the optical mechanism selectively writes to the optical disc.
US07646677B2

To provide a portable electronic timepiece capable of downsizing a product without reducing a display area. Zebra rubbers are respectively fixed attached to left and right side faces of a contact member attached portion of a case by making a fixed contact portion constituting a button shaft opposed face thereof disposed on an extension of a button shaft and bringing a section connecting portion thereof into contact with connecting patterns of a contact/main board connecting portion of a main board. When the button shaft is inserted into a button shaft guide hole, a front end thereof is brought into contact with a surface of a bowl type rubber switch member having a section in a channel-like shape. At the same time, the operating button is contained in a button containing recess portion formed at an outer peripheral portion of the case may be to a degree of capable of forming the button containing recess portion, and therefore, downsizing a product is not influenced by the thickness of the outer peripheral portion of the case.
US07646672B2

Pressure records and vertical particle velocity records from dual sensor towed streamer data are transformed to the inline wavenumber domain. A series of scaling filters are applied to the transformed vertical particle velocity records at each inline wavenumber, wherein each of the series of scaling filters is calculated for a different cross-streamer wavenumber range and in blocks of inline traces in which all seismic events are approximately linear. The pressure spectrum and the scaled vertical particle velocity spectrum are combined to separate upgoing and downgoing wavefield components. The separated upgoing and downgoing wavefield components are inverse-transformed back to the time-space domain.
US07646668B2

Disclosed is a system that generates a write count value for indicating whether data can be read from a FIFO and a system that generates a read count value for indicating whether data can be written to a FIFO. Each of these systems operates in two separate clock domains. In the system that generates a write count value, write strobes are stored in parallel in a register in a first clock domain. The plurality of synchronizers trigger on a rising edge of the write strobe that is stored in the parallel register and generate an increment pulse in a second clock domain. An up/down counter reads the increment pulse in parallel and increments the up/down counter in parallel. A decrement signal from a read strobe decrements the up/down counter. The output of the counter is fed to a register that provides a write counter value to handshake logic that indicates whether data can be read from a FIFO without underflowing the FIFO.
US07646663B2

Disclosed herein are a semiconductor memory device and word line addressing method. The semiconductor memory device comprises a memory array comprising a plurality of word lines arranged in a predetermined sequence, and a word line driver adapted to sequentially address the plurality of word lines in a discontinuous manner relative to neighboring word lines. The method comprises addressing a plurality of word lines in a discontinuous manner relative to the predetermined sequence, such that neighboring word lines in the plurality of word lines are not coincidently addressed.
US07646660B2

Partial refresh information indicating enabling/disabling of a refresh operation is set according to an external input and is output as a partial set signal. A refresh request signal is output periodically corresponding to a memory block for which a refresh operation is enabled. The partial set signal is masked so as to enable a refresh operation for all of the memory blocks during a period in which the partial refresh information is changed by the external input. Thus, it is possible to prevent disabling of a refresh operation in response to a refresh request even when timing of changing the partial refresh information and timing of occurrence of the refresh request signal overlap. Consequently, the refresh operation can be executed securely, and malfunctioning of the semiconductor memory can be prevented.
US07646652B2

An internal voltage generator stably supplies an internal voltage in a semiconductor device. The internal voltage generator includes: a first internal voltage generating means for supplying a first internal voltage which has a level corresponding to a first reference voltage using an external voltage; a second internal voltage generating means for supplying a second internal voltage which has a level corresponding to a second reference voltage using the external voltage; and a third internal voltage generating means for supplying a third internal voltage which has a level corresponding to a third reference voltage generated based on the first internal voltage, using the second internal voltage as a power source.
US07646646B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array having: a cell string including a plurality of memory cells connected in series; a plurality of word lines respectively connected to the plurality of memory cells; a source side selecting gate connected to one end of the cell string; and a drain side selecting gate connected to the other end of the cell string; a word line selector that selects one of the word lines connected to a target memory cell to be written; and an equalizing unit that equalizes voltages of the plurality of word lines after data write of the target memory cell is finished.
US07646638B1

A memory cell includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor is configured as an erase capacitor, and the second transistor is configured as a program transistor. Gates of the first and second transistors are coupled together to form a floating gate. During an erase operation, a first voltage (like 12V-24V) is applied to the first transistor, such as to a source, a body, and a drain of the first transistor. A second voltage (like ground) is applied to the second transistor, such as to a source and a body of the second transistor. A drain of the second transistor could be grounded. The first and second voltages cause electron discharge from the floating gate through the first transistor and electron injection through the second transistor onto the floating gate. This helps to prevent an over-erase condition from forming in the memory cell.
US07646637B2

A nonvolatile memory with a modified channel region interface, such as a raised source and drain or a recessed channel region is included.
US07646635B2

A data reading circuit of a magnetic memory applicable for reading data of a magnetic memory includes a first transistor, a second transistor connected to the first transistor in series, a third transistor, a fourth transistor connected to the third transistor in series, a first transmission gate electrically connected to the first transistor, a second transmission gate electrically connected to the first and third transistors, a comparison circuit having two input ends respectively connected to the first transistor, and a storage capacitor having an end electrically connected to the first transistor and the other end connected to a power end.
US07646625B2

One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for conditioning resistive memory cells of a memory array with a number of reliable resistance ranges, where each reliable resistance range corresponds to a different data state. In the method, group of at least one resistive memory cell is accessed, which group includes at least one unreliable cell. At least one pulse is applied to the at least one unreliable cell to shift at least one resistance respectively associated with the at least one unreliable cell to the highest of the reliable resistance ranges. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US07646623B2

A ferroelectric memory device includes: a memory cell having a transistor and a ferroelectric capacitor connected in series between a bit line and a plate line, and a connecting section below the ferroelectric capacitor; a dummy cell having a transistor, a ferroelectric capacitor and a connecting section, wherein the dummy cell has an electrically disconnected section among the bit line, the transistor, the ferroelectric capacitor, the connecting section and the plate line.
US07646614B2

A method includes populating components in a cavity of a substrate, disposing a polymer over the components and within the cavity. The polymer is cured and a thin film is formed on the polymer. In addition, a method includes forming an EMI shield within a medical device by depositing a thin film of metal on a surface within the medical device. The thin film of metal, of gold, aluminum, or copper, is formed by vapor deposition or sputtering. An apparatus includes a first substrate assembly including a first substrate having a cavity. A first set of electronic components are disposed within the cavity, and a first polymer is disposed over the first set of components. Deposited on an outer surface of the first polymer by vapor deposition is a thin film of metal. The thin film of metal is electrically coupled with a ground. A second substrate assembly including a second substrate is coupled with the first substrate assembly.
US07646602B1

The disclosed embodiments include a plurality of plenums for distributing cooling air throughout the switch. The switch is divided into separate cooling domains. Each PCB receives a separate supply of cooling air, so that no PCB is located upstream or downstream from another PCB. The present embodiments thus eliminate the problem of stack rise, which can decrease switch performance.
US07646601B2

A server chassis is provided for receiving a functional module therein. The server chassis includes a base with an opening defined in an end thereof for the functional module inserted therethrough, and an air flap apparatus engaging with the base. The air flap apparatus includes a shielding panel pivotably attached to the base, and a resilient member connected to the base and the shielding panel to urge movement of the shielding panel.
US07646597B2

A system and method for an improved multiple hard-disk-drive data-storage enclosure. Some embodiments position drives in counter-rotating pairs, each simultaneously accessing half the data, such that seek-caused actuator rotational-acceleration vibration cause simultaneous canceling rotational torque. Some embodiments position the edge of a first drive (or drive pair) at an angle to the actuator midpoint of a nearby second drive (or drive pair), such that rotational-acceleration vibration from a seek-caused actuator rotation in the first drive does not cause a rotational movement into the second drive that affects the tracking or seek operation. Some further embodiments position drives in a herringbone pattern to redirect air flow in addition to reducing rotational-acceleration vibration interaction. Other embodiments include a printed wire circuit board mounted to reduce the rotational-acceleration vibration interaction.
US07646596B2

A test carrier 10 for storage devices 38 comprising a carrier base 12; a slider tray 16 slidably mounted to the carrier base 12, the slider tray 16 having at least one aperture for receiving a storage device 38 therein; at least one storage device connector 20 connected to the carrier base 12; and a tester interface 22, where, when the slider tray 16 is in a first position, the storage device 38 can be received within the at least one aperture of the slider tray 16 and, when the slider tray 16 is in a second position, an interface of the storage device 38 mates with the storage device connector 20; appropriate circuitry contained in the carrier base 12 connecting the tester interface 22 and the storage device connector 20 thereafter allowing the storage device 38 to be tested via the tester interface 22.
US07646594B2

A server blade system including a middle plane board and a server blade is provided. The server blade includes a first connector for electrically connecting the middle plane board. The first connector has several pins complying with a specific connector specification. A specific first pin and a specific second pin of the pins are for USB application.
US07646589B2

A solid electrolytic capacitor (A1) includes a first and a second anode terminals (11a, 11b) projecting in different directions from each other. Preferably, a metal cover (22) for electrically connecting the anode terminals (11a, 11b) to each other is provided. With such an arrangement, the ESR and the ESL can be reduced, and the high frequency characteristics can be enhanced.
US07646585B2

A first internal electrode includes a first lead portion and a second lead portion. A second internal electrode includes a third lead portion and a fourth lead portion. A third internal electrode includes a main electrode portion and a fifth lead portion. A fourth internal electrode includes a main electrode portion and a sixth lead portion. A joint portion between the main electrode portion and the fifth lead portion of the third internal electrode is located between an edge on the first side face side and an edge on the second side face side in a capacitance forming region when viewed from an opposing direction of the third and fourth side faces. A joint portion between the main electrode portion and the sixth lead portion of the fourth internal electrode is located between an edge on the first side face side and an edge on the second side face side in a capacitance forming region when viewed from the opposing direction of the third and fourth side faces.
US07646578B2

A filter circuit has first and second varistors, a resistance, an input terminal, an output terminal, and a ground terminal. The resistance is connected between the first and second varistors. The input terminal is connected to a junction between the first varistor and resistance through a first coil. The output terminal is connected to a junction between the second varistor and resistance through a second coil. The ground terminal is connected to a side of the first varistor opposite from the resistance and a side of the second varistor opposite from the resistance.
US07646571B2

An assembly comprising a number of superconductive coils, at least one quench heater arranged to heat the superconductive coil(s) in the event that at least part of at least one of the coils enters a quenched state; means for transferring energy from the coil(s) to the heater(s) in the event that at least part of at least one of the coils enters a quenched state; wherein the means for transferring energy from the coil(s) to the heater(s) includes a series capacitance, through which the energy transferred must pass.
US07646564B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular magnetic head with a narrow track and excellent high frequency characteristics. In one embodiment, a recording magnetic head includes coil conductors and magnetic pole pieces putting the same therebetween, in which a main magnetic pole piece is formed into a planar structure and a magnetic film connected with the main magnetic pole piece in a magnetic coupling relation is curved in the direction of the film thickness. Further, a shield material disposed near the main magnetic pole piece is made of a material of higher resistance than that of the material for the read shield.
US07646556B1

A flaw scan system for detecting a location of first and second types of location specific anomalies on a storage disk of a hard disk drive comprising a write system, a read system, and first and second anomaly location systems. The write system writes a first set of bits to the storage disk in first and second data patterns. The read system reads the first set of bits from the storage disk. The first anomaly location system determines locations of the first type of location specific anomaly based on the first data pattern. The second anomaly location system determines locations of the second type of location specific anomaly based on the second data pattern.
US07646553B2

An imaging optical system, which is designed in a small size with low manufacturing costs, aberrations such as chromatic aberration of the imaging optical system being appropriately corrected, is provided. The imaging optical system comprises a first lens having positive power, a second lens having positive power and a third lens having negative power with an aspherical surface in the image side, the aspherical surface being shaped in a concave shape facing toward an image side in a vicinity of the optical axis and shaped in a convex shape facing toward the image side in a surrounding of the optical axis. The imaging optical system is designed to satisfy a formula, ν3−ν2>10, where ν3 denotes an Abbe number of the third lens and ν2 denotes an Abbe number of the second lens.
US07646548B2

A zoom lens in which a lens group located in the vicinity of an aperture stop includes two subgroups and one of the subgroups is shifted so that an image is shifted. An increase in the size of lens groups including a shift lens group can be prevented. In addition, the sensitivity with respect to the axis tilt can be reduced while maintaining a sufficient distance between the two subgroups without increasing the size of the lens groups.
US07646542B2

A microscope objective lens is disclosed that includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power that is movable along the optical axis, and a third lens group. The first lens group includes, in order from the object side, two meniscus lens components, each with its concave surface on the object side, and at least one positive lens component, and the third lens group has adjacent concave lens element surfaces that face each other and are in contact with air. Specified conditions may be satisfied, and one or more lens components in the first lens group and the second lens group may be movable.
US07646538B2

Methods for creating apertures in a layer on a back side of a substrate that includes a microlens array on a front side thereof include curving the substrate into a cylindrical surface segment that defines an axis, so that the microlens array on the front side of the substrate faces the axis. A pulsed laser beam is scanned from the axis circumferentially along the cylindrical surface segment, to pass through the microlens array on the front side of the substrate and into the layer on the back side of the substrate to create the apertures, while simultaneously translating the substrate and/or the scanned pulsed laser beam axially relative to one another. Related apparatus and microlens array products are also disclosed.
US07646531B1

The present invention relates generally to wavelength conversion devices and laser projection systems incorporating the same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, wavelength conversion devices are provided without limitation of their field of use to laser projection systems. For example, the wavelength conversion device may comprise a waveguide region comprising a relatively linear waveguide portion and a pair of lateral planar waveguide portions. The output face of the wavelength conversion device comprises a multi-component output face comprising a core portion and a pair of lateral portions. The lateral portions of the output face are configured to be relatively non-transmissive and the waveguide region is structured such that an optical signal propagating along the waveguide region will define relatively low intensity laterally distributed parasitic light in substantial alignment with the lateral planar waveguide portions along the lateral, non-transmissive portions of the output face. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US07646517B2

An image forming system is provided and includes an access unit, a reductive color processing unit, an order sheet print control unit, a composition unit, and a composite print control unit. The access unit accesses a user image stored in a recording medium, the processing unit forms a background image by reducing a color gamut of the user image, and the order sheet print control unit causes a printer unit to create an order sheet on which the background image is printed in a free rendering area. Also, the composition unit separates an area of a subject recorded by a user in the free rendering area from an image of the free rendering area read by a scan unit based on a color gamut of the background image and superimposing the area of the subject on the user image to thereby form a composite image. Finally, the composite print control unit causes the printer unit to print the composite image. A method that the system performs is also provided.
US07646515B2

An image reading apparatus includes a housing; image reading device for reading an image from a document being conveyed, the image reading device being located in the housing; a platen located in the housing and including a transparent member for reading the image of the document; and a scoop-up device situated at a downstream of the platen in parallel therewith to scoop up the document. The scoop-up device includes a dust collecting space for collecting dust entering the apparatus through a gap between the platen and the scoop-up member, the dust collecting space having a plate member dividing the dust collecting space into an upper dust collecting space and a lower dust collecting space; and a platen joint portion forming a part of the dust collecting space and positioned below the platen. A top surface of the platen joint portion detachably contacts a bottom surface of the platen.
US07646510B2

An image scanner printer that reads an original image and that prints out the original image includes a red-eye detection unit, a YCC image storage processing unit, a YCC/RGB conversion unit, a red-eye correction unit, and a print data creating unit. The red-eye detection unit detects red-eye that is included in an image corresponding to a predetermined number of lines of RGB image data when the original image is read. The YCC image storage processing unit converts the predetermined number of lines of the RGB image data into YCC image data and stores all the data as one unit JPEG image. The YCC/RGB conversion unit converts the YCC image data into RGB image data in units of a line or in units of a predetermined number of lines. The red-eye correction unit executes red-eye correction on the RGB image data when an image corresponding to the converted RGB image data includes a red-eye area that is stored in a red-eye table. When print data are created from the RGB image data, the print data creating unit, for RGB image data, among the RGB image data, on which the red-eye correction has been performed, creates print data from the RGB image data on which the red-eye correction has been performed.
US07646503B2

A system for printing a business card on a print medium that has coded data indicative of a print medium identifier. The system has a mobile telecommunications device and an association between the print medium identifier and a contact detail relevant to the business. The mobile telecommunications device has an inbuilt printer module to print the business card and the contact detail relevant to a business, an interface for connection to a remote server and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium.
US07646498B2

A printer and a process for correlating printed subject matter with subject matter that is meant to be printed by a printer with a printing mechanism or print engine such as a thermal printer including a print head, a platen, a media upon which labels are printed and a printer controller for imparting print data to the print head. An imager sends printed data as imaged to a read after print (RAP) controller for comparing the data received from the imager to data imparted to the print head or other printing mechanism. A tap, taps the data imparted from the print head and correlates it with the imaged data to determine the media speed, the image alignment, label analysis, weighing of blemishes, the gaps printed on a label, and other criteria.
US07646497B2

A product of printer driver which operates on an operating system making a computer execute a conversion processing to convert data in electronic document format into data in bitmap format, the printer driver flirt her making the computer execute, an accepting process which accepts from the operating system print target data in electronic document format, a first outputting process which generates, based on the print target data in electronic document format, print data in a command language format capable for interpretation by a printer as a control target and outputs the print data thus generated to the printer, and a second outputting process which requests the operating system to convert the print target data in electronic document format into bitmap data, and outputs print data based on the bitmap data thus converted to the printer, and the first outputting process and the second outputting process are selectively performed.
US07646493B2

A solid state image pickup device includes a light receiving area, a plurality of layers, and a light collecting unit disposed above the plurality of layers. The plurality of layers includes first and second layers, such that a pattern of the first layer is formed by a plurality of exposure shots each illuminating a different region, and a pattern of the second layer is formed by a one shot exposure. The patterns of the first and second layers have apertures corresponding to the light receiving area, and the light collecting unit and the aperture of the pattern of the second layer define a light path through which light is incident in the light receiving area, and the pattern of the first layer is disposed outside of the light path.
US07646492B2

An optical measuring device includes: a screen having a reference line; a movable stage; an optical system for forming on the screen an optical image of a to-be-measured object placed on the stage; and an edge detecting sensor (112) for detecting a passage of a measurement edge of the optical image at an arbitrary position on the screen. The optical measuring device further includes: an offset value storage (143) storing a distance between the reference line and the edge detecting sensor (112) as an offset value; and a correction data calculator (144) for correcting measurement data measured with the reference line and the edge detecting sensor (112) by use of the offset value.
US07646488B2

A positioning apparatus includes a stage base, a stage moving along a surface of the stage base, a cable having one end connected to the stage, and a straightening structure configured to straighten air currents around the cable. The straightening structure is provided to at least one of the stage and the cable.
US07646477B2

A pattern inspection apparatus includes a light source which emits ultraviolet light, an irradiator which reduces coherency of the ultraviolet light and irradiates the coherency reduced ultraviolet light onto a specimen on which a pattern is formed through an objective lens, and a focus control means which projects light on the specimen from outside the objective lens, detects light reflected from the specimen by the projection and adjusts a height of the specimen relative to the objective lens. The apparatus further includes an image which forms an image of the specimen irradiated with the ultraviolet light and detects the formed image with a sensor, an image processor which processes a signal outputted from the sensor to detect a defect of the specimen, and a display which displays information of the defect detected by the image processor.
US07646475B2

A device for automatically measuring characteristics of an ophthalmic lens (L1), includes: a support (2) designed to receive such a lens; on one first side of the lens support, illuminating elements (208) including an optical system for producing a light beam directed towards the ophthalmic lens mounted on the support; and on a second side of the support, elements for analyzing (210) the image transmitted by the ophthalmic lens mounted on the support and illuminated by the illuminating elements (208); elements for splitting the light beam including a first mask (220) forming a Hartmann array and arranged on the first side of the lens support to be illuminated, upstream of the lens by the light beam.
US07646466B2

The liquid crystal display (LCD) device of the present invention includes a LCD panel and a resin-molded frame that houses the LCD panel, the LCD panel including first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates. The two-dimensional shapes of the first and second substrates are rectangles having longer and shorter sides, the longer side of the first substrate being longer than that of the second substrate. The first substrate has a non-overlapping area that does not overlap with the second substrate. Among the four corners of the first substrate, the non-overlapping area of the first substrate has two corners adjacent to each other. At least one of the two corners forms a chamfered structure having a diagonal side that intersects the longer and shorter sides of the first substrate with the diagonal side inclined to the longer and shorter sides.
US07646464B2

The present invention can easily inspect the connection between a flexible printed circuit board and terminals. In a display device which includes a display panel which forms a plurality of lines as first lines on a terminal portion thereof, and a film-like substrate which forms a plurality of lines as second lines thereon, the display panel has a determination terminal which is arranged close to the terminal portion, has a width larger than a width of the terminal, and has a portion thereof removed, the film-like substrate forms third lines and fourth lines arranged close to the second lines thereon, the third lines face the determination terminal, and the fourth lines face the removed portion of the determination terminal from which the portion is removed.
US07646461B2

A liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed which are capable of preventing occurrence of contact errors between pads of gate or data lines and pad electrodes. The liquid crystal display device includes a signal line and a signal line pad arranged in one direction, an insulating film formed on the signal line and the signal line pad, the insulating film including at least one contact hole, through which a predetermined portion of the signal line pad is exposed, and a pad electrode formed on the insulating film, and electrically connected with the signal line pad via the at least one contact hole. The insulating film includes inner side walls defining the at least one contact hole, and at least one of the inner side walls has a slope gentler than a slope of the remaining inner side walls.
US07646457B2

A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal cell, two polarizing plates having a polarizer and a protective film satisfying (1) and (2) below, and an optical compensatory film satisfying (3)-(8) below and disposed between the liquid crystal cell and the polarizer: 0 nm≦Re(λ)≦5 nm  (1) −20 nm≦Rth(λ)≦20 nm  (2) 20 nm
US07646456B2

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device having an improved display quality. The device includes a substrate; black matrix formed in a matrix pattern on one side of the substrate, wherein the black matrix divides the substrate into a plurality of cell areas; a color filter layer having a red color filter of a first thickness formed in one of the plurality of cell areas, a green color filter of a second thickness which is higher than the first thickness, and a blue color filter of a third thickness which is higher than the second thickness; and a first compensation layer formed by coating the color filter layer and the black matrix with a polymerizable liquid crystal, wherein the first compensation layer is hardened, thereby leveling the substrate, and includes a positive C-plate; and a second compensation layer on another side of the substrate, wherein the second compensation layer is made of one of an A-plate and a biaxial film.
US07646451B2

An illumination device has a plurality of main illumination areas subdivided into at least a first and a second sub-illumination area, wherein a luminous element for outputting radiation is arranged on each sub-illumination area, and wherein a beam deflection unit is associated with each main illumination area, which is designed to deflect the radiation output by the luminous element of the first sub-illumination area into another direction than the radiation output by the luminous element of the second sub-illumination area.
US07646449B2

An exemplary backlight module (200) includes a light emitting unit (220). The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light sources (227, 228, 229) configured for providing color light beams respectively, and a mixer (222) configured for mixing the color light beams into white color beams. The mixer includes a plurality of light guide structures (223) respectively corresponding to the light sources and a mixing body (226) connected to the light guide structures. The light guide structures are configured for guiding color light beams emitted from the light sources to the mixing body. The color light beams emitted from all the light sources being partially mixed into white light beams in the mixing body.
US07646447B2

The present invention relates to a flat panel display having integral fastening structures for holding the top and bottom chassis. The flat panel display comprises a mold frame enclosing an internal storage space and having a plurality of fastening hooks protruding outward from a side surface thereof; a bottom chassis having a plurality of first coupling openings fastened to the plurality of fastening hooks of the mold frame; and a top chassis having a fastening structure fastened to the bottom chassis, wherein the fastening structure is formed on the area where the mold frame is fastened to the bottom chassis.
US07646439B1

This invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a fabricating method thereof that provides a uniform parasitic capacity of a thin film transistor. In a liquid crystal display and a fabricating method thereof according to the present invention, a source electrode of the thin film transistor is connected to the data line and a drain electrode of the thin film transistor is inserted into a hollowed part of the source electrode in the data line direction.
US07646435B2

The invention relates to the reproduction of a television signal on a distant reproduction device. The received television signal is encoded and transmitted in a digital data format over a communication link to the reproduction device. The reproduction device decodes the received video information for display on a display screen. The invention is particularly intended for use in mobile vehicles, coaches and trains, where the signal strength of a received television signal during travel is continuously varying and signal distortions occur frequently. In order to reduce the effect of signal distortions on the perceived image and audio quality, the invention inserts a compressed pre-stored video or audio data into the data stream transmitted from the television receiver to the reproduction device upon detection of a television signal distortion. Thus, the decoding procedure at the display device can be maintained in spite of a received television signal of insufficient signal strength.
US07646414B2

An image pickup apparatus having function for synthesizing image signals corresponding to a plurality of frames of different exposure amounts to generate wide dynamic range, synthesized image is provided with: at least two control means among a taking control means based on a normal taking mode, a taking control means based on a forced wide dynamic range taking mode, and a taking control means based on an automatic wide dynamic range taking mode for selectively generating wide dynamic range, synthesized image automatically on the basis of object information or information set for the image taking; and means for selectively setting one image taking mode out of the taking modes respectively corresponding to the two control means. It is thereby possible to take image by selecting one image taking mode from at least two taking modes among the normal taking mode, the forced wide dynamic range taking mode, and the automatic wide dynamic range taking mode.
US07646402B2

Shooting is performed upon full depression of a shutter button, and a taken image is recorded in a memory card as an image file. An LCD displays the taken image and a print number thereof. The print number is adjusted by pressing addition and subtraction buttons. Upon pressing a decision button, number data of the print number is inputted. The number data is recorded in the memory card so as to relate to the image file. Incidentally, in case the shutter button is pressed by half without inputting the number data, the print number is set to one, and next shooting is allowed. The above operation is repeated until entire shooting is completed.
US07646401B2

A passback direction for a video monitored area may be defined. Video collected from the video monitored area may be accessed. Video collected from a video monitored area may be analyzed based on a passback direction of the video monitored area to detect any passback events in the video monitored area. An action based on the detected passback events may be initiated.
US07646393B2

An apparatus for and a method of adjusting a primary color component of an image and a computer-readable recording medium for storing a computer program for controlling the apparatus. The apparatus includes: a weight determiner which determines a weight corresponding to a hue difference between a hue of each of plural object hue components and a hue of adjustment primary color; and a component adjuster which adjusts at least one of object hue and saturation components using at least one of saturation and hue adjustment amounts of the adjustment primary color and the weight. The object hue and saturation components are components of hue and saturation components of an input image belonging to an adjustment range, the adjustment range belongs to a region of a color space in which color interference between the adjustment primary color and a neighboring primary color occurs, the adjustment primary color corresponds to a primary color to be adjusted, and the neighboring primary color corresponds to a primary color neighboring the adjustment primary color.
US07646391B1

A system and method for color managing content elements on a display device are provided. The systems and methods for color managing content elements on a display device comprising using a set of color space characteristic values that describe a color space of the display device to create a profile having a multidimensional table encapsulating the display behavior as described by color space characteristic values for the display device.
US07646386B2

A technique for editing is disclosed. The technique includes generating a path definition for a path, generating a plurality of subpath definitions of subpaths of the path based on an intersection of the path, associating the subpath definitions with the path definition, modifying the intersection of the path using an editing tool, and generating a plurality of modified subpath definitions of subpaths of the path based on the modified intersection of the path.
US07646379B1

A stylus input device, a stylus input device with display, and a method for entering input into a computer system are provided. The stylus is preferably used as a pointer that points to a particular region on an electronic display, and one or more buttons on the stylus can be used to scroll, modify or select that region. The buttons can be programmed in various ways to perform different functions, or one button can be programmed to perform a sequence of functions. The tip of the stylus need not contact the display surface to either render the stylus position or to select the region of the display shown by the stylus cursor. The input device and system thereby operates in a contactless and wireless environment to leave the display area unencumbered to viewers of the display screen, and to allow more than one stylus to concurrently operate upon the display. The tip of the stylus can also be configured to scan an image of optically contrasting information, such as a barcode, in a contactless and wireless environment.
US07646378B2

A user interface apparatus for an electronic device. The apparatus comprises: one or more mechanical keys; one or more touch sensitive surfaces, the mechanical keys being adjacent to the touch sensitive surfaces; and a processor for receiving one or more user input operations performed on the mechanical keys and the touch sensitive surfaces, the input operation comprising a combined operation combining touching the touch sensitive surface with pressing at least one mechanical key, in a single stroke.
US07646377B2

The present invention provides systems and methods of using an stylus that houses optics and a detector capable of imaging display pixels. Stylus position is determined according to the number and direction of imaged pixels passing through the field of view of the stylus optics. Stylus orientation, including rotation and tilt, stylus height, stylus contact state, and stylus pressure may also be determined.
US07646362B2

A display device, for carrying out image display on a display panel by controlling current flowing in display elements for each pixel based on image data, including display setting circuitry for setting a relationship between image data and current values for current flowing in display elements in response to an input adjustment signal, to set contrast or brightness; estimation circuitry for estimating panel current flowing in all pixels when carrying out display for the display panel based on the image data; and current control circuitry for controlling actual panel current by correcting the set contrast or brightness based on the panel current estimated by the estimation circuitry.
US07646351B2

A base side connecting mechanism (30) comprises a holder (40), a plug metal (50) and a sleeve (70). The plug metal (50) has a shaft (51) and a lock pin (52) projecting from the shaft (51) in a radial direction. The sleeve (70) is disposed to move slidingly along an axial direction of the shaft (51), is supported by the plug metal (50) through a wave washer (60), and receives biasing power toward an antenna mast (100) side. A mast side connecting mechanism (120) comprises a circular cylinder portion (121). The circular cylinder portion (121) is formed to press the sleeve (70) along the axial direction and has loosely penetrated portions (124, 125) in which the lock pin (52) can move along a circumferential direction and in which other end portions are large-diameter.
US07646350B2

The present invention provides an antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a main board, at least having a signal feeding portion; a bearing component, connected to the main board and at least having a protrusive portion; and an antenna, connected to the bearing component and at least having a pin portion, wherein the pin portion is disposed on the protrusive portion, and the signal feeding portion and the pin portion contact with each other.
US07646348B2

A metal complementary element of a grounded self-complementary antenna for an electronic device and a metal grounding element of the electronic device contact with each other, are electrically connected to each other or are a same article so as to substantially enlarge an area of a grounding end of the self-complementary antenna to enable the self-complementary antenna to have the good radiation efficiency and the broader bandwidth such that the radio signal transmission effect of the electronic device can be elevated.
US07646341B1

The present invention relates to an ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna, which comprises: a rectangular aperture portion, formed from a ground plane of a printed circuit board and having an aperture; and a co-plane feeding structure, having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, wherein the vertical portion is perpendicular to the horizontal portion, and the vertical portion is disposed in the aperture and connected with an external terminal. The ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna of the present invention can receive the wireless signal with 3.1˜10.6 GHz band, and have a very compact area (13 mm×23 mm) and is easy to be mass produced. Furthermore, a parasitism element can be added into the co-plane feeding structure, so as to reject the in-band interferences from the existing systems like 5˜6 GHz signals of wireless LAN.
US07646339B2

A geodesic positioning system determines the position of a target point. The system includes a range pole that can be oriented toward the target point. A tilt sensor is arranged on the range pole, detachably where applicable, for generating a tilt angle signal related to the tilt angle of the range pole. A positioning element, more particularly a reflector or a satellite signal antenna, is arranged on the range pole. Positioning means is able to capture the position of the positioning element as a function of the tilt angle signal. Triggering means is in signal communication with the tilt sensor and with the positioning means, and adapted so that a trigger signal issued to capture the current position of the positioning element is transmitted to the positioning means as soon as the tilt angle signal corresponds to a tilt angle situated within a given tilt angle range.
US07646322B2

A folded R-2R ladder current-steering digital-to-analog converter is disclosed. In the folded R-2R ladder current-steering digital-to-analog converter, each node in the R-2R ladder is electrically coupled with a plurality of current sources with different weights. Therefore, the numbers of the resisters and current sources can be reduced, and efficient power saving and the high-speed operation can be achieved.
US07646313B2

A device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft includes a detecting device for detecting all the aircraft in the vicinity and a display device for presenting, on a display screen illustrating a vertical plane, characteristic symbols indicating the positions of these aircraft in the vicinity.
US07646310B2

A pressure release encoding system for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location has a valve for providing a fluid restriction to fluid passing in the wellbore, a sensor positioned in the wellbore for sensing a downhole condition in the wellbore, an actuator cooperative with the valve for moving the valve between at least two positions in timed relation to the downhole condition sensed by the sensor, and a detector positioned at the surface location for providing a measurement value at the surface location correlative to the time between the changes of the pressure of the fluid in the wellbore. The sensor is an inclination sensor for sensing an angle of inclination of a drill bit in the wellbore.
US07646307B2

A system and method for visualizing the location and movement of people in facilities. The facility is provided with a plurality of sensors such as RF or IR sensors that communicate with a badge worn by each individual and selected physical assets in the facility. The sensors send data to a processor which displays the data on a monitor in a form that permits ready visualization of the individuals, and allows the observer to select information as needed. The display may directly indicate certain specifics about an individual based on data stored in the processor or entered by the observer.
US07646301B2

This invention relates to a method and system for authenticating and for preventing alteration of histories of events occurring within at least one repository (e.g. a cargo container, fixed warehouse or a movable vehicle) for objects (e.g. auto parts, pharmaceutical materials, computer parts, laptops, etc.) held for a period of time, where the repository is exposed to an unauthorized intrusion therewithin (and potential theft of said objects therefrom and potential insertion of dangerous items therewithin). The events include changes in environmental conditions (e.g. light levels, infrared levels, temperature, air pressure, etc) which indicate an unauthorized intrusion.
US07646299B2

Security material such as cloth, either normal strength or armored, or fragile webbing into which electronic micro-devices are woven to detect and react to tampering of the monitored article at the scene or via a network. Also disclosed are the use of fuses connected in the cloth or webbing to further monitoring tampering and multi-layered cloth for use as circuit boards and sensors. Facilitates the monitoring of high value articles and facilities and automatically records or responds to tampering attempts to increase the level of security for personal and organizational uses.
US07646296B2

A system and method are provided for receiving navigational data via a wireless messaging service on a navigation system. The system and method provides a way to send requests for destination information via the wireless messaging service and capture navigational data from the responsive message received, such as addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses, and then utilize that data for navigational routing, generation of telephone calls, emailing and the like, from the vehicle's navigation system. A wireless device can be paired with the navigation system over a Bluetooth communication link, wherein the navigation system periodically polls the wireless device for newly received messages. In one embodiment, the NAVI displays icons on a map that correspond to the extracted addresses from the messages received in relation to the vehicle's current location. The icons can be shown in a plurality of visual formats to distinguish previously viewed locations from newly received ones.
US07646294B2

A computer implemented method for facilitating the root cause analysis of an event through spatial and pattern recognition. Alarms can be graphically represented in an alarm summary screen by individual colored rectangles with different luminance and patterns and are organized into categories, which are used to form logical alarm clusters that provide spatial advantage, wherein the size and color of the rectangle defines its priority and precedence. The summary screen also provides operators with strong visual cues, a play forward feature to project how alarms might evolve if particular actions are taken and a play backward feature that can replay the sequence of alarms.
US07646293B2

An exemplary system for testing a buzzer (110) associated with a computer (100) includes a buzzing module (122) for controlling the buzzer to sound continuously according to a reference frequency value and a reference amplitude value; a recording module (124) for storing the buzzer sound recorded by an audio receiving device as a recorded audio data file into the computer; an analyzing module (126) for analyzing the recorded audio data file to obtain a real frequency value and a real amplitude value of the buzzer sound; and a determining module (128) for comparing the real frequency value and the real amplitude value with their reference values to determine whether the buzzer is in good working condition. A related method is also provided.
US07646290B2

A deceleration warning device for reducing rear-end collisions in road traffic includes a sensor for detecting a longitudinal acceleration value, a control device receiving the longitudinal acceleration value, determining an acceleration limit value, and generating a warning signal if the longitudinal acceleration value exceeds the acceleration limit value, and a rear lighting display for displaying an alarm state when the control device emits a warning signal. Determination of the acceleration limit value is based upon a plurality of signals including an anti-lock braking system (ABS) signal and a brake pedal position signal. The control device is operable in one of three levels depending upon a detected quality of the signals.
US07646276B2

The transformer has a bobbin, a coil assembly and a magnetic core assembly. The bobbin is mounted in the magnetic core assembly and has multiple connecting pins being formed on at least one side of a bottom surface of the bobbin. Each connecting pin has a top surface as a soldering surface that corresponds to a solder pad on a back of a circuit board. At least one fastener is further formed on the bottom surface of the circuit board. Therefore, when the transformer is mounted through the circuit board, the connecting pins are soldered on the back of the circuit board to reduce the total thickness of the combination of the transformer and the circuit board.
US07646273B2

A solenoid actuator assembled from a minimum number of parts. The solenoid actuator includes a coil bobbin carrying an excitation coil, a core extending through the coil bobbin, and an armature having an actuator leg and an angled anchor leg. The core has a first pole end and a second pole end respectively at its opposite ends. A hinge support is provided to pivotally support the armature to the core, and is formed as an integral part of the coil bobbin and is disposed at one axial end of the core to place the anchor leg in close relation to the first pole end, and at the same time to place a portion of the actuator leg in close relation to the second pole end. The hinge support is configured to make the anchor leg in direct supporting contact with the first pole end.
US07646272B1

A freely oriented portable superconducting magnet is disclosed. Coolant is supplied to the superconducting magnet from a repository separate from the magnet, enabling portability of the magnet. A plurality of support assemblies structurally anchor and thermally isolate the magnet within a thermal shield. A plurality of support assemblies structurally anchor and thermally isolate the thermal shield within a vacuum vessel. The support assemblies restrain movement of the magnet resulting from energizing and cooldown, as well as from changes in orientation, enabling the magnet to be freely orientable.
US07646254B2

A radiation hard design for oscillator circuits and circuits having differential outputs is described. The design includes connecting or otherwise coupling outputs of these circuits to a passive polyphase filter. The passive polyphase filter provides four quadrature outputs that are free of glitches that may have occurred at the filter input.
US07646253B2

A frequency-locked clock generator includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency-to-current converter, a reference current source and a gain stage. The VCO generates an output signal. The frequency-to-current converter generates a converter current proportional to a frequency of the output signal. The reference current source generates a reference current. The gain stage generates a control signal based on a difference between the converter current and the reference current. The control signal is applied to the VCO to adjust the frequency of the output signal. Feedback forces the VCO to generate an output clock signal such that the corresponding current it produces (i.e., the converter current) is equal to the reference current. When in lock, the frequency of the output signal is determined by a time constant (or equivalent time constant) of the frequency-locked clock generator.
US07646252B2

A cascade-connected transistor includes a common-source transistor which receives an input signal, and a common-gate transistor which is connected to a drain terminal of the common-source transistor and outputs an output signal. A band-pass filter receives the output signal of the cascade-connected transistors. An adjustment circuit is interposed between the drain terminal and the gate terminal of the common-gate transistor, and adjusts the output impedance of the cascade-connected transistor.
US07646243B2

A differential stage which uses a bias generator circuit to set the operating currents of the input stage FETs to make the incremental Gm primarily a function of a single resistor embedded in the biasing circuit, such that the input stage has a Gm which only gradually departs from nominal under overdrive, and continues to supply output currents which increase with an increasing differential input signal.
US07646241B2

A low-voltage operational amplifier includes a differential amplifying stage, an output amplifying stage and a compensation stage. The differential amplifying stage amplifies a difference between a first signal and a second signal that constitute a differential pair using an input pair of NMOS transistors, and outputs an amplified first signal and an amplified second signal. The output amplifying stage amplifies a difference between the amplified first signal and the amplified second signal using an input pair of PMOS transistors, and outputs a first output signal and a second output signal that constitute a differential pair. The compensation stage receives the amplified first signal, the amplified second signal, the first output signal, and the second output signal, and reduces a settling time of the first output signal and the second output signal.
US07646234B2

An integrated circuit and method of generating a bias signal for a data signal receiver is disclosed. One embodiment provides a replica circuit configured to generate a feedback signal, wherein the replica circuit is a replica of at least a part of a data signal receiver, and wherein the feedback signal depends on a reference signal of the data signal receiver. A compensation circuit is configured to compensate an influence of the reference signal on the feedback signal. An amplifier circuit is configured to generate a bias signal based on the feedback signal, the bias signal being provided to the data signal receiver.
US07646216B2

An apparatus and method of reducing power consumption across a switch, such as an unprogrammed antifuse, is provided. The invention applies to antifuses, other switches such as transistor based switches, (e.g., FLASH, EEPROM and/or SRAM) and other devices exhibiting a leakage current, especially during a sleep or stand-by mode. During a sleep mode, such switches or other devices may be uncoupled from signals driving the switches, then terminals of each switch may be coupled to a common potential or allowed to float to a common potential thereby eliminating or reducing leakage currents through the switches.
US07646208B2

On-chip sensor to detect power supply vulnerabilities. The on-chip sensor employs a sensitive delay chain and an insensitive delay chain to detect power supply undershoots and overshoots without requiring external off-chip components. Undershoots and overshoots outside a user-defined threshold are detected. The undershoots and overshoots are indicated by a relative difference in phase of the two delay chains. The two delay chains are programmable to detect various frequencies.
US07646184B2

A power supply including a regulation circuit that maintains an approximately constant load current with line voltage. In one embodiment, a regulation circuit includes a semiconductor switch and current sense circuitry to sense the current in the semiconductor switch. The current sense circuitry has a current limit threshold. The regulation circuit current limit threshold is varied from a first level to a second level during the time when the semiconductor switch is on. One embodiment of the regulation circuit is used in a power supply having an output characteristic having an approximately constant output voltage below an output current threshold and an approximately constant output current below an output voltage threshold.
US07646174B2

A electronic device includes an electrical component powered by a battery and a compartment to receive the battery. A low voltage cutoff circuit is configured to couple to the battery. The low voltage cutoff circuit includes a switching device having a control terminal, a current sourcing terminal and current sinking terminal and a resistor coupled between the control terminal and a first terminal of a battery. The circuit has first and second output terminals. The first output terminal is coupled to the first terminal of the battery and the second output terminal is coupled to the current sourcing terminal of the transistor. The first and second output terminals are configured to accept connections to positive and negative terminals of the electrical component.
US07646161B2

In a method for controlling a robot arm, which is particularly suitable for use in medical applications, a robot arm (10) with a redundant number of joints is used. A torque acting in at least one joint (12a, 12b) is sensed. By means of a control device, the torque acting in this joint (12a, 12b) is controlled to become substantially 0.
US07646160B2

In a multi-phase motor drive that includes a bus capacitor, a multi-phase motor, a multi-phase inverter, multiple switches each having an on-state and an off-state, and multiple current sensors each being in series with respective phase winding, a method for checking the accuracy of circuit parameters of the motor drive, including using the switches to produce a first loop that includes the capacitor bank, a first phase winding, a first current sensor, a second phase winding, and a second current sensor, using the current sensors to determine a magnitude of current in the first and second phase windings, comparing a magnitude of current indicated by the first current sensor and the second current sensor, and determining a magnitude of a difference between the current in the first and second phase windings.
US07646157B2

A method for controlling a driving tool having a power source, a driver, an actuator, a follower, and a control unit. The power source includes a motor and a flywheel that is driven by the motor. The actuator is configured to selectively move the follower to push the driver into frictional engagement with a surface of the flywheel. The control unit is configured to selectively activate the electric motor and the actuator. The control unit includes a speed sensor that is configured to sense a rotational speed of an element of the power source and produce a speed signal in response thereto. The method includes: directly determining a rotational speed of an element in the power source; controlling electrical power provided to the motor based on the rotational speed of the element in the power source to cause the flywheel to rotate at a predetermined speed; and actuating the actuator when a set of actuating criteria has been met, the set of actuating criteria not including a rotational speed of the element.
US07646151B2

There is disclosed a light source module comprising a high intensity discharge light source; optical elements including at least a reflector for redirecting and focusing the light emanating from said light source; and electronic elements for supplying said light source with voltage and current of a predetermined waveform and magnitude. The light source may have optical and/or electric parameters at least partially different from optical and/or electrical standard parameters of a light source of identical type. In order to provide a predetermined illuminating beam pattern compatible with the standard, the optical and/or electronic elements are adjusted to the optical and/or electrical parameters of said light source.
US07646149B2

An electrons' emission device is presented. The device comprises an electrodes' arrangement including at least one Cathode electrode and at least one Anode electrode, the Cathode and Anode electrodes being arranged in a spaced-apart relationship; the device being configured to expose said at least one Cathode electrode to exciting illumination to thereby cause electrons' emission from said Cathode electrode, the device being operable as a photoemission switching device.
US07646143B2

A self-light emitting device and an electrical appliance including the same are provided, in which extracting efficiency of light from a light emitting element, especially in an EL element, can be improved. A light scattering body formed by etching a transparent film is provided on an insulator so that the extracting efficiency of light can be improved, and the self-light emitting device with high efficiency of light emission can be provided.
US07646140B2

There is disclosed a piezoelectric element having, on a substrate, a piezoelectric body and a pair of electrodes which come in contact with the piezoelectric body, wherein the piezoelectric body consists of a perovskite type oxide represented by the following formula (1): (Bi,Ba)(M,Ti)O3  (1) in which M is an atom of one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cr, Cu, Sc, In, Ga, Yb, Al, Mg, Zn, Co, Zr, Sn, Nb, Ta and W, or a combination of the atoms of the plurality of elements.
US07646130B2

A stator assembly is provided for an electric motor having a longitudinal axis. The stator assembly includes at least one stator segment having a first end member having a stator tooth and at least one of a stator shoe and a back iron. A second end member is positioned with respect to the first end member and has a stator tooth and at least one of a stator shoe and a back iron. A winding generally circumscribes the stator tooth of the first end member and the stator tooth of the second end member. The first and second end members have a parting line generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the motor. A motor incorporating the stator assembly of the present invention is disclosed. Additionally, a method of forming the stator assembly of the present invention is described.
US07646125B2

A rotor of an electric motor, including a rotor core having a plurality of magnet-retaining apertures, a plurality of permanent magnets individually received and retained in the magnet-retaining apertures of the rotor core, and a resinous filler filling a gap defined between each magnet-retaining aperture and each permanent magnet and fixing the permanent magnets to the magnet-retaining apertures. The rotor also includes an engaging projection provided in the rotor core, the engaging projection tightly engaged with each of the permanent magnets received in the magnet-retaining apertures and temporarily holding each permanent magnet at a predetermined position in a corresponding magnet-retaining aperture, in an unfinished state of the rotor where the resinous filler is not arranged in the gap.
US07646122B2

A fixing structure capable of adjusting the dimensions in the vertical direction of a vibration generating device including a circuit board in combination with the circuit board without reducing the size or the diameter of the vibration generation device. A fixing holder in a holder shape for holding or including at least a part of the outer circumference of a vibration generating device has an inner circumferential surface substantially identical to the external shape of the vibration generating device. Groove-like rail parts are provided partially in the outer circumferential surface of the holder at the opposite ends thereof in the same linear direction, and the side end part of a notched circuit board or a part on the housing side of the apparatus is inserted into each of the groove-like rail parts, thus holding and securing the vibration generating device at an arbitrary vertical position against the surface of the circuit board in the apparatus.
US07646117B2

An actuator includes a shaft supported in such a manner as to make axial reciprocating movement or rotational reciprocating movement around longitudinal axis thereof, and an electricity conducting member for making contact with the shaft at a plurality of points on a circumferential surface of the shaft used as an electricity conducting path leading to other members. Further, an electric toothbrush includes the actuator as a drive power source for a brush body, and the brush body is adapted to be supplied with an electric current through the shaft.
US07646116B2

A method for balancing power distribution in a direct current to direct current (DC to DC) power-conversion system is provided. The power-conversion system includes a plurality of channels that are connected to a load. The channels are also connected to corresponding power sources. The method, at a first channel, includes obtaining a first power, which is the maximum power of the power source connected to the first channel. Further, the method includes computing a reference power based on the power output of the channels. Furthermore, the method includes outputting the reference power when the first power is greater than or equal to the reference power, and outputting the first power when the first power is less than the reference power.
US07646113B2

A method is provided for connecting a 110 V genset to a transfer switch feeding a 220 V service entrance such that all 220 V loads are automatically blocked out and all 110 V circuits are accessed. The method includes wiring of the genset to the transfer switch such that the two hot 220 V terminals on the genset entrance side of the transfer switch are connected together and wired to the hot 110 V side of the genset. The neutral lead of the transfer switch is connected to the neutral side of the genset, as per normal practice.
US07646109B2

A system comprises a first equipment rack, a power distribution unit (PDU) and a plurality of rack connectors. The PDU is mounted in the first equipment rack and is configured to provide alternating current (AC) power that comprises a plurality of phases. The plurality of rack connectors mount within the first equipment rack, and each of the plurality of rack connectors couples to the PDU and provides access to the plurality of phases. Each rack connector is usable to accommodate a first device installed in the equipment rack that uses one or more of the plurality of phases, and is also usable to accommodate a second device installed in the equipment rack that uses one or more of the plurality of phases, thereby permitting each rack connector to couple to any of a plurality of devices, and permitting each of the plurality of devices to use any number of the plurality of phases. The number of phases used by the first device differs from the number of phases used by the second device.
US07646101B2

An insulating layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and has a through hole for via. A porous silica layer has a trench for interconnection communicating to the through hole for via, and is formed on the insulating layer in contact therewith. A conductive layer is formed in the through hole for via and in the trench for interconnection. The insulating layer is formed from a material containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon, and having absorption peak attributed to Si—CH3 bond in a range from at least 1260 cm−1 to at most 1280 cm−1 (around 1274 cm−1) when measured with FT-IR. Thus, a semiconductor device having a porous insulating layer in which depth of the trench for interconnection is readily controlled, a dielectric constant is low, and increase in leakage current is less likely, as well as a manufacturing method thereof can be obtained.
US07646098B2

A multilayered circuitized substrate including a plurality of dielectric layers each comprised of a p-aramid paper impregnated with a halogen-free, low moisture absorptivity resin including an inorganic filler but not including continuous or semi-continuous fiberglass fibers as part thereof, and a first circuitized layer positioned on a first of the dielectric layers. A method of making this substrate is also provided.
US07646093B2

An apparatus including a first die mounted on a primary side of an electronic package and a second die mounted on a secondary side of the electronic package between the electronic package and a printed circuit board. The apparatus further comprising a thermal component thermally connected to the second die and mounted on the printed circuit board, the thermal component comprising a set of pins extending from a heat sink through a set of through-holes in the printed circuit board. A method including positioning a set of thermal connectors through a printed circuit board, the thermal connectors extending from a primary side of the printed circuit board to a secondary side of the printed circuit board opposite the primary side. The method further including thermally connecting the thermal connectors to a die positioned between an electronic package and the primary side of the printed circuit board to transfer heat from the die to the secondary side of the printed circuit board.
US07646091B2

Embodiments of the invention include a semiconductor integrated circuit package that includes a substrate which can have an integrated circuit die attached thereto. The package includes a dedicated high-speed ground plane that is electrically isolated from the ground plane used to ground the low speed circuitry of the package.
US07646084B2

A method and deposition system for increasing deposition rates of metal layers from metal-carbonyl precursors using CO gas and a dilution gas. The method includes providing a substrate in a process chamber of a processing system, forming a process gas containing a metal-carbonyl precursor vapor and a CO gas, diluting the process gas in the process chamber, and exposing the substrate to the diluted process gas to deposit a metal layer on the substrate by a thermal chemical vapor deposition process. The deposition system contains a substrate holder configured for supporting and heating a substrate in a process chamber having a vapor distribution system, a precursor delivery system configured for forming a process gas containing a metal-carbonyl precursor vapor and a CO gas and for introducing the process gas to the vapor distribution system, a dilution gas source configured for adding a dilution gas to the process gas in the process chamber, and a controller configured for controlling the deposition system during exposure of the substrate to the diluted process gas to deposit a metal layer on the substrate by a thermal chemical vapor deposition process.
US07646077B2

The present invention is directed to improved dielectric copper barrier layer and related interconnect structures. One structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a copper line. An insulating layer formed of at least one of silicon and carbon is formed on the underlying copper line. An opening is formed in the insulating layer to expose a portion of the copper line. The inner surface of the opening in the insulating layer has a dielectric barrier layer formed thereon to prevent the diffusion of copper into the insulating layer. A copper plug is formed to fill the opening and make electrical contact with the underlying copper interconnect structure. Aspects of the invention also include methods for forming the dielectric copper barrier layers and associate copper interconnects to the underlying copper lines.
US07646076B2

A method of fabricating a CMOS image sensor is provided, in which a trapezoidal microlens pattern profile is formed to facilitate reflowing the microlens pattern and by which a curvature of the microlens may be enhanced to raise its light-condensing efficiency. The method includes forming a plurality of photodiodes on a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating interlayer on the semiconductor substrate including the photodiodes; forming a protective layer on the insulating interlayer; forming a plurality of color filters corresponding to the photodiodes; forming a top coating layer on the color filters; forming a microlens pattern on the top coating layer; and forming a plurality of microlenses by reflowing the microlens pattern.
US07646072B2

It is possible to prevent the deterioration of device characteristic as much as possible. A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film provided above the semiconductor substrate and containing a metal, oxygen and an additive element; a gate electrode provided above the gate insulating film; and source/drain regions provided in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the gate electrode. The additive element is at least one element selected from elements of Group 5, 6, 15, and 16 at a concentration of 0.003 atomic % or more but 3 atomic % or less.
US07646071B2

An improved dynamic memory cell using a semiconductor fin or body is described. Asymmetrical doping is used in the channel region, with more dopant under the back gate to improve retention without significantly increasing read voltage.
US07646068B2

A semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor substrate 126, in which first and second active regions are disposed. A resistor 124 is formed in the first active region and the resistor 124 includes a doped region 128 formed between two terminals 136. A strained channel transistor 132 is formed in the second active region. The transistor includes a first and second stressor 141, formed in the substrate oppositely adjacent a strained channel region 143.
US07646062B2

A semiconductor device that suppresses partial discharging to a semiconductor substrate caused by local concentration of current. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode buried in the semiconductor substrate, a conductor buried in the semiconductor substrate further inward from the gate electrode, a wiring layer formed in the semiconductor substrate in connection with the conductor, and an insulation film arranged between the gate electrode and the conductor. The conductor is higher than the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US07646059B2

A body layer of a first conductivity type is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a source layer of a second conductivity type is formed in a surface region of the body layer. An offset layer of the second conductivity type is formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a drain layer of the second conductivity type is formed in a surface region of the offset layer. An insulating film is embedded in a trench formed in the surface region of the offset layer between the source layer and the drain layer. A gate insulating film is formed on the body layer and the offset layer between the source layer and the insulating film. A gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film. A first peak of an impurity concentration profile in the offset layer is formed at a position deeper than the insulating film.
US07646058B2

A vertical semiconductor power device includes a plurality of semiconductor power cells connected to a bottom electric terminal disposed on a bottom surface of a semiconductor substrate and at least a top electrical terminal disposed on a top surface of the substrate and connected to the semiconductor power cells. The top electrical terminal further includes a solderable front metal for soldering to a conductor for providing an electric connection therefrom. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductor soldering to the solderable front metal includes a conductor of a high-heat-conductivity metal plate. In another exemplary embodiment, the conductor soldering to the solderable front metal includes a copper plate. In another exemplary embodiment, the solderable front metal includes a Ti/Ni/Au front metal. In another exemplary embodiment, the solderable front metal includes a Ti/Ni/Ag front metal.
US07646048B2

A CMOS image sensor includes a photo-transistor capable of performing photo-sensing and active amplification. The photo-transistor is installed to improve low illustration characteristics while maintaining an existing pixel operation. The CMOS image sensor also includes a reset transistor connected to the photo-transistor and adapted to perform a reset function, a drive transistor for acting as a source follower buffer amplifier in response to an output signal from the photo-transistor, and a switching transistor connected to the drive transistor and adapted to perform an addressing function.
US07646047B2

The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer. Light enters from the rear-surface side opposite to the front-surface side of the silicon layer and the thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 μm or less. The photo sensor portion includes sensors configured to convert the light into signals representing an image. Each of the sensors includes a relatively highly doped first conductivity type region adjacent the front surface side of the silicon layer and serving as a charge storage region, a first relatively lightly doped second conductivity type region extending from the charge storage region toward the rear surface side of the silicon layer and serving as a photo sensitive region, a second relatively highly doped second conductivity type region extending from the front surface side of the silicon layer toward the rear surface side of the silicon layer and serving as a floating diffusion region, and a relatively lightly doped region of the first conductivity type between the floating diffusion region and the charge storage region and under one of the at least one read out gate electrode and serving as a charge read out region.
US07646043B2

A unit cell of a metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) is provided. The MESFET has a source, a drain and a gate. The gate is between the source and the drain and on an n-type conductivity channel layer. A p-type conductivity region is provided beneath the gate between the source and the drain. The p-type conductivity region is spaced apart from the n-type conductivity channel layer and electrically coupled to the gate. Related methods are also provided herein.
US07646038B2

An efficient method of fabricating a high-quality heteroepitaxial microstructure having a smooth surface. The method includes detaching a layer from a base structure to provide a carrier substrate having a detached surface, and then forming a heteroepitaxial microstructure on the detached surface of the carrier substrate by depositing an epitaxial layer on the detached surface of a carrier substrate. Also included is a heteroepitaxial microstructure fabricated from such method.
US07646033B2

A vertical light emitting diode (LED) includes a metal substrate; a p-electrode coupled to the metal substrate; a p-contact coupled to the p-electrode; a p-GaN portion coupled to the p electrode; an active region coupled to the p-GaN portion; an n-GaN portion coupled to the active region; and a phosphor layer coupled to the n-GaN.
US07646032B2

A light emitting apparatus including a phosphor blend including two or more phosphors to provide an emission spectrum simulating the spectral power distribution of a CIE reference illuminant across at least a certain spectral range. Such an apparatus is particularly suited for color-critical applications.
US07646029B2

Methods and systems are provided for LED modules that include an LED die integrated in an LED package with a submount that includes an electronic component for controlling the light emitted by the LED die. The electronic component integrated in the submount may include drive hardware, a network interface, memory, a processor, a switch-mode power supply, a power facility, or another type of electronic component.
US07646028B2

A LED driver IC includes a control module(s) for controlling one or more LED drive parameters and non-volatile memory for storing settings data for that control module(s). The control module(s) is fully integrated into the LED driver IC and does not require any control input from off-chip components or signals. Therefore, the space requirements for LED circuits that make use of the LED driver IC can be minimized. Also, the non-volatile memory storage of settings data eliminates the need for an initialization or configuration input each time the LED driver IC is powered on. The non-volatile memory can be a one-time programmable memory or can be a reprogrammable memory.
US07646027B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a Group III nitride semiconductor stacked structure with a low dislocation density obtained by stacking only a semiconductor layer on a flat substrate by the use of a normal epitaxial growth method without processing the substrate or a deposit layer on the substrate, wherein the dislocation density is 1×107 cm−2 or less.The inventive Group III nitride semiconductor stacked structure comprises a substrate having a surface roughness (Ra) of 1 nm or less and a Group III nitride semiconductor layer directly stacked on the substrate, wherein the Group III nitride semiconductor layer comprises a plurality of layers put into contact with each other, the plurality of layers comprise a high-concentration impurity atom layer and a low-concentration impurity atom layer, and the high-concentration impurity atom layer is present on the substrate side.
US07646021B2

A TFT array substrate includes a substrate, a patterned first metallic layer, a patterned stack layer, a patterned dielectric layer, a patterned transparent conductive layer, and a patterned third metallic layer. Elements of each TFT in the TFT array substrate are arranged vertically, so that the TFT array substrate has relatively small fabrication area and is operable with a high conducting current. Further, the storage capacitance can be enhanced by enclosing or sandwiching the second metallic layer with the common lines and the transparent electrodes. In such a way, pixel flashing caused by those coupled signals can be reduced, thus promoting displaying quality thereof.
US07646007B2

The invention is related to methods and apparatus for providing a resistance variable memory element with improved data retention and switching characteristics. According to an embodiment of the invention a resistance variable memory element is provided having at least one silver-selenide layer in between glass layers, wherein at least one of the glass layers is a chalcogenide glass, preferably having a GexSe100−x composition.
US07645995B2

As a radiation imaging apparatus which can easily and effectively correct line noise, there is provided a radiation imaging apparatus having: a conversion unit having a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels each having a conversion element (202) for converting a radiation into an electric charge and a switching element (201) for outputting an electric signal based on the electric charge are arranged in a matrix; a capacitor element (301) arranged outside of the pixel region; a reading out circuit unit (108) for reading out the electric signals from the pixels row by row and reading out, in parallel, a signal from the capacitor element and the electric signal from the pixel; and a correction unit for correcting the electric signal based on the signal from the capacitor element.
US07645992B2

A method and device are revealed to non-invasively identify hidden foreign objects in proximity of living tissue. More specifically to a method and device find a foreign object hidden under the clothes of a person by measuring an anomaly in an infrared radiation signal emitted by the human subject; the anomaly caused by the presence of the foreign object. A spectral scan at the identified location is used to identify the object. Even when the object is hidden behind clothes, the object is positively identified based on the interaction of optical radiation naturally emitted by the human body in the infrared frequency spectrum with every component of the examined object.
US07645985B1

The disclosed device is directed toward an apparatus for the separation of ions. The apparatus for the separation of ions comprises a vessel including an inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet. A magnetic field is applied substantially orthogonal to the flow of the fluid. The magnetic field applies a force that separates the oppositely charged ions.
US07645984B2

Chromatograms and mass spectra produced by an LC/MS system are analyzed by creating a two-dimensional data matrix of the spectral and chromatographic data. The two-dimensional matrix can be created by placing the spectra generated by the mass spectrometer portion of the LC/MS system in successive columns of the data matrix. In this way, the rows of the data matrix correspond to chromatographic data and the columns of the data matrix correspond to the spectra. A two-dimensional filter is specified and applied to the data matrix to enhance the ability of the system to detect peaks associated with ions. The two-dimensional filter is specified according to desired criteria. Rank-1 and rank-2 filters can be specified to improve computational efficiency. One method of applying the two-dimensional filter is through convolution of the data matrix with the two-dimensional filter to produce an output data matrix. Peaks corresponding to detected ions are identified in the output data matrix. Parameters of the peaks are determined and stored for later processing including quantitation, or simplification of chromatograms or spectra by, for example, identifying peaks associating with ions having retention times falling within a specified retention time window or having mass-to charge ratios falling within a specified mass-to-charge ratio window.
US07645983B2

An ion source includes a body having a gas passage and an orifice. A capillary is inserted into the gas passage so that a tip portion of the capillary extends into the orifice. A gas supplier supplies a gas into the gas passage to form a gas flow through the gas passage along the capillary and through the orifice past a tip of the capillary so that the gas flow sprays a sample solution flowing through the capillary from the tip of the capillary. A flow controller regulates a pressure of the gas in the gas passage to adjust a characteristic value F/S to a predetermined value, where F is a flow rate of the gas flow at standard conditions (20° C., 1 atmosphere), and S is a difference between a cross section of the orifice and a cross section of the tip portion of the capillary in the orifice.
US07645970B2

A flight control system is provided with one or more modal sensors that are each configured to measure the rate and possibly acceleration for a flexible body mode of the flight vehicle. The modal sensor's rate and suitably acceleration are subtracted from the rate and acceleration measured by the IMU such that the values provided to the flight controller more closely represent only the rate and acceleration of the flight vehicle's rigid airframe component. A piezoelectric modal sensor is capable of sensing a particular flexible body mode over variations in the modal frequency without inducing additional phase loss in the control loop in order to maintain suitable phase and gain margins. Sensors are suitably provided for at least and possibly only the 1st lateral bending modes in the pitch and yaw channels.
US07645967B2

The present invention relates to a microwave oven. The microwave oven of the present invention comprises a cavity assembly which defines a cooking chamber therein and functions as a framework of the microwave oven, an outer casing which includes a top portion and side portions formed at both ends of the top portion to enclose the cavity assembly and interior parts and is provided with convexo-concave reinforcements at the top portion and at least one side portion, a door of which one side is connected to the cavity assembly to be a pivot center and which selectively causes the cooking chamber to be open and close, and a back plate which defines a rear face of the cavity assembly and is provided with a convexo-concave reinforcement formed along at least one edge portion thereof. According to the present invention constructed as such, there is an advantage in that external rigidity of the microwave oven is increased, whereby deformation of the microwave oven due to an impact or operating force can be minimized.
US07645961B2

The unit comprises: a casing (1) with a protected interior, a window (2) closed by a transparent element (3) and support means (4) to carry an optical system (5) facing said window (2); image detection means (6) accommodated in said casing (1), facing said optical system (5), an associated with connection means with the exterior for the supply and/or bidirectional signal exchange; and heating means to provide thermal energy to said transparent element (3), or to an adjacent zone thereto, aiming at avoiding lacking transparency problems, due to ambient and climatic factors.
US07645932B2

A solar cell device includes a solar cell section configured to output a first voltage upon receiving light. A charge pump circuit includes a first charge pump. The first charge pump includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is configured to receive the first voltage from the solar cell section, and the second terminal is configured to output a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage. An output section is configured to receive an output voltage output by the charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit is formed on a single semiconductor substrate.
US07645928B2

A bass drum system and method is provided. The bass drum system is comprised of a bass drum including at least one connector and an anchoring harness. The anchoring harness includes at least one first securing point, an anchoring body, and at least one second securing point. The at least one first securing point is connected to the anchoring body at a predefined distance from the at least one second securing point, also connected to the anchoring body. The at least one first securing point attaches to the at least one connector of the bass drum and the anchoring body contacts a seat structure used by a musician. The at least one second securing point attaches to the at least one connector.
US07645926B2

A stringed musical instrument combination of at least two traditional stringed musical instruments or of nontraditional stringed musical instruments or a mix of traditional and nontraditional. The combination presents the advantages of rapid exchange while playing, reduced storage or transportation volume and a lower cost than two separate instruments. The preferred embodiment is a Fiddolin, a commercially available violin modified to present a mandolin on its back face. The string tension requirement is solved by having additional structure to mount the mandolin pegs into and the angularity needed to keep the strings pulled over the nut by channels or lumens to conduct the strings through.
US07645912B2

Methods and systems for producing hydrofluorocarbon with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.
US07645904B2

Disclosed herein are methods of purifying a bis(thio-hydrazide amides) compounds of the following structural formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R7, R8, Z, and Y are defined herein.
US07645896B2

A method for producing a dialkyl carbonate and a diol, comprising: (a) effecting a transesterification reaction between a cyclic carbonate and an aliphatic monohydric alcohol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst, thereby obtaining a reaction mixture containing a product dialkyl carbonate and a product diol, (b) withdrawing a dialkyl carbonate-containing liquid from the reaction mixture, followed by separation of the dialkyl carbonate from the dialkyl carbonate-containing liquid, and (c) withdrawing a diol-containing liquid from the reaction mixture, followed by separation of the diol from the diol-containing liquid, wherein the cyclic carbonate contains a cyclic ether in an amount of from 0.1 to 3,000 ppm by weight, and the product dialkyl carbonate contains a carbonate ether of not more than 10,000 ppm by weight.
US07645882B2

To provide a inhibitor of protein modification products formation capable of inhibiting of vitamin B6 deficiency disease as a side effect, especially a renal protective agent.There is provided a use, as an active ingredient, of any of free or salt-form compounds of either of the formulae: (I) (II) [wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring; and each of R2, R3 and R4 is a hydrogen atom or monovalent organic group, or alternatively R2 and R3 cooperate to form a condensed ring or R3 and R4 cooperate to represent a divalent organic group, provided that R3 and R4 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms].
US07645879B2

A photosensitizer dye is provided. The photosensitizer dye is a Ru complex as formula (1):
US07645876B2

The present invention provides processes for crystallization of macrolides, specifically pimecrolimus and tacrolimus.
US07645874B2

This invention relates to a process for preparing bioabsorbable oxidized cellulose comprising combining cellulose material, with nitrogen dioxide and a nonaqueous solvent chosen from the class of perfluorinated tertiary amines. This invention also relates to a method of oxidizing cellulose material comprising introducing a solvent into the vessel, circulating the solvent through the cellulose material, adding nitrogen dioxide to said vessel containing the solvent and cellulose in the required amounts, circulating the solution for 7 to 24 hours while controlling the reaction temperature, and isolating the oxidized material. Preferably, isolation of the oxidized product is followed by first washing the oxidized cellulose material with cold water, then washing the oxidized cellulose material with an aqueous alcohol solution several times, then washing the material with 100% alcohol several times, and finally drying the oxidized material.
US07645852B2

An aliphatic polyester copolymer comprising an aliphatic carbonate unit (a) and an aliphatic polyester unit (b), and a molded body composed of said aliphatic polyester copolymer. The aliphatic polyester copolymer is excellent in heat resistance while having adequate mechanical properties and properties in the molten state.
US07645847B2

A novel liquid phase polymerization process for preparing a polyolefin product having preselected properties is disclosed. The process includes the steps of providing a liquid feedstock which contains an olefinic component and a catalyst composition consisting of a stable complex of BF3 and a complexing agent therefor. The feedstock may comprise any one or more of a number of olefins including branched olefins such as isobutylene, C3 to C15 linear alpha olefins and C4 to C15 reactive non-alpha olefins. The feedstock and the catalyst composition are introduced into a residual reaction mixture recirculating in a loop reactor reaction zone provided in the tube side of a shell and tube heat exchanger at a recirculation rate sufficient to cause intimate intermixing of the residual reaction mixture, the added feedstock and the added catalyst composition. The heat of the polymerization reaction is removed from the recirculating intimately intermixed reaction admixture at a rate calculated to provide a substantially constant reaction temperature therein while the same is recirculating in said reaction zone. The conditions in the reactor are appropriate for causing olefinic components introduced in said feedstock to undergo polymerization to form the desired polyolefin product in the presence of the catalyst composition. A product stream containing the desired polyolefin product is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The introduction of the feedstock into the reaction zone and the withdrawal of the product stream from the reaction zone are controlled such that the residence time of the olefinic components undergoing polymerization in the reaction zone is appropriate for production of the desired polyolefin product.
US07645826B2

Latex-based compositions, and methods of forming the same, that are useful to dampen noise and vibrations, are disclosed. The compositions can be applied to and adhered to a substrate. The compositions comprise latex and at least one filler. The compositions form microcracks during drying and/or curing to aid in the removal of water from the compositions.
US07645816B2

Water-soluble compositions comprising a lipophilic compound and a solubilizing agent of the general formula: {X—OOC—[(CH2)n—COO]m}p—Y  (I) wherein: X is a residue of a hydrophobic moiety, Y is a residue of a hydrophilic moiety, p is 1 or 2, m is 0 or 1, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 0 are disclosed. The lipophilic compound is preferably selected from the group consisting of water-insoluble ubiquinones, ubiquinols, vitamins, provitamins, polyene macrolide antibiotics, and mixtures thereof. The hydrophobic moiety is preferably a sterol or a tocopherol and the hydrophilic moiety is preferably a polyalkylene glycol. In some embodiments, the sterol is cholesterol or sitosterol, the tocopherol is α-(+)-tocopherol, the polyalkylene glycol is a polyethylene glycol or its methyl monoether having an average molecular weight between 400 and 1000, p is equal to 1 or 2, m is equal to 0 or 1 and n is an integer between 2 and 18.
US07645814B2

A method for the production of cores and molds for casting molds, based on a base molding material and an organic or inorganic binding agent and an additive. According to the method, pre-forming substances are used in order to dispense with the use of sizing substances and to prevent the formation of ribs.
US07645807B1

Production of biodiesel from vegetable and animal oils with conversion of a by-product crude glycerol stream to methanol. The crude glycerol stream is combined with superheated steam and oxygen to produce a synthesis gas that is then passed to a methanol synthesis reaction zone to produce methanol.
US07645796B2

Herein are disclosed an excellent collagen synthesis-promoting amino acid composition that are characterized by containing specific amino acids at a specific ratio, more specifically, by containing 10-40 parts by weight of L-arginine and/or 10-40 parts by weight of L-glutamine, as well as 5-20 parts by weight of L-valine, 8-30 parts by weight of L-isoleucine and 10-35 parts by weight of L-leucine, an amino acid composition that inhibits skin aging, an amino acid composition that suppresses osteoporosis, an amino acid composition that promotes regeneration of tendon and ligament, and an amino acid composition that heals wounds or thermal burns, that are of the same composition.
US07645783B2

A method of treating viral infections by the administration of a halogenated benzamide derivative according to formula (III): in which R1 is a halogen atom, and R2-R6 are independently hydrogen, hydroxyl, C1-C4 alkyl, —C1-C4 alkoxy, acyloxy, nitro, halogen, —C(O)R7 where R7 is —C1-C4 alkyl, or, aromatic including salts and hydrates of these compounds.
US07645774B2

There are disclosed compounds of the formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, which exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds.
US07645769B2

The present invention provides novel compounds of formula I and their use in the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinases. The present invention further provides the use of these compounds in medicine, in particular in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders related to apoptosis and/or inflammation.
US07645767B2

Chronic pain is alleviated in a mammal suffering there from by administering to the mammal a chronic pain alleviating amount of a nontoxic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist such as dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, ketamine or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with a μ-opiate analgesic such as tramadol or an analogously acting molecular entity, and a capsaicin or an ester of capsaicin, and optionally in sustained release dosage form.
US07645765B2

The invention relates to a drug containing an aqueous formulation of Moxaverin and at least one water-miscible solubilizer.
US07645761B2

This invention relates to substituted indoline derivative compounds which are antagonists of the progesterone receptor, their preparation and pharmaceutical utility, particularly including contraception and treatment of benign or malignant neoplastic diseases, having the general structure: wherein R1 and R2 may be single substituents or fused to form spirocyclic rings.
US07645756B2

The invention provides a compound or its pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of formula wherein A1 is a hydrogen, etc.; j and k are 0 or 1; is a double bond, etc.; is a double bond, etc.; one of W1 and W2 is E—O—W, etc., and the other is a hydrogen atom, etc.; E is a divalent group derived from a benzene ring, etc., by removing two hydrogen atoms therefrom; W is a group of formula (II-1): which has a histamine-H3 receptor antagonistic effect or a histamine-H3 receptor inverse-agonistic effect and is useful for prevention or remedy of metabolic system diseases, circulatory system diseases or nervous system diseases.
US07645751B2

There is provided a compound of formula (I) wherein Ra, R1, R2, Y and R3 have meanings given in the description and pharmaceutically-acceptable derivatives (including prodrugs) thereof, which compounds and derivatives are useful as, or are useful as prodrugs of, competitive inhibitors of trypsin-like proteases, such as thrombin, and thus, in particular, in the treatment of conditions where inhibition of thrombin is required (e.g., thrombosis) or as anticoagulants.
US07645749B2

Sterol and stanol nitro derivatives and their use in treating or preventing cardiovascular disease, its underlying conditions and other disorders are disclosed. The disclosed nitro derivatives are synthesized by ester linkage of a nitric oxide (NO)-releasing moiety to a sterol or stanol compound.
US07645745B2

Compounds having the formula I wherein R1 is as herein defined are Hepatitis C virus NS5b polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for inhibiting hepatitis replication, processes for making the compounds and synthetic intermediates used in the process
US07645740B2

Peptide of sequence TALRIRATYGEY (SEQ ID NO: 1) present on the gamma 2 chain of Laminin 5, a pharmaceutical composition containing the peptide and to the use of the composition for treating various skin alterations. More particularly, the treatment of the alterations includes reinforcing the derma-epidermal junction and the cell-matrix and/or cell-cell adherence of epidermis and in promoting the repair of a cutaneous surface.
US07645722B2

A method is provided for inhibiting scale in a liquid hydrocarbon system, including the steps of: providing a liquid hydrocarbon system; providing an aloe-derived scale inhibitor; and mixing the aloe-derived scale inhibitor with the liquid hydrocarbon system in amounts effective to inhibit formation of scale. The scale inhibitor is aloe gel dissolved in water at a concentration of between about 5 and about 50% wt/wt, which includes polysaccharides having a hydrocarbon chain structure having carboxyl and alcohol functional groups that interact with divalent ions.
US07645718B2

There is disclosed a hydrothermally stable microporous crystalline material comprising a molecular sieve or zeolite having an 8-ring pore opening structure, such as SAPO-34 or aluminosilicate zeolite, able to retain a specific percentage of its surface area and micropore volume after treatment with heat and moisture, such as at least 80% of its surface area and micropore volume after exposure to temperatures of up to 900° C. in the presence of up to 10 volume percent water vapor for a time ranging from 1 to 16 hours. Methods of using the disclosed crystalline material, such as in the SCR of NOx in exhaust gas are also disclosed, as are methods of making such materials.
US07645713B2

A substrate processing system processes a plurality of substrates in a single-substrate processing mode by a plurality of processes and provided with a plurality of modules respectively for carrying out processes. When a defect is found in a substrate, a defective processing unit that caused the defect can be easily found out. The substrate processing system and a substrate processing method to be carried out by the substrate processing system can suppress the reduction of throughput when a large number of substrates are to be processed. The substrate processing system is provided with a plurality of modules for processing a plurality of substrates (W) in a single-substrate processing mode by a plurality of processes and includes a substrate carrying means (A4) for carrying a substrate (W) from a sending module to a receiving module, and a control means (6) for controlling the substrate carrying means (A4) on the basis of one of at least two carrying modes each assigning receiving modules to sending modules. The control means (6) changes the carrying mode in effect for the other carrying mode upon the reception of a carrying mode change command while substrates are being processed and makes the substrate carrying means (A4) carry substrates in the carrying mode newly brought into effect.
US07645698B2

A method for forming barrier layers comprises steps of providing a conductive layer, forming a first dielectric layer on the conductive layer, the first dielectric layer having a via therein, forming a first metal layer covering the first dielectric layer and the conductive layer, forming a layer of metallized materials on the first metal layer, removing the layer of metallized materials above the via bottom in the first dielectric layer, and leaving the layer of metallized materials remaining on a sidewall of the via in the first dielectric layer; and forming a second metal layer covering the layer of metallized materials. The accomplished barrier layers will have lower resistivity in the bottom via of the first dielectric layer and they are capable of preventing copper atoms from diffusing into the dielectric layer.
US07645690B2

An integrated circuit and method, producing semiconductor zones with a steep doping profile is disclosed. In one embodiment, dopants are implanted in a region corresponding to the semiconductor zone to be formed and which has at least one topology process. During the subsequent laser irradiation for activating the dopants in the semiconductor zone, regions which are laterally directly adjacent to the semiconductor zone are protected against melting on account of the topology process.
US07645684B2

A method of producing a substrate that has a transfer crystalline layer transferred from a donor wafer onto a support. The transfer layer can include one or more foreign species to modify its properties. In the preferred embodiment an atomic species is implanted into a zone of the donor wafer that is substantially free of foreign species to form an embrittlement or weakened zone below a bonding face thereof, with the weakened zone and the bonding face delimiting a transfer layer to be transferred. The donor wafer is preferably then bonded at the level of its bonding face to a support. Stresses are then preferably applied to produce a cleavage in the region of the weakened zone to obtain a substrate that includes the support and the transfer layer. Foreign species are preferably diffused into the thickness of the transfer layer prior to implantation or after cleavage to modify the properties of the transfer layer, preferably its electrical or optical properties. The preferred embodiment produces substrates with a thin InP layer rendered semi-insulating by iron diffusion.
US07645669B2

A nanotip capacitor and associated fabrication method are provided. The method provides a bottom electrode and grows electrically conductive nanotips overlying the bottom electrode. An electrically insulating dielectric is deposited overlying the nanotips, and an electrically conductive top electrode is deposited overlying dielectric-covered nanotips. Typically, the dielectric is deposited by forming a thin layer of dielectric overlying the nanotips using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. In one aspect, the electrically insulating dielectric covering the nanotips forms a three-dimensional interface of dielectric-covered nanotips. Then, the electrically conductive top electrode overlying the dielectric-covered nanotips forms a three-dimensional top electrode interface, matching the first three-dimensional interface of the dielectric-covered nanotips.
US07645668B2

A memory device includes a charge trapping layer on a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate adjacent to the charge trapping layer and exposing an upper surface of the charge trapping layer, a dielectric layer on the exposed charge trapping layer and on the insulating layer, and an electrode on the dielectric layer, the electrode corresponding to the charge trapping layer.
US07645663B2

A method of forming a floating gate structure is disclosed, and includes modifying the etch chemistry of a plasma treated reactive ion etch process using an inert atom to physically damage a dielectric region. The damaged dielectric region is subsequently etched using a wet etch process.
US07645660B2

A method for protecting a circuit component on a semiconductor substrate from a plasma etching or other removal process includes forming a screening layer over an auxiliary layer to conceal at least an area of the auxiliary layer that overlays at least a portion of the circuit component, such as for example a high-ohmic poly resistor. The method transfers a pattern defined by a mask onto the screening layer by selectively removing portions of the screening layer in accordance with the pattern. Portions of the auxiliary layer that are not protected by the screening layer are removed using a plasma gas selective to the auxiliary layer material, without removing the area of the auxiliary layer that overlays the portion of the circuit component, thereby protecting the circuit component from the plasma gas via the screening layer and auxiliary layer.
US07645658B2

A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device having a MOS structure includes preparing a substrate made of silicon carbide, and forming a channel region, a first impurity region, a second impurity region, a gate insulation layer, and a gate electrode to form a semiconductor element on the substrate. In addition, a film is formed on the semiconductor element to provide a material of an interlayer insulation layer, and a reflow process is performed at a temperature about 700° C. or over in an wet atmosphere so that the interlayer insulation layer is formed from the film. Furthermore, a dehydration process is performed at about 700° C. or lower in an inert gas atmosphere after the reflow process is performed.
US07645655B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer formed on an insulating layer; a gate electrode disposed on said semiconductor layer via a gate insulating film; a source/drain layer composed by including an alloy layer or a metal layer with a bottom surface in contact with the insulating layer, with joint surfaces to a channel region disposed along crystal orientation faces of said semiconductor layer; and impurity-doped layers formed in a self-aligned manner along interfaces of the alloy layer or the metal layer, and said semiconductor layer.
US07645650B2

A method for forming a transistor. A semiconductor substrate is provided. The semiconductor substrate is patterned to provide a first body edge. A first gate structure of a first fermi level is provided adjacent the first body edge. The semiconductor substrate is patterned to provide a second body edge. The first and second body edges of the semiconductor substrate define a transistor body. A second gate structure of a second fermi level is provided adjacent the second body edge. A substantially uniform dopant concentration density is formed throughout the transistor body.
US07645648B2

A thin film transistor array substrate including an insulating substrate, a first metallic pattern formed on the insulating substrate, and an insulating film provided on the first metallic pattern. A semiconductor pattern is provided on the insulating film, and a second metallic pattern is provided on the semiconductor pattern. The second metallic pattern is surrounded by the semiconductor pattern.
US07645645B2

Electrically programmable fuse structures for an integrated circuit and methods of fabrication thereof are presented, wherein the electrically programmable fuse has a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion interconnected by a fuse element. The first terminal portion and the second terminal portion reside at different heights relative to a supporting surface of the fuse structure, and the interconnecting fuse element transitions between the different heights of the first terminal portion and the second terminal portion. The first and second terminal portions are oriented parallel to the supporting surface, while the fuse element includes a portion oriented orthogonal to the supporting surface, and includes at least one right angle bend where transitioning from at least one of the first and second terminal portions to the orthogonal oriented portion of the fuse element.
US07645638B2

A stackable multi-chip package system is provided including forming an external interconnect, having a base and a tip, and a paddle; mounting a first integrated circuit die over the paddle; stacking a second integrated circuit die over the first integrated circuit die in a active side to active side configuration; connecting the first integrated circuit die and the base; connecting the second integrated circuit die and the base; and molding the first integrated circuit die, the second integrated circuit die, the paddle, and the external interconnect with the external interconnect partially exposed.
US07645636B2

A semiconductor device and a method for producing it, and the use of the electrospinning method is disclosed. In one embodiment, delamination of the plastic housing composition from the circuit carrier can occur under loading, which can lead to the failure of the semiconductor device. For better adhesion, an adhesion-promoting layer having fibers applied by electrospinning is arranged between the circuit carrier and the plastic housing composition.
US07645635B2

A semiconductor package such as an image sensor package, and methods for fabrication. A frame structure includes an array of frames, each having an aperture therethrough, into which an image sensor die in combination with a cover glass, filter, lens or other components may be installed in precise mutual alignment. Singulated image sensor dice and other components may be picked and placed into each frame of the frame structure. Alternatively, the frame structure may be configured to be aligned with and joined to a wafer bearing a plurality of image sensor dice, wherein optional, downwardly protruding skirts along peripheries of the frames may be received into kerfs cut along streets between die locations on the wafer, followed by installation of other package components. In either instance, the frame structure in combination with singulated image sensor dice or a joined wafer is singulated into individual image sensor packages. Various external connection approaches may be used for the packages.
US07645633B2

A method for coating a surface mount package is provided. The method includes applying a layer of a coating material above at least one surface of the surface mount package, applying a masking material above the layer of coating material, and removing the layer of coating material from a selected portion of the surface mount package defined by the masking material.
US07645632B2

An organic polymer memory cell is provided having an organic polymer layer and an electrode layer formed over a first conductive (e.g., copper) layer (e.g., bitline). The memory cells are connected to a second conductive layer (e.g., forming a wordline), and more particularly the top of the electrode layer of the memory cells to the second conductive layer. Optionally, a conductivity facilitating layer is formed over the conductive layer. Dielectric material separates the memory cells. The memory cells are self-aligned with the bitlines formed in the first conductive layer and the wordlines formed in the second conductive layer.
US07645622B2

A method of producing a nitride-based semiconductor device includes the steps of growing an InxAlyGa1-x-yN (0≦x, 0≦y, x+y<1) buffer layer (2; 12; 22; 32; 42) on a substrate (1; 11; 21; 31; 41) at a first substrate temperature, and growing a first conductivity type nitride-based semiconductor layer (4; 14; 24; 34; 44) on the buffer layer at a second substrate temperature. The first temperature is higher than the second temperature.
US07645600B2

The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences and variants thereof capable of modulating exopolysaccharide production in Sphingomonas, and provides methods of using such nucleic acid sequences to generate bacteria that hyper-produce exopolysaccharide in slime form.
US07645595B2

A method for production of artificial skin by administering matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent. The matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor is N-hydroxy-2(R)-[[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl](3-picolyl)amino]-3-methylbutanamide hydrochloride.
US07645592B2

The present invention describes antibodies generated against platelet membrane glycoprotein VI (GPVI), methods of producing the anti-GPVI antibodies, and the use of these antibodies as research, diagnostic and immunotherapeutic agents, in particular, as diagnostic and therapeutic agents for the detection and treatment of thrombosis and other vascular diseases.
US07645588B2

Methods are provided for identifying agents that modulate intracellular calcium. Also provided are methods of modulating calcium within cells and methods of identifying proteins involved in modulating intracellular calcium.
US07645587B2

The present invention provides novel, isolated, tumor-associated antigens, and methods for identifying such antigens in a biological sample, and of screening for the presence of such an antigen in a biological specimen, wherein the tumor antigen identified reacts with serum from a subject treated with a vaccine comprising a cytokine and proliferation-incompetent tumor cells which express the tumor-associated antigen. Also provided are kits for carrying out the methods of the invention.
US07645574B2

The present invention relates to methods of metallizing nucleic acid molecules and to methods of attaching nucleic acid molecules to conductive surfaces. Methods of detecting target nucleic acid molecules based on these techniques are also disclosed.
US07645567B2

A method of on-press developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. The exposure and development are performed with the plate under lightings that contain no or substantially no radiation below a wavelength selected from 400 to 650 nm, or in the dark or substantially dark.
US07645564B2

The invention is directed to a process and more particularly, to utilizing polymer solutions to make thick film compositions. In one embodiment the process is directed to the formation of photoimageable thick film compositions for use in photo-patterning methods to make photoimageable electrodes in flat panel display applications, including plasma display panels (PDP). Polymer solutions are obtained by directly polymerizing desired monomers in a desired solvent to form a desired polymer, rather than by dissolving a pre-made polymer in a desired solvent. Other ingredients are added to the polymer solution to directly form thick film pastes, including photoimageable thick film pastes.
US07645562B2

A photosensitive film excellent in workability and making it possible, in a normal pressure laminating process, to laminate photosensitive films on the surface of substrate having a metallic surface with a reduced number of air voids generated and in a high product yield, said film comprising a support film (A), a photosensitive resin composition-containing photosensitive resin layer (B) formed on said support (A) and a protecting film (C) further stuck on said layer (B), wherein the number of fish eyes having a diameter of at least 80 μm included in the protecting film (C) does not exceed 5 fish eyes/m2.
US07645558B2

An image forming medium includes a paper substrate and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into a paper substrate, where the imaging layer is formed of an imaging composition that includes an alkoxy substituted diarylethene photochromic material dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder, and where the imaging composition exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.
US07645550B2

A toner or two-component developer is provided. The toner includes toner base particles obtained by mixing in an aqueous medium a first resin particle dispersion, a colorant particle dispersion, and a wax particle dispersion, aggregating the mixed dispersion to form core particles at least part of which is melted, adding a second resin particle dispersion to a core particle dispersion in which the core particles are dispersed, and fusing the second resin particles with the core particles by heating. A GPC measurement of the second resin particles shows that the number-average molecular weight (Mn2) is 9000 to 30000, the weight-average molecular weight (Mw2) is 50000 to 500000, and the ratio (Mw2/Mn2) of the weight-average molecular weight (Mw2) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn2) is 2 to 10. The wax particles include at least a first wax and a second wax. An endothermic peak temperature (melting point Tmw1) of the first wax based on a DSC method is 50° C. to 90° C. The relationship between an endothermic peak temperature (melting point Tmw2) of the second wax based on the DSC method and Tmw1 is expressed as 5+Tmw1 (° C.)≦Tmw2 (° C.)≦50+Tmw1 (° C.).
US07645549B2

Broadly the invention provides for a deinkable toner composition, an image made with the deinkable toner, and a method for making the toner including a coloring agent; a thermoplastic polymer; and a protein. In another embodiment the toner includes a coloring agent and a thermoplastic polymer where the protein has been incorporated into the polymer itself. In typical embodiments the protein is derived from soybeans but may be from other plant or animal sources. Typically the toner has a positive triboelectric charge of between about 10 to about 40 microCoulomb/g, or a negative triboelectric charge of between about 10 to about 40 microCoulomb/g.
US07645546B2

The invention is directed to a method for determining an overlay correlation set between two successive patterned material layers on a substrate. The method comprises steps of providing a first material layer having a first overlay mark formed therein over the substrate and then using an exposure tool with a first overlay correlation set to form a patterned photoresist layer on the first material layer, wherein the patterned photoresist layer comprises a mark pattern and the mark pattern is located over the first overlay mark for defining a later formed second material layer on the first material layer to be a second overlay mark. Thereafter, a pre-process metrology overlay parameter set between the first overlay mark and the mark pattern is obtained. The first overlay correlation set at the exposure tool is adjusted according to the pre-process metrology overlay parameter set.
US07645544B2

An electrolyte capable of improving battery characteristics even at high temperatures, a battery including the electrolyte, and a method for manufacturing an electrolyte are provided. The electrolyte contains at least one type of compound represented by the following formula: where R1, R2, R3, and R4 independently represent a hydrogen group, a fluorine group, a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a group in which a fluorine group has substituted for a part of the methyl group or the ethyl group; at least one of R1, R2, R3, and R4 is a group containing fluorine (F); and X, Y, and Z independently represents sulfur (S) or oxygen (O) except the case in which all of X, Y, and Z are oxygen (O), that is, X=Y=Z=O.
US07645530B2

A fuel cell has an electrochemical process area having a cathode area, an anode area and an ion-exchanging membrane that separates these areas. The cathode area has a gas passage way having a gas inlet, a gas channel and a gas outlet, wherein the gas passage way is for an oxygen-containing gas to flow from the gas inlet through the gas channel to the gas outlet. The fuel cell includes further a humidity transfer area having a dehumidifying zone, a humidifying zone and a humidity transfer membrane that separates these zones. An exhaust channel connects the gas outlet to the dehumidifying zone, and an inlet channel connects the gas inlet to the humidifying zone. Humidity is extracted from the oxygen-containing gas in the dehumidifying zone, and added to the oxygen-containing gas in the humidifying zone via the humidity transfer membrane.
US07645529B2

A characteristic recovery apparatus is provided with a DMFC having anode and cathode electrodes; anode-side and cathode-side separators for feeding the anode and cathode electrodes with pure water or a solution and an oxygen-containing gas, respectively; a voltage-applying means for forcing current to flow between the electrodes in the same direction as a direction of current flow during power generation of the fuel cell; and a control means for controlling the voltage-applying means.
US07645527B2

A gypsum-based building material containing from 1 to 25% by weight of zeolites.
US07645521B2

An aqueous dispersion including (A) at least one base polymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-based co-polymer and a propylene-based co-polymer; (B) at least one polymeric stabilizing agent; and at least one filler; wherein the polymeric stabilizing agent is different from the at least one base polymer and is compatible with the at least one base polymer and the at least one filler, and wherein the dispersion has filler in the range of greater than 0 to about 600 parts per hundred parts of a combined amount of the at least one base polymer and the polymeric stabilizing agent is disclosed.
US07645518B2

Polymeric products are disclosed that are suitable for application to fibrous substrates such as textiles, leather and paper, to impart oil (oleophobicity) and water repellent (hydrophobicity) properties to the treated material. The polymeric products comprise an amino-functional polysiloxane bonded through its amino groups to an addition copolymer of a fluoro-substituted alkyl ester of an olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid and an olefinically unsaturated monomer having a functional group capable of reacting with the amino groups of polysiloxane and optionally one or more olefinically unsaturated comonomers.
US07645515B2

A transfer arrangement is used in a transfer portion of an image forming apparatus. The transfer arrangement includes an electrically conductive member that contacts a toner image bearing member of the image forming apparatus. The electrically conductive member is made of polyurethane resin to which electrically conducive polymer is added. An adding amount of the electrically conductive polymer with respect to the polyurethane resin is from 8 wt % to 40 wt %.
US07645514B2

It is an object of the invention to provide a curable resin composition excellent in mechanical strength, heat resistance, moisture resistance, flexibility, resistance to thermal cycles, resistance to solder reflow, dimensional stability, and the like after curing and providing high adhesion reliability and conduction reliability and an adhesive epoxy resin paste, an adhesive epoxy resin sheet, a conductive connection paste, and a conductive connection sheet using the curable resin composition, and an electronic component joined body. The invention relates to a curable resin composition, which contains an epoxy resin, a solid polymer having a functional group to react with the epoxy group and a curing agent for an epoxy resin, no phase separation structure being observed in a matrix of a resin when a cured product is dyed with a heavy metal and observed with a transmission electron microscope.
US07645511B2

This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a modified crosslinked elastomeric particle which comprises a two-step polymerization of a conjugated diolefin monomer and a vinyl aromatic monomer by emulsion polymerization, wherein the particle is synthesized by the steps of (1) polymerizing a conjugated diolefin monomer, alone or in combination with a vinyl aromatic monomer, and optionally a crosslinking monomer, to create a crosslinked elastomeric core having residual double bonds and an outer surface; (2) polymerizing a monomer of a vinyl aromatic monomer, alone or in combination with a diolefin monomer, to create a polymeric shell, wherein the polymeric shell is grafted to the outer surface of the polymeric core by reacting with the residual double bonds of the polymeric core; and (3) coagulating the core-shell emulsion latex solution to recover the particles.
US07645510B2

Opaque flakes, such as pigment or bright flake used in paints and inks, have a selected shape and/or other indicia to provide a covert security feature to an object. In some embodiments the composition includes base pigment, and the opaque covert flakes match the visual characteristics of the base pigment. In another embodiment, opaque covert flakes are mixed in the carrier with base pigment at a concentration sufficient to avoid changing the appearance of the composition. In another embodiment, opaque covert flakes are mixed in a clear or tinted varnish base that can be applied over an existing security feature. Shaped opaque covert flakes are not readily detectable by causal observation, but in some embodiments are easily seen at 50× magnification. In manufacturing the flakes a sheet of embossed frames are provided having symbols or indicia within; upon removing a coating from the sheet the coating material tends to break along frame lines and the resulting flakes are substantially uniform in size.
US07645505B2

A multilayer film comprises first, second, and third layers. The second layer is directly adhered to the first and third layers. The first layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more modified polyamides. The second layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more unmodified polyamides. The third layer comprises at least about 40 wt % of one or more selected tie polymers. The film may comprise one or more UV light absorbers. The film has good intra-film bond strength.
US07645499B2

The optical information recording medium of the present invention includes a plurality of information layers provided on a substrate and an optical separating layer provided between information layer adjacent to each other, and information is recorded or reproduced by irradiation of a laser beam. When an information layer that is provided closest to a laser beam incident side of the plurality of information layers is taken as a first information layer and an optical separating layer provided in contact with the first information layer is taken as a first optical separating layer, then the first information layer comprises a recording layer, a transmittance adjusting layer that adjusts a transmittance of the first information layer, and a low refractive index layer provided between the transmittance adjusting layer and the first optical separating layer.
US07645497B2

The present invention is directed to an electronically conductive article comprising at least one conductive carbon nanotube layer in contact with at least one conductive layer comprising electronically conductive polymer.
US07645491B2

Disclosed is a venting assembly for a dip coating system, a dip coating system utilizing such venting assembly, and related method for dip coating. These aspects are particularly directed for the production of organic photoconductor layers in imaging devices, and more particularly to drum photoreceptors. The venting assembly eliminates or significantly reduces coating defects otherwise occurring in the production of drum photoreceptors. Also disclosed are the drum photoreceptors produced by this assembly, apparatus and coating process.
US07645487B2

In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes a Zn-doped zirconium based layer before heat treatment (HT). The coated article is heat treated sufficiently to cause the Zn-doped zirconium based layer to transform into a Zn-doped zirconium oxide based layer that is scratch resistant and/or chemically durable. The doping of the layer with Zn has been found to improve scratch resistance and/or corrosion resistance.
US07645478B2

Methods of forming displays are described. The displays have zinc oxide row and column drivers integrated onto the same display substrate as zinc oxide pixel transistors and organic light emitting diodes. The organic light emitting diodes are prepared, at least in part, using a thermal transfer process from a donor sheet.
US07645476B2

An interventional device for delivery of beneficial agent to a lumen and methods of loading and manufacture of the same, which include a prosthesis loaded with beneficial agent to provide a controlled dosage concentration of beneficial agent to the lumen. The beneficial agent is loaded onto the prosthesis by a fluid-dispenser having a dispensing element capable of dispensing the beneficial agent in discrete droplets, each droplet having a controlled trajectory. The method of loading beneficial agent includes dispensing beneficial agent in a raster format and/or an off-axis format along a dispensing path.
US07645471B2

A process of coating an animal feed to obtain a coated animal feed product is provided. The process includes the step of applying a first coating to the animal feed, wherein the first coating comprises at least 20% by weight of sugar selected from the group consisting of monosaccharide, disaccharide, and any combination thereof in any proportion. The process also includes the step of applying a second coating to the animal feed, wherein the second coating comprises at least 20% by weight of phospholipid.
US07645470B2

Disclosed are flavored nutritional beverages comprising (A) fat; (B) milk protein representing from about 10% to 100% by weight of total protein; (C) carbohydrate comprising from about 75% to 100% by weight of at least one of (i) from about 0.1% to about 10% sucrose, trehalose, or combination thereof, by weight of the beverage, and (iii) from about 0.1% to about 20% maltodextrin by weight of the nutritional liquid, the maltodextrin having a DE value of from about 1 to about 10, and (iii) combinations of (i) and (ii); (D) an iron-containing material, and (E) a flavorant. The flavored nutritional beverages, unlike many iron-fortified milk-based beverages available today, do not readily develop beige or gray hues during formulation, processing and storage, and are thus more easily formulated with little or no color distortion and with improved or more accurately matched flavor-color combinations.
US07645468B2

Canola oil seeds are treated for the production of a canola oil seed meal for recovery of canola protein isolates therefrom. The canola oil seeds are heat-treated to inactivate myrosinases and other enzymes and dehulled prior to crushing dehulled canola oil seeds and removing oil therefrom and to provide the canola oil seed meal.
US07645466B2

The present invention is directed to novel compositions of bio-active compounds comprising 4-hydroxyisoleucine and one or more compounds selected from the group of amino acids, alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, saponins, sapogenins, mannans, flavonoids, fatty acids, vitamins and provitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates. Preferably, the novel compositions of bio-active compounds include 4-hydroxyisoleucine and one or more amino acids selected from the group consisting of arginine, aspartate, threonine, serine, glutamate, proline, glycine, alanine, cysteine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, omithine, proline, lysine, histidine, and gamma-aminobutyrate. The composition of bio-active compounds preferably include between about ten percent and about seventy percent of 4-hydroxyisoleucine and between about twenty percent and about forty percent of other amino acids. The bio-active compounds of the novel composition of the present invention may be derived, isolated, and/or extracted from Fenugreek seeds.
US07645460B2

Oral dosage forms of a risedronate comprised of a safe and effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising risedronate, a chelating agent, and, means for effecting delayed release of the risedronate and the chelating agent in the small intestine provide immediate release of the pharmaceutical composition to the small intestine of the mammal subject and pharmaceutically effective absorption of the bisphosphonate with or without food or beverages. The present invention substantially alleviates the interaction between risedronate and food or beverages, which interaction results in the bisphosphonate active ingredient not being available for absorption. The resulting oral dosage form may thus be taken with or without food. Further, the present invention effects delivery of risedronate and the chelating agent to the small intestine, substantially alleviating the upper GI irritation associated with bisphosphonate therapies. These benefits simplify previously complex treatment regimens and can lead to increased patient compliance with bisphosphonate therapies.
US07645458B2

A method is provided for sterilizing and/or deactivating adventitious agent(s) on and/or within a biological material which comprises packaging the biological material, altering the original atmosphere associated with the biological material in order to reduce the level of oxygen to which the biological material is exposed and subjecting the packaged biological material with its altered atmosphere to irradiation.
US07645454B2

The present invention provides compounds having formula (I): wherein W1, W2, R1, R3, R4, R2A and R2B are as defined herein. In another aspect, the invention provides an antibody or antibody fragment which binds specifically to a normal or transformed PSA glycan or glycopeptide of the invention.
US07645452B2

This invention relates to a gene encoding RTVP that has been shown to be up-regulated by p53 using differential display-PCR and subsequently by co-transfection studies. RTVP-1 mRNA is abundant in normal mouse and human prostatic epithelial cells and primary tumors, but is significantly down regulated in metastatic mouse and human prostate cancer. In prostate cancer cells overexpression of the mouse RTVP-1 gene (mRTVP-1) induced apoptosis that was accompanied by increased caspase 8, 9 and 3 activities. mRTVP-1-stimulated apoptosis was also associated with increased levels of bax, bad and activated BID; reduced levels of bcl-2 and bcl-XL; and cytosolic cytochrome c accumulation. Adenoviral-vector-mediated mRTVP-1 expression lead to potent growth suppression and antimetastatic activities in an orthotopic mouse model of prostate cancer in vivo. These therapeutic activities were associated with anti-angiogenic effects and importantly a local and systemic immune response. Accordingly, p53 was linked with suppression of metastasis through its induction of mRTVP-1, which can concurrently induce apoptosis, suppress angiogenesis and stimulate an antitumor immune response. Thus, the invention includes compositions and methods, based on RTVP nucleic acid, polypeptides, and antibodies, for use in the treatment, prevention and detection of neoplastic disease and, specifically, metastatic prostatic neoplasia.
US07645444B2

A nail polish composition comprises a cellulosic filmogenic polymer, a plasticizer and one or more solvents, and is characterized in that it includes 20 to 200% by weight, relative to the cellulosic polymer, of at least one second filmogenic polymer partially insoluble in the cellulosic polymer, giving rise to settling into at least two stable and separate liquid phases at rest. Preferably, the second filmogenic polymer is a vinyl resin, for example polyvinylbutyral. After agitation, this composition has a homogeneous appearance, and can be applied to the nails like a conventional polish.
US07645438B2

The invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen peroxide comprising a liquid-liquid extraction step, said extraction step comprising contacting an organic feed solution containing hydrogen peroxide with an extraction solvent comprising less than about 30 wt % of water to achieve extraction of hydrogen peroxide to said extraction solvent and obtaining an extract containing hydrogen peroxide.
US07645437B1

A method and apparatus, constructed of ceramics and other corrosion resistant materials, for decomposing sulfuric acid into sulfur dioxide, oxygen and water using an integrated boiler, superheater, and decomposer unit comprising a bayonet-type, dual-tube, counter-flow heat exchanger with a catalytic insert and a central baffle to increase recuperation efficiency.
US07645436B1

Tractable metal oxide sols are made by combining at least one metal oxide compound, at least one organofunctional silane, at least one boron oxide compound, and a liquid, or metal oxide sols are made by combining at least one metal oxide compound, at least one organofunctional silane, at least one of an acid catalyst and salt/complex catalyst, and a liquid. Also disclosed are nanocomposites containing the metal oxide sols and at least one of metal nanoparticle, metal-chalcogenide nanoparticle, metal oxide nanoparticle, and metal phosphate nanoparticle. Further disclosed are composites containing a polymer material and at least one of the metal oxide sol and the nanocomposite.
US07645433B2

A system for optimizing start-up of an amine regeneration system comprising a rich/lean heat exchanger, a still, a reflux condenser, a reflux accumulator, a pump, a reboiler, and a reflux accumulator fill line assembly.
US07645429B2

A jacket of a steam sterilizer embedding a sterilization chamber (3) consisting of two separated and independent each other parts of which a heating part (1) of the jacket embeds the sterilization chamber (3) while a filling part (2) of the jacket is advantageously arranged in the bottom part of the sterilization chamber (3), said parts form the integral unit. Both the outlet of a first steam filling valve (4) and the inlet of a first pressure sensor (5) enter the heating part (1), and both the outlet of a steam filling valve (6) and the inlet of a second pressure sensor (7) and the inlet of a third steam filling valve (8) enter the sterilizing chamber (3) into which both the outlet of the third steam filling valve (8) and the inlet of a third pressure sensor (9) enter, enter the area of the filling part (2).
US07645422B2

The present disclosure relates to a composition for sensor films used for detecting chemical analytes within sensors, such as polymer-absorption chemiresistors (i.e., conductometric sensors). The present disclosure provides robust sensor film compositions that have low resistance, high conductivity, and greater temperature stability and sensitivity to chemical analytes, as well as methods of making these sensor films. Sensor film compositions according to the present disclosure include a matrix having a polymer resin comprising siloxane and a plurality of conductive particles including at least two distinct species.
US07645421B2

The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted.
US07645406B2

An adhesive injection process for a Pi-joint assembly comprises the steps of: machining at least two ports into a female part of a Pi-joint assembly; inserting a filler into a gap between a male part and the female part; applying a sealant above the filler; creating a vacuum with a vacuum pump at one port; injecting an adhesive through another port; and drawing the adhesive towards the vacuum pump until the gap under the filler is completely filled with the adhesive. The adhesive injection process incorporates lean technologies that enable increased productivity during the assembly of a Pi-joint design using adhesive bonding. The adhesive injection process is suitable for, but not limited to, applications in the aerospace industry, such as the aircraft airframe assembly. The adhesive injection process may be used for the bonding of upper and lower skins to airframe structure as well as for structure-to-structure bonding.
US07645403B2

A method for improving color quality in an object created by a solid freeform fabrication system keeps a colorant in an ejected material near a surface of the object.
US07645398B2

Provided is a pressure sensor for electronic skin. The pressure sensor measures pressure levels, and includes conductive rubber, electrodes, and elastic rubber. The conductive rubber has conductivity that increases when a pressure exceeding a predetermined pressure is applied thereto. The electrodes are formed on either side surface of the conductive rubber to measure current flowing through the conductive rubber. The elastic rubber is formed on a top surface of one of the electrodes to disperse pressure applied to the conductive rubber.
US07645395B2

The present invention utilizes simple dimethylsilicone fluids of the proper viscosity/molecular weight added to modify the low temperature properties of polycyclic hydrocarbons. One preferred embodiment of a polycyclic hydrocarbon is a perhydro dimer of alpha-methyl styrene. Addition of the dimethylsilicone fluid to the perhydo dimer of alpha-methyl styrene improves the low temperature performance without degrading the requisite low shear stress shear strength properties. Low viscosity dimethylsilicone lubricating fluids combined with polycyclic hydrocarbons are suitable for use in infinitely variable transmissions providing good low temperature flow properties and high shear strength at high temperature and low contact stress conditions.
US07645394B2

The antifreeze of the present invention is including propylene glycol, first material, and second material. The first material is normal aliphatic dicarboxylic acid in which number of carbon atoms is from 10 to 12, salt of the normal aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, or mixture thereof. The second material is benzimidazole compound which has a benzimidazole skeleton, salt of the benzimidazole compound, triazine compound which has a triazine skeleton and has a mercapto group, salt of the triazine compound, or mixture thereof. Such antifreeze has less environment load than antifreeze including ethylene glycol. Furthermore, such antifreeze does not cause metal to corrode more than the antifreeze including ethylene glycol.
US07645384B2

Remediation for groundwater, soil, sediment bodies, bodies of water, tanks, pipes, and their surrounding areas are described. Remediation includes treating a site contaminated with toxic organic compounds by assessing for the presence or absence of suitable ozonophilic bacteria at the site and introducing ozone to the site. The ozonophilic bacteria are introduced to the site if the ozonophilic bacteria are not present or not present in sufficient quantities in the site. Ozone is introduced to the site in an amount sufficient to stimulate growth of the suitable ozonophilic bacteria. Other oxidants can also be used.
US07645380B2

Apparatuses for removal of volatile organic compounds in a soil formation include a microporous diffuser for injecting air and gaseous ozone as bubbles into water in the soil formation. The gaseous ozone is present at concentrations to effect removal of volatile organic compounds by the gaseous ozone reacting with the volatile organic compound(s). Injection of air and gaseous ozone is controlled by a timer to allow separation of bubbles by size. In various embodiments, a plurality of microporous diffusers may be controlled by a single timer or each of the plurality of microporous diffusers may be controlled by one of a plurality of timers.
US07645372B2

This invention relates to a method for removing thallium from a zinc-containing solution. In particular, the method relates to the purification with metallic zinc powder of a solution going to the electrolytic production of zinc. In this method, thallium is removed by means of a lead compound in the solution purification stage, either during the final purification stage or in a purification stage in which cadmium is precipitated.
US07645369B2

A separation device and a separation method for biomolecular sample material and in particular protein mixtures. For this purpose a separation element 10 for the two-dimensional and preferable electrophoretic separation of components of the sample material is provided in area 30 of a separation plane. According to the invention it is proposed that the separation element 10 has a channel or transfer structure 14 for the locally resolved discharge of separated sample components in a transport direction that is at right angles to the separation plane onto a support surface 16 that is preferably suitable for mass spectroscopic analyses.
US07645364B2

An electroplating apparatus for electroplating a surface of a wafer is provided. The wafer is capable of being electrically charged as a cathode. The electroplating apparatus includes a plating head capable of being positioned either over or under the surface of a wafer and capable of being electrically charged as an anode. The plating head is capable of enabling metallic plating between the surface of the wafer and the plating head when the wafer and plating head are charged. The plating head further comprises a voltage sensor pair capable of sensing a voltage present between the plating head and the surface of the wafer, and a controller capable of receiving data from the voltage sensor pair. The data received from the voltage sensor pair is used by the controller to maintain a substantially constant voltage to be applied by the anode when the plating head is placed in positions over the surface of the wafer. A method of electroplating a wafer is also provided.
US07645363B2

A magnetic recording medium having excellent fly-ability and corrosion resistance is provided in a high yield by controlling protuberant on a medium surface caused by deposition of giant silicon oxide particles, which are created during the film deposition of a granular recording layer including Si and oxygen. In one embodiment of the invention, a recording layer is deposited by a sputtering method using a target which is composed of a mixture of an alloy including at least Co and powdered crystalline SiO2.
US07645356B2

A method of etching a wafer using resonant infrared energy and a filter to control non-uniformities during plasma etch processing. The filter includes a predetermined array or stacked arrangement of variable transmission regions that mirror the spatial etch distortions caused by the plasma etching process. By spatially attenuating the levels of IR energy that reach the wafer, the filter improves uniformity in the etching process. Filters may be designed to compensate for edge fast etching due to macro-loading, asymmetric pumping in a plasma chamber, and magnetic field cusping.
US07645348B2

In accordance with the present invention, a process for repairing metal workpieces, such as turbine engine components, is provided. The process comprises the steps of forming a braze paste containing a first nickel base alloy material containing boron and chromium and a second nickel base alloy material containing chromium and cobalt, applying the brazing paste to an area of the metal workpiece containing at least one crack, and subjecting the workpiece and the brazing paste to a brazing cycle by heating the brazing paste and the workpiece, preferably to a temperature in the range of from 2000 to 2200 degrees Fahrenheit. During the brazing cycle, the brazing paste flows into and fills the at least one crack and thus repairs the metal workpiece.
US07645345B2

Use of copolymers containing sulfonic acid groups which comprise (a) 30 to 95 mol % of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, one monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic ester or one water-soluble salt of a monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, (b) 3 to 35 mol % of at least one monomer containing sulfonic acid groups of the formula I in which the variables have the following meanings: R is hydrogen or methyl; X is a chemical bond or —COO—R1—; R1 is unbranched or branched C1-C4-alkylene; M is hydrogen, alkali metal or ammonium, and (c) 2 to 35 mol % of at least one nonionic monomer of the formula II in which the variables have the following meanings: R2 is hydrogen or methyl; R3 is a chemical bond or unbranched or branched C1-C6-alkylene; R4 are identical or different unbranched or branched C2-C4-alkylene radicals; R5 is unbranched or branched C1-C6-alkyl, C5-C8-cycloalkyl or aryl; n is 3 to 50, in random or block copolymerized form, as additive for detergents and cleaners.
US07645341B2

A showerhead electrode assembly of a plasma processing apparatus includes a thermal control plate attached to a showerhead electrode, and a top plate attached to the thermal control plate. At least one thermal bridge is provided between opposed surfaces of the thermal control plate and the top plate to allow electrical and thermal conduction between the thermal control plate and top plate. A lubricating material between the thermal bridge and the top plate minimizes galling of opposed metal surfaces due to differential thermal expansion between the top plate and thermal control plate. A heater supported by the thermal control plate cooperates with the temperature controlled top plate to maintain the showerhead electrode at a desired temperature.
US07645330B2

A gas-liquid separation apparatus includes a container and a separating pipe located in the container. The container includes an annular wall and two lids covering two ends of the wall. The container has a cavity surrounded by the wall and the two lids. An inlet extends through one lid and an outlet extends through the other lid. The separating pipe is disposed in the cavity of the container and in communication with the inlet and the outlet of the container. A plurality of apertures is defined in a body of the separating pipe and in communication with a space inside the separating pipe and the cavity of the container. The liquid with gas dissolved therein enters into the separating pipe via the inlet of the container. The liquid is degassed by the separating pipe. The de-gassed liquid exits the separating pipe via the outlet of the container.
US07645329B2

A tamper resistant hydrocarbon trap and air filter assembly includes a cylindrical carbon trap filter extending from a sealed upstream end to a downstream end seated and sealed in a forwardly facing recess of an adaptor. A conventional cylindrical air filter surrounds the carbon trap filter with a sealed upstream end and a downstream end removable secured to an annular flange on the adaptor with the downstream end of the adaptor being arranged to be coupled to a vehicle's air intake.
US07645325B2

A process for producing oxygen by using of three-stage pressure swing adsorption plants, wherein the process is used to separate nitrogen and oxygen from a feed air stream, the product can be oxygen or nitrogen or both of them. The process utilizes three-stage pressure swing adsorption plants which are serially connected. In the first stage, carbon dioxide, water and part of nitrogen are removed and nitrogen is concentrated. In the second stage, nitrogen is further separated from the effluent intermediate gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the first stage and oxygen is concentrated to the desired concentration. In the third stage, nitrogen and argon are further separated from the effluent oxygen-enriched mixture gas from the adsorption step in the adsorption towers of the second stage and the concentration of oxygen is raised to 95V % or more.
US07645323B2

A method and apparatus for improving air quality within an enclosed space. The apparatus provides at least three molecular sieves that contain zeolite material to treat the air to remove toxins such as suspended particles, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, bacteria, formaldehyde, total volatile organic compounds, radon, ozone, toxic mould and organic odor-causing compounds. The apparatus uses the sieves such that one of the sieves is locked and retaining air, substantially immobile within, for a period of not less than 2 seconds to allow the zeolite material to breakdown the compounds and release the individual natural elements.
US07645316B2

A titanium based carbonitride alloy contains Ti, Nb, W, C, N and Co. The alloy also contains, in addition to Ti, Co with only impurity levels of Ni and Fe, 4-7 at % Nb, 3-8 at % W and has a C/(C+N) ratio of 0.50-0.75. The Co content is 9-<12 at % for general finishing applications and 12-16% for semifinishing applications. The amount of undissolved Ti(C,N) cores must be kept between 26 and 37 vol % of the hard constituents, the balance being one or more complex carbonitrides containing Ti, Nb and W. The invented alloy is particularly useful for semifinishing of steel and cast iron.
US07645314B2

Di-ammonium phosphate, murate of potash and gypsum are the conventional phosphorous, potassium and sulfur fertilizers respectively. Application of gypsum to soil can cause an increase calcium load on soil and polluted surface and underground water. The most successful technique is application of phosphorous-potassium-sulfur glass which can be added directly to the soil. Main feature of the present invention is formulation and making of a composition of high phosphorous, potassium and sulfur containing glass free from alkali like Na2O, Li2O and ZnO, which are toxic to the plants. Such glasses are capable of slow release of phosphorous, potassium and sulfur required in the area of agriculture, fungicide, pesticide and weedicides etc. The present invention also emphasize optimization of nutrient content, reduction of calcium load on the soil, minimization of surface and under-ground water pollution and maintenance of acidic environment near the plant roots in the soil.
US07645297B2

Disclosed is a stent (1) representing a prosthesis for a constricted body vessel. The stent (1) includes a tubular support frame (2) composed of ring segments (3, 4, 5) which are sequentially arranged in axial direction and which are formed by segment struts (5, 6) that are continuously joined to one another in the initial state via transitions (8). Adjacent ring segments (3-5) are coupled to each other using tie bars (9, 10). In order to prevent notch stress in the segment struts (5, 6), the width thereof increases from midsection (16) in the direction of the transitions (8), wherein the segment struts (6, 7) are curved in a wave-like manner.
US07645290B2

A hand held motor powered device for percutaneous thrombolysis and evacuation of a clot from a clotted arterio-venous fistula is disclosed. The percutaneous thrombectomy device is provided with a plurality of nested coaxial lubricious catheters. The multi-functional thrombectomy device can simultaneously and sequentially degrade and evacuate a blood clot from a blood vessel by multiple modalities that combines to degrade the clot by mechanical agitation, fragmentation and disruption, by peri-thrombus delivery of enzymatic fluids, by irrigation with biocompatible fluids, and by balloon displacement. The thrombectomy device further provides for balloon containment and isolation of clot debris from the general circulation, thereby minimizing the risks to a patient of embolic sequelae. There is also provided an optional steering mechanism for controlled deflection of the working end of the device.
US07645287B2

A surgical instrument for applying an anastomotic ring device comprises a handle connected to an anastomotic ring deployment mechanism by a shaft. The shaft has at least one articulation joint that is capable of articulating in at least one direction to allow the surgeon to alter the angle of approach in order to compensate for disadvantageous placement of a trocar port through which the instrument is inserted. An articulation joint may comprise a ribbed member. One or more cables may be used to effect articulation of the articulation joint.
US07645285B2

A device for occluding a hollow anatomical structure includes a clamp having at least first and second clamping portions adapted to be placed on opposite sides of the anatomical structure. At least one of the first and second clamping portions is movable toward the other from an open position to a clamping or closed position to occlude the anatomical structure. The clamp has an annular shape configured to surround the hollow anatomical structure in the open position and a flattened shape in the clamping position configured to occlude the hollow interior of the anatomical structure. The clamp is preferably covered with fabric to promote tissue ingrowth. A clamp delivery and actuation device is provided for allowing the clamp to be applied in either an open surgical procedure or a minimally invasive procedure.
US07645280B2

A vertebral stabilization assembly for stabilizing vertebrae is provided. The vertebral stabilization assembly includes a first and a second pedicle screw, a first and second connecting screw, and a connecting member. The first and second pedicle screws each have a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable for threading engagement of the first and second pedicle screws with a first and second vertebra, respectively, each shaft also has an engaging portion. The first and second connecting screws each have a first end adapted to be received by the engaging portions of the first and second pedicle screws, respectively. The connecting member has a first end connected to the first connecting screw and a second end connected to the second connecting screw for stabilization of the first and second vertebra. A guide member for placement of the connecting screw and method for anteriorly stabilizing vertebrae is also provided.
US07645279B1

A pin allows for convenient and noninvasive adjustment and tightening relative to the bone to correct and/or avoid loosening of the pin and attached external fixator. In one embodiment, the pin includes a shank extending from a head toward a distal tip end of the pin. Adjacent to the distal tip of the pin is a threaded region with a varying pitch and the shank of the pin is tapered or conical having an increasing minor and/or major diameter along the pin from the tip end. In an alternative embodiment, an anchor is provided on the distal tip for engagement with the far cortex of the bone. The anchor includes a tapered region proximate the tip that decreases in diameter. A split ferrule, expansion bushing or collar is seated on the tapered region. The shank of the pin also includes a threaded region on which a washer and nut are engaged for rotational movement longitudinally on the shank. The pin is initially inserted through a hole in the bone so that the tapered region adjacent the distal tip projects through the distal edge of the bone and the expansion ferrule is seated within the far cortex of the bone. The ferrule advances along the tapered region and expands to securely seat within the far cortex of the bone for anchoring the external fixator. In either embodiment, subsequent to initial pin installation into the bone, if the pin becomes loose relative to the bone, additional rotation of the pin re-establishes a secure pin-bone interface.
US07645276B2

The invention provides a non-invasive method for treatment of arrhythmia. In a first aspect, a method for treatment of atrial fibrillation in a heart of a patient comprises directing radiation from outside the patient toward one or more target treatment regions of the heart so as to inhibit the atrial fibrillation. The radiation may induce isolation of a pulmonary vein.
US07645274B2

A self-sealing male Luer connector attaches to any standard female Luer valve to open a flow channel between the two. The self-sealing male Luer connector includes a rigid housing having a distal end with a rigid male Luer connector and a proximal end at which a proximal seal is formed. The distal end of the housing includes a valve seat. Located within the housing is a resilient biasing member that biases an actuator into contact with the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the male connector. Upon engagement with a female connector, the actuator is moved in the proximal direction to open the distal valve and then the proximal seal. A partial vacuum is formed within the male connector upon disengagement with the female connector that draws any fluids on the external surface of the distal end of the male Luer connector into the male tip.
US07645263B2

A transdermal transport device includes a reservoir for holding a formulation of an active principle, a needle with a bore through which the formulation is transported between the reservoir and a target area of a biological body, and an impedance sensor. The impedance sensor has an electrode positioned to measure the impedance of a portion of the target area between the needle and the electrode to indicate the depth of penetration of the needle into the target area.
US07645261B2

A catheter has a lumen for a thrombectomy device and at least two balloons of different compliancies. In one embodiment, the catheter is adapted to clear dialysis grafts. One balloon is adapted to expand a stenosis at a venous junction of a dialysis graft and another balloon is adapted to pull a stenosis at an arterial junction of a dialysis graft. A single catheter may be used to perform a dialysis thrombectomy procedure.
US07645259B2

The present invention relates to a multi-function catheter assembly for treating arterial plaques. The multifunction catheter comprises a flexible tubular catheter body, an inflatable balloon assembly capable of multi-stage inflation at a distal end of the catheter body, at least one fluid delivery conduit formed on the catheter body, and at least one balloon control conduit formed within the catheter body. The balloon, when inflated to a first stage inside a vessel at the treatment site, defines a chamber between the balloon and the vessel wall. The at least one fluid delivery conduit is adapted to permit the delivery of an agent into the chamber to dissolve a plaque. After the removal of the plaque, the balloon is further inflated to a second stage to install a stent in the space that is vacated by the plaque. The stent can be a pre-manufactured stent or a customized stent formed by filing the space between the balloon and the treated vessel wall with a fluent composition that is solidified in situ. The multi-function catheter may also be used for sealing off aneurysms, dilating vessel passages, and treating tumors and trauma.
US07645254B2

Catheter apparatus for performing diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in the biliary tree includes a catheter with multiple lumens. A first lumen is adapted to receive a guidewire and can serve as a transport lumen for contrast agent. A second lumen carries a cutting wire for performing a sphincterotomy. A third lumen can be used as an inflation lumen for a distally located balloon. Expansion of the balloon occludes a portion of the biliary tree and allows the catheter to sweep any gallstones through the sphincter of Oddi into the duodenum.
US07645229B2

A fiber-optic endoscopic instrument (Fistuloscope) is used to visualize anorectal fistula, and to accurately identify the course through the fistula. The instrument can be used to flush the fistula, to close the fistula tract by means of injecting sealants or placing grafts in the tract of the fistula or to pass setons, micro-instruments or other means to treat and seal the tract.
US07645228B2

A sexual enhancement device for improving a user's sexual experience. A prostate pad is positioned adjacent to a male user's perineum below his prostate gland. A first prostate strap is connected to the prostate pad and is looped behind the user's neck. When the prostate strap is tightened, the prostate pad applies pressure to the perineum. This pressure is felt at the user's prostate and provides pleasurable stimulation to the prostate. A second prostate strap is also connected to the prostate pad and is looped around the user's waist. Preferably, the second prostate strap is also looped over the top of the user's erect penis. When looped over the top of the penis, tightening of the second prostate strap assists in restricting the flow of blood out of the erect penis, preferably allowing for an erection that lasts longer than it would otherwise. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure applied by the prostate pad can be dynamically increased or decreased by the user leaning his neck backwards or forwards, and also by the user arching his back and thrusting his hips. Also, in a preferred embodiment the tightness of the second prostate strap can be adjusted without having to interrupt sexual activity.
US07645221B1

An exercise device has a base, an exercise platform (which can be split into a left and right platform) and two or more springs that connect the base and the exercise platform(s) and hold the exercise platform(s) substantially parallel to the base when the exercise device is not in use, preventing the exercise platform(s) from coming into contact with the base when the exercise device is in use and allowing the position of the exercise platform to vary relative to the base as weight is applied to the exercise platform(s) at different points apart from a center point of weight balance while straps can be used to stabilize or selectively vary the center point of weight balance.
US07645219B1

A portable recumbent therapeutic system that can be used for relaxing, exercising and stimulating a user's legs, sacrum, back, arms and other parts of the body, and to do so all at the same time while minimizing the negative effect of a person's own body weight. The therapeutic system utilizes three complementary and interdependent support members while the user is in a horizontal reclined position. Because the three members are complementary and interdependent on each other the user often feels a sensation of weightlessness similar to exercising in water. The user's arms, for example, are able to swing freely as desired which simultaneously changes or affects the movement and utilization of the other two members and vice versa. When listening to music the system can provide the user with perhaps a feeling of dancing on air. The therapeutic system moves in response to the user and requires no power source.
US07645217B2

An abdominal exercise bar accessory having a rigid bar that is placed against a user's chest and cradled within his underarm region, with two alternating upward and downward extending handles attached to the bar opposite the user so that the user's arms partially overlap while gripping the handles. A rigid side extension extends upward from the bar and is attached to an overhead resistance station, such as a cable-and-pulley weight system. The bar is preferably concave, but may be straight, and preferably includes cushioned pads. A method of use in which the user rotates and moves the bar downward from an upright sitting position towards the user's thighs, causing it to travel in a non-circular, non-uniform pathway that matches that of the user's natural body movements, then returns to an upright sitting position.
US07645210B2

In executing an ETC cooperative downshift operation based on a driver's intent to decelerate, this system executes an engine output increasing control (e.g. a combination of a throttle opening control and a fuel injection restoring control) for increasing the engine output irrespective of driver's accelerator operation. At the timing a reduction amount in an input shaft rotational speed Nt exceeds a predetermined value K after the ETC cooperative downshift control is started, it is presumed that the hydraulic pressure of a to-be-disengaged clutch is already reduced to a hydraulic pressure level equivalent to a predetermined transmission torque capacity that causes no undesirable acceleration or shock even if the engine output increasing control is started. And, under such assumption, the engine output increasing control is started at this timing. Accordingly, the present invention can accurately set the start timing of the engine output increasing control so as to suppress any undesirable acceleration or shock caused by the engine output increasing control.
US07645207B2

An eight gear transmission having drive and output shafts, planetary gearsets, shafts and shifting elements. One carrier of the gearset (RS4) and the drive shaft are coupled to form shaft (1). One ring gear of the gearset (RS2), one carrier of the gearset (RS3) and the output shaft are coupled to form shaft (2). One sun gear of the gearset (RS1) and one sun gear of the gearset (RS4) are coupled to form shaft (3). One carrier of the gearset (RS1) forms shaft (4). One sun gear of the gearset (RS3) forms the fifth shaft. One ring gear of the gearset (RS1) and one carrier of the gearset (RS2) and one ring gear of the gearset (RS3) are coupled to form shaft (6). One ring gear of the gearset (RS4) forms the seventh shaft. One sun gear of the gearset (RS2) forms shaft (8).
US07645205B2

An electrically-variable transmission has four motive elements, including an input member, an output member, and first and second motor/generators. The transmission also has two differential gear sets, and four selectively engagable torque-transmitting mechanisms. All members of each differential gear set have at least one of the motive elements connectable therewith. The input member and one motor/generator are both connected or connectable with the same member of one of the differential gear sets, and the output member and either of the motor/generators are both connected or connectable with the same member of the other one of the differential gear sets. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engagable in combinations of two to establish input-split and output-split electrically-variable modes of operation.
US07645204B2

A method for maintaining constant position of a bearing outer race relative to an axial bore of a pulley comprising providing a pulley having a central axial hub exhibiting a concentric axial bore therethrough, the concentric axial bore having an axial bore surface; providing a bearing having an outer axial race, an inner axial race, and a plurality of bearing elements rotatably positioned between the outer axial race and the inner axial race; applying at least one drop or bead of a fastening element onto an outer surface of the outer race, wherein the fastening element acts to maintain constant position of the bearing relative to the pulley; and coupling the bearing to the pulley, and a pulley having a bearing integral therewith which exhibit the characteristic of maintaining constant position of the bearing relative to the pulley are disclosed.
US07645194B2

A system and method to allow players of a video game to perform financial transactions in a virtual environment. According to some embodiments, real world financial instruments such as a credit card or other financial instrument may guarantee some or all of the virtual financial operations.
US07645193B2

The present invention relates to a card game adopting new “mission function.”According to the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a card game on the Internet comprising the steps of: (a) providing a display of a game panel to a plurality of players connected to the Internet; (b) inviting the players to the card game upon request of the players; (c) distributing game items to invited players; (d) conducting a random retrieval of at least one mission from a database; (e) checking whether the mission is achieved when the game items are transacted; and (f) settling results of the card game when the card game is over.
US07645191B1

The systems and processes for handicapping a horse race using data from a past race disclosed herein enable a user to forecast the results of a horse race. The user or system selects a horse to handicap in an upcoming race, the handicapped race, and a comparable past race that the horse has run. The system then collects data from the past race and the handicapped race. After comparing data from the past race and the handicapped race, the system calculates a time adjustment to the final call time.
US07645189B2

An adjustable boot hanger mounting bracket assembly comprising a boot hanger frame portion and a support member portion; the ductwork components, which may include a prefabricated can-boot/mud ring assembly; a pair of boot hanger arms; and a register grille. The boot hanger mounting bracket assembly is formed of a sturdy yet bendable material so that it can be configured and adjusted on-site. Once configured, the assembly is secured to the building structure by a securing a pair of boot hanger arms to the ceiling joists, wall studs, or other support structure. In this way, the boot hanger mounting bracket, through a direct attachment to the ceiling joist or wall stud, provides a positive inexpensive simple and error free way to mount the duct components.
US07645183B2

A floor or road saw (20) that includes a multi-speed transmission (24) that includes a neutral position. The transmission does not require the use of belts, polychains, or clutches that require regular maintenance and/or replacement. Moreover, the transmission (24) of the saw (20) may be shifted when the transmission is engaged and shifted through a set of gears (62) in a sequential manner. Further, the transmission is well suited for use on saws where power source or prime mover (22) is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the saw (20).
US07645181B2

A polishing state monitoring apparatus measures characteristic values of a surface, being polished, of a workpiece to determine the timing of a polishing end point. The polishing state monitoring apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for applying light from a light source to a surface of a workpiece being polished, a light-receiving unit for receiving reflected light from the surface of the workpiece, a spectroscope unit for dividing the reflected light received by the light-receiving unit into a plurality of light rays having respective wavelengths, and light-receiving elements for accumulating the detected light rays as electrical information. The polishing state monitoring apparatus further includes a spectral data generator for reading the electrical information accumulated by the light-receiving elements and generating spectral data of the reflected light, and a processor for calculating a predetermined characteristic value on the surface of the workpiece based on the spectral data generated by the spectral data generator.
US07645173B2

A cable connector wire guide and a connector assembly including the same. The wire guide includes first and second portions defining a cable opening. The first and second portions are configured to allow for expansion of the cable opening to allow cables of different dimensions to be received within the cable opening.
US07645172B2

A connector has terminal fittings (20) with a touching section (41) to be held in contact with a mating terminal (30) and a housing (10) formed with press-in holes (14, 14A), into which the terminal fittings (20) are pressed. The terminal fittings (20) are pressingly held in the housing (10) after the touching sections (41) pass through the press-in holes (14, 14A). A part of the inner surface of each press-in hole (14, 14A) of the housing (10) corresponding to a passage area of the touching section (41) is shaped to be gradually distanced from the passage area towards an apex (62, 62A) at a widthwise middle part (65) of the passage area. Accordingly, mutual abrasion of the touching section (41) and the inner surface of the press-in hole (14, 14A) can be avoided when the touching section (41) passes through the press-in hole (14, 14A).
US07645165B2

An electrical connector includes an insulating housing having a pair of side-walls, a plurality of terminals retained in the insulating housing and comprising contacting portions and a shielding shell surrounding the housing. Each of the side walls of the housing defines a window portion thereof to communicating with the mating cavity and an exterior. A pair of side walls of the shell covers on the side walls of the insulating housing and each defines a resilient arm extending into the mating cavity through the window portion.
US07645156B2

A connector includes first and second plug-and-socket connector parts and a connection element. The first connector part has a latch operable to connect the connector parts together. The connection element is connected and is displaceable with respect to the first connector part between first and second positions. The connection element has a pair of locking tabs operable with the latch such that the connection element is fixed in the first position until the latch connects the connector parts together and such that the connection element is movable from the first position to the second position when the latch connects the connector parts together. While in the first position the locking tabs release the latch connection such that the connector parts are separable from one another. While in the second position the locking tabs secure the latch connection such that the connector parts are securable connected to one another.
US07645155B2

A connector includes a locking mechanism that locks the connector in a socket but allows removal of the connector without a manual operation that relies on depressing the locking mechanism. The connector is released from the socket when a sufficient pulling force is applied to the connector. The connector includes a spring-loaded detent that flexes during the insertion process. The detent snaps into a locking position. The detent can be released from the socket when sufficient tension is applied on the connector such that inadvertent tension will not result in breaking the connector.
US07645154B2

A universal serial bus connector assembly for sealing a plug against the intrusion of foreign material is provided. The connector assembly includes a plug receptacle housing and a plug receptacle supporting structure attached to the plug receptacle housing. A bezel is fitted over the plug receptacle supporting structure. A sealing elastomeric membrane is positioned between the plug receptacle supporting structure and the bezel. A slit is formed in the elastomeric membrane through which the plug is inserted into the plug receptacle housing.
US07645152B2

A lamp connection structure, configured to connect a lamp of a backlight module, is provided. The backlight module has a circuit board formed with a through-hole, which is defined by a side wall. The lamp connection structure comprises a clamping portion and an embedding portion. The clamping portion has a first end and a second end, and the first end is adapted to fix and to electrically connect to the lamp. The embedding portion has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected to the second end of the clamping portion while the second end of the embedding portion is inserted through the through-hole and contacting with the side wall.
US07645145B2

Provided is a plug wherein a plurality of points in an electric circuit can be easily put into a conductive state or a nonconductive state. A system wherein such a plug is applied is also provided. The composite plug is provided with a plurality of plugs, each of which is provided with two conductive pieces connected by a conductive member. A current is carried between the two circuit terminals when the two conductive pieces are brought into contact with two circuit terminals included in the electric circuit, respectively. A current is not carried between the two circuit terminals when the two conductive pieces are separated from the two circuit terminals included in the electric circuit, respectively. The plugs are attached to a common case body.
US07645144B2

A butterfly interface transfer structure including an interface card, a first add-in card and a second add-in card is disclosed. The interface card includes a plate, a first connector, a second connector and a spacer. The plate has a set of electrical connecting pins, a first surface and a second surface. The first connector is disposed on the first surface, and the second connector is disposed on the second surface, wherein the first connector and the second connector are respectively electrically connected to the electrical connecting pins. The spacer is disposed between the first connector and the plate. The first add-in card is coupled to the first connector, and the second add-in card is coupled to the second connector.
US07645140B2

A method for assessing the navigational capacity in human subjects, and its use in diagnosing spatial disorientation in neurodegenerative diseases, such as, for example Alzheimer's disease. The method for assessing the navigational capacity includes conducting a spatial orientation test, recording the results of the test, analyzing the test results and making a determination of the navigational capacity of a human subject. In its most simple sense, navigational capacity includes the capacity not to get lost. The spatial orientation test includes various naturalistic navigation tasks that are each designed to assess specific areas of the navigational capacity of a subject.
US07645125B2

A variable capacity automotive refrigerant compressor is provided with a pressure equalization passage between the crankcase volume and the suction passage in the manifold to prevent a pressure imbalance between the two that could otherwise cause a reduction in crankcase lubricant retention during extended periods of system inactivity.
US07645119B2

An axial flow turbine provided with a stage composed of a turbine nozzle and a turbine rotor blade arranged in an axial flow direction. Both end portions of a nozzle blade of the turbine nozzle are supported by a diaphragm inner ring and a diaphragm outer ring, and a flow passage is formed to have its diameter expanded from an upstream stage to a downstream stage. In such axial flow turbine, trailing edges at ends of the nozzle blade supported by the diaphragm inner ring and the diaphragm outer ring are curved as a curvature to an outlet side, and an intermediate portion between the trailing edges is formed to be straight.
US07645108B2

A cart includes a projecting load receiving platform mounted on a slide frame in turn mounted for vertical movement on a main frame. A spring mechanism urges the slide frame and platform to an elevated position so that objects may be stacked on the platform without placing them on the floor. As the weight of the stack on the platform increases the platform starts to descend until the cart is full. Conversely as items are removed from the top of the stack the platform elevates so the operator doesn't have to pick up an object from the floor. The spring mechanism uses a plurality of air springs each with a different load rating and operating in a cascading fashion. A pivoting weight operated latch holds the platform in its bottom position until released by a kick plate.
US07645104B2

A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.
US07645099B2

A machining apparatus includes at least one tool holder (1) and at least one cutting tool (2) that are detachably interconnected. At least one first marking (7a) is provided on the tool holder (1) and at least one further marking (7b) is provided on the cutting tool (2). When connecting the tool holder (1) to the cutting tool (2), they can be aligned with each other with the aid of the markings (7a, 7b). The machining apparatus is preferably used for machining spectacle lenses, especially progressive lenses.
US07645096B2

A yielding rock bolt having a solid metal shaft with a relatively wide portion and a relatively narrow portion and an anchor member mounted about the shaft. The anchor member has longitudinal bore which is of lesser dimension than the relatively wide portion. The anchor member is mounted about the relatively narrow portion adjacent the wide portion. In use the shaft is extruded through the anchor member to cause the rock to yield as a rock face moves.
US07645095B2

A method is provided for heavy metal stabilisation comprising: mixing waste, comprising heavy metals, with molecular sieve with the proviso that carbon-based molecular sieve is excluded, and clay; and vitrifying the mixture. In particular, a method comprising the steps of: preparing a pre-stabilised mixture by mixing waste, comprising heavy metals, with the molecular sieve, and optionally other chemicals; mixing the pre-stabilised mixture with clay; and vitrifying the obtained mixture is provided. It also provides a product comprising heavy metals that have been stabilised into the structure of the clay-based ceramic matrix, wherein the product is a vitrified product of a mixture of at least waste, comprising heavy metals, molecular sieve (with the proviso that carbon-based molecular sieve is excluded) and clay.
US07645091B2

An agricultural crop freeze control method and apparatus that can be effectively used to prevent growing crops such as avocado and citrus crops from freeze damage. The apparatus includes an irrigation system within which one or more commercially available tankless water heaters are installed to controllably heat the water that is delivered to the crop.
US07645081B2

Disclosed herein is a coating and developing apparatus 1 whose decreases in substrate-conveying accuracy can be suppressed. A processing block S2 of the coating and developing apparatus 1 includes multiple resist-film forming blocks G2, G3, and a developing block G1. A conveyance element 12 for substrate loading into the processing block S2 is provided to convey substrates W from a carrier C to the resist-film forming blocks G2, G3. Also, a conveyance element I for substrate loading into an exposure apparatus S4 is provided in an interface block S3 to load the substrates W into the exposure apparatus S4 and after unloading the substrates W from the exposure apparatus S4, convey the substrates W to the developing block G1. The processing block loading conveyance element 12 conveys the substrates W, one at a time, from the carrier C to each resist-film forming block G2, G3, sequentially and periodically, and the exposure apparatus loading conveyance element I loads the substrates W from each resist-film forming block G2, G3 into the exposure apparatus S4 in the sequence that each has been conveyed to the resist-film forming block G2, G3 by the processing block loading conveyance element 12.
US07645072B2

The rolling machine element includes a first member in which a raceway surface is formed and a second member on which the first member is mounted through the rolling elements and which is formed to be able to guide the first member in a specified direction. The rolling machine element is characterized in that the first member can be moved in the guiding direction of the second member by allowing the rolling elements to move in an out of the raceway surface in an orderly arranged state, and the crowning based on the oval shape is formed at the end part of the raceway surface of the first member where an access point for the rolling elements is formed.
US07645064B2

A mixing and delivery machine for flowable materials having on-site and towable mobility for mixing, hydrating, and delivering an admixture such as cementious mix, concrete, binder, graveled sand, mold sand and various other mixtures via an extended auger and elevatable hopper is used to facilitate both loading and releasing the hopper contents into the feed end of the auger. The auger is driven by a primemover and a wheel set on the machine facilitates the raising and lowering of the delivery end of the mixing auger.
US07645062B2

A light source apparatus for vehicle lamps and particularly vehicle headlights can include a plurality of LED elements mounted in a cavity located on a base surface or on a base. Each of the LED elements can be arranged in such a manner as to form an emission shape and a brightness distribution that is suited for a light distribution pattern, and especially a light distribution pattern for vehicle headlight.
US07645058B2

To provide a light diffusing sheet which enables the light from a lightguide plate or light source of a backlight unit to be conducted to lens film after having been converted to diffused light having a small brightness peak angle, and which generates neither a moiré or interference fringe nor luminance unevenness, and is advantageous also in terms of productivity and cost, and to provide a backlight unit having this light diffusing sheet incorporated therein, and the surface of the sheet with fine recesses formed therein serves as a light emission side. The light diffusing sheet comprises a light-transmitting resin, characterized by having fine recesses formed in at least one of the surfaces thereof, the fine recesses having a shape which is any of the shapes of an inverted polyangular pyramid, an inverted truncated polyangular pyramid, an inverted cone, and an inverted truncated cone.
US07645046B1

A flash photography reflector system is mounted on a camera of the type wherein the camera's flash unit is positionable above the camera's accessory shoe. A pair of reflectors are mounted on a support strut which engages the accessory shoe. The reflectors are in spaced apart positions and mutually facing with the flash unit positioned between them. The flash beam is directed at a first one of the reflectors, which then directs the flash beam to a larger one of the reflectors, which, in turn, directs the flash beam outwardly toward the subject of the photograph. The first and second reflectors expand the beam so that the final outgoing flash beam is many times broader then the beam that would proceed from the camera's flash unit alone.
US07645043B2

There is provided an optical engine of a projection system comprising: a lamp irradiating light; an illumination unit provided with a plurality of lens through which the light is passed; a composition unit separating and composing the light to form an image signal; an engine base provided with the illumination unit and the composition unit on a top portion thereof; a reinforcing part which is made of a high intensity material and which is provided between the composition unit and the engine base to prevent a deformation of the composition unit; and a projection lens projecting light composed in the composition unit to the screen. Therefore, it is possible to stably embody a high definition image in the optical engine of the projection system.
US07645034B2

An inkjet printer with a printhead integrated circuit (IC) (28), an ink supply reservoir (6) for storing ink, an ink supply line (3) defining a flow path from the ink supply reservoir to the printhead IC (28). A pulse damper (16) positioned along the flow path to decrease the amplitude of pressure pulses in the ink.
US07645024B2

An apparatus for adjusting the printhead-to-media spacing in an inkjet printer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage rod that is fixed in position relative to a media support and a carriage for supporting at least one printhead. The carriage has a contact surface that abuts the carriage rod to allow the carriage to be supported thereon and moveable laterally along the length of the carriage rod. The apparatus further includes an actuating means that moves the carriage relative to the carriage rod along an axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the carriage rod. During the movement, the contact surface of the carriage remains in abutment with the carriage rod to thereby allow the carriage to continue to be supported on the carriage rod. A method of printhead-to-media spacing adjustment, implementable using the apparatus, is also disclosed.
US07645020B2

A printing device adapted to print upon a printing media. The printing device has a printing media inserter, a media path, and a plurality of printheads, positioned serially in the media path. Each of the printheads is adapted to print upon the printing media moving along the media path. The printing media inserter transfers the printing media to a printing media buffer or into the media path. A piece of the printing media traveling along the media path is sequentially printed upon by each of the printheads. The plurality of printheads are controlled to combine print from the plurality of printheads on the piece of printing media and form a resultant combined print image with a resolution different than at least one print of at least one of the plurality of printheads on the piece of printing media.
US07645015B2

Embodiments of determining drop weight are disclosed.
US07645011B2

Provided is a print engine controller for a pagewidth printhead. The controller includes contone and bi-level decompression circuitry for decompressing a contone layer of compressed page data and a bi-level layer of compressed page data, respectively. The controller also includes halftoner and compositor circuitry for halftoning the decompressed contone layer to associated bi-level versions and compositing the decompressed bi-level layer over the halftoned contone layers. Also included is printhead interface circuitry for receiving the halftoned and composited data so as to generate print data suitable for printing by the printhead. The controller further includes line loader and formatter circuitry for receiving dot data from the halftoner and compositor circuitry to store the dot data for lines to be printed in memory circuitry of the controller and to format said lines into an order required by the printhead interface circuitry.
US07645010B2

The ink ejection amount measurement method for an inkjet recording head, includes: an ink ejection step of ejecting ink onto a recording medium from a recording head by applying a drive voltage to the recording head, in such a manner that an ink dot image is formed on the recording medium; an image reading step of reading the ink dot image formed on the recording medium by means of an image reading device; a number of pixels measurement step of measuring number of pixels occupied by the ink dot image formed on the recording medium; a correlation table preparation step of preparing a correlation table representing a correlation among a value of the drive voltage, number of pixels occupied by an ink dot image formed on the recording medium, and an ink ejection amount ejected by the recording head; a drive voltage sweeping step of changing a value of the drive voltage applied to the recording head, from a first drive voltage measurement value which is a value of the drive voltage when the number of pixels measured in the number of pixels measurement step is a first number of pixels, to a second drive voltage measurement value which is a value of the drive voltage at a boundary where the number of pixels measured in the number of pixels measurement step changes from the first number of pixels to a second number of pixels; and an ink ejection amount calculation step of calculating the ink ejection amount when a drive voltage having the first drive voltage measurement value is applied to the recording head, according to the correlation table, using the first drive voltage measurement value and the second drive voltage measurement value.