US07650646B2

A recording or reproduction apparatus is provided which utilizes copyright information in operations to record content data onto a recording medium or reproduce content data from the recording medium. Copyright information for the contents includes information identifying an input source of the content data. The information identifying an input source is stored in the recording medium along with the content data. When the contents are reproduced from the recording medium, the input source information is acquired and used as a basis for determining whether the contents can be reproduced and output. Thus, it is possible to impose an output restriction on an operation to reproduce the contents in accordance with the input source.
US07650644B2

Techniques are described for using permission data objects to control user access to business data objects. A permission data object identifies a group affiliation associated with a user and a business object type (or family of business data objects) to which the permission object controls access. A permission object includes a permission attribute and a permission value. A user who has the group affiliation that is identified in the permission object is permitted to access a particular business data object of the business object type when the value of the permission attribute in the permission data object is consistent with the value of a corresponding attribute in the particular business data object to which the user seeks access.
US07650639B2

The present invention is directed to a system and methods for protecting a limited resource computer from malware. Aspects of the present invention use antivirus software on a general purpose computer to prevent malware from infecting a limited resource computer. Typically, antivirus software on the general purpose computer is kept “up-to-date” with the most recent software updates. When a connection is established between the limited resource computer and the general purpose computer, a signature of each application installed on the limited resource computer is transmitted to the general purpose computer. Then antivirus software on the general purpose computer compares the received signatures to known malware. Finally, the results of the scan are reported to the limited resource computer.
US07650637B2

A system for ensuring quality of service (QoS) in a virtual private network and a method thereof are provided. The system includes a logical bearer network, which is formed by connecting label switch paths configured with preserving bandwidth to routers, and is dedicated to transmit QoS service data; and a bearer control network, which is used to maintain logical bearer network, allocate route, mark service priority, and route service data to opposite end. The method includes the steps of: A. constructing a logical bearer network to transmit QoS service data by configuring label switch paths with preserved bandwidth; B. providing a centralized resource controller to manage resources of the logical bearer network; C. if QoS service data is to be transmitted, marking service priority in QoS field of the routing labels of multi-protocol label switch data packets, and routing service data to the opposite end.
US07650635B2

A method of preventing an attack on a network, the method comprising the computer-implemented steps of receiving an ICMP packet that includes a copy of a header associated with a connection in a connection-oriented transport protocol; obtaining a packet sequence value from the header; determining if the packet sequence value is valid; and updating a parameter value associated with the transport protocol connection only if the packet sequence value is determined to be valid. Use of the disclosed method enables authenticating ICMP packets so that responsive measures of a network element, such as adjusting an MTU value, are performed only when the ICMP packet is determined to be authentic.
US07650627B1

A method is described that involves identifying a configuration file in response to a desire to obtain security services. The configuration file describes a security policy tailored for use in the environmental condition set under which the desire arose. The identifying is based upon at least a portion of the environmental condition set. The method also involves using information found within the configuration file to configure code that performs authentication and authorization services so that the code will implement the security policy.
US07650625B2

A settop box system for capturing and controlling live and recorded audio and video content. The system records digital and analog data from video and audio content, such as in a home entertainment center. The system records data from the content as specified and the data may be sequenced into clips that can be searched and indexed. A user may create comparison programs that allow searches of either pre-recorded or incoming content to be performed. In addition, the program allows editing of recorded programs, such as filtering of audio content or overlaying a video program with a different audio background. Multiple audio and video feeds may be handled simultaneously and the program's functions may be executed without viewing of the content being manipulated. The recorded content may also be indexed and even clips of the content may be indexed.
US07650617B2

An objective function and a constraint expression are established by a scheme of the invention as conditions for selecting advertisement information to be inserted into a slot in a content. The objective function is used to maximize a total of cost values held by the advertisements selected to be inserted into slots. The constraint expression is used to equalize totaled lengths of the selected advertisements with the length of the slots. The objective function and constraint expression making up the selection conditions are solved as a mathematical programming assignment problem, whereby advertisement information is selected for insertion into predetermined slots in a manner maximizing the benefits of the parties participating in the scheme. In a setup of moving picture streaming distribution, the scheme allows suitable advertisement information to be inserted selectively into slots of contents.
US07650611B2

In a disc apparatus, a tray gear has a boss protruding from one predetermined place in an inner circumference edge part thereof. During assembly of a tray into the apparatus cabinet, when the boss is located within a predetermined range of rotation of the tray gear, the boss meshes with a groove-forming rib provided on the tray and is thereby centered so that the tray gear and the rack mesh with each other always at the same teeth thereof.
US07650608B2

A software architecture that provides applications with uniform access to data that is available from heterogeneous data sources. Applications access Liquid Data through a set of unified XML views that have been derived from the schemas of the underlying data sources. Liquid Data provides data independence in that applications can write components that do not have to change if an underlying data source changes.
US07650606B2

Disclosed is a technique for system recovery. Information identifying one or more work requests is retrieved, along with an order of the work requests, for a business process. If the business process is non-transactional, an in-memory structure is created for the business process, a recovery stub is created for each work request, and the recovery stub for each work request is placed into the in-memory structure based on the order.
US07650602B2

There is provided a parallel processing computer for executing a plurality of threads concurrently and in parallel. The computer includes: a thread activation controller for determining whether or not each of threads, which are exclusively executable program fragments, is ready-to-run, to put the thread determined ready-to-run into a ready thread queue as ready-to-run thread; and a thread execution controller having a pre-load unit, an EU allocation and trigger unit, a plurality of thread execution units and a plurality of register files including a plurality of registers, and the pre-load unit, prior to when each ready-to-run thread in the ready thread queue is executed, allocates a free register file of the plurality of register files to the each ready-to-run thread, to load initial data for the each ready-to-run thread into the allocated register file, and the EU allocation and trigger unit, when there is a thread execution unit in idle state of the plurality of thread execution unit, retrieves ready-to-run thread from the top of the ready thread queue, and to allocate the retrieved ready-to-run thread to the thread execution unit in idle state, and to couple the register file loaded the initial data for the ready-to-run thread with the allocated thread execution unit in idle state, and to trigger the ready-to-run thread. The plurality of thread execution units execute the triggered threads concurrently in parallel.
US07650583B2

A single verification tool provides both static timing analysis and timing simulation capabilities targeted at both full-custom and ASIC designs in a unified environment. In various embodiments the verification tool includes the following features: (a) Integrating both static timing analysis and dynamic simulation tools into a single tool, (b) Efficient path search for multi-phase, multi-frequency and multi-cycle circuit in the presence of level sensitive latch, (c) Automatically identifying circuit structure, e.g. complex gate, for timing characterization, (d) Circuit structures at transistor level solved by incorporating function check, (e) Carrying out functional check to filter out false path and identifying gate with simultaneously changing inputs, (f) Finding maximum operating frequency in the presence of level sensitive latches after filtering out false paths, (g) Crosstalk solver by utilizing the admittance matrix and voltage transfer of RLC part in frequency domain coupled with the non-linear driver in time domain implemented in spice-like simulator, (h) Making use of the correlation between inputs of aggressors and victim to determine switching time at victim's output iteratively.
US07650578B2

A display control apparatus includes an image creating section creating a first image having a predetermined number of drawing areas each onto which a thumbnail image is drawn, and an erasing section erasing at least one drawing area from the first image in response to an instruction from a user to display the first image. The number of drawing areas erased is the same as a number that is determined by subtracting the number of thumbnail images to be drawn in the first image from the predetermined number of drawing areas of the first image. The apparatus also includes a drawing section drawing a thumbnail image in each of the unerased drawing areas remaining in the first image, and a display controlling section controlling display of the first image including the thumbnail image drawn in each drawing area.
US07650575B2

In an electronic file system, preview information is provided to the user during a drag operation of a selected object onto a target object. The information indicates what type(s) of action is to be taken should the selected object be dropped onto the target object. The action(s) to be taken may depend upon the type of the selected object and/or the type of the target object. For example, where the selected object is an item and the target object is a persisted auto-list, the action may include adding, removing, or modifying one or more properties of the selected object to conform to one or more criteria defined by the persisted auto-list. Also, numerical feedback may be provided to the user where multiple objects are selected. For example, where seven objects are selected, the textual number “7” may appear next to the cursor.
US07650574B2

A system and method for visually indicating one or more problems in a graphical program. The graphical program may be programmatically analyzed to discover a problem (or potential problem) in the graphical program. The problem found during the programmatic analysis of the graphical program may then be visually indicated on a display device. Visually indicating the problem may comprise visually indicating one or more objects in the graphical program to which the problem corresponds. Visually indicating the graphical program object(s) may comprise displaying information or altering the appearance of the object(s) in order to call the user's attention to the object(s).
US07650573B2

Layout rules are provided that enable white-space sensitive literals to be developed within a source program according to arbitrarily defined or virtual margins. In one aspect, a computerized programming system is provided. The system includes a source program having one or more computer program codes or instructions. A rules component enables a virtual margin to be positioned within the source program, where the virtual margin can be offset from a default margin by at least one position in the source program. The rules component enables a plurality of virtual margins to be nested within the source program. This includes allowing deviations in the margin such as a hole to be declared in the virtual margin.
US07650563B2

Collecting and augmenting metadata associated with media content stored on a plurality of devices for display to a user. The collected metadata remains available (e.g., visible) to a user after the device storing the corresponding media content is offline, disconnected, or otherwise unavailable. In particular, the invention permits metadata associated with media content stored on one or more devices (e.g., consumer electronic devices) to be enumerated, obtained, and promoted into another device (e.g., a personal computer) such that the metadata may be treated as if the media content is stored on the other device (e.g., the personal computer). In particular, the invention automatically detects an event generated in response to an action by a first device storing a media file. In response to the detected event, the invention matches and obtains metadata for the media content stored in the media file. A user organizes or otherwise manipulates the obtained metadata, for example, via a media player.
US07650553B2

An interface test can be performed by, for example, only a self apparatus when interface operation specifications are different between the self apparatus and an original connection partner apparatus. An LSI has a plurality of interfaces (IFs) for transmission/reception of data with an external device, and the LSI includes an emulation control unit for allowing one of the two of the plurality of IFs to perform an operation of emulating an IF of a connection partner device having operation specifications different from those of the LSI, when two IFs are connected to each other via a transmission line.
US07650550B2

A device is provided for detecting temperature-induced delays in a combinational logic path. A signal at the output of the logic path is latched at a first latch using a primary clock signal. The primary clock signal is delayed by a delay element to provide a delayed clock signal. The output of the logic path is latched at a second latch using the delayed clock signal. The delay element delays the clock signal by an amount that indicates the occurrence of an over-temperature condition at the logic path. A comparator compares the data latched at the first latch to the data latched at the second latch and provides an error signal indicative of an over-temperature condition if the first and second latch contain different data values.
US07650540B2

A method according to one embodiment may include communicating, by a far end device with a near end device, using a Serial ATA (SATA) communications protocol; receiving, by the far end device, a SATA signal sequence having two bits, the state of which define at least one loopback mode; defining, by the far end device, a reserved and/or error state if both of the bits are set; and processing, by the far end device, the two bits together to determine if the two bits are in a state that defines at least one loopback mode or if the two bits are set. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07650537B2

To enable measurement of a suspension position and a suspension period of the reference clock of a microcomputer to be inspected, based on the information stored into a clock information register section, by acquiring output data output from the microcomputer; preserving the acquired output data into a data bank section by use of the reference clock being output from the microcomputer together with the output data; discriminating the suspension of the reference clock by a clock operation discrimination section at sampling intervals of the output data; and writing and preserving the discrimination result into the clock information register section by a register control section.
US07650535B2

Detecting and correcting errors in arrays after ABIST testing, after ABIST testing, detected errors are faults are isolated by blowing a fuse.
US07650533B1

A method for restoring a volume in a continuous data protection system begins by selecting a volume to restore. The selected volume is loaded into a workspace. The selected volume is copied from the workspace to a restore location. Operations are simultaneously performed on the selected volume while the selected volume is being copied. The selected volume is accessed on the restore location once the copying is complete.
US07650529B2

There is provided a method and system for replicating data at another location. The system includes a source node that contains data in a data storage area. The source node is coupled to a network of potential replication nodes. The processor determines at least two eligible nodes in the network of nodes and determines the communication cost associated with a each of the eligible nodes. The processor also determines a probability of a concurrent failure of the source node and each of eligible nodes, and selects at least one of the eligible nodes for replication of the data located on the source node. The selection is based on the determined communication costs and probability of concurrent failure.
US07650522B2

A mobile computing device that dynamically and automatically manages all network adapters on the device to obtain the best and most effective balance of network connectivity and power consumption without requiring operator or user application intervention. Performance is increased by lowering power consumption (longer battery life) and decreasing transaction latencies, providing a device that has flexibility and ease of use. According to one aspect is a system that includes a data analysis component that monitors parameters associated with a device and a mobility policy manager component that provides balance of network connectivity and power consumption based at least in part upon the monitored stimuli.
US07650520B2

The invention describes a system and method for arranging to provide power to a power monitor device. The disclosure describes the system and method receiving a request for power for at least one device specified by a power monitor device. The disclosure describes receiving at least one proposal from an entity desiring to supply power according to the request for power. A best proposal of the at least one proposal is determined. And the system and method command the power monitor device to supply power in accordance with the best proposal.
US07650517B2

Power is allocated to blades based on an estimate of the actual power they are expected to use rather than their maximum-power draw-value. To protect against situations where the estimated actual-power draw-value is exceeded, a hardware comparator monitors the blade system load against a predetermined threshold value set by a management module (MM) based on user input. If this threshold value is exceeded, a throttle latch is triggered, based on a signal from a service processor monitoring the blade system load. The output of this latch directly engages throttling. The service processor also monitors the output of the latch and communicates information regarding the throttling to the MM for evaluation.
US07650515B2

A secure processing device having a power saving mode, which is used for built-in apparatuses, calculates a hash value of secure data that needs to be saved when switching to the power saving mode, stores the calculated hash value in a protection storage unit whose data is not lost even in the power saving mode, encrypts the secure data and stores the encrypted data in an external memory when switching to the power saving mode. When switching back to the normal power mode, the secure processing device decrypts the encrypted data, calculates a hash value of the decrypted data and compares the hash value with the hash value stored in the protection storage unit. The decrypted data is restored to the protection storage unit when the hash values are identical, but discarded together with the encrypted data stored in the external memory when the hash values are not identical.
US07650513B2

Systems and methods are provided for a multimedia storage and transfer. The system includes a first data storage device in a first vehicle, a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a second data storage device in a second vehicle, and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver and first data storage device. The first data storage device has an embedded database configured to store multimedia files. The embedded database has a list of multimedia file content. The controller is configured to remove the list of multimedia file content from the first data storage device and transfer the list of multimedia file content to the second data storage device via the wireless transceiver.
US07650504B2

System and method for verifying the authenticity of executable images. The system includes a validator that determines a reference digital signature for an executable image using the contents of the executable image excluding those portions of the executable that are fixed-up by a program loader. The validator then subsequent to the loading of the executable image determines an authenticity digital signature to verify that the executable image has not been improperly modified. In addition, the validator ensures that each of the pointers in the executable image have not been improperly redirected.
US07650501B1

Several methods are provided for applying minimization to computer systems. A unified security profile is created and applied to a computer system. This provides a listing of software packages required to be installed on the computer system. Extraneous files not associated with a required software package are identified. In one method, a software module interposes between calls to filesystem operations and the filesystem. This module allows or denies access to files based on a configuration information source (which is itself based on the unified security profile), the zone from which the access request originates, and the privileges of the user making the request. Reference to each file minimized is removed from the computer system's package manifest. Files thus minimized are neither visible nor accessible to unauthorized entities on the computer system. If the unified security profile of the system is required to change, minimization actions can therefore be reversed.
US07650484B2

An array-type computer processor including a data path unit communicating with a state control unit obtains data of a predetermined number of cooperative partial instruction codes, and operates with temporarily holding only a predetermined number of data-obtained instruction codes comprising cooperative partial instruction codes corresponding to contexts and operation states for the data path unit and the state control unit, respectively, from an external program memory which stores data of a computer program. Every time the operations with the temporarily-held instruction codes, including the corresponding cooperative partial instruction codes, are complete, in accordance with event data entered in the state control unit, the subsequent instruction codes are data obtained as cooperative partial instruction codes respectively corresponding to contexts and operating states, so that the operation according to a computer program can be performed even if the data volume of the computer program is over the storage capacity of the data path unit and the state control unit.
US07650481B2

A memory system is disclosed in which the access speed may be adjusted. The memory system may include memory and a memory controller. The memory controller may be configured to generate a plurality of control signals to access the memory, and adjust the timing between the control signals to change the memory access speed as a function of a parameter related to the operation of the memory system.
US07650480B2

A storage system includes: a flash disk having a plurality of flash memory units; a management table for hierarchically managing the write life of each flash memory unit on a specified storage area basis; and a controller for hierarchically distributing write-processing to the flash memory according to the management table.
US07650478B2

A data storage resource is identifiable by physical addresses, and optionally by a virtual address. A policy defines which resources are accessible and which resources are not accessible. A request to access a resource is allowed if access to the resource is permitted by the policy, and if carrying out the access will not cause virtual addresses to be assigned to resources to which the policy disallows access. Since resources to which access is disallowed do not have virtual addresses, certain types of access requests that identify a resource by a virtual address can be allowed without consulting the policy.
US07650477B2

During an asynchronous remote copy process for a plurality of asynchronous remote copy pairs, a copy of data in a migration source primary storage area is stored in a migration destination primary storage area, and the copy of data in the migration source primary storage area is also stored in a migration destination secondary storage area through a migration destination primary storage area or a migration source secondary storage area. Then, for an asynchronous remote copy pair established between the migration destination primary storage area and the migration destination secondary storage area together with the above-described asynchronous remote copy pairs, the asynchronous remote copy process is executed in such a method that a copy of writing data is stored in a plurality of secondary storage areas in accordance with the write request sequence issued by a computer. As such, an asynchronous remote copy pair between any two specific storage systems is migrated to be an asynchronous remote copy pair among any other two storage systems.
US07650475B2

A storage apparatus enables efficient data restoration even if restoration is attempted using several different restoration points. The storage system is connected to a host apparatus, and includes a storage unit having various logical volumes formed therein and a controller configured to control I/O processing with respect to the storage unit. The controller stores journal data for a data volume in a journal volume, and also stores snapshot data for the data volume in a snapshot volume. In accordance with a restoration request designating a restore point, the controller restores the data volume to the state it was in as of the designated restore point, by applying the snapshot data stored in the snapshot volume and subsequently applying the journal data stored in the journal volume. During that process, the controller saves the data in the data volume to which certain journal data is going to be applied, in a journal backup volume.
US07650469B2

A method is provided for determining whether a logical processor of an information processing system has access to an address space of the information processing system. An instruction is issued by a first processor, the instruction referencing a target logical processor and a target address space. In response to the instruction, first information is checked to determine whether the target logical processor is running. When it is determined that the target logical processor is not running, second information is checked by a host program to determine whether the target logical processor has access to the target address space.
US07650465B2

Processors and systems having a micro tag array that reduces data cache access power. The processors and systems include a cache that has a plurality of datarams, a processor pipeline register, and a micro tag array. The micro tag array is coupled to the cache and the processor pipeline register. The micro tag array stores base address data bits or base register data bits, offset data bits, a carry bit, and way selection data bits. When a LOAD or a STORE instruction is fetched, at least a portion of the base address and at least a portion of the offset of the instruction are compared to data stored in the micro tag array. If a micro tag array hit occurs, the micro tag array generates a cache dataram enable signal. This signal enables only a single dataram of the cache.
US07650459B2

Various embodiments of the invention connect multiple non-volatile memory controllers in a daisy chain manner, so the multiple memory devices may be accessed from a common host controller. Data and control signals may be daisy-chained in this way, so that many memory devices may be connected together, while not increasing the loading on individual signals lines. Transfer with the various memory devices may be interleaved, so that the relatively slow times of the memory devices doesn't slow down the overall throughout of the memory stem.
US07650450B2

A serial bus system for data communication between devices according to a master-slave protocol has a data bus connecting master and slave devices and a shared clock system arranged to provide a shared-clock signal to the master and slave devices. The master and slave devices are arranged to derive device-individual clock signals which are synchronized with data received on the data bus, from the shared-clock signal and a data-timing indication on the data bus.
US07650447B2

An accessible host includes one or more internal SATA storage devices, an external SATA connector, an internal SATA port controller, an external SATA port controller, and a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism allows the accessible host to access an external storage device when the switching mechanism is in a first configuration. When the switching mechanism is in a second configuration, a second host is able to access one or more internal SATA storage devices within the accessible host.
US07650445B2

A portable electronic communication device, designed for voice and data communication is utilized as a peripheral input device for transmitting/providing character inputs, entered in the first device's touch input mechanism, to a second electronic device. The first device has a mode switching utility that switches the first device between a first standard communication mode and a second peripheral input device mode. When the first device is in the second peripheral input device mode, the first device operates as a peripheral input device for the second device. A character input recognition utility executes on the first device to provide the functions of: detecting an input on the touch screen input mechanism; generating an electronic representation of the input; establishing a communication link between the second communication transmitter and an identified second device; and forwarding the electronic representation of the character input to the communication transmitter for transmission to the identified second device.
US07650438B2

A circuit arrangement includes a programmable logic device. The programmable logic device includes configuration logic circuitry. The programmable logic device also includes configurable interconnects. The circuit arrangement further includes a storage device configured to provide data to the programmable logic device. The storage device communicates with the programmable logic device via a bi-directional interface.
US07650435B2

A method is disclosed to install a component in an information storage and retrieval system. The method provides an information storage and retrieval system comprising a system processor and system data, and a component comprising persistent component data. The method attaches the component to the information storage and retrieval system while the information storage and retrieval system remains in normal operation, and determines, while the information storage and retrieval system remains in normal operation, if the component is compatible with the information storage and retrieval system. If the component is compatible with the information storage and retrieval system, the method then places the component into service while the information storage and retrieval system remains in normal operation.
US07650426B2

A communication apparatus, in a communication network in which a plurality of routes can be set with respect to a destination, acquires a line condition of a communication line in each route, calculates a communication cost of each route, based on the line condition of the communication line in the route, and selects a route from the plurality of routes based on the communication cost calculated. The line condition is acquired at regular intervals to thereby update the communication cost.
US07650425B2

A site controller adapted to be used in an automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a first communication network is provided. The site controller is configured for controlling communication with the host computer and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with the plurality of remote devices. Briefly described, in one embodiment, the site controller comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network; a network interface device configured to communicate with the host computer via the first communication network; and logic configured to: manage communication with each of the plurality of communication devices, via a first communication protocol, based on one or more communication paths for each of the plurality of communication devices, each communication path comprising one or more communication devices involved in the communication link between the transceiver and each of the plurality of communication devices; and manage communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol.
US07650422B2

An audio playback apparatus includes a playback section for playing audio back, a buffer section (13) for temporarily storing voice data to be played back, a switch (14) for on/off switching transmission of the voice data from the buffer section (13) to the playback section, at least one threshold judgment section (18) for judging whether an amount of voice data buffered in the buffer section (13) is equal to or smaller than at least one threshold value, the at least one threshold judgment section (18) providing a true output when the buffered voice data amount is equal to or smaller than the at least one threshold value, a timer (19) triggered by an output from the at least one threshold judgment section to output a trigger pulse with a predetermined duration of time, and a first control section (191) for controlling on/off of the switch (14) to prevent transmission of the voice data in the buffer section (13) to the playback section for the predetermined duration of time of the trigger pulse when the true output is provided from the at least one threshold judgment section (18).
US07650408B2

A system and method for implementing an intermediary to preserve user privacy and anonymity in electronic transactions. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method for facilitating a transaction between a subscriber and a vendor through an intermediary is provided. In this embodiment, the method comprises the step of receiving at the intermediary personal information from the subscriber to establish a user account. The method also comprises the step of storing the personal information for subsequent access. The method further comprises the step of receiving a request from the subscriber to access the user account, upon which the subscriber's identity is verified by the intermediary against the personal information. The method also comprises the step of the intermediary entering into a transaction with the vendor on behalf of the subscriber based on the subscriber's instruction once the subscriber's identity is successfully verified. The method further comprises the step of notifying the subscriber upon completion of the transaction. Importantly, the transaction is completed without disclosing the subscriber's personal information to the vendor. As such, the consumer remains anonymous with respect to the vendor.
US07650393B2

Loads on access destinations are balanced. A first controller and a second controller, which accept requests from a plurality of sources, and write and read data to/from a storage device in response to these requests, are provided. The first controller returns to at least one first source of a plurality of sources a response to a request from the first source, and does not return to a second source other than a first source a response to a request from the second source. The second controller does not return a response to a request from a first source to the first source receiving a response from the first controller, and returns a response from a second source to the second source not receiving a response from the first controller.
US07650391B2

In a client-server system comprising a plurality of client terminal devices and a server device which transmits and receives information to and from the plurality of client terminal devices, the server device comprises an acquisition unit which obtains a priority of the client terminal device from a priority storage unit, based on a control request from the client terminal device, a determination unit which determines whether or not the control request is accepted, based on the obtained priority, and an execution unit which executes control in response to the control request when the determination unit determines that the control request is accepted.
US07650379B2

A method for managing data traffic in a multi-user multiple-simultaneous-access (MUMSA) environment, for example in a code reuse multiple access (CRMA) environment or other physical environment having true random access with more than one transmission present at the same time, the method including estimating channel load for multiple users, then using the estimate of channel load to calculate a congestion threshold on an ongoing basis, at each terminal performing an experiment using that congestion threshold value and a random number generator to determine if a packet is eligible to be transmitted, transferring downstream virtual channel traffic and redistributing user terminals to affiliate with the proper downstream virtual channel.
US07650368B2

Methods, devices, and products are disclosed for restoring media. A media catalog is received and stored. When restoration is desired, an identity of a media file is retrieved, a peer contact list is accessed, and a preferred ranking of the peers is retrieved. A query is sent to a preferred address. When a free copy of the media is unobtainable from a peer, then a fee-based restoration service is queried.
US07650364B2

An improved method of storing databases in a portable computer is provided to reduce and optimize storage space required while ensuring accessibility to user-required data. An improved method of interchanging data records between a master computer and a portable computer is also provided. In the present invention, attributes are assigned to data records and data fields to indicate relevance of the record or field to a user in different circumstances. Only the data records and data fields relevant to a user's current circumstance are downloaded to the portable computer. A change in circumstance of a user is tracked by a change in attribute, which triggers replacement or interchange of existing data records with data records that are relevant to the user's current circumstance.
US07650345B2

In an electronic document such as a map, an entity lookup system associates primitive data with entity data though parallel or corresponding grids of a primitive quad-tree and an entity quad-tree. A key is assigned to grids in the primitive quad-tree in association to particular grids in the entity quad-tree.
US07650333B2

The subject application relates to a system(s) and/or methodology that facilitate filtering any set of items in a quick and efficient manner including messages and optionally calendar, notes, and task items. More specifically, as a filter string (input) is entered, it can be immediately compared to properties associated with a selected set of items to filter. As a result, the set of items can be dynamically filtered based on the input entered according to a one-to-one match of the filter string with any selected item or message property. Message properties can include sender, subject, and body of a message. Any items that match the input can be presented to the user in the form of a list. As additional input is entered, the list may dynamically change as more input or less input is received. Thus, any items that match the input appear on the list.
US07650325B2

A method of supporting interaction of a source application running in an enterprise and multiple target applications performing semantically similar operations but having different interfaces. An application profile is associated with the source application. The application profile includes specifications for a connection element defining parameters for establishing a connection between the source application and a selected one of the target operations, a collection of database commands to be performed in the course of interactions and a collection of elements defining computer operations to be performed. Each of the computer operation elements can include a user input template, at least one parameter element and a result element.
US07650320B2

A method and apparatus for efficient indexed storage for unstructured content have been disclosed.
US07650314B1

A system and method for securing a recurrent billing transaction using a marked proxy code is disclosed. The marked proxy code includes a merchant system marker which is assigned to the merchant and a proxy code assigned to a consumer. An account issuer assigns the proxy code to the consumer and assigns the merchant system marker to one or more merchants. During system operation, a merchant provides an account issuer with a request to establish a recurrent billing account and the account issuer returns to the merchant a marked proxy code including a merchant system marker and the proxy code provided by the merchant. If a merchant requests satisfaction of a transaction, the merchant transaction request includes the marked proxy account number. The account issuer receives the marked account number and validates the merchant system marker and the proxy code prior to validating the merchant's transaction request.
US07650305B1

A system for generating a display of at least one side of a market includes a computer system having one or more computers. The displayed side of the market includes one or more offers from one or more market participants. Each offer includes an offered price and an offered quantity. The computer system receives market data reflecting the one or more offers and generate a display of the received market data. The display includes a price axis, a quantity axis, and one or more offer bars. Each offer bar represents one or more offers including substantially equal offered prices. Placement of an offer bar along the price axis represents the substantially equal offered prices for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar. The height of an offer bar relative to the quantity axis representing the aggregate offered quantity for the one or more offers represented by the offer bar. The computer system accesses an average price specified by a user, calculates an offered quantity available at the specified average price based on the received market data, and indicates the calculated offered quantity within the display of the received market data.
US07650304B1

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention allow users with a universal resource locator and code to access a web site. Once the code is accepted, the user has the ability to view one or more offers which he can then accept or reject. If the user accepts an offer, his account can be automatically created or updated. Further, any information regarding the user's viewing history can be saved. The user's viewing history can then be analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the offer wherein the offer can be modified to entice users to accept more offers.
US07650303B2

A method of providing financial advice to a client that provides sufficient confidence that their goals will be achieved or exceeded but that avoids excessive sacrifice to the client's current or future lifestyle and avoids investment risk that is not needed to provide sufficient confidence of the goals a client personally values. The method comprises obtaining typical client background information, as well as a list of investment goals, and ideal and acceptable values in dollar amounts and timing for each goal. The client is then asked to provide their preferences for each goal on the list compared to each other goal in the list, wherein the client's preference is expressed in terms of the price, in money or time, that the client is willing to pay in one goal to achieve another goal or a greater amount or sooner timing of other goals on the list. A matrix can be used to express these value contrasts. A recommendation is then created using the portfolio value, and the client goal preferences and the ideal and acceptable values of goals, by simulating models of the relevant capital markets and investing exclusively in passive investment alternatives to avoid the risk of potential material underperformance of active investments under the premise of avoiding investment risk that is not needed to confidently buy the client the goals they personally value. The recommendation may include a range of portfolio values over their life or time horizon within which the client's portfolio should remain in order to ensure the recommendation remains within a “comfort zone”, which represents sufficient confidence that the client's goals will be achieved while avoiding excessive current sacrifice. Periodic monitoring of the recommendation is also performed to capture changes to the client's goals and actual portfolio values based on the results of the capital markets. Appropriate changes to the recommendation can then be made to ensure that the recommendation remains within the “comfort zone”.
US07650300B2

The present invention is a system for providing businesses with comprehensive gas book management capabilities, inclusive of a process for authorizing and tracking gas book expenditures, as well as software for accounting, reconciling and reporting. An overseer runs the software and enters pertinent Request data into a database. The software prints two hard copies of the gas Purchase Order each bearing a unique auto-generated Purchase Order number. One copy is given to the requestor, and one is filed. When purchasing gas, the Requestor exchanges their Purchase Order with a receipt for gas. The requestor returns this receipt to the overseer, who enters pertinent Receipt data into the database. This allows the business to periodically reconcile the database against charge statements received from credit card issuers or gas stations, better manage gas usage, and identify fraud, excessive gas spending, and charge mistakes.
US07650296B1

A configurator using structure and rules to provide a user interface. According to one embodiment of the invention, a customizable product class is created. The customizable product class includes a set of one or more attributes to define the customizable product class. A component product class is added to the customizable product class, where the component product class is a subclass of the customizable product. A customizable class rule is associated to the customizable product class, the customizable class rule including expressions which provide conditions on component products added to the customizable product. A customizable UI is mapped to the customizable product class, where the customizable UI provides access structure to the configurator.
US07650290B2

A method and computer installation for communicating with one or more other computer installations with a processor, and memory with data and instructions stored therein so that the processor can execute a predetermined program. The program enables the processor to receive the following data: anamnesis data for a client; physical/diagnostic data for the client; data on diagnostic methods; and use of medication and treatment methods with regard to predetermined diseases. The program enables the processor to calculate, and incorporate in a report, the following: the risk of the client acquiring one of the predetermined diseases, harbouring such a disease or having such a disease; data with regard to a possible prevention programme for the client to prevent the one of the predetermined diseases; and data with regard to any medication to combat the one of the predetermined diseases that may be harboured or existing.
US07650286B1

A computer system and method for identifying a matching resume for a job description. The system receives and stores the job description that includes job requirements, each including a required skill or experience-related phrase and a required term of experience. The system receives and stores resumes that include skill or experience-related phrases. When the skill or experience-related phrases include the required skill or experience-related phrase for a job requirement, the system computes a term of experience for the required skill or experience-related phrase. To compute the term of experience, the system associates a contextual use and an experience range with each skill or experience-related phrase. A resume is a match when it includes the required skill or experience-related phrase for each job requirement and the term of experience for the required skill or experience-related phrase in the resume is greater than or equal to the required term of experience.
US07650284B2

A method, system and apparatus for enabling voice clicks in a multimodal page. In accordance with the present invention, a method for enabling voice clicks in a multimodal page can include toggling a display of indicia binding selected user interface elements in the multimodal page to corresponding voice logic; and, processing a selection of the selected user interface elements in the multimodal page through different selection modalities. In particular, the toggling step can include toggling a display of both indexing indicia for the selected user interface elements, and also a text display indicating that a voice selection of the selected user interface elements is supported.
US07650282B1

An approach to scoring acoustically-based events, such as hypothesized instances of keywords, in a speech processing system make use of scores of individual components of the event. Data characterizing an instance of an event are first accepted. This data includes a score for the event. The event is associated with a number of component events from a set of component events, such as a set of phonemes. Probability models are also accepted for component scores associated with each of the set of component events in each of two of more possible classes of the event, such as a class of true occurrences of the event and a class of false detections of the event. The event is then scored. This scoring includes computing a probability of one of the two or more possible classes for the event using the accepted probability models.
US07650271B2

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a simulator for emulating various types of device noise in time-domain circuit simulations. The simulator is capable of adding noise to transistors as well as passive elements like resistors. The simulator utilizes at least one current source in parallel to a device to emulate the noise. The current source generates a random current output to emulate the device noise based on a random Gaussian number and the standard deviation of the device noise. The noise standard deviation can be determined based on the noise power spectral density of the device having a particular bias at that simulation time and the update time. The simulator is capable of emulating any noise source with a constant or monotonically decreasing noise spectrum (e.g., thermal noise, flicker noise) by utilizing multiple current sources having different update steps. The simulator is compatible with standard circuit simulators.
US07650269B2

A method and apparatus for surveying a borehole using a rotating sensor package. A sensor tool preferably including a magnetometer sensor array is disposed in the bottom hole assembly of a drillstring. Conditioning circuitry in the sensor tool processes the sensor readings from the sensor array taken while the drillstring is rotating. In one embodiment, the conditioning circuitry includes processing circuitry adapted to adjust the sensor readings to account for an analytically predicted level of axial current induced in the drillstring as a result of its rotation in the Earth's magnetic field. In another embodiment, a current generator is provided to generate a counter-current intended to cancel the analytically predicted level of axial current induced in the drillstring as a result of rotation in the Earth's magnetic field. In another embodiment, insulating members are disposed above and/or below the sensor tool to prevent conduction of rotation-induced current therein. In still another embodiment, the sensor tool is disposed in a drill collar that is composed of a non-conducting material, such that no rotation-induced current is conducted through the sensor tool.
US07650261B2

A time-varying multi-path generating apparatus that generates time-varying characteristics of propagation path parameters, a multi-path fading simulator, and a multi-path generating method are disclosed. The generating apparatus for simulating multi-path fluctuations in radio communications consists of a parameter control unit for controlling generation conditions of propagation paths, a data storage unit for storing propagation path generation parameters and data files, and a propagation path generating unit for generating time-varying propagation paths. Multiple time-varying amplitude functions and multiple time-varying phase functions are generated based on the data files, the propagation path generation parameters, and random numbers generated by a random number generating unit. The time-varying amplitude functions are aligned serially in the time domain such that a time-varying shadow amplitude function is obtained, which is repeated N times where N represents the number of propagation paths. The time-varying phase functions are aligned serially such that a time-varying shadow phase function is obtained, which is repeated N times, resulting in N time-varying shadow phase functions. An initial amplitude, an initial phase, an initial time delay, and an initial arrival direction are generated as the propagation path parameters of a propagation path using random numbers based on the initial value generation parameters. The time-varying shadow amplitude functions and the time-varying shadow phase functions are superimposed on the initial amplitude and the initial phase, respectively, for generating time-varying propagation paths.
US07650257B2

An enhanced hang-time evaluation mechanism is disclosed, where the mechanism is capable of providing data to a game console for simulation. Such data may correspond to the actions of an object, such as snowboarder, skier, or mountain biker, and then be simulated in a game console. The simulation of such an object may be proportional in accuracy to the types of data gathering devices employed. An accelerometer measuring hang-time via static acceleration may be used. Also, any data gathering device capable of providing spatial positioning data may be used, whether it is a compass providing orientation data, a altimeter providing altitude data, or a global positioning device providing positioning data. Such data may also be stored in a memory module, where the data may be characterized, evaluated, and then provided to the game console, regardless of whether the memory module is internal or external to the hang-time mechanism.
US07650249B2

A compressor for waveforms having at least two waveform states separates the waveform samples into waveform state sample vectors for each waveform state. Waveform state encoders encode the waveform state sample vectors separately to provide compressed waveform data. The waveform state encoder selects waveform state pattern vector and associated codes to represent the waveform state sample vectors. The differences between samples of the waveform state sample vector and waveform state pattern vector are calculated and encoded. Encoding can be lossless or lossy. The waveform state pattern vectors and other parameters for compression are determined during a training period. The waveform state encoders detect features in the waveform state sample vectors and waveform state pattern vectors that are useful for common oscilloscope measurements. Typical waveform states include level states and edge states.
US07650246B2

A method and device for determining a delay of a gate driven by a driving gate with different ground or supply voltages. The method includes determining from the supply and ground voltages for the driven gate and its driving gate an adjusted supply voltage value, and applying the adjusted supply voltage value as a single voltage parameter to a pre-characterized delay model for the driven gate. The device is structured to perform the method.
US07650239B2

An object recognition apparatus in a subject vehicle includes a radar unit for transmitting a plurality of laser beams in a scan range spread in horizontal and vertical directions of the subject vehicle and receiving a reflection, a recognition unit for recognizing the object in front of the subject vehicle based on the reflection, a determination sub-unit in the radar unit, a calculation sub-unit in the radar unit; and an adjustment sub-unit in the radar unit. The radar unit is so disposed in the subject vehicle with a center axis of one of the plurality of the laser beams aligned with a target angle that the determination sub-unit uses coverage in the vertical direction of the laser beam being sufficient for variation of heights of the reflector on the object at a first distance detected by the radar unit as the predetermined condition for selecting of the object.
US07650235B2

Disclosed is a telematics system comprising a telematics terminal for storing complex intersection images and providing information related to a present position and a running direction by using the complex intersection images, and a telematics server for sharing ID codes of the complex intersection images stored in the telematics terminal with the telematics terminal and creating route data in response to a request from the telematics terminal, wherein the telematics server adds the ID codes of the complex intersection images to the route data when the route data include complex intersections and transmits the ID codes of the complex intersection images and the route data to the telematics terminal. The telematics system provides route information, which is easily recognized by users.
US07650232B1

Method and system for analyzing and processing information on one or more aircraft flight paths, using a four-dimensional coordinate system including three Cartesian or equivalent coordinates (x, y, z) and a fourth coordinate δ that corresponds to a distance estimated along a reference flight path to a nearest reference path location corresponding to a present location of the aircraft. Use of the coordinate δ, rather than elapsed time t, avoids coupling of along-track error into aircraft altitude and reduces effects of errors on an aircraft landing site. Along-track, cross-track and/or altitude errors are estimated and compared with a permitted error bounding space surrounding the reference flight path.
US07650217B2

On the basis of headway distance information issued from a headway distance detecting device for detecting a headway distance between a controlled vehicle and a preceding vehicle and terrain shape information issued from a terrain shape estimating device for estimating a terrain shape around the position of the controlled vehicle, a terrain shape at a position spaced from the position of the controlled vehicle by the headway distance is detected, and the speed of the controlled vehicle is controlled according to the terrain shape information.
US07650216B2

A differentiator calculates the acceleration of the rear wheels. An acceleration threshold calculation means enable the skid-detection acceleration threshold to be adjusted corresponding to the conditions of the vehicle. An acceleration skid-detection means make a comparison between the acceleration of the wheels obtained by the differentiator and the skid-detection acceleration threshold adjusted by the acceleration threshold calculation means, and determine whether or not a skid of the wheels has occurred, based upon the comparison result. Such an arrangement provides a vehicle driving force system having a function of detecting a skid even in a case that a skid of the wheels has occurred at a low acceleration of the vehicle.
US07650206B2

An apparatus situated in a space for controlling an air terminal device to affect at least one environmental condition in the space includes: (a) at least one sensor unit for presenting at least one sensed indication related with at least one respective environmental condition of the at least one environmental condition; and (b) a local control unit coupled with the air terminal device and coupled with at least one respective sensor unit of the at least one sensor unit. The local control unit responds to a relationship of at least one predetermined requirement with the at least one sensed indication to effect the controlling.
US07650201B2

Provided is a surface treatment method for performing machining such as cutting work, grinding, and electrical discharging to a plate-like material with two- or three-dimensional deformation to realize a uniform thickness. This method includes the steps of mounting the plate-like material on a surface plate, setting a coordinate axis in a plane direction of the plate-like material to be X, Y and setting a coordinate axis in a height direction of the plate-like material to be Z, virtualizing a surface containing an origin of the measured Z direction, measuring a height Z1-n from the origin in an arbitrary plane position, and inclining and cutting the plate-like material so that an absolute value of a difference between a maximum value Zmax and a minimum value Zmin of the obtained height data will be minimum. Although a ceramic sintered plate such as a sputtering target or a metal plate prepared by metal rolling or forging, in most instances, is subject to two- or three-dimensional deformation as a result of thermal stress or machining stress during the manufacturing process, this invention is able to obtain a flat plate-like material having a uniform thickness and minimal machining costs from a plate-like material with two- or three-dimensional deformation.
US07650198B2

Historical and real-time data access is leveraged to provide unified data access for interacting with manufacturing process entities such as, for example, process overview displays, charting systems, reporting systems, logging systems, and/or recipe systems and the like. The unified data, for example, allows for playback of historical process overviews for a user selected period of time. In one instance, a “VCR like” user interface can be employed to allow ‘rewinding’ and ‘replaying’ of a historical process overview. This facilitates in proper monitoring and/or troubleshooting of manufacturing processes. The unified availability of past and current data also enables reporting systems to provide “living” reports that automatically update with real-time data. This can allow for efficient comparison of current data with historical data for a given manufacturing process.
US07650197B2

A method of enabling recorded audio to be associated with a location on a surface is provided. The surface has coded data printed thereon, which is indicative of a plurality of locations on the surface. The method comprises the steps of: interacting with the surface using an optical sensing device comprising a microphone; recording audio using the microphone; reading some of the coded data during the interaction; determining a position of the sensing device using the read coded data; and communicating, to a computer system, position data indicative of the position of the sensing device and audio data corresponding to the recorded audio, thereby enabling the computer system to associate the audio data with the position.
US07650196B2

A human-machine interface generation system comprises a reception component that receives a request to generate a human-machine interface relating to at least one of an industrial system, device, process, and sub-process and parameters associated with an initiator of the request. A view generation component generates the human-machine interface based at least in part upon the request and the parameters. For example, the system can further comprise a query generation component that creates a query based at least in part upon the request and the parameters and utilizes the query to extract data from a server within an industrial automation environment.
US07650182B2

A system detects events related to cardiac activity. The system comprises a primary cardiac signal sensing circuit, at least one secondary cardiac signal sensing circuit having a higher sensitivity than the primary sensing circuit, and a controller circuit coupled to the primary and secondary cardiac signal sensing circuits. The controller circuit determines a rate of depolarization using the primary sensing circuit and detects tachyarrhythmia using the rate. The controller circuit also detects tachyarrhythmia using the secondary sensing circuit and also deems the tachyarrhythmia valid if the controller circuit detects the tachyarrhythmia using both the primary and secondary sensing circuit.
US07650181B2

A medical device of the type used for assisting a user in manually delivering repetitive therapy to a patient (e.g., chest compressions or ventilations in cardiac resuscitation), the device comprising a feedback device configured to generate feedback cues to assist the user in timing the delivery of the repetitive therapy, at least one sensor or circuit element configured to detect actual delivery times, at which the user actually delivers the repetitive therapy, and a processor, memory, and associated circuitry configured to compare the actual delivery times to information representative of desired delivery times to determine cue times at which the feedback cues are generated by the feedback device.
US07650177B2

A sensor for pulse oximetry or other applications utilizing spectrophotometry may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by fixing the optical distance between an emitter and detector. A flexible sensor is provided with a stiffening member to hold the emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. Further, an annular or partially annular sensor is adapted to hold an emitter and detector of the sensor in a relatively fixed position when applied to a patient. A clip-style sensor is provided with a spacer that controls the distance between the emitter and detector.
US07650164B2

User information such as address books, calendars, images, ring tones, and the like may be exchanged between a mobile device such as, for example, a mobile phone and a personal computer, using an enhanced or extended version of an AT command set. Client code in the mobile device and application software on the personal computer permit a user to preserve and transfer copies of personal information via a short wired or wireless communication link, permitting the user to make use of such personal information when migrating to a new mobile device, thus avoiding manual re-entry of information, loss of stored images, and re-purchase of previously purchased and downloaded materials.
US07650158B2

According to the present invention, Bluetooth master device offset information is determined and distributed among the master devices within a Bluetooth network. The system either provides an offset to each master device or determines master device offsets and distributes this information to master devices within the system to allow or efficient hand-offs of a slave between master devices.
US07650153B2

A system and method for transmission diversity status detection is disclosed, which receives a synchronization channel (SCH) signal and a common pilot channel (CPICH) signal from a base station for detecting whether the base station uses the transmission diversity technique. The transmission diversity status detector detects the transmission diversity status of the base station by detecting the modulation of SCH symbols coherently. The phase references for coherent detection of SCH symbols are extracted from the despreaded CPICH signal. To detect the odd-numbered SCH symbols coherently, the detector applies all phase references of different antennas on odd-numbered SCH symbols and performs selection in the final decision flow. The detector also contains the Time Switched Transmit Diversity (TSTD) filters, designed based on a dependency between the modulation of SCH symbols and the transmit antenna of SCH signals, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of SCH symbols.
US07650152B2

A method and apparatus for allocating subcarriers in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises allocating at least one diversity cluster of subcarriers to a first subscriber and allocating at least one coherence cluster to a second subscriber.
US07650149B2

A method of reassigning user data in a communications system is disclosed, with a plurality of identities for each user. The method includes storing in a user information store the plurality of identities in association with a first serving controller, the plurality of identities being associated with respective registration statuses selected from a registered status and an unregistered status; detecting that the user has requested registration to a second serving controller using one of the identities; and issuing a registration termination request identifying each identity, which has been newly assigned to the second serving controller as a result of the requested registration. Responsive to the registration termination request, re-registration notification is issued to the user and all identities of the said user from the first serving controller are dissociated.
US07650146B2

A system including at least two distally separated devices that are in wireless communication with each other, wherein at least one of the two devices is provided with a warning mechanism configured to indicate an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of communication. The inventive system may include a base unit and at least one mobile medical or pharmaceutical device in unidirectional communication or bidirectional communication with the base unit. A method for monitoring wireless communication between at least two devices is encompassed, wherein at least one of the two devices indicates an existing or imminent interruption or disturbance of the wireless communication by changing a type of the communication signal transmission.
US07650145B2

The invention relates to a telephone set comprises a connection apparatus to execute a connecting process for enabling transmission and reception of an information signal to and from a home appliance such as a general audio device remote-controllable by radio communication; a control apparatus for generating, upon arrival of an incoming call, a remote control signal such as a pause command to the home appliance; and a radio communication apparatus for sending the remote control signal to the home appliance by radio communication. Thus, upon arrival of an incoming call at the telephone set, the remote control signal is sent to the audio device or the like either directly from the telephone set or via a communication adaptor installed therein, hence pausing or muting the output of the audio device under remote control. Such control action enables a user to perceive the incoming call with facility.
US07650140B2

The present invention provides a system and method of modifying policy settings in a network having a plurality of subscriber devices. An embodiment includes a plurality of base stations, each capable of wirelessly transmitting across a geographic region and a server. A cell-phone, capable of roaming between regions, is operable to establish a wireless link with the base stations and through the base stations, with the server. The network contains a communication policy determining from which other communication devices a subscriber device can receive voice calls. The communication policy is updated, by the server, based on requests from the subscriber devices. Once a request is received from a subscriber device, the determination whether to update the communication policy can be based on a record of rejections respective to the caller requested to be blocked. Alternatively, the communication policy can be updated according to a trust policy maintained on the server respective to the subscriber device making the request; the trust policy represents the procedure to follow when a request is received from that subscriber device.
US07650137B2

A portable communication device includes a display and a processor coupled to the display. The processor is configured to automatically and repeatedly present an updated account usage metric for an account associated with usage of the portable communication device. In some embodiments, the presented account usage metric is an account balance associated with usage of the portable communication device, and the processor automatically and repeatedly presents an updated account balance on the display.
US07650136B2

A GPS enabled Emergency Messaging System (GEMS) includes: Emergency Response Centers (ERC's) for defining emergency broadcast messages directed to specified geographic areas; a GPS Control Segment (CS) facility that receives messages generated by the ERC's and coordinates uplink and downlink communications with orbiting GPS satellites; a GPS Space Segment (SS) that includes the multiple orbiting GPS satellites and that receives emergency messages from the CS facility and broadcasts transmissions containing both GPS navigational information and an emergency broadcast message; and GEMS-enabled user equipment that is capable of receiving and processing broadcast emergency messages. The system permits emergency messaging data to be superimposed on the existing GPS signal structure and delivered to users with GPS receivers capable of receiving the superimposed messaging data.
US07650128B2

A received low-frequency standard radio wave, which is an amplitude modulation signal, is converted to an intermediate frequency signal Sa, and is output to a detection circuit and an AGC circuit. The detection circuit and AGC circuit generates an RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 from the input intermediate frequency signal Sa, and controls an RF control circuit and IF control circuit by outputting the generated RF control signal Sf1 and IF control signal Sf2 to the RF control circuit and IF control circuit. By this a radio wave reception device can speed up AGC operation.
US07650127B2

A receiver for receiving radio frequency signals from a remote keyless entry system and another system includes a low noise amplifier for amplifying and increasing the range and sensitivity of the receiver, such that the receiver may receive signals at increased distances. A gain of the low noise amplifier is selectively controlled to cycle from a first gain level that provides for increased sensitivity and a second gain level that provides a lower sensitivity and a greater dynamic range or larger signal capacity.
US07650124B2

A television tuner includes an unbalanced output type VHF-side block, a balanced output type UHF-side block, and a mixing circuit that performs frequency conversion on the output from the VHF-side block or the UHF-side block. In the television tuner, in a first mode where the VHF-side block is connected to the mixing circuit, a first terminal, to which the unbalanced output is applied, is coupled to a first input terminal of the mixing circuit, and a second input terminal of the mixing circuit is grounded. Further, in a second mode where the UHF-side block is connected to the mixing circuit, a second terminal and a third terminal, to which the balanced output is applied, are coupled to the first and second input terminals of the mixing circuit.
US07650121B2

A time division duplexing (TDD) transmission/reception apparatus and method are provided. The TDD transmission/reception apparatus includes: a transmitter which generates a transmitted signal; an antenna which transmits the transmitted signal to an external device and receives a received signal from an external device; a receiver which restores source data by demodulating the received signal; and a polarized duplexer which has a first end connected to the transmitter and the receiver and a second end connected to the antenna and comprises an inclined surface, the inclined surface polarizing the transmitted signal and the received signal such that the directivity of the transmitted signal and the directivity of the received signal are perpendicular to each other.
US07650113B2

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for receiving a wide-band pulse signal in a communication channel using a human body. When a weak wide-band pulse signal, which is output from a communication channel using a human body as a data transmission medium, is restored to a digital signal, it is possible to accomplish low power consumption and high data transmission rate using a wide-band symmetrical triggering technology using 50-Ω impedance matching, wide-band amplification and symmetrical threshold voltages. In addition, since only a single signal electrode is used, it is possible to provide an apparatus having usability, wearability and miniaturization. In addition, it is possible to remove necessities of an external reference voltage to reduce area consumption and to simply adjust a feedback resistor to easily adjust the reception sensitivity according to a communication distance.
US07650108B2

An image forming apparatus for use with a transfer sheet includes: a sheet feeding unit structured to feed the transfer sheet; a color detection sensor structured to detect color information on the transfer sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit; a recognition section structured to recognize whether the transfer sheet subjected to the detection by the color detection sensor is a non-tabbed transfer sheet having no tab, or either a tabbed transfer sheet having a tab or an unprocessed tabbed transfer sheet blank, the unprocessed tabbed transfer sheet blank being capable of being processed into a tabbed transfer sheet having a tab by post-processing, wherein a recognition result is made based on the color information detected by the color detection sensor; and a control section that controls image forming on and conveying of the fed transfer sheet, according to the recognition result by the recognition section.
US07650102B2

In a method for generating a developer mixture in a developer station of an electrographic printing device, magnetizable carrier particles and toner are simultaneously filled into the developer station, and in case of an error or an aborting of the filling a continuation takes place at a later time of the method.
US07650095B2

An image forming system for receiving an identification signal from a first identification tag, identifying a user associated with the first identification signal, and storing information that tracks usage of a functional unit by the user are disclosed.
US07650088B2

An apparatus and a method recognizing the error of a toner sensor that is capable of correctly recognizing the error factor of the toner sensor for sensing the amount of the toner of a developing device main body. The output value and the set value of the sensor are compared with each other to display the corresponding error code. Therefore, a service engineer or a user easily recognizes the error factor to take proper measures corresponding to the error factor.
US07650083B2

A demodulator includes one or more modules operable to receive an input signal comprising symbols. A module receives a main signal comprising at least a portion of the input signal and splits the main signal to yield a branching signal and a remaining main signal. The branching signal travels along a first path, and the remaining main signal travels along a second path. The second path introduces a delay with respect to the first path. If there is a next module, the module sends a first portion of the remaining main signal to a next module as a main signal for the next module. The module combines the branching signal and at least a second portion of the remaining main signal to generate interference. The interference indicates a phase shift between a phase corresponding to a symbol and a successive phase corresponding to a successive symbol.
US07650075B2

Heretofore, it was necessary to individually locate an optical switch, an optical switch control circuit, and the like, before and after an optical transceiver that performs optical protection. As a result, costs and the space for implementation increase, and a delay in services is also caused, which were the problems.For the purpose of solving the above problems, the present invention provides a simple optical protection method used in an optical add-drop multiplexer.Add switches 105-1 through 105-N and drop switches 103-1 through 103-N for optical signals corresponding to each wavelength in an optical add-drop multiplexer 100 are made controllable independently of one another. Add switches and drop switches of the active-side and backup-side optical add-drop multiplexers are switched by optical switch control circuits 106-1 through 106-N respectively to make a detour around a failure so that the optical protection is achieved.
US07650074B2

An optical transmission apparatus includes a demultiplexing unit that demultiplexes a light input to the optical transmission apparatus into a plurality of lights; an optical attenuator that adjusts an output level of a light within a band that includes a signal light from among demultiplexed lights; a bypass unit that bypasses a light outside the band from among demultiplexed lights; a multiplexing unit that multiplexes adjusted light and the light from the bypass unit; and an optical amplifier that amplifies input light. The optical amplifier is provided at least one of a stage prior to the demultiplexing unit and a stage subsequent to the multiplexing unit.
US07650068B2

A camera includes a photometry section, an exposure calculating section, and a correction calculating section. The photometry section obtains photometry values at a plurality of positions of a subject. The exposure calculating section obtains an exposure value when photographing based on the photometry values. The correction calculating section obtains a correction value for correction of the exposure value based on a highest value among photometry values belonging to a predetermined range out of the plurality of photometry values obtained by the photometry section.
US07650067B2

An exemplary lens module (30) includes a lens barrel (31), a focusing mechanism (40), a resilient member (70), and a bottom seat (50). The lens barrel is mounted with at least one lens (36) therein and is fixed to one end of the focusing mechanism. One end of the resilient member resists the focusing mechanism and the other opposite end of the resilient member resists the bottom seat. The focusing mechanism is for controlling an amount of expansion permitted within the resilient member. The amount of expansion of the resilient member determines a degree of focus achieved by the lens module.
US07650066B2

A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an actuator comprising: an electro-mechanical conversion element; a driving member which is connected to one end of the electro-mechanical conversion element and moves in accordance with elongation or contraction of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and a weight member provided on the other end of the electro-mechanical conversion element; and (ii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving member, wherein the actuator allows the driven member to move along the driving member, and the weight member comprises a member which reduces a resonance frequency of the actuator.
US07650058B1

An object selective video analysis and recordation system in which one or more video cameras provide video output to be recorded in a useful form on recording media with reduction of the amount of the recording media, with preservation of intelligence content of the output. Video output is both background video and object video, as images of objects appearing against a background scene. Preset knowledge of symbolic categories of objects in the scene and analysis of object attributes is provided by the system. Spatial resolution and temporal resolution of objects in the scene are automatically varied in accordance with preset criteria based on predetermined interest in the object attributes while recording the background video and object video. A user of the system may query recorded video images by content, enabling the user to recall recorded data according to symbolic content, by requesting data with specified symbolic content.
US07650055B2

An environmentally sealed closure, such as a terminal for terminated ends of fiber optic cables, includes a housing having a wall defining an interior volume. A floating sealing assembly is provided including a first plate, a seal member and a second plate arranged in a stack within the interior volume. The seal member has an outer sealing edge for contacting the wall of the housing, which may be straight and/or chamfered. Fiber optic cables extend through the sealing assembly so that the terminated ends are within the splice area. The floating sealing assembly is compressed so as to place the outer sealing edge of the seal member in sealing contact with the wall of the housing. When a pressure differential exists between the splice area and the outside of the housing only one of the first or second plates moves along the longitudinal axis to further compress the seal member and increase sealing between the outer sealing edge and the housing wall.
US07650046B2

An artifact profile signal is generated representing an estimation of the contribution of artifacts to a reference signal G comprising these artifacts, in regions defined around the position of artifact generating element(s). Signal portions in these regions are extracted from the image signal. The artifact profile signal is deformed so as to generate a new artifact profile signal which is used for correction of the image signal that has been subjected to the above extraction.
US07650044B2

Methods and systems for intensity/brightness matching of a plurality of radiographic images. Software can be used to provide various stitching and blending methods to join first and second images into a composite, larger image before or after the intensity/brightness of the radiographic images are modified.
US07650040B2

A technique for rearranging an input data stream for LZ data compression system to achieve a higher data compression. In one example embodiment, this is achieved by receiving an input data stream of a sequence of data blocks. Each of the received data blocks is then compared with each of a predetermined number of previously processed data blocks. One or more match locations and their associated match lengths for each of the data blocks are determined as a function of the comparison. An affinity array is then formed, such that each element in the affinity array comprises an affinity number based on the one or more match locations and their associated match lengths. The sequence of data blocks in the input data stream is then rearranged using the affinity array to form a new data stream. The new data stream is then encoded to achieve the higher data compression.
US07650030B2

A method and apparatus for unsupervised learning of measures for matching objects between images from at least two non-overlapping cameras is disclosed The method includes collecting at least two pairs of feature maps, where the at least two pairs of feature maps are derived from features of objects captured in the images. The method further includes computing, as a function of at least two pairs of feature maps, at least one first and second match measures, wherein the first match measure is of a same class and the second match measure is of a different class.
US07650028B1

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for inspecting vicinally illuminated non-patterned areas of translucent materials. An initial image of the material is received. A second image is received following a relative translation between the material being inspected and a device generating the images. Each vicinally illuminated image includes a portion having optimal illumination, that can be extracted and stored in a composite image of the non-patterned area. The composite image includes aligned portions of the extracted image portions, and provides a composite having optimal illumination over a non-patterned area of the material to be inspected. The composite image can be processed by enhancement and object detection algorithms, to determine the presence of, and characterize any inhomogeneities present in the material.
US07650026B2

The invention relates to a method for operating an x-ray diagnostics device having an x-ray source and an x-ray image detector, between which the distance can be adjusted, with an image sequence of low resolution images being provided with a different distance, an adjustment of the coordinates systems of the images being carried out and a high resolution image being calculated from the images. A method for generating high resolution x-ray recordings is achieved here by means of a C-arm system, a so-called C-arm superresolution image.
US07650020B2

A method of identifying the characteristics of an image such as an iris image or other biometric image comprises taking repeated scans across the image and determining the variability between those scans. By taking a sequence of scans, a two-dimensional variation code (70) is built up. This may then be compared with a stored library of similar variation codes to identify the individual.
US07650019B2

A method is used for the early identification of a deviation in the printed images which have been formed by a printing press during continuous production. A second decision threshold is provided, in addition to a decision regarding good or bad print quality. A current printed image, that has been captured, is compared with a reference image. If the current image deviates from the reference image, that deviation is evaluated using two decision thresholds.
US07650017B2

A gesture detecting apparatus prepares time series data of coordinates of specific part of object gesturing, calculates velocity vector of the specific part from the time series data of coordinates, to obtain time-series velocity vectors, detects dynamic periods when displacement per unit time of the specific part is larger than predetermined value, based on the time-series velocity vectors, acquires each representative velocity vector from velocity vectors in each dynamic period, stores the each representative velocity vector corresponding to the each dynamic period in memory, calculates first intersection angle of two representative velocity vectors stored in the memory, the two representative velocity vectors corresponding to two successive dynamic periods, and detects that the motion of the specific part is reciprocating motion when the first intersection angle is larger than first threshold value.
US07650008B2

Digital watermarking technology is used in conjunction with compressed video captured from aerial, unmanned apparatus, such as satellites and aircraft. One implementation includes a method of capturing video depicting at least a portion of the earth's surface, the video captured by an aerial, unmanned apparatus; compressing the captured video; and hiding a first digital watermark in the compressed captured video through alterations to data representing the compressed video. The first digital watermark is generally imperceptible to a human observer of the video. And the digital watermark has a plural-bit payload including at least geographical metadata associated with the captured video. Other implementations are also provided.
US07650004B2

A field ready, unsupervised-use ready, method and apparatus for audio fitting a hearing aid is described in a hand held configuration having paired comparisons (hearing selections) stored in and derivable from a memory therein. The paired comparisons are presented one at a time to a user and a preferred selection for each paired comparison is made by a select indicator after the user toggles back and forth between the selections for as many times necessary in determining their preferences. A genetic algorithm converges all the preferences upon a single solution. Crossover and mutation genetic algorithm operators operate on a linear range of indexes representative of parametric values of the pairs. A fully integrated hearing aid having all the above described features incorporated therein is also presented.
US07649995B2

A method and device for authenticating a MS has an R-UIM by using CAVE Algorithm are provided. The hardware structure of the device includes a cdma2000/HRPD dual-mode chip, a User Identity Module supporting the CAVE algorithm. The dual-mode terminal forms the NAI value with the domain name stored in a memory of the dual-mode terminal in advance by the IMSI. The dual-mode terminal extracts a RAND that is necessary for the calculation of an authentication parameter1 from the Random values included in a Chap Challenge message, instructs the R-UIM card to use the CAVE algorithm to calculate the authentication parameter1 with the RAND and an existing SSD_A in the R-UIM card, and bears the authentication parameter1 by the Result domain of a Chap Response message. With the present invention, the wastes caused by the replacement of R-UIM cards can be avoided.
US07649988B2

A background noise estimate based upon a modified Doblinger noise estimate is used for modulating the output of a pseudo-random phase spectrum generator to produce the comfort noise. The circuit for estimating noise includes a smoothing filter having a slower time constant for updating the noise estimate during noise than during speech. Comfort noise is smoothly inserted by basing the amount of comfort noise on the amount of noise suppression. A discrete inverse Fourier transform converts the comfort noise back to the time domain and overlapping windows eliminate artifacts that may have been produced during processing.
US07649982B2

A device translates a script command related to teletype (TTY) communications in a network, and generates or receives a TTY signal based on the translated script to test the network.
US07649969B2

A high-precision measurement of a duration is calculated from a coarse duration measurement and at least one trigger-phase measurement.
US07649968B2

A timing system is disclosed for use in a wireless communication system that includes wireless transceiver and a digital baseband processing system. The timing system includes a primary clock generation system that provides a low frequency clock that is used as the reference clock for a digital signal processing system, which generates low frequency timing signals, and a secondary clock generation system that provides a high frequency clock that is used by the wireless transceiver to produce high resolution timing signals to control the timing of the wireless transceiver. The high resolution timing signals are commenced responsive to a low resolution timing signal.
US07649945B2

A motion vector derivation unit includes a comparison unit for comparing a parameter TR1 for a reference vector with a predetermined value to determine whether it exceeds the predetermined value or not; a switching unit for switching selection between the maximum value of a pre-stored parameter TR and the parameter TR1 according to the comparison result by the comparison unit; a multiplier parameter table (for multipliers); and a multiplier parameter table (for divisors) for associating the parameter TR1 with a value approximate to the inverse value (1/TR1) of this parameter TR1.
US07649943B2

A method facilitating media processing is presented comprising generating a prediction of a region of encoded media content, receiving an indication of a quantity of remaining residual samples, on a per-region basis, and adding a first of such samples to the prediction to generate a modified prediction, and subtracting a second of such samples from the modified prediction, if so indicated.
US07649937B2

Disclosed is a method and system to deliver real-time video data over the Internet in a bandwidth efficient manner. A streaming processor receives raw video data from a video source and communicates a compressed version of the video data to a reflector network. The video data is compress by grouping pixels into blocks and comparing blocks of adjacent frames of video data to identify any changes. Only blocks that have been changed are transmitted to the reflector network. In addition, if a block has been changed in a manner to create a previously transmitted block, then only an identification index for the block is transmitted. The actual content of the block can then be recreated by comparing the index to a list of previously received blocks. The reflector network provides the compressed video stream to multiple clients through a series of reflectors. Each client can customize the quality of the video stream received by requesting a full-stream of a sub-stream from the reflector network.
US07649931B1

A technique for an equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter is described. The input to a transmitter chain is modified by an equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter, prior to being applied to the transmitter. The equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter modifies and smoothen the amplitude of the signal. The modified and smoothen signal has its peaks reduced which results in lower Crest Factor with negligible degradation of Error Vector Magnitude of individual codes. The input to the equalizer filter with dynamically configurable code domain filter could be a baseband, an intermediate frequency (IF) or radio frequency (RF) signal. When the signal is an IF or RF signals it needs to be down converted to baseband before applied to the equalizer filter.
US07649920B2

A monolithic passively Q switched microlaser includes an optically transparent heat conductive element bonded to a gain medium, which is in turn bonded to a saturable absorber, which may also be bonded to a second optically transparent heat conductive element. Only the gain medium and saturable absorber are disposed within the laser resonator.
US07649914B2

A fiber laser is disclosed comprising a single mode or low-order-mode cladding pumped fiber laser oscillator or preamplifier, a cladding pumped fiber laser power amplifier to guide multiple transverse modes, wherein an output from the oscillator or preamplifier is applied through a mode mixing means to the power amplifier to provide that a laser signal of the cladding pumped fiber laser power amplifier is emitted from the fiber laser power amplifier in the multiple transverse modes.
US07649911B2

A method of handling data in a wireless LAN comprises contending for control of the medium using a CSMA/CA mechanism or the like. Once control has been established data is sent from the node which has established that control, to a second node. The acknowledgement of receipt issued by that second node in consequence is combined with a payload at that second node and which is intended to be sent to the first node anyway, and a single frame, with the payload piggybacked onto the acknowledgement is returned to the first node. Bidirectional transmission of combined data and acknowledgement continues in a frame bursting manner until a time limit is reached or all data has been transmitted, whereafter contention commences again.
US07649908B2

A method and apparatus providing interconnectivity between several telephone networks. The apparatus receives a telephone transaction initiation message that originated with a telephone set located in a first network. The initiation message bears an originator's registration number identifying a subscriber whose home registration is located in a second network, the first and second networks using disparate signaling protocols. The apparatus then queries the originator's home registration database using the network protocol of the second network to determine the registration status of the originator. Finally, the registration status information is forwarded to the first network in the network protocol of the first network.
US07649900B2

A local area network/wide area network (LAN/WAN) switch is presented which aggregates LAN traffic onto SONET/SDH transport streams in a programmable manner. The system can concentrate Ethernet packets and map the data onto SONET streams at data rates varying from STS-1 to STS-12C. Depending on the bandwidth available in the WAN interface, different numbers and combinations of STS-n streams can be formed. The system allows for efficient and flexible mapping of LAN traffic onto a WAN for transport over fiber optic networks.
US07649895B2

An apparatus and a method for routing a multimedia message sent by a user agent to one of a plurality of multimedia message service centers, the user agent applying a pre-determined determined destination address to the multimedia message. The multimedia message is received at the pre-determined destination address, a target multimedia message service center is selected and the multimedia message is forwarded to the target multimedia message service center. Routing is based on address information contained in the multimedia message, session identification information associated with the multimedia message, load-balancing and fault-tolerance information associated with each one of the plurality of multimedia message service centers, service identifying information contained in the multimedia message and combinations thereof.
US07649893B2

A method of arbitrating group calls in a digital mobile radio system without need of a central component. In general terms the base station that are serving mobile units in a call each announce the nature of the signals that they are receiving. The stations then each compare the signals and decide which signal will be broadcast to the mobile units. The signals are preferably transmitted between base stations via a packet network using IP multicast.
US07649890B2

In a network for forwarding user packets by a tunneling protocol, an egress edge node to which tunnels concentrate from a plurality of ingress edge nodes allocates a bandwidth to each of sessions multiplexed through each of the tunnels and notifies each of the ingress edge nodes of the allocated bandwidth, and the ingress node notifies private routers or terminal devices of the allocated bandwidth.
US07649879B2

A pipelined packet processor is described having at least one pipeline, the at least one pipeline having one or more processing slots. Packets are assigned to available ones of the slots, and each of one or more of the assigned packets are processed during one or more cycles of processing. Upon or after a packet has undergone one or more cycles of processing, a packet classification or filtering decision is derived for the packet.
US07649871B2

A communication control apparatus, mounted on each node of a telecommunications system, receives node type information selected by a neighboring node, and transmits node type information selected by the own node and node type information of another node. The apparatus receives the state variable signal of the neighboring node reflecting a phase representing another node's data transmission timing, and transmits a state variable signal representing the own node's data transmission timing. Subsequently, the apparatus selects the own node's node type in accordance with another node's type information received. The apparatus then varies, based on the own node's node type information selected, another node's node type information and the neighboring node's state variable signal, the state of the own node's phase in accordance with a time evolution rule based on a phase response function and a synchronization alliance function for thereby determining the own node's data transmission timing.
US07649852B2

A mobile router is configured for attaching to a selected router in a clustered network (e.g., a mobile ad hoc network) based on identifying a network topology model of the clustered network from received router advertisement messages that include tree information option fields specifying attributes of the network topology model. The mobile router selects which router advertisement originator to attach to based on correlating the attributes of the router advertisement originators relative to identified priorities, and orders the router advertisement originators within a default router list based on the identified priorities. If the mobile router detects a router from a second clustered network, the mobile router advertises to the attachment router that the second clustered network is reachable, enabling the two clustered networks to communicate using a point-to-point link between the respective attachment routers.
US07649843B2

Methods for providing flow control of signal streams over a single full duplex ETHERNET link include receiving multiple data streams over a single ETHERNET link, associating a buffer with each data stream, putting received data into the appropriate buffer, monitoring the fullness of the buffers, and transmitting a PAUSE frame to the source of the data streams where the PAUSE frame indicates the fullness of each buffer. The PAUSE frame is read and where indicated, the transmission of data destined for a congested buffer(s) is halted until a subsequent PAUSE frame is received which indicates that the congested buffer(s) has become decongested. Apparatus for performing the methods are also provided.
US07649836B2

A link state machine for the Advanced Switching (AS) Architecture includes added transition sub-states. Transition events typically handled in AS link states are handled in the transition sub-states. Separating the transition events and flow from the link states into smaller transition sub-states may make the AS link machine easier to manage and facilitate debugging efforts.
US07649830B2

Disclosed herein is a hybrid channel estimation method and system for an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) wireless communication system. The hybrid channel estimation method includes the steps of acquiring a first channel coefficient using decision-directed channel estimation; acquiring a second channel coefficient using pilot-symbol-aided channel estimation; and calculating the final channel coefficient of a received signal by multiplying the first and second coefficients by first and second multiplication coefficients, respectively, and adding the multiplication results. The step of acquiring the first channel coefficient using the decision-directed channel estimation includes the steps of acquiring an initial channel coefficient by processing a long training symbol using a Least Square (LS) method; generating data by equalizing, demodulating and modulating a fast Fourier transformed new symbol using a previously estimated channel coefficient; and acquiring a new channel coefficient by dividing the new symbol by the data.
US07649827B2

A method is provided for making the storage media having data stored thereon. In one aspect of the making of storage media, a first layer is formed, where the first layer is substantially transparent to a predetermined first radiant energy used for reading the data. Next, a second layer is formed on the first layer, which is substantially opaque to the first radiant energy. Finally, a pattern is formed that comprises a plurality of holes in the second layer, where each of the holes have a largest dimension which is greater than a wavelength of the first radiant energy, and the data is stored as the presence or absence of a hole in the pattern.
US07649808B2

A distance measuring system comprising: a transmitter that simultaneously emits an infrared radiation and an ultrasonic wave; and a receiver that include a table showing a relationship between an arrival time, indicative of a period from detection of the received infrared radiation to detection of the received ultrasonic wave, and a required received signal strength of the ultrasonic wave corresponding to the arrival time when the ultrasonic wave is directly received, that compares the received signal strength of the ultrasonic wave with a required received signal strength corresponding to the arrival time retrieved from the table, and that calculates the distance to the transmitter based on the arrival time when the received signal strength of the ultrasonic wave is higher than the required received signal strength corresponding to the arrival time retrieved from the table.
US07649805B2

This invention pertains to the extraction of the slowness dispersion characteristics of acoustic waves received by an array of two or more sensors by the application of a continuous wavelet transform on the received array waveforms (data). This produces a time-frequency map of the data for each sensor that facilitates the separation of the propagating components thereon. Two different methods are described to achieve the dispersion extraction by exploiting the time frequency localization of the propagating mode and the continuity of the dispersion curve as a function of frequency. The first method uses some features on the modulus map such as the peak to determine the time locus of the energy of each mode as a function of frequency. The second method uses a new modified Radon transform applied to the coefficients of the time frequency representation of the waveform traces received by the aforementioned sensors. Both methods are appropriate for automated extraction of the dispersion estimates from the data without the need for expert user input or supervision.
US07649804B2

Determination of in-situ rock yield stress state of a geological formation surrounding a borehole includes determining a profile for each of an axial effective, a radial effective, and a hoop effective stress within at least one axial plane containing a borehole axis. A predicted radial shear response radial profile is calculated from the effective stresses within the at least one axial plane. A measurement-based estimate of a shear response radial profile within the at least one axial plane is determined from measured data. A maximum radial distance at which a difference between the predicted and measurement-based shear response radial profiles is identified within the at least one axial plane as being greater than a difference threshold. The respective axial, radial, and hoop stresses, are determined at the identified maximum radial distance. The identified stresses are indicative of an in-situ yield stress state of the rock.
US07649801B2

The present invention relates to a column decoder for low power consumption in a semiconductor memory apparatus. The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a column select signal decoder, which has a driving voltage input node and uses a driving voltage, for producing a plurality of column select signals by decoding a column select control signal; and a driving voltage supply controller for controlling a supply of the driving voltage to the driving voltage input node.
US07649795B2

A memory system with a flexible serial interface and a memory accessing method thereof are provided. The memory system includes at least one of memories and a memory controller. The memory controller flexibly sets up serial link connection with each of the memories through serial ports regardless of a physical location and an order of the serial ports. The memory controller also transmits and receives memory data in a serial mode through the serial link connection.
US07649793B1

Embodiments of the present invention provide channel estimation for multi-level memories using pilot signals. A memory apparatus includes a memory block comprising a plurality of memory cells and adapted to operate with at least two levels of signals for writing data into and reading data from the memory cells. At least two memory cells are employed as reference cells to output a plurality of pilot signals. The memory apparatus also includes a channel block operatively coupled to the memory block, and adapted to facilitate the writing and reading of data into and from the memory cells. The channel block is also adapted to receive the pilot signals and determine one or more disturbance parameters based at least in part on the pilot signals and to compensate the read back signals based at least in part on the determined one or more disturbance parameters during said reading of data from the memory cells. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07649786B2

A memory architecture includes at least one matrix of memory cells of the EEPROM type organized in rows or word lines and columns or bit lines. Each memory cell includes a floating gate cell transistor and a selection transistor and is connected to a source line shared by the matrix. The memory cells are organized in words, all the memory cells belonging to a same word being driven by a byte switch, which is, in turn, connected to at least one control gate line. The memory cells further have accessible substrate terminals connected to a first additional line.
US07649766B2

A magnetic storage device with a significant reduction in power consumption. The magnetic storage device includes: a yoke which is arranged to cover part of a line extending in an arbitrary direction; and a magneto-resistive element which is arranged in contact with the yoke, thereby forming a closed magnetic circuit. The magneto-resistive element is capable of writing information with a field emanating from the yoke. The magnetic storage device satisfies Iw≦a·R, where R is the magnetoresistance of the yoke, Iw is the write current necessary for the line, and a (mA·H)=6E−11.
US07649765B2

A magnetic memory cell in which a sensor is magnetically coupled to a magnetic media wherein the separation of the magnetic media from the sensor permits each to be magnetically optimized separate from the other, thus improving defect tolerance and minimizing the magnetic influence of neighboring cells in an array on one another. In an embodiment, the read circuitry is positioned so that no read current passes through the media during a read operation. In an alternative embodiment, processing is simplified but the read current is allowed to pass through the media.
US07649756B2

A method and apparatus for reducing common mode noise in a three phase pulse width modulated (PWM) system, the method comprising the steps of receiving the first, second and third modulating waveforms, identifying one of the modulating waveforms that is at least one of instantaneously the maximum and instantaneously the minimum of the modulating waveforms as a first identified waveform, wherein comparison of the first identified waveform to the carrier signal would generate a first on-off pulse sequence associated with a phase corresponding to the first identified waveform, generating switch control signals associated with the phase corresponding to the first identified waveform that cause a modified on-off pulse sequence that is phase shifted from the first pulse sequence, using the second and third modulating waveforms to generate second and third on-off pulse sequences corresponding to the second and third phases and providing the modified pulse sequence and the second and third pulse sequences to the one of the inverter and the converter.
US07649743B2

An open-frame flash-memory drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with flash-memory chips, a controller chip, and a Serial AT-Attachment (SATA) connector soldered to it. The PCBA is only partially encased by left and right frames or by a U-shaped bracket frame. The frames have PCBA supports and guide posts that fit near edges of the PCBA. The frames do not cover the top and bottom of the PCBA, allowing chips on the PCBA to be ventilated by unblocked air flow. Screws that attach the PCBA to the frame have metal collars that ground the frame to the PCBA's ground plane. The screws form a current path to draw any electro-static-discharge (ESD) current off the frame and onto a PCBA ground. When the SATA connector is inserted into a host, the host ground sinks ESD currents collected by the open frame.
US07649742B2

A flash-memory drive replaces a hard-disk drive using an integrated device electronics (IDE) interface. The flash drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with a circuit board with flash-memory chips and a controller chip. The controller chip includes an input/output interface circuit to an external computer over the IDE interface, and a processing unit to read blocks of data from the flash-memory chips. The PCBA is encased inside an upper case and a lower case, with an IDE connector that fits through and opening between the cases. The cases can be assembled with the PCBA by a snap-together, ultrasonic-press, screw-fastener, or thermal-bond adhesive method. Center lines formed on the inside of the cases fit between rows of flash-memory chips to improve case rigidity. The connector has two rows of pins that straddle the center line of the circuit board for a balanced design.
US07649739B2

A circuit device having superior mechanical strength at the interface between a circuit board and heat sink and superior efficiency for radiating heat from a circuit element to the heat sink through the circuit board. The circuit device includes the metal-based insulation board for installing the circuit element, and the heat sink, over which the insulation board is installed with a paste arranged therebetween. The insulation board has a projection arranged on the surface facing the heat sink along a peripheral portion. At least part of the projection contacts the heat sink through the paste layer.
US07649738B2

An electronic device is provided with an enclosure having a side wall in which vent holes are formed, a heat generator stored in the enclosure, a radiator disposed adjacent to the vent holes, a heat receiver thermally connected to the heat generator, a heat transmission member having one end thermally connected to the heat receiver and the other end thermally connected to the radiator, a fan disposed adjacent to the radiator to generate cooling air toward the radiator, and a seal member that seals a gap formed between the radiator and the side wall having the vent holes formed therein.
US07649734B2

A portable storage device which is used by being connected to terminals of an external apparatus, comprises a main body of a rectangular cover case, in which an opening is formed at a front and a fit opening is formed in a wall; a rectangular terminal enclosure supported inside said main body of the cover case, and having a terminal portion at a front for connection with the external terminals, and having a fit portion which is formed in a wall so as to be opposed to said fit opening when inserted into said main body of the cover case; a circuit board which is supported in said terminal enclosure and provided with connector terminals at a front; a semiconductor memory device which is mounted on said circuit board, sealed with resin and connected to said connector terminals; and a fitting member which is inserted into said fit opening of said main body of the cover case so as to be fitted to said fit opening, and to be fitted to said fit portion of said terminal enclosure to thereby fix said main body of the cover case and said terminal enclosure.
US07649730B2

A wet electrolytic capacitor that includes a plurality of anodes, cathode, and working electrolyte that is disposed in electrical contact with the anodes and current collector is provided. Any number of anodes may generally be employed, such as from 2 to 40, in some embodiments from 3 to 30, and in some embodiments, from 4 to 20. The anodes are thin and typically have a thickness of about 1500 micrometers or less, in some embodiments about 1000 micrometers or less, and in some embodiments, from about 50 to about 500 micrometers. By employing a plurality of anodes that are relatively thin in nature, the resulting wet electrolytic capacitor is able to achieve excellent electrical properties. For example, the equivalent series resistance (“ESR”)—the extent that the capacitor acts like a resistor when charging and discharging in an electronic circuit—may be less than about 1500 milliohms, in some embodiments less than about 1000 milliohms, and in some embodiments, less than about 500 milliohms, measured with a 2-volt bias and 1-volt signal at a frequency of 1000 Hz.
US07649722B2

A method for designing an ESD protected analog circuit is described. The method includes creating an analog circuit design comprising a plurality of interconnected functional components and circuit-level ESD protection components with predetermined electric properties for achieving a predetermined analog performance during normal operation of the circuit as well as a predetermined ESD robustness during an ESD event on the circuit. At least one ESD event is simulated on the analog circuit design to identify at least one weak spot in the circuit. Component-level ESD protection components are added into the analog circuit design around each identified weak spot to reduce failure of the weak spot during an ESD event.
US07649716B2

A head suspension for a hard disk drive has an arm to be attached to a carriage of the hard disk drive and turned around a spindle, a load beam including a rigid part and a resilient part, to apply load onto a head that is arranged at a tip end thereof to write and read data to and from a disk arranged in the hard disk drive, a base end of the rigid part supported on the arm side through the resilient part, and a flexure having read/write wiring patterns connected to the head, the flexure supporting the head and attached to a disk side face of the rigid part, the resilient part at least separated from the arm side and fixed to an opposite disk side face on the arm side and the flexure fixed to a disk side face on the arm side.
US07649713B2

A thin-film magnetic head that has an improved protrusion efficiency under the condition of not only assuring the reliability of the-heating operation, but also stabilizing the read output is provided. The head comprises: a magnetic head element for writing and/or reading data signals; a heating element for generating heat at least during operations of the magnetic head element; and a first heatsink element provided adjacent to the heating element for receiving a part of the heat generated from the heating element, the first heatsink element being a distance from the magnetic head element.
US07649697B2

An optical module includes a point light source device and an optical lens. The point light source device generates light. The optical lens includes an inner curved surface and an outer curved surface. The inner curved surface has a first roughly ellipsoidal shape having a first major axis and a first minor axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first major axis. The outer curved surface has a second roughly ellipsoidal shape having a second major axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second minor axis that is substantially perpendicular to the second major axis. The light generated by the point light source device enters the optical lens through the inner curved surface and exits from the optical lens through the outer curved surface. Therefore, the number of optical modules used in a display device may be reduced to lower manufacturing cost thereof.
US07649695B2

A lens barrel includes a focus cam ring that holds a focus lens group and moves in the optical axis direction of the focus lens group while rotating along a cam groove in response to a focusing operation, and a fixed tube having a fitting raised portion that can pivot the focus cam ring in the rotational direction thereof and movably supports the focus cam ring in the optical axis direction. The focus cam ring has a position restrictor that can engage the fitting raised portion, and the position restrictor includes a rotational-direction restrictor that restricts the position of the focus cam ring in the rotational direction and an optical axis-direction restrictor that restricts the position of the focus cam ring in the optical axis direction.
US07649694B2

A zoom lens suitable for imaging an object on a photosensitive device is provided. The zoom lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group and a fourth lens group, which are arranged in series. The fourth lens group is disposed near the photosensitive device. The second lens group and the third lens group are suitable for moving between the first lens group and the fourth lens group. The first lens group, the second lens group, the third lens group and the fourth lens group include at least a glass lens and a plurality of plastic lenses. The number of the plastic lenses is more than the number of glass lenses. Thus, overall cost of producing the zoom lens is lower.
US07649693B2

A zoom lens including a broad picture angle of 60 to 100 degrees as a photographic picture angle of the wide-angle end state, and having a magnification ratio of about three to six times, small front gem diameter, excellent compactness and high image formation performance, which is used in a video camera or a digital still camera, and an image pick-up apparatus using such a zoom lens. A zoom lens (20), consisting of plural groups and serving to change group spacing or spacings to thereby perform a magnification changing or adjusting operation, comprises a first lens group GR1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group GR2 having negative refractive power and a third lens group GR3 having positive refractive power which are arranged in order from the object side, and a last group GRR arranged at the side closest to the image surface and having negative refractive power, wherein the first lens group GR1 is constituted by single positive lens G1, and satisfies the following conditional formulas. 0.540  (2) In the above formula, Ymax: maximum image height on image pick-up surface; FW: focal length at the wide-angle end state of the lens entire; and system VdG1: Abbe number at d line of the first lens group GR1.
US07649690B2

A device, system and method integrating forward and panoramic fields is disclosed, comprising: a primary reflector, comprising a convex surface in relation to the forward field, reflective on at least part of the convex surface; a secondary reflector, forward of the primary reflector relative to the forward field, reflective on at least part a surface thereof facing rearward toward the primary reflector; a primary reflector hole in the primary reflector, substantially centered about an optical axis of the apparatus; and a secondary reflector hole in the secondary reflector, substantially centered about the optical axis.
US07649679B2

A photon pair generating device capable of further increasing generation efficiency of a correlation photon pair is provided, the photon pair generating device generating the correlation photon pair by a hyper-parametric scattering. A quantum well is provided in a resonator. An incident light radiated from a light source to the resonator resonates therein and becomes a particular resonator mode. The generation efficiency of the correlation photon pair by the hyper-parametric scattering in the quantum well is enhanced by disposing the quantum well in a position where electric field strength of the light becomes higher by this resonator mode.
US07649677B2

A subwavelength aperture includes a plurality of ridges that project from an aperture sidewall into the aperture opening. The ridges may be closely spaced such that the hot spots associated with the ridges are likewise closely spaced and create an elongated hot spot. The subwavelength aperture of the present invention may be adapted for use in a magnetic head of a hard disk drive for improved thermally assisted recording (TAR) of magnetic data bits. Such a magnetic head may include an optical resonant cavity that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure.
US07649673B2

A micromirror device comprises a plurality of mirrors arranged on a substrate, an elastic hinge for supporting any each of the mirrors to be deflectable in a plurality of directions, an electrode arranged to face the mirror, and a driving circuit, which is connected to the mirror via the elastic hinge, for applying to the mirror an address voltage for independently controlling the deflection of the mirror.
US07649670B2

The invention includes a method and apparatus for controlling curvatures of light directing devices. The apparatus includes a first substrate portion having formed therein a plurality of cavities, and a substantially flexible membrane disposed over the cavities for forming a respective plurality of light directing mechanisms, the light directing mechanisms disposed over the cavities. The respective curvatures of the light directing mechanisms are set using a pressure difference across each of the membrane portions disposed over the cavities. The respective curvatures of the light directing mechanisms may be controllably adjusted during operation of the light directing mechanisms.
US07649669B2

A display device including a color filter having a multiple types of electrochromic dyes disposed on a pixel by pixel basis, the electrochromic dyes allowing reversible coloring or decoloring, and a light quantity control element for controlling an amount of light emitted to the electrochromatic dyes of the color filter.
US07649660B2

A sophisticated volume hologram for dispersing an incident optical signal with uniform spectrum over an input plane to an output pattern with non-uniform spatial-spectral information, where the sophisticated volume hologram includes a plurality of holograms that map different input wavelengths into different locations on an output plane. The system further includes a detector for receiving and detecting light dispersed by the sophisticated volume hologram.
US07649659B2

An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit 3 that reads a front side image and a rear side image from a front side and a rear side of a medium, respectively, a mark detecting unit 42 that detects a combination instruction mark present in a predetermined position of at least one of the front side image and the rear side image, and an image combining unit 44 that combines, when the combination instruction mark is detected, a front side sliced image and a rear side sliced image sliced from predetermined positions of the front side image and the rear side image in a predetermined direction to obtain one image.
US07649651B2

A print data editing apparatus includes a display that displays a print object in order to edit the print object; a cutoff area specifying device that specifies a cutoff area that is an area to be cut off in order to cut off a print result in which the print object that is displayed on the display is printed; and a print data creating device that creates print data to be printed with a print unit by providing cutoff line data to the print object, wherein the cutoff line data is for printing a cutoff line for cutting the cutoff area specified by the cutoff area specifying device from the print result outside a boundary of the cutoff area.
US07649650B2

A system/method for generating one or more new hardcopy prints from an electronic file comprising original digital image data, wherein the new hardcopy print(s) match a legacy hardcopy previously generated from the original digital image data of the electronic file, even when the legacy hardcopy was printed from an “enhanced” or “tuned” version of the original image data. The original image data and scanner data derived by scanning the legacy hardcopy are used to identify corresponding areas of constant color in the original data and the legacy hardcopy. The corresponding color areas are represented in a colorimetric color space and the original data color values are adjusted to match the legacy hardcopy color values. The adjusted data are used to print a new hardcopy. The colorimetric color space conversion is completed using a plurality of different printing device assumptions, and the printing device assumption resulting in the smallest starting color difference between the original color values and legacy hardcopy color areas is used for the color matching process.
US07649644B2

In the image processing device, method and system of the present invention, a destination identifier of an image file is stored, the destination identifier indicating one of a plurality of external stations as a destination station which receives the image file from the image processing device through a network. At least one of a sender identifier of the image file, a subject identifier of the image file and a scan condition of the image file is stored. The image file is transmitted, together with at least one of the sender identifier, the subject identifier and the scan condition, through the network to one of the external stations indicated by the stored destination identifier.
US07649636B2

An optical metrology system is disclosed that has a measuring system configured to irradiate a metrology mark and record a portion of a reflected, a transmitted, or both, electromagnetic field and a characterization device configured to determine from the recorded field a mark shape parameter indicative of the structure of the metrology mark, the characterization device comprising: a field calculation unit configured to calculate an expected field for reflection, transmission, or both, from a theoretical reference mark based on an algebraic eigenvalue-eigenvector representation of the expected field, a field derivative calculation unit configured to calculate a first order derivative, a higher order derivative, or both, of the expected field with respect to the mark shape parameter by first deriving analytical forms for corresponding derivatives of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the eigenvalue-eigenvector representation, and an optimization unit configured to use the outputs from the field and field derivative calculation units to determine an optimized mark shape parameter for which the expected field substantially matches the recorded field.
US07649631B2

In a distance/speed meter, first and second semiconductor lasers emit parallel laser light beams to a measurement target. A first laser driver drives the first semiconductor laser such that the oscillation interval in which at least the oscillation wavelength monotonically increases repeatedly exists. A second laser driver drives the second semiconductor laser such that the oscillation wavelength increases/decreases inversely to the oscillation wavelength of the first semiconductor laser. First and second light-receiving devices convert optical outputs from the first and second semiconductor lasers into electrical signals. A counting unit counts the numbers of interference waveforms generated by the first and second laser light beams and return light beams of the first and second laser light beams. A computing device computes the distance to the measurement target and the speed of the measurement target from the minimum and maximum oscillation wavelengths of the first and second semiconductor lasers and the count result obtained by the counting unit.
US07649617B2

A light detection system duplicates the dynamic range of low intensity non-cooperative targets for high intensity cooperative targets. Both dynamic ranges of return light pulses are supported at the same time. In one embodiment, two beam splitters are used to reduce the intensity of reflected light that is received from high intensity sources to levels that can be accurately ranged. Ambiguity between the two paths is resolved by using an additional detector. Alternatively, one beam splitter is used to reduce the intensity of reflected light that is received from high intensity sources to levels that can be accurately ranged. The beam splitter system increases the effective dynamic range of the detection and ranging system passively without any need to reconfigure the system.
US07649604B2

A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates, a plurality of pixel regions defined in a matrix configuration on the first substrate, a plurality of gate lines extending along a first direction on the first substrate and dividing each of the pixel regions into first and second pixels that are adjacent to each other along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, a plurality of data lines extending along the second direction and crossing the gate lines to define the first and second pixel regions together with the gate lines, a plurality of first and second electrodes for generating an in-plane electric field in the first and second pixels regions, and a switching device formed at the crossing the gate and data lines and driving the first and second pixel regions, wherein the switching device includes a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, and source and drain electrodes, and the drain electrode includes a first drain electrode connected with the second electrode of the first pixel region and a second drain electrode connected with the second electrode of the second pixel region.
US07649600B2

A liquid crystal display device includes: a pixel electrode located on a lower substrate; a lower alignment layer located on the pixel electrode and having a predetermined alignment direction (or aligned in a predetermined direction); an upper substrate located apart from the lower substrate and having an opposite surface facing the lower substrate; an opposite electrode located on the opposite surface; an upper alignment layer located on the opposite electrode and having the predetermined alignment direction of the lower alignment layer; an upper protrusion line located between the upper substrate and the upper alignment layer and arranged in a direction crossing the predetermined alignment direction; and an optically compensated bend (OCB) mode liquid crystal layer located between the lower alignment layer and the upper alignment layer.
US07649598B2

The present invention intends to provide an optical element that can be incorporated in a liquid crystal display device, is provided with a birefringent layer obtained by aligning and polymerizing polymerizable liquid crystal molecules, and, while sufficiently reflecting an actual condition of a liquid crystal display device, can reduce fear that a thickness of a driving liquid crystal layer unexpectedly varies. An optical element includes a light-transmitting base material and a birefringent layer comprising of aligned and polymerized liquid crystal molecules and having a value of indentation depth of 6% or less relative to a thickness of the birefringent layer, wherein said value is measured under conditions where a cylindrical indenter having a diameter of 30 (μm) is applied at a load of 10 mN/sec up to the maximum load of 400 mN.
US07649595B2

The present invention relates to a method of forming a polymer dispersed liquid crystal cell. It also relates to a cell produced by such method and to uses of such cells.
US07649592B2

A backlight unit for use in a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The backlight unit which may include a reflection plate; a plurality of fluorescent tubes; and a diffusion plate. The reflection plate may include a rectangular-shaped bottom plate section, four side plate sections respectively formed upright from four sides of the bottom plate section with a skew in the direction of moving away from the bottom plate section, and an edge plate section that protrudes from a tip end of each of the side plate sections toward outside thereof.
US07649590B2

An LCD includes an LCD panel, a light guiding plate disposed at a rear of the LCD panel and having a light incident surface on which a curved surface pattern is formed, and a point light source facing the light incident surface and disposed closer to the LCD panel than to a center of thickness of the light incident surface. Accordingly, the LCD including the point light source has excellent light efficiency and brightness uniformity.
US07649589B2

A liquid crystal display module device includes a light-guide plate, a lamp disposed along one side of the light-guide plate, and a plurality of lamp holders enclosing opposing end portions of the lamps, wherein the lamp holders include transparent material.
US07649587B2

A tiltable LCD holder comprises a base, a fixing device and at least one support device. The base has a platform on an upper end thereof. The fixing device has holes for being fixed on the platform of the base. The fixing device has two upward bended ends having a respective screw hole for screwing a respective screw bolt thereinto. The support device is connected to an object by one end thereof. The support device has screw holes on the other end for being movably coupled with the screw holes formed on the upward bended ends of the fixing device, whereby the object can be tiltable over a wide angle range to provide a steadily positioned visual angle.
US07649584B2

An LCD array substrate includes a plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction; a plurality of data lines arranged in a second direction to cross the plurality of gate lines; a semiconductor layer formed at overlapping regions of the gate lines and the data lines and extending a predetermined length from the overlapping regions over the gate lines; a drain electrode spaced apart from the overlapping regions of the gate and data lines and disposed partially in contact with the semiconductor layer, the drain electrode having ends extended beyond the semiconductor layer and the gate line; and a pair of pixel electrodes disposed on opposing sides of the gate line and electrically connected with the drain electrode.
US07649581B2

Disclosed is an array substrate of an LCD, and a method for fabricating it, which simplifies the fabrication process, thereby reducing fabrication costs. The process is simplified because the array substrate does not have a passivation film. The thin film transistors on the array substrate each have an active layer that is protected from contamination by forming a channel insulation layer on the active layer through a dry-etching process. Further, the gate line, gate pad, and gate electrode may have a two-layer structure having a low-resistance metal layer and a barrier metal layer, or a three-layer structure having a low-resistance metal layer and two barrier metal layers.
US07649578B2

An array substrate includes a gate line, a data line, a thin-film transistor (TFT), a pixel electrode, a first sensor line, a second sensor line and a sensor electrode part. The TFT is electrically connected to the gate and data lines. The pixel electrode is formed in a unit area defined by the gate and data lines. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the TFT. The first sensor line is substantially parallel with the gate line. The second sensor line is substantially parallel with the data line. The sensor electrode part is formed in the unit area and electrically connected to the first and second sensor lines. The sensor electrode part is adjacent to the pixel electrode in a large axis direction of the unit area.
US07649569B2

System and method for digitally correcting time base errors in video display systems. A preferred embodiment comprises 1) correcting time base errors in a first portion of a horizontal line of video information, wherein the first correcting makes use of an error estimate for the horizontal line of video information and a preceding horizontal line of video information, 2) correcting time base errors in a second portion of a horizontal line of video information, wherein the second correcting makes use of an error estimate for the horizontal line of video information, and 3) repeating the first correcting and the second correcting for remaining horizontal lines of video information in the digitized video signal.
US07649565B2

A power supply circuit for a digital camera, including a DC power supply device for supplying direct current power; an image inputting device driven by the DC power supply device; a light emitting diode device driven by the DC power supply device and which auxiliary illuminates a subject to be imaged by the image inputting device; and a backup device connected to an output side of the DC power supply device and adapted for preliminarily charging the direct current power.
US07649564B2

An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit for outputting an electronic subject image, a metering unit for computing a metering value from the subject image, a brightness distribution chart generation unit for generating a brightness distribution chart from the subject image, and a display unit for overlaying the brightness distribution chart on the subject image and displaying them, and provides the brightness distribution chart for the display unit in various styles.
US07649559B2

Methods, devices, and systems for offset cancellation in an amplifier are disclosed, wherein the amplifier inputs may be exposed to large loads from an array of pixel columns coupled in parallel. During a cancellation phase, an amplifier offset may be canceled by selectively coupling a first amplifier output to a first amplifier input and a second amplifier output to a second amplifier input. During a portion of the cancellation phase, a buffer may use the first amplifier input to drive a first pixel signal. During a different portion of the cancellation phase, the buffer may use the second amplifier input to drive a second pixel signal. To sense the pixel columns during an amplification phase, the first and second pixel signals are coupled to the first and second amplifier inputs, respectively, with the result that the amplifier offset and the buffer offset are cancelled from the amplifier output.
US07649556B2

At least either of image data and image generation record information is analyzed to determine an image quality parameter relating to image quality, and an output target decision regarding selection of image data as an output target is performed on the basis of the image quality parameter.
US07649555B2

The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for processing a dead pixel, more specifically to a method and an apparatus thereof for detecting and compensating a dead pixel that can maintain a good image quality by reducing image distortion and deterioration. With the present invention, the distortion of an image, caused by erroneously classifying a normal pixel of an inputted image as a dead pixel, is significantly reduced, thereby improving the quality of a processed image. Moreover, based on the characteristics of the inputted image, the algorithm and accuracy of detecting a dead pixel can be adjusted.
US07649553B2

If an image quality 1 “RAW” at which image data are recorded without undergoing image processing is selected at an electronic camera which is already set for WB bracketing, the electronic camera clears the WB bracketing. In addition, the electronic camera prohibits an operation for setting and clearing the WB bracketing if the current image quality setting is the image quality 1 “RAW”.
US07649551B2

An electronic camera system includes a photographing ordering system and a photographing system. The photographing system includes an image sensor which photographs a subject and generates an image signal; a camera-side communication unit which communicates with the photographing ordering system; a subject judging unit which judges whether or not the subject is the person to be photographed based on the person identifying data when or after the subject is photographed; an image processing unit which generates the image data with the image signal; and a camera-side control unit which extracts the image data of which the person to be photographed has been photographed based on a judged result of the subject judging unit and transmits the extracted image data to the photographing ordering system.
US07649539B2

Techniques and tools for representing pixel data in a video processing or capture system are described. Described techniques and tools provide efficient color representation for video processing and capture, and provide flexibility for representing colors using different bit precisions and memory layouts. Described techniques and tools include video formats that can be used, for example, in hardware or software for capture, processing, and display purposes. In one aspect, chroma and luma information for a pixel in a video image is represented in a 16-bit fixed-point block of data having an integer and fractional components. Data can be easily converted from one representation to another (e.g., between 16-bit and 10-bit representations). In other aspects, formats for representing 8-, 10- and 16-bit video image data (e.g., packed and hybrid planar formats), and codes for indicating the formats, are described.
US07649525B2

Display systems with multifunctional digitizer module board. A shield film is integrated on a digitizer sensor board to form a multifunctional digitizer module board with lower thickness and weight. In the multifunctional digitizer module, a digitizer sensor board senses position of a position pointer or finger contact on a surface and a shield film is integrated on one surface of the digitizer sensor board by semiconductor process to screen out external noise. A display panel is disposed above the multifunctional digitizer module board and coupled thereto, displaying images.
US07649514B2

A data driving circuit including: a voltage digital-analog converter adapted to generate a first gradation voltage corresponding to external data; a current digital-analog converter adapted to generate a gradation current corresponding to the external data; a voltage control unit adapted to receive a feedback pixel current from a pixel via a data line and to generate a second gradation voltage by increasing or decreasing a level of the first gradation voltage in accordance with the feedback pixel current; a buffer unit adapted to selectively supply the first or second gradation voltage to the data line; and a selection unit adapted to selectively connect the data line to either the buffer unit or the voltage control unit. With this configuration, an image is displayed with a desired brightness.
US07649513B2

An Organic light emitting diode display device includes: a pixel array having a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines that cross each other, a plurality of power voltage supply lines to which a high level power supply voltage is supplied and that are substantially parallel to the data lines, a plurality of reset lines substantially parallel to the scan lines, a plurality of organic light emitting diodes that emit light due to the high level power supply voltage from the power voltage supply line, and a plurality of organic light emitting diode drive circuits that drive the organic light emitting diode with data from the data line in response to a scan signal from the scan line and that is initialized in response to a reset signal from the reset line; a scan drive circuit that supplies the scan signal to the scan lines; a reset drive circuit that supplies the reset signal to the reset lines that initializes the organic light emitting diode drive circuit; and a data drive circuit that supplies the data to the data lines respectively, wherein the scan drive circuit and the reset drive circuit are on a substrate including the pixel array.
US07649511B2

Set-up, write, sustain and erase pulses are variously applied to a plasma display panel using a staircase waveform in which the rising or falling portion is in at least two steps. These staircase waveforms can be realized by adding at least two pulses. Use of such waveforms for the set-up, write and erase pulses improves contrast, and use for the sustain pulses reduces screen flicker and improves luminous efficiency. This is of particular use in driving high definition plasma display panels to achieve high image quality and high luminance.
US07649510B2

The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus and an image processing method thereof, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved plasma display apparatus and an image processing method thereof which can enhance a gray level representation capability.The plasma display apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a plasma display panel including a plurality of address electrodes; an inverse gamma correction section for inverse gamma-correcting an image signal inputted from an exterior; a halftone section in which a subordinate bit of a fraction bit of the image signal which is inverse gamma-corrected divides a plurality of pixels adjacent to each other into at least two or more types, an error diffusion is performed among the pixels corresponding to any one type, and a superior bit of the fraction bit performs a dithering using at least two or more dither mask patterns; and a subfield mapping section for mapping the image signal which is halftone processed on the corresponding subfield.The present invention is advantageous in that the flicker phenomenon is suppressed when the plasma display apparatus is operated and a distortion of the embodied image can be prevented.
US07649497B2

There is provided with an antenna device including: a first wire antenna element having a length about half a wavelength of a radio wave in use; a second wire antenna element which is in a same plane as the first wire antenna element and substantially perpendicular to the first wire antenna element, and which is connected to the first wire antenna element at one end; a third wire antenna element which is in the same plane as the first wire antenna element and substantially in parallel with the first wire antenna element, and which is connected to the second wire antenna element; and a feed point provided on the second wire antenna element.
US07649494B2

A GPS receiver which performs correlation processing by using replicas of C/A codes generated in the GPS receiver after a GPS signal received from a GPS satellite is subjected to accumulating processing, wherein in the accumulating processing, a plurality of signals for integrating generated in the GPS receiver by predicting modulation of the GPS signal by a navigation message are integrated with the received GPS signal, and results of the integration are accumulatively added.
US07649489B2

Apparatus for the analog/digital conversion of a measurement voltage with an analog/digital converter, which has an integrating component with an operational amplifier, a resistor and a capacitor in a feedback loop, wherein a reference voltage is applied to the inverting input of the operational amplifier and wherein the measurement voltage is applied to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier The capacitor is charged during a charging phase of time length (t1) and discharged during a discharging phase of time length, wherein the analog/digital converter further includes a comparator connected downstream from the operational amplifier, a memory element connected downstream from the comparator, a time generator producing the charging time and a counter, the counter detects the edges, or the period length of the pulse-width modulated output signal provided by the A/D converter on the output, and a synchronizing element is provided, which synchronizes the edges of the pulse-width modulated, output signal with the clock pulse of the counter at least within a predetermined measurement duration.
US07649487B2

In an A/D converter provided with an A/D converter circuit 101 for operationally amplifying an input signal and outputting an amplified signal, the A/D converter circuit 101 includes an initial value setting circuit 4a in addition to an amplifier 1a, a sub-A/D converter 2a, a sub-D/A converter 3a and capacitors C11 and C12. To ensure that the initial value of the output voltage of the amplifier 1a is a given voltage value close to the target value of operational amplification at the start of the operational amplification by the amplifier 1a, the initial value setting circuit 4a applies a given bias value equal to the given voltage value close to the target value to a next-stage capacitor C13 to be connected to the output side of the amplifier 1a. Such an A/D converter circuit 101 that can perform speedy convergence to the target value of operational amplification is used at each stage of a pipeline A/D converter.
US07649486B2

A flash A/D converter includes a reference voltage generator for generating a plurality of reference voltages, a first group of amplifiers having a plurality of amplifiers each of which amplifies a difference voltage between each reference voltage generated by the reference voltage generator and a voltage of an input signal, and a second group of amplifiers having a plurality of amplifiers. Each amplifier of the first group of amplifiers is a differential amplifier having a different pair formed of a plurality of sets of cascade-connected transistors, and has a first switch for short-circuiting respective cascade connection portions of the plurality of transistors configuring the differential pair. Each amplifier of the second group of amplifiers is a differential amplifier having a differential pair formed of at least two transistors and has a second switch for short-circuiting a portion between input units of the differential pair. The first switch and the second switch are controlled to open and close by a control clock of a predetermined period.
US07649485B1

A system for converting a continuous-time analog signal having a signal bandwidth to a discrete-time digital signal, the system includes a plurality of proportional filters configured to receive the continuous-time analog signal, each proportional filter having a different center frequency from all other proportional filters and each proportional filter having an operational bandwidth directly proportional to its center frequency, and a plurality of sample and hold circuits, each sample and hold circuit coupled to a respective one of the proportional filters.
US07649480B2

A calibration circuit and method suitable for black level calibration in image processing, the circuit comprising an analogue gain amplifier, an analogue to digital converter; a correction circuit for receiving a digital signal and providing a digital offset signal; and a digital to analogue converter for receiving said digital offset signal and feeding a corresponding analogue offset signal back to the input of said gain amplifier. The calibration circuit is arranged such that the correction circuit and said digital to analogue converter form a feedback loop applying an offset to said input signal and said correction circuit includes an inverse gain circuit for applying an inverse gain to a signal within said correction circuit prior to said digital to analogue converter. Preferably the inverse gain applied is such that the total loop gain does not deviate too far from unity.
US07649477B2

A handheld electronic device useful for wireless communication has a keyboard including a plurality of externally accessible keys, of which at least a portion have multiple letters associated therewith. The keys can be disabled (i.e. the keyboard can be locked) to prevent accidental actuation thereof by using the navigation tool which has a depressible rolling member. Thus, for example, depression of the rolling member twice in succession or pressing and holding the rolling member down temporarily enables the keyboard lock. The lock can be disabled simply by depressing the rolling member and at least one other key.
US07649476B2

A method for guiding an aircraft toward a stopping position within an aircraft stand of an airport comprises using a visual docking guidance system (VDGS) associated with the aircraft stand for displaying first instructions for guiding the aircraft toward the stopping position. The first instructions are based on an initial determination of the aircraft-type and on first sensed positional information of the aircraft. Aircraft-type data that is stored in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag carried by the aircraft is then read. Using the VDGS, second instructions are displayed for guiding the aircraft toward the stopping position based on the aircraft-type data and based on second sensed positional information of the aircraft.
US07649473B2

Token authorized packet exchange between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein.
US07649468B2

A system comprising at least one liquid detector that has a cathode and an anode and at least one switching mechanism for receiving a positive voltage from the cathode and anode of a liquid detector. Each switching mechanism comprises at least one switching component that is connected with a power source. Each switching component supplying a current from its connected power source when the switching component is activated. Preferably, each switching component is activated, when the switching component receives a voltage that exceeds a threshold voltage. The system also comprises a base unit that communicates remotely or through direct connection with each switching mechanism. The base unit communicates with at least one application control device that is connected with at least one electronic control apparatus for preventing the undesirable condition. The base unit may also be connected with at least one notification control device that is connected with an electronic notification apparatus for notifying a user that the undesirable condition has been detected. The electronic notification apparatus may comprise a visible light or LED and/or an alarm.
US07649467B2

When playing a sport it is generally difficult to localize (exactly) an accessory requirement for that sport at a determined point in time. The localizing of sports equipment may however be desired in particular situations, for instance to track down lost articles of sports equipment, or to be able to apply the rules of a sport in efficient manner. The invention therefore relates to a system for localizing sports equipment. The invention also relates to a method for localizing sports equipment using such a system.
US07649465B1

The Tie-Line-Attendant (“TLA”) identifies a distressed animal and alarms its owner for immediate assistance. The TLA Transmitter is connected between the tie line and the tether line. The owner sets the maximum time duration (“MTD”) allowed for an animal to exert pressure on the tether line. When an animal exerts pressure on the tether line, the tether line and tie line will pull the TLA eyelets closing the normally open contacts. A timer will count the duration of the pressure. If the pressure is released before MTD is reached, the timer will reset itself automatically. Otherwise, the transmitter will sound an alarm and send a signal to the owner's receiver. The receiver will then alarm the owner that his animal needs immediate assistance.The transmitter and the receiver contain: control switches, LED indicators, and an audible alarm.
US07649463B2

The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing an enclosed transceiver, such as a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tag. Structurally, in one embodiment, the tag comprises an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and an RF antenna mounted on a thin film substrate powered by a thin film battery. A variety of antenna geometries are compatible with the above tag construction. These include monopole antennas, dipole antennas, dual dipole antennas, a combination of dipole and loop antennas. Further, in another embodiment, the antennas are positioned either within the plane of the thin film battery or superjacent to the thin film battery.
US07649461B2

A passive radio frequency identification (RFID) chip with a protection function against high-intensity electromagnetic fields includes an antenna for receiving electromagnetic waves generated by an RFID reader and generating AC electrical signals to output to a power unit at an output of the antenna; an input/output circuit; a logic circuit; the power unit for rectifying the AC electrical signals into DC (direct current) voltage and outputting the DC voltage to the logic circuit and the input/output circuit at an output of the power unit; a variable-capacitance diode including an anode connected with the output of the antenna and a cathode connected to ground; and a diode including an anode connected with the output of the power unit and a cathode connected with the output of the antenna. The passive RFID chip prevents the inner logic circuit and the input/output circuit from being damaged when receives high-intensity electromagnetic waves.
US07649460B2

A solution to RFID privacy concerns as these concerns relate to consumer goods. The inventive system of this application is known as Clip Chip. It surrenders control of the administration of privacy of personal information from the retailer to the consumer of retail goods. This is accomplished by splitting the RFID transponder into two pieces. On one piece, which is always attached to the consumer item, known as the retained piece, is a unique alpha numeric identifier. On the other piece, which can be detached from the consumer item, known as the detached piece, are the standard EPC data. The two pieces are connected by conductive ink. The consumer is empowered to disable the chip at the point of purchase by tearing the two pieces of the chip in two severing the conductive ink and thereby rendering both pieces of the chip moribund. Furthermore, the Clip Chip system contemplates a method to reconnect the circuit using a secure back end system upon the circumstance of a return of the consumer item for exchange or refund.
US07649458B2

A telephone messaging system with active security feature is disclosed. In one form of the invention, a telephonic security and recording system includes a cordless telephone security base including electronics operable to provide telephonic and security features. The electronics a telephonic and security processor operable to process security and telephonic based processes, a memory device coupled to the processor and operable to store information associated with providing telephonic and security features. The cordless telephone security base further includes a display coupled to the processor and operable to display telephonic and security information and at least three telephonic line transceivers operable to communicate with an analog telephonic network. A wireless handset transceiver is operable to wirelessly couple the analog telephonic network to a wireless handset and at least three read/write optical compact disk drives operable to record security and telephonic information are provided. The telephonic security and recording system further includes a digital memory card port sized to receive a digital memory card and a cordless telephone handset wirelessly coupled to the cordless telephone security base.
US07649457B2

The alarm system uses a presently available telephone set and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit is connected to a plurality of sensors. The electronic circuit, in order to operate, uses DC voltage which is equal to the supply voltage of the telephone set. The sensors form the inputs for the electronic circuit of the alarm system. The inputs for the electronic circuit are connected to the pull up resistors.
US07649453B2

A remote control device capable of controlling a plurality of apparatuses is provided. The remote control device includes an external slit portion, an internal slit portion, a light receiving element, and a control circuit. The external slit portion and internal slit portion are arranged such that a prolonged line of each opening crosses a reception region of the light receiving element. The light receiving element is connected to the control circuit via a signal line. The external slit portion is formed such that the opening is located vertically when the remote control device is operated. The internal slit is formed such that the longitudinal direction of the opening is placed vertically when the remote control device is operated.
US07649446B2

A multipurpose engine controller comprises a control unit for switching between supplying and stopping power supplied from an ignition circuit to a spark plug on the basis of two states, i.e., the operating state of the multipurpose engine determined based on a detection signal from the engine speed sensor, and the state of the level of the oil inside the crankcase determined based on a detection signal from the float-type oil level sensor.
US07649445B2

The driving skill evaluating apparatus is an apparatus that evaluates the driving skill of a driver who drives a vehicle. The evaluating apparatus includes: driver load measurement means for measuring the degree of physical load on the driver in a driving operation activity of the vehicle; driving operation quantity measurement means for measuring the quantity of driving operation performed by the driver for the vehicle in the driving operation activity; and evaluation means for evaluating the driving skill of the driver by using the degree of the physical load on the driver and the quantity of driving operation. And the driving load efficiency informing apparatus includes: the driver load measurement means: the driving operation quantity measurement means; load efficiency judgment value calculating means for calculating a load efficiency judgment value indicating a efficiency of efficiency of the physical load on the driver in the driving operation activity of the vehicle to the quantity of driving operation performed by the driver for the vehicle in the driving operation activity of the vehicle, by using the degree of the physical load on the driver and the quantity of driving operation; and informing means for informing the driver of the efficiency of the physical load on the driver to the driving operation activity of the vehicle in accordance with the load efficiency judgment value.
US07649439B2

A flexible thin metal film thermal sensing system is provided. A self-metallized polymeric film has a polymeric film region and a metal surface disposed thereon. A layer of electrically-conductive metal is deposited directly onto the self-metallized polymeric film's metal surface. Coupled to at least one of the metal surface and the layer of electrically-conductive metal is a device/system for measuring an electrical characteristic associated therewith as an indication of temperature.
US07649436B2

A preferred varistor body has a structure of alternately laminated internal electrode layer and varistor layer made of a varistor material. The varistor layer has a composition containing Zn, Co, Pr, Li, and Zr. The analysis of varistor body in the depth direction from the surface thereof gives the Li content of 0.08 parts by mass or less to 100 parts by mass of the sum of Zn, Co, and Pr contents at a level of 2 μm at the surface side above the reference depth where the Zr content becomes almost constant.
US07649433B2

An oil-immersed circuit breaker is provided having a mechanical/magnetic trip indicator. In a preferred embodiment, the trip indicator comprises a mechanical drive train (coupled to a conventional trip-sensing mechanism), a push piece, and an indicator piece. The drive train and the push piece are located inside the enclosure immersed in oil. The indicator piece is located outside the enclosure. The push piece is magnetically coupled to the indicator piece. Magnetic coupling eliminates problems encountered with prior art trip indicators associated with oil-seal leakage, electrical component failure, and power source failure.
US07649430B2

Provided is a switching apparatus connecting a transmission line designated among transmission lines, between input and output terminals, and preventing a signal at the terminal from leaking to a control wiring, becoming a noise, and being superposed onto a signal at the other end. The switching apparatus includes: a plurality of input series switches switching the connection state between one end of the transmission lines and the input terminal according to a control signal; a plurality of output series switches switching the connection state between the other end of the transmission lines and the output terminal according to a control signal; a plurality of control wirings that supply a control signal to the input series switch and the output series switch; and a noise removal section that is provided between the input series switch and the output series switch and that reduces a noise propagated via a control wiring.
US07649426B2

An oscillator includes an oscillator circuit and a resonator that produces an output frequency. A temperature compensation circuit is coupled to the oscillator circuit. The temperature compensation circuit stabilizes the output frequency in response to changes in temperature. At least one temperature sensor and a temperature sensor signal modification circuit are coupled to the temperature compensation circuit. The temperature sensor signal modification circuit receives a temperature signal from the temperature sensor and generates a modified temperature sensor signal that is transmitted to the temperature compensation circuit.
US07649423B2

An oven controlled crystal oscillator capable of uniformly transmitting heat from the heat generator to improve the frequency-temperature characteristics. The oven controlled crystal oscillator includes a high thermal conductivity plate having high thermal conductivity and provided on one side of a substrate, where the crystal resonator is provided, in such a manner to contact the resistors, the transistor, the crystal resonator, and the temperature sensor. This structure can transmit heat from the resistors and the transistor as the heat generator to the crystal resonator and the temperature sensor rapidly with less heat loss to assure a uniform temperature inside the substrate, thereby improving the frequency-temperature characteristics.
US07649419B2

A device and a method including current measurement and/or amplification is disclosed. One embodiment provides supplying a current to be measured to a current amplifier. The current is amplified by the current amplifier. The amplified current or a current generated is fed back therefrom to the current amplifier. The current amplifier may include a current mirror. Furthermore, at least one delay means may be used by which the process of current amplification and/or current feedback may be delayed correspondingly.
US07649415B2

A new Class L amplifier which dynamically switches between multiple pairs of power rails, and has the ability to select the most advantageous combination of rails for the minimization of power dissipation in the amplifier. In one embodiment, a bridged amplifier system includes two Class L amplifiers to drive a load.
US07649412B2

When an input signal level is small, the electrical length of a phase line 21 and the electrical length of a phase line 23 are set in such a manner that the impedance seen by looking into the output side from an impedance reference point 11 at the output side of a carrier amplifier 3 becomes 2R+α (where R is a load resistance and α is positive), and the electrical length of a phase line 22 is set at a difference between the electrical length of the phase line 21 and the electrical length of the phase line 23.
US07649409B1

An integrated circuit comprises a pin coupled to receive signals from outside the integrated circuit and an input network. The input network equalizes incoming signals by attenuating lower frequency input signals more than higher frequency input signals received at the pin. The input network is configured to generate a DC bias voltage at an output of the input network in response to an AC coupled input signal or a DC coupled input signal received at the pin with a wide common-mode range.
US07649405B2

A leakage current control circuit with a single low voltage power supply is provided. The circuit includes a first power supply line, a second power supply line, a ground line, a high voltage generating circuit, a power transistor and a control circuit. The high voltage generating circuit generates a voltage in response to an internal sleep signal. The gate electrode of the power transistor is connected to the output of the high-voltage generating circuit such that the power transistor is controlled by the high voltage generating circuit. When the power transistor turns on, the circuit is in operation mode; when the power transistor is off, the circuit is in sleep mode. The control circuit connects to the first power line, the second power line, and the ground line to output the internal sleep signal in response to the sleep signal.
US07649401B2

A driving circuit for an emitter-switching configuration of transistors having first and second control terminals connected to the driving circuit, forms a controlled emitter-switching device having in turn respective collector, source and gate terminals. The driving circuit comprises a driving block coupled between the collector terminal and the source terminal of the controlled emitter-switching device and connected to the first control terminal of the emitter-switching configuration. Further advantageously, the driving block comprises at least one IGBT driving device coupled between the collector terminal and the first control terminal of the emitter-switching configuration and having, in turn, a third control terminal, as well as a driving bipolar transistor, coupled between the collector terminal and the first control terminal of the emitter-switching configuration for controlling a saturation condition of said bipolar transistor of said emitter-switching configuration maintaining a base-collector junction thereof at a voltage next to zero and having, in turn, a fourth control terminal.
US07649397B2

An internal voltage detection circuit and an internal voltage generation device using the same are disclosed. The internal voltage detection circuit includes a first detect signal generator for generating a first detect signal to detect a level of an internal voltage corresponding to an operating temperature of a memory cell, a second detect signal generator for generating a second detect signal to detect a specific level of the internal voltage corresponding to a preset temperature, and a detect signal clamp unit for comparing a level of the first detect signal and a level of the second detect signal with each other and clamping the first detect signal according to a result of the comparison.
US07649393B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit has an active mode and a sleep mode. The semiconductor integrated circuit is constructed by alternately connecting a plurality of combinational logic circuits and a plurality of flip-flops. The flip-flops include a retention flip-flop that is supplied with electric power and retains the data in the sleep mode, and a non-retention flip-flop that is not supplied with electric power during the sleep mode. The non-retention flip-flop includes an initializing circuit that initializes the non-retention flip-flop when the semiconductor integrated circuit is switched from the sleep mode to the active mode.
US07649387B2

An output driving circuit is disclosed, providing an output signal at an output node and comprises an inverter and an output driver. A first P-type transistor and a first N-type transistor of the inverter are coupled in series between high and low voltage sources and controlled respectively by first and second driving signals. A gate oxide layer of the first N-type transistor is thinner than that of the first P-type transistor. The inverter generates a first driving signal. A second P-type transistor and a second N-type transistor of the output driver are coupled in series at the output node between the high and low voltage sources. The second P-type transistor and the second N-type transistor are controlled respectively by the first driving signal and a second driving signal. A falling time of the first driving signal is longer than a falling time of the second driving signal.
US07649386B2

A field programmable gate array, an access lead network coupled to the FPGA, and a plurality of memories electrically coupled to the access lead network. The FPGA, access lead network, and plurality of memories are arranged and configured to operate with a variable word width, namely with a word width between 1 and a maximum number of bits. The absolute maximum word width may be as large as m.times.N where m is the number of word width bits per memory chip and N is the number of memory chips.
US07649385B2

Embodiments disclosed herein provide sleep mode solutions for retaining state information while reducing power in a logic block.
US07649384B2

A high-voltage tolerant output driver for use in a switching regulator is provided herein. The driver allows the switching regulator to regulate supply voltages that exceed device breakdown limits for the process technology from which the high-voltage tolerant output driver is fabricated. Unregulated supply voltages can vary over a wide range. The regulator only needs two intermediate voltages.
US07649383B2

A plurality of transistors are connected between an I2C bus operating at a first voltage level and an I2C bus operating at a second voltage level and a main control electrode of at least one transistor is connected to a first power supply terminal and a main control electrode of the other at least one transistor is connected to an intermediate level between the first voltage level and the second voltage level, whereby a withstand voltage required to a transistor of the bidirectional level shift circuit of the I2C bus can be lowered.
US07649376B2

A semiconductor device, in which a test element group (TEG) including check patterns is formed together with a chip on a wafer so as to measure electric characteristics thereof, includes an interface circuit for selecting the check pattern from the test element group, a protection resistor connected in series with the test element group so as to protect the test element group, and a dummy element connected in series with the test element group. It allows the TEG test, which can be performed after packaging, to be easily performed at a high precision irrespective of dispersions of parasitic resistances and protection resistors. The test result is corrected based on the calculated values of the parasitic resistance and protection resistor and is then stored in a specific table form, wherein a pass/fail decision is made as to whether or not the test result falls within the prescribed range.
US07649370B2

An evaluation method of a probe mark of a probe needle of a probe card, includes the steps of: forming the probe mark of the probe needle on a probe mark evaluation wafer; recognizing the probe mark with imaging; and overlapping an imaginary electrode pad with the probe mark recognized by imaging so that the probe mark is evaluated.
US07649362B2

An apparatus is disclosed for testing a catalysis electrode of a fuel cell. The apparatus includes a driving module, a loading module, a containing module and an analyzing unit. The containing module includes a hollow threaded bolt, a sleeve and a contact plate. The hollow threaded bolt is operatively connected to driving module. The sleeve receives and is operatively connected to the hollow threaded bolt. The contact plate is located below the hollow threaded bolt in the sleeve. The analyzing unit includes a working electrode, an auxiliary electrode and a reference electrode. The working electrode is connected to the contact plate. The auxiliary electrode includes an end located below the containing module in the loading module. The reference electrode is connected to the loading module.
US07649361B2

Making process test capacitors simultaneously with circuit capacitors that are to be embedded into a printed wiring board and firing the test capacitors to result in fired-on-foil test capacitors for the purpose of using the test capacitors as test substitutes for the embedded circuit capacitors to predict whether capacitance, dissipation factor or insulation resistance of the circuit capacitors will fall within acceptable specified ranges prior to and after embedment.
US07649359B2

A chemical and biological agent sensor includes an electrostatic thin film supported by a substrate. The film includes an electrostatic charged surface to attract predetermined biological and chemical agents of interest. A charge collector associated with said electrostatic thin film collects charge associated with surface defects in the electrostatic film induced by the predetermined biological and chemical agents of interest. A preferred sensing system includes a charge based deep level transient spectroscopy system to read out charges from the film and match responses to data sets regarding the agents of interest. A method for sensing biological and chemical agents includes providing a thin sensing film having a predetermined electrostatic charge. The film is exposed to an environment suspected of containing the biological and chemical agents. Quantum surface effects on the film are measured. Biological and/or chemical agents can be detected, identified and quantified based on the measured quantum surface effects.
US07649356B2

A pulse induction metal detector having high efficiency and sensitivity. Within the scope of the invention is a high efficiency hand-held metal detector for detecting a metal object, comprising a coil and a source of current flow in the coil. The source is adapted to produce one or more pulses of current in the coil. Preferably, at least two of the pulses are spaced apart in time at least about 20 microseconds during which current flow in the coil is substantially constant. The metal detector also comprises a detecting circuit for detecting a response to the current pulses, and a sampling circuit for sampling the response at predetermined times at least during the time of one of the pulses.
US07649355B2

A method of operating a DNP system comprising: a cryostat (1); a magnetic field generator (2) located in the cryostat for generating a magnetic field in a working volume; a microwave cavity (8) within which the working volume is located; and a waveguide (18) for supplying microwave power to the microwave cavity; the method comprising: a) locating a sample in the working volume and subjecting the sample to a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator; b) supplying liquid coolant to the working volume to cool the sample; c) irradiating the sample with microwave power so as to hyperpolarize nuclear spins in the sample; and d) warming the sample following the irradiation step by expelling liquid coolant from the working volume while leaving the sample in the working volume.
US07649348B2

An auxiliary element includes an end plate having an inner face which is intended to be applied against a large surface of a sensor and an outer face which bears two spaced-apart mounting lugs on a first edge thereof, the lugs extending outwards perpendicularly to the outer face. A first pair of passages is formed in the lugs for first screws used to fix the auxiliary element to a support. In addition, the end plate includes a through opening for the electrical conductor and a second pair of passages, symmetrically on either side of the opening, for second screws used to fix the end plate to the sensor. The through opening is formed by a recess provided on a second edge, opposite the first edge, and the second pair of passages are formed by two parallel slits which extend perpendicularly to the first edge of the end plate.
US07649342B2

Exemplary methods and systems for charging a battery in a power management unit include a power regulator having an input power supply and a processor that regulates a charging rate of the battery based on measured parameters of the power regulator and the battery. The processor is programmed to perform exemplary methods that include receiving an output voltage signal and a battery temperature signal from the power regulator, and comparing the output voltage to a first threshold to determine a charge level of the battery. An exemplary method includes selecting a charging mode based on the comparison, and sending a first control signal to the power regulator to adjust a charging rate of the battery based on the battery temperature.
US07649338B2

The present invention relates to a state of charge (SOC) compensation method of a battery and a battery management system using the SOC compensation method. The charge and discharge current of the battery is used to calculate a first SOC and a first voltage corresponding to the first SOC, the charge and discharge current of the battery, the battery pack voltage, and an internal resistance of the battery are used to calculate a rheobasic voltage of the battery, an integration error corresponding to a difference between the first voltage and the rheobasic voltage is calculated, and a SOC compensation factor corresponding to the error is added to or subtracted from the first SOC to determine a more accurate SOC of the battery.
US07649337B2

A power tool and a method of operating a power tool. The power tool can include a housing supporting a motor, a switch assembly, and a fuel gauge. The method can include the acts of activating the switch assembly to electrically connect the motor and a battery, measuring a state of charge of the battery, displaying the state of charge on the fuel gauge before electrically connecting the motor and the battery, and stopping the display of the state of charge before deactivating the switch assembly.
US07649333B2

A damping apparatus is provided for a positioning stage that is operative to move and position an object along a motion axis. The damping apparatus comprises a motion transformation device operative to rotate the positioning stage about a rotary axis that is substantially perpendicular to the motion axis, in response to forces generated to the positioning stage during acceleration or deceleration thereof. Resilient elements connected to the positioning stage serve to reduce transmission of vibration generated from the positioning stage.
US07649328B2

A sub-mm wave source based on Cherenkov resonant radiation of a microbunched electron beam radiating coherently in a dielectric-loaded pipe. The microbunched electron beam is produced in a pulse photoinjector by illuminating a metal photocathode with sub-ps or multi-ps intensity-modulated laser beam with a beat wave or multiplexing at terahertz frequencies, the photoelectrons generated at the photocathode being accelerated by an electric field and sub-wavelength focused by magnetic field to propagate through a resonant radiator comprising a corrugated wall or smooth-wall metal capillary pipe internally coated with dielectric and attached to an antenna.
US07649327B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure include an LED ballast circuit for dimming one or more LEDs using a phase controlled dimmer switch. The LED ballast circuit has a power conditioning unit which includes a substantially fixed duty cycle clock for outputting a clock cycle and a transformer configured to store energy and discharge a substantial portion of the stored energy once per clock cycle in order to power one or more LEDs. The LED ballast circuit and load collectively behave like a resistor.
US07649322B2

A limited flicker decorative light-emitting diode (LED) string includes a power plug adapted to connect to an alternating current (AC) power source and supply AC power to the LED string, a first pair of LEDs and a second pair of LEDs, a plurality of LEDs electrically connected in series to form an LED series, and a plurality of rectifying diodes. The plurality of rectifying diodes provides full-wave rectification of the AC power to the LED series and half-wave rectification of the AC power to the first and second pair of LEDs.
US07649300B2

An electromagnetic actuator includes a rotor rotatable within a predetermined angular range, a magnetizing coil, and a yoke having an arcuate surface facing the rotor, and first and second magnetic-pole parts that have mutually different magnetic poles upon energizing the coil. The rotor includes a magnetized rotor part defining the outer peripheral surface of the rotor and magnetized to have different magnetic poles, a non-magnetized driving pin rotatable with the magnetized rotor part, and a protrusion part protruding radially from the rotor and facing the first or second magnetic-pole part while being magnetized to have the same magnetic pole as the outer peripheral surface of the rotor. The surface of the rotor that faces the yoke and that exerts a magnetic action is increased due to the inclusion of the protrusion part, and hence a desired maintaining force and driving torque can be obtained.
US07649297B2

A commutator having a plurality of segments, a short-circuit member assembly, a holding portion, and a plurality of spacing members is disclosed. The short-circuit member assembly includes a plurality of short-circuit pieces. Each short-circuit piece has an outer terminal, an inner terminal arranged radially inward from the outer terminal and circumferentially offset from the outer terminal at a predetermined offset angle, and a connecting portion connecting the inner terminal to the outer terminal. The holding portion covers the segments and at least a portion of the short-circuit member assembly to hold the segments and the short-circuit member assembly. The spacing members each have an insulated support portion and a plurality of insulated spacing projections formed integrally with the support portion. Each support portion extends in a radial direction of the short-circuit member assembly. The spacing projections are arranged in the direction in which the corresponding support members extend in such a manner that the spacing projections are each provided between the corresponding circumferentially adjacent pair of the connecting portions.
US07649293B2

The rotor (1) of an electrical machine (10), having at least one permanent magnet (3), which is embodied as a hollow cylinder (5) and which has axial contact faces (20) that cooperate with corresponding axial clamping faces (22) of at least one retaining element (4), with which element the permanent magnet (3) is secured to the rotor (1), in which at least one of the clamping faces (22) has a knurling (46) extending in the radial direction.
US07649283B2

Means and methods of remotely powering a plurality of sensor coils are described. The plurality of sensor coils can be inductively coupled to a single, primary coil so as to bias the active circuitry of the sensors. The primary and sensor coils can have a separation on the order of inches, such that the sensors can be mounted exterior to a vessel and the primary coil can be mounted interior to the vessel. In some embodiments, the primary coil can be a wire coil. In other embodiments, the primary coil can be a planar coil pattern etched onto a printed circuit board.
US07649282B2

A wind park with a plurality of wind energy plants, which each have one plant control, which presets a desired value for the active power to its wind energy plant, and with a park control, which presets a desired value for the active power to be generated for each plant control and limits the active power fed by the wind park to a preset value, by shutting down a first group of wind energy plants and presetting a desired value for the active power to a second group of wind energy plants at a time, characterised in that the park control starts the wind energy plants of the first group again when the sum of the actual values of the active power of the wind energy plants of the second group has reached the preset desired value and/or a predetermined time duration has elapsed.
US07649279B2

Power supply equipment includes circuitry for converting an input voltage to first and second DC voltages provided at respective power ports. One of the ports is connected to a cable having a connector or connector adapter which has a shape and pin out compatible for detachably mating with a first electronic device. A second port is connected to a connector for receiving a cable for coupling to a second electronic device. The power supply powers the first electronic device at the first DC voltage and the second electronic device at the second DC voltage.
US07649274B2

The disclosure relates to a turbine wherein the rotor windings receive current from a CPU-controlled high speed operational amplifier and the stator windings include four-stage poles with configurations controlled by the CPU. The control of the current to the rotor and the control of the configuration of the four-stage poles of the stator windings is used to provide for constant amplitude (i.e., voltage) and frequency output of the turbine over a range of rotational velocities and loads. The turbine can be used in many applications including, but not limited to, wind or water driven applications.
US07649263B2

A semiconductor device including at least one conductive structure is provided. The conductive structure includes a silicon-containing conductive layer, a refractory metal salicide layer and a protection layer. The refractory metal salicide layer is disposed over the silicon-containing conductive layer. The protection layer is disposed over the refractory metal salicide layer. Another semiconductor device including at least one conductive structure is also provided. The conductive structure includes a silicon-containing conductive layer, a refractory metal alloy salicide layer and a protection layer. The refractory metal alloy salicide layer is disposed over the silicon-containing conductive layer. The refractory metal alloy salicide layer is formed from a reaction of silicon of the silicon-containing conductive layer and a refractory metal alloy layer which includes a first refractory metal and a second refractory metal. The protection layer is disposed over the refractory metal alloy salicide layer.
US07649258B2

Propagation of a crack in a semiconductor device is to be suppressed, thus to protect an element forming region. An interface reinforcing film is provided so as to cover a sidewall of a concave portion that penetrates a SiCN film and a SiOC film formed on a silicon substrate. The interface reinforcing film is integrally and continuously formed with another SiOC film, and includes an air gap.
US07649256B2

A semiconductor chip having a thickness of 130 micrometers or less includes a mechanically ground bottom surface corresponding to a central circuit area, and a polished bottom surface corresponding to a peripheral scribe area. The mechanically ground bottom surface prevents heavy metals attached onto the bottom surface of the wafer from diffusing toward the source/drain regions of the semiconductor substrate and thereby from degrading the transistor characteristics.
US07649255B2

A semiconductor die includes proximity connectors proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. This semiconductor die is configured to communicate signals with another semiconductor die via proximity communication through one or more of the proximity connectors. In particular, the proximity connectors include a first group of proximity connectors that is configured to facilitate determining a first separation between the semiconductor die and the other semiconductor die by comparing coupling capacitances between the semiconductor die and the other semiconductor die. Note that the first group of proximity connectors includes a first proximity connector and a second proximity connector, and the second proximity connector at least partially encloses an in-plane outer edge of the first proximity connector.
US07649254B2

A structure is disclosed for connecting an electrically-connectable metal stiffener to a ground connection within a flexible substrate, the stiffener comprising nickel-gold plated stainless steel. In one embodiment the stiffener is secured to the flexible substrate by a non-conducting adhesive which includes an opening over a ground connection, the adhesive opening being filled by a conductive epoxy. A sequence for applying the disclosed materials discloses a method for attaching the stiffening structure to the flexible substrate.
US07649252B2

A ceramic multilayer substrate has a ceramic laminate including a plurality of ceramic layers laminated, having a first main surface, and including internal circuit elements disposed in the inside, a resin layer having a bonding surface in contact with the first main surface of the ceramic laminate and a mounting surface opposite to the bonding surface, external electrodes, each disposed on the mounting surface of the resin layer and electrically connected to at least one of the internal circuit elements of the ceramic laminate, and a ground electrode, a dummy electrode, or capacitor electrodes disposed at an interface between the first main surface of the ceramic laminate and the bonding surface of the resin layer or in the inside of the resin layer.
US07649246B2

A device is provided in which a glass panel having beveled edge is flexibly connected to a TAB package. The outer lead portions of the TAB package include an end portion of first width connected to a connection pattern on the glass panel, a terminal portion having a second width greater than the first width, and a transition portion having a width that varies between the first and second widths. When the TAB package is connected the transition portion of the respective outer lead portions are disposed over the beveled edge of the glass panel.
US07649244B2

A vertical semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor body, a first contact and a second contact, wherein a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type and a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type are formed in the semiconductor body in a direction from the first contact to the second contact, wherein a basic doping density of the second semiconductor region is smaller than a doping density of the third semiconductor region, and wherein in the second semiconductor region a semiconductor zone of the second conductivity type is arranged in which the doping density is increased relative to the basic doping density of the second semiconductor region.
US07649243B2

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor mesa located upon an isolating substrate. The semiconductor mesa includes a first end that includes a first doped region separated from a second end that includes a second doped region by an isolating region interposed therebetween. The first doped region and the second doped region are of different polarity. The semiconductor structure also includes a channel stop dielectric layer located upon a horizontal surface of the semiconductor mesa over the second doped region. The semiconductor structure also includes a first device located using a sidewall and a top surface of the first end as a channel region, and a second device located using the sidewall and not the top surface of the second end as a channel. A related method derives from the foregoing semiconductor structure. Also included is a semiconductor circuit that includes the semiconductor structure.
US07649224B2

This invention is directed to offer a MOS transistor that has a high source-drain breakdown BVds, a low on resistance and a high electric current driving capacity. On resistance is lowered by forming an N well layer for lowering on resistance in the drift region. The N well layer is disposed beneath the gate electrode and away from the N well layer with a certain space between them. This space ensures the withstand voltage at the edge of the gate electrode of the drain layer side. Also, the N well layer is formed on the surface of an epitaxial layer in the region that includes a P+L layer. The edge of the N well layer of the drain layer side is located near the edge of the P+L layer of the drain layer side and away from the N well layer. This space makes the expansion of depletion layer from the P+L layer easier, further improving the withstand voltage.
US07649215B2

An embodiment of a III-nitride semiconductor device and method for making the same may include a low resistive passivation layer that permits the formation of device contacts without damage to the III-nitride material during high temperature processing. The passivation layer may be used to passivate the entire device. The passivation layer may also be provided in between contacts and active layers of the device to provide a low resistive path for current conduction. The passivation process may be used with any type of device, including FETs, rectifiers, schottky diodes and so forth, to improve breakdown voltage and prevent field crowding effects near contact junctions. The passivation layer may be activated with a low temperature anneal that does not impact the III-nitride device regarding outdiffusion.
US07649211B2

The present invention provides a light-emitting element including an electron-transporting layer and a hole-transporting layer between a first electrode and a second electrode; and a first layer and a second layer between the electron-transporting layer and the hole-transporting layer, wherein the first layer includes a first organic compound and an organic compound having a hole-transporting property, the second layer includes a second organic compound and an organic compound having an electron-transporting property, the first layer is formed in contact with the first electrode side of the second layer, the first organic compound and the second organic compound are the same compound, and a voltage is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode, so that both of the first organic compound and the second organic compound emit light.
US07649209B2

A light emitting diode is disclosed. The diode includes a package support and a semiconductor chip on the package support, with the chip including an active region that emits light in the visible portion of the spectrum. Metal contacts are in electrical communication with the chip on the package. A substantially transparent encapsulant covers the chip in the package. A phosphor in the encapsulant emits a frequency in the visible spectrum different from the frequency emitted by the chip and in response to the wavelength emitted by the chip. A display element is also disclosed that combines the light emitting diode and a planar display element. The combination includes a substantially planar display element with the light emitting diode positioned on the perimeter of the display element and with the package support directing the output of the diode substantially parallel to the plane of the display element.
US07649206B2

A sequential lateral solidification (SLS) mask comprises a plurality of parallelizing repeat patterns. Each of the patterns further comprises a major symmetrical axis and a short axis, and each of the patterns is also composed of first units and second units, in which both the first unit and the second unit comprise respectively a plurality of light transmitting portions and light absorption portions. The first units are positioned in mirror symmetry to the second units via the major symmetrical axis.
US07649202B2

A light emitting display comprises: at least one first metal layer; a second metal layer crossing the first metal layer and having a first width; a light emitting device formed adjacent to a region where the first metal layer and the second metal layer cross each other; and a pixel circuit including at least one transistor which causes the light emitting device to emit light. The transistor comprises a semiconductor layer having a second width greater than the first width. With this configuration, in the light emitting display of the present invention, the semiconductor layer of the transistor is formed in a region where the source/drain metal layer and the gate metal layer cross each other, and has a width greater than that of the source/drain metal layer, so that the source/drain metal layer is disposed within the width of the semiconductor layer. Thus, a tip of the gate metal layer, formed in the grain and the pattern edge of the semiconductor layer, is not disposed within the region overlapping the source/drain metal layer so that generation of static electricity between the gate metal layer and the source/drain metal layer is prevented.
US07649199B2

A thin film transistor comprises a layer of organic semiconductor that comprises an N,N′-1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid diimide having at least one cycloalkyl group having a fluorinated substituent at its 4-position that adopts an equatorial orientation in the trans configuration of the cycloalkyl group and an axial orientation in the cis configuration of the cycloalkyl group. Such transistors can be a field effect transistor having a dielectric layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The gate electrode and the thin film of organic semiconductor material both contact the dielectric layer, and the source electrode and the drain electrode both contact the thin film of organic semiconductor material.
US07649196B2

A light emitting device includes an optical cavity in resonance with an optical transition of a material disposed in the cavity. The device can form an exciton-polariton state.
US07649194B2

A nitride semiconductor free-standing substrate formed of a free-standing nitride-based compound semiconductor crystal that has a variation in lattice constant of ±12 ppm or less.
US07649191B2

A carbon containing layer may be formed between a pair of chalcogenide containing layers of a phase change memory. When the lower chalcogenide layer allows current to pass, a filament may be formed therein. The filament then localizes the electrical heating of the carbon containing layer, converting a relatively localized region to a lower conductivity region. This region then causes the localization of heating and current flow through the upper phase change material layer. In some embodiments, less phase change material may be required to change phase to form a phase change memory, reducing the current requirements of the resulting phase change memory.
US07649190B2

An apparatus and process for evaluating an image-wise exposed storage film positioned about a cylindrically-shaped member and linearly passed by a slot for interrogation by a laser light beam wherein a processing assembly (laser beam and pentraprism) is co-axially disposed within a processing chamber formed by the cylindrically-shaped member effecting a size reduction of the unit and increased clarity of the resultant image, and wherein the processing assembly includes a plate member disposed for rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the processing chamber and having a pentaprism and a luminescence light sensor positioned proximate a contact point of the interrogating light beam with the storage film and further including converter electronics wherein after interrogation, the image scanned is digitally archived in a central processing unit.
US07649182B2

A variable waveform detector may include multiple stages.
US07649170B2

A dual-polarity mass spectrometer includes an ion source, a negative ion mass analyzer, and a positive ion mass analyzer to measure both the negative and positive ion spectra of a sample material simultaneously. The ion source includes a sample surface on which the sample material is positioned, the sample material providing positive ions and negative ions when excited by a laser beam or an energetic particle stream. A first extraction electrode is connected to a voltage higher than the sample surface to attract the negative ions from the sample electrode. A second extraction electrode is connected to a voltage lower than the sample surface to attract the positive ions from the sample electrode. The negative and positive ions are analyzed simultaneously by the negative ion mass analyzer and the positive ion mass analyzer, respectively.
US07649168B2

In a triple slit optical encoder, a first grating and a third grating are formed on separate members, and values of a first effective width W1 and a first pitch p1 of an optical pattern on the first grating, and a third effective width W3 and a third pitch p3 of an optical pattern on the third grating are set to values such that a periodic signal having the amplitude effective for detection of a relative displacement of a scale is achieved based on periodicity of the self-image, refractive indices of substances of substances and/or spaces interposed in the optical path from a bare LED up to a photodetector, and the thickness of those substances and/or spaces in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane on which the second grating is formed.
US07649162B2

The present invention is to provide an optical feedback control unit for determining an optical output by a feedback control, an optical communication system, a feedback control method, and a recording medium for recording a program. According to the present invention, even when used in the system to which a plurality of nodes are connected, the unstable system may become stable by the proper feedback control without being affected by the optical level change according to the polarized variation or the loss variation. In The optical feedback control unit according to the present invention, an optical output control portion determines an optical output by a feedback control using the result detected by a detection portion, a dead zone not performing the feedback control is set for the difference between the detected value from the detection portion and the control target value, and when the difference between the detected value and the control target value is within the dead zone, a width of the dead zone is set to be wider than that of the dead zone when the difference between the detected value and the control target value is out of the dead zone.
US07649151B2

A gear-type key switch of a keyboard device of the present invention includes a key top, a holder member, four gears, a spring member, a film circuit board and a supporting plate. The spring member and the holder member are located above the supporting plate and below the key top. The film circuit board is located between the supporting plate and the spring member. The holder member forms four pairs of shafts and the four gears are respectively rotatably assembled to the four pairs of shafts. The key top forms at least four rack supporting members on a bottom thereof. The rack supporting members are respectively parallel to the four gears and engage with the four gears to provide the upward and downward movement of the key top. The gear-type key switch of a keyboard device is simple in structure, with low friction force and decreased height. In addition, the gears can be assembled in mass via special assistant tools, and the keyboard device is also featured in perfect pressing handle, super-thin and easy assembly.
US07649132B2

Snare drum assemblies, including assemblies with flexible snare anchors, and associated methods are described. A drum assembly in accordance with one embodiment includes a set of snare strands, each having a first end and a second end, a first, flexible snare anchor connected directly to the snare strands toward the first ends, and a second, flexible snare anchor connected directly to the snare strands towards the second ends. The snare anchors can be flexible between a first shape and a second shape different than the first shape when attaching the snare anchors to a drum. The first and second snare anchors can have generally flat, uniform shapes when not under tension, and can have a relatively thin profile (e.g., thickness) to provide for contact between the snare strands and a drum head in one or more orientations. In further particular embodiments, the drum head against which the snare assembly is positioned need not include snare beds.
US07649124B2

Provided is a process for adsorptive separation of p-xylene from an aromatic hydrocarbon mixture comprising other isomers of xylene, and a device used therein. More specifically, the present invention provides a separation process employing simulated moving bed (SMB) adsorptive chromatography, characterized by subjecting the extracts eluted from a plurality of adsorption chambers arranged in parallel, to a crystallizer for additional separation, thereby improving productivity, and a device used therein.
US07649121B2

Methods and systems for producing halogenated hydrocarbon compounds with an inorganic fluoride (e.g., germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4)) are disclosed herein.
US07649117B2

Disclosed is a process of preparing an optically active β-hydroxycarboxylic acid derivative comprising asymmetrically hydrogenating a β-keto compound in the presence of a catalyst comprising a transition metal complex compound having a 2,3-bis(dialkylphosphino)pyrazine derivative as a ligand. The pyrazine derivative is preferably a quinoxaline derivative, and the transition metal is preferably ruthenium. Preferred examples of the quinoxaline derivative are (S,S)-2,3-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, (R,R)-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, (S,S)-bis(tert-adamantylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline, and (R,R)-bis(adamantylmethylphosphino)quinoxaline.
US07649111B2

A heteropolyacid catalyst for oxidation of isobutyraldehyde, methacrolein or mixtures or combinations thereof to methacrylic acid is disclosed where the heteropolyacid catalyst includes at least molybdenum (Mo), phosphorus (P), vanadium (V), and a first component including bismuth (Bi) and/or boron (B). The heteropolyacid catalyst can also optionally include a second component including potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and/or thallium (Tl) and optionally a third component including antimony (Sb), cerium (Ce), niobium (Nb), indium (In), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), arsenic (As), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), germanium (Ge), gallium (Ga), zirconium (Zr), magnesium (Mg), barium (Ba), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), and/or lanthanum (La). The heteropolyacid catalyst can also include an ammonium-containing compound designed to increase a value of medium pores in the final heteropolyacid catalyst. A method for oxidizing isobutanal to methacrylic acid using the heteropolyacid catalyst is also disclosed.
US07649110B2

The present invention provides compounds useful, for example, for modulating insulin levels in a subject and that have the general formula Q—L1—P—L2—M—X—L3—A wherein the definitions of the variables Q, L1, P, L2, M, X, L3 and A are provided herein. The present invention also provides compositions and methods for use of the compounds, for instance, for treatment of type II diabetes.
US07649100B1

The selectivity of an olefin epoxidation process catalyzed by a heterogeneous catalyst for example titanium silicalite is improved by performing the epoxidation in the presence of carbon dioxide. The catalysts used do not require regeneration on each recycle.
US07649096B2

A process for preparing a crystalline form of linezolid is provided comprising (a) providing a solution comprising linezolid in an organic solvent having a boiling point of less than or equal to about 150° C.; (b) adding an anti-solvent having a boiling point greater than or equal to about 50° C. to the solution; and (c) recovering the crystalline form of linezolid.
US07649088B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions of a novel gene and the peptide encoded by the gene. Mutations in the gene, named atlastin, are factors in the disease Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and related disorders. The present invention will be used for the in the research, diagnosis and treatment of these disabling diseases.
US07649087B2

A saccharide residue-functional organopolycarbosiloxane containing at least two monosaccharide or polysaccharide groups per molecule in which a specific site on the monosaccharide or polysaccharide is bonded to silicon through a thioether bond. Also, a method of preparing the saccharide residue-functional organopolycarbosiloxane, comprising condensing a saccharide residue-functional metal thiolate compound wherein the metal is an alkali metal atom or alkaline-earth metal atom, and an organopolycarbosiloxane containing groups having the formula —R2Q wherein R2 is C2 to C10 alkylene, and Q is a group selected from halogen atoms, C1 to C10 alkylsulfonate groups, and C6 to C20 arylsulfonate groups.
US07649086B2

An integrated process for the production of ethanol from woody plant material is provided, the process comprising: contacting a continuous flow of the plant material with a counter-current continuous flow of an aqueous ethanol solution at elevated temperature and pressure to provide plant material depleted of lignin; removing ethanol from the lignin-depleted plant material; contacting a continuous flow of the lignin-depleted plant material with water at elevated temperature and pressure to solubilize xylose within the plant material; and hydrolyzing cellulose present in the plant material to form glucose, which in turn is fermented to produce ethanol.
US07649084B2

Amino acid sequences of feline thyrotropin and polynucleotide sequences encoding feline thyrotropin are provided, as well as methods of making and using said sequences.
US07649078B1

An apparatus for treating polymeric materials comprises a treatment chamber adapted to maintain a selected atmosphere at a selected temperature; a means for supporting the polymeric material within the chamber; and, a source of ozone-containing gas, which decomposes at the selected temperature yielding at least one reactive oxidative species whereby the polymer is stabilized and cross linked through exposure to the oxidative species in the chamber at the selected temperature. The ozone may be generated by a plasma discharge or by various chemical processes. The apparatus may be configured for either batch-type or continuous-type processing. The apparatus and method are especially useful for preparing polymer fibers, particularly PAN fibers, for later carbonization treatments as well as to make flame-retardant fabrics.
US07649077B2

The present invention relates to polymers comprising diazine, especially pyrimidine, containing repeating units. Optical devices, comprising the polymers of the present invention, can show significant advantages in color purity, device efficiency and/or operational lifetime. In addition, the polymers can have good solubility characteristics and relatively high glass transition temperatures, which facilitates their fabrication into coatings and films that are relatively thin, thermally stable, and relatively free of defects.
US07649076B2

A method to prepare halogen end-capped polypyrroles, polyfurans or copolymeric pyrroles and furans is presented that readily occurs in a liquid state as well as a solid state without the need of a catalyst from a dihalopyrrole monomer, dihalofuran monomer, or a mixture of monomers. The polymerization mixture can be modified to include a monohalo-monomer for the introduction of a specific end-group or a polyhalo-monomer to form a branched polymer or network. An initiating species can be included in the polymerization mixture to avoid an induction period or to commence the polymerization process on demand. The electroactive polymers can be formed as a bulk material, a coating, or as a film.
US07649073B2

Disclosed herein is a polycarbonate copolymer comprising A) a structure derived from a dihydroxy alkylene oxide compound selected from the group consisting of formula (1a) and formula (1b): H-(E-X)l—OH  (1a) H-(E-X-E)l-OH  (1b) wherein E and X are different and each and independently are selected from the group consisting of formula (2a) and formula (2b): —(OCH2CH2)m—  (2a) —(OCHRCH2)n—  (2b) wherein R is a C1-8 alkyl group; l, m, and n are integers greater than or equal to 1; and wherein the weight average molecular weight of the total amount of the structures corresponding to formula (2b) in the copolymer is between 100 and 2,000 g/mol; and B) a structure derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the structures of A) and B).
US07649071B2

The invention relates to branched polysiloxane compositions resulting from copolymerizing under hydrosilylation conditions a component mixture comprising (a) one or more organosilicon compounds containing at least two unsaturated hydrocarbon functional groups per molecule, and (b) one or more silylhydride-containing compounds containing at least two silylhydride functional groups per molecule, with the provision that (i) at least one component (a) or (b) contains at least three functional groups per molecule; (ii) a component (a) or (b) having a higher number of functional groups per molecule is present in a molar amount equal to or lower than a molar amount of the other component (a) or (b) having a lower number of functional groups per molecule; and (iii) unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds are excluded from the component mixture.
US07649070B2

A linear polymer comprising carborane, siloxane, and acetylene units, which may be cross-linked to a cured polymer and/or pyrolyzed to a ceramic.
US07649065B2

To provide a novel fluoroadamantane derivative, a novel polymerizable fluoroadamantane derivative and a novel fluoropolymer, and processes for production thereof. To provide the following compound (3), the following compound (4), a polymer obtained by polymerizing the compound (4) and processes for production thereof: provided that Q represents —CHF— or —CF2— (provided that six Qs may be the same or different), Z represents —H, —F or —CH2OH (provided that three Zs may be the same or different), W represents —H or a C1-10 hydrocarbon group, R represents —H, —F, —CH3 or —CF3, and J represents —H, —F, —CHWOH or —CHWOCOCR═CH2 (provided that three Js may be the same or different).
US07649064B2

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a transition metal olefin polymerization catalyst component characterized by the formula: where, M is a Group IV or a Group IV transition metal, B is a bridge group containing at least two carbon atoms, A′ and A″ are organogroups, each containing a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen and phosphorus, X is selected from the group consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, a C1-C20 alkyl group, a C6-C30 aromatic group and mixtures thereof, and n is 1, 2 or 3. The invention also encompasses a method for the polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer which comprises contacting a transition metal catalyst component as characterized by formula (1) above and an activating co-catalyst component in a polymerization reaction zone with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer under polymerization conditions to produce a polymer product.
US07649052B2

A heterophasic polyolefin composition comprising: (A) 50-0% of a crystalline propylene polymer; (B) 5-20% of a first elastomeric copolymer of ethylene with at least a C3-C8 α-olefin comonomer; and (C) 10-45% of a second elastomeric copolymer of ethylene with at least a C3-C8 α-olefin comonomer; wherein the ratio between the ethylene content of the fraction insoluble in xylene at room temperature (C2xif) multiplied by the weight percentage of the fraction insoluble in xylene at room temperature (% XIF) and the ethylene content of the fraction soluble in xylene at room temperature (C2xsf) multiplied by the weight percentage of fraction soluble in xylene at room temperature (% SXF) satisfies the following relation (I): C 2 ⁢ xif × % ⁢ XIF C 2 ⁢ xsf × % ⁢ SXF > 0.01 ⁢ x + 0.261 , wherein x is the total amount of ethylene.
US07649044B2

A coating composition is disclosed, comprising a binder component having hydroxyl-functional groups; a curing agent having functional groups, wherein the functional groups of the curing agent are reactive with the hydroxyl-functional groups of the binder component; and pulverized rubber, the pulverized rubber having particles with a size suitable for spraying the coating.
US07649033B2

The invention provides a process for preparing a filled halobutyl elastomer, which includes mixing a halobutyl elastomer with at least one mineral filler that has been reacted with at least one organic compound containing at least one basic nitrogen-containing group and at least one hydroxyl group and, optionally, with at least one silazane compound before admixing the filler with the halobutyl elastomer and optionally curing the filled elastomer with sulfur or other curative systems.
US07649031B2

Various modified pigment products are described which are preferably capable of being dispersed in a variety of materials such as coatings, inks, toners, films, plastics, polymers, elastomers, and the like. The modified pigments are pigments having attached groups, such as polymeric groups, onto the pigment by means other than adsorption. A modified pigment product is described comprising a pigment having attached at least one group comprising the formula: —X-[NIon]pR wherein X comprises an aromatic group or an alkyl group, NIon comprises at least one type of non-ionic group, R represents hydrogen or comprises an aromatic group or an alkyl group, and p represents an integer of from 1 to 500. Modified pigment products are also described comprising a pigment having attached at least one alkylene oxide group or at least one polymeric group. In addition, other types of modified pigment products are described as well as their incorporation into inks, coatings, toners, films, plastics, polymers, elastomers, and the like. Methods of making the modified pigment products are also described.
US07649030B2

The present invention is drawn toward ink-jet inks, coating compositions, methods of printing durable images, and fluoro-diol-modified polyurethanes. The ink-jet ink can comprise a liquid vehicle, a colorant, and a fluoro-diol-modified polyurethane binder having a weight average molecular weight from about 3,000 Mw to about 180,000 Mw, wherein each side chain of the binder has no more than 15 fluoro substitutions.
US07649028B2

The invention relates to a temporary dental formulation useful as a durable, temporary restorative. The formulation changes color during mixing to assist the operator in ensuring adequacy of mixing and enhancing visualization during placement.
US07649027B2

A process for producing a polymer, characterized in that a polymer having juts is produced by carrying out photopolymerization of at least one photopolymerizable polymerization precursor containing a photocurable compound having two or more unsaturated bonds by irradiation with active energy ray, optionally in the presence of at least one additive component for adding a polymer function, in a supercritical fluid or subcritical fluid; and a polymer having juts of 10 nm or more height, which height is 0.1-fold or more of the diameter of the juts, produced by the above process.
US07649026B2

Radiation curable compositions, such as UV curable ink compositions, contain a polymeric dispersant, a curable material, and a nanoscale pigment particle composition including an organic monoazo laked pigment including at least one functional moiety, and a sterically bulky stabilizer compound including at least one functional group, wherein the functional moiety of the pigment associates non-covalently with the functional group of the stabilizer; and the presence of the associated stabilizer limits the extent of particle growth and aggregation, to afford nanoscale-sized pigment particles.
US07649022B2

The invention provides elastomeric polymer networks and semi-interpenetrating networks in which a linear PEA, PEUR or PEU polymer is crosslinked by ester or alpha-amino-acid containing cross-linkers that polymerize upon exposure to active species. Bioabsorbable elastomeric internal fixation devices fabricated using such polymer networks and semi-interpenetrating networks are useful for in vivo implant and delivery of a variety of different types of molecules in a time release fashion. Alpha-amino-acid containing ester amide cross-linkers are also provided by the invention.
US07649020B2

Polymorphic forms of modafinil racemate, methods of preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of therapeutic treatment involving modafinil polymorphic forms.
US07649017B2

The invention relates to the technical fields of biology, pharmacology and medicine. The invention is suitable for use in particular in the human and animal health fields. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of a cAMP modulator in the preparation of compositions that are intended for the prevention or treatment of peripheral neuropathies. The invention further relates to tools and kits to prepare the aforementioned compositions.
US07649015B2

Phosphonate substituted compounds with HIV protease inhibitory properties having use as therapeutics and for other industrial purposes are disclosed. The compositions inhibit HIV protease activity and/or are useful therapeutically for the treatment of AIDS and other antiviral infections, as well as in assays for the detection of HIV protease.
US07649000B2

Compounds of general formula 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is selected from H, lower alkyl, R4—CO, R4—O2CCH2, R5—OCO and R5—SO2; R2 is selected from lower alkyl, cycloalkyl optionally substituted with an alkyl or alkyloxy group, (C5-C12)cycloalkylalkyl optionally substituted with an alkyl or alkyloxy group, aralkyl optionally substituted with up to three groups chosen from F, Cl, Br, I, OH, lower alkyl, O-(lower alkyl), O-benzyl, NH2, NO2, NH-acyl, CN and CF3, and aralkyloxymethyl optionally substituted with up to three groups chosen from F, Cl, Br, OH, lower alkyl and O-(lower alkyl); or R1 and R2 together are an o-xylylene group optionally substituted on the aromatic ring with a group selected from F, Cl, Br, OH, lower alkyl and O-(lower alkyl); R3 is selected from H, OH and O-lower alkyl; R4 is selected from H, lower alkyl and phenyl; and R5 is selected from lower alkyl, phenyl and benzyl. The compounds are useful as pharmaceutical compositions.
US07648996B2

The present invention relates to novel 39-desmethoxyrapamycin derivatives, methods for their production, and uses thereof. In a further aspect the present invention provides for the use of these 39-desmethoxyrapamycin derivatives in the treatment of cancer and/or B-cell malignancies, the induction or maintenance of immunosuppression, the treatment of transplantation rejection, graft vs. host disease, autoimmune disorders, diseases of inflammation, vascular disease and fibrotic diseases, the stimulation of neuronal regeneration or the treatment of fungal infections.
US07648983B2

The present invention provides BACE inhibitors of Formula I: methods for their use, and intermediates and methods for their preparation.
US07648982B2

An opioid formulation for pulmonary administration in the treatment or management of pain, a pulmonary drug delivery device containing, method of administering, kit containing, and uses of same. The formulation contains at least one rapid-onset opioid and preferably also contains a sustained-effect opioid to reduce the frequency of administration. The invention employs the side effects of the opioid formulation to permit patients to self-limit drug intake, thereby avoiding toxicity while achieving analgesia. A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic model is employed to determine optimum drug formulations and optimum parameters for administration.
US07648981B2

An opioid formulation for pulmonary administration in the treatment or management of pain, a pulmonary drug delivery device containing, method of administering, kit containing, and uses of same. The formulation contains at least one rapid-onset opioid and preferably also contains a sustained-effect opioid to reduce the frequency of administration. The invention employs the side effects of the opioid formulation to permit patients to self-limit drug intake, thereby avoiding toxicity while achieving analgesia. A pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic model is employed to determine optimum drug formulations and optimum parameters for administration.
US07648977B2

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the following ruthenium oxalato compounds I, II, III and IV as an active ingredient. The pharmaceutical composition can be used for the treatment of viral-infected patients or prophylactic treatment of patients at risk from viral infection.
US07648975B2

The present invention concerns the compounds of formula (I) the N-oxide forms, the pharmaceutically acceptable addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein Z represents O, CH2, NH or S; in particular Z represents NH; Y represents —C3-9alkyl-, —C3-9alkenyl-, —C3-9alkynyl-, —C3-7alkyl-CO—NH— optionally substituted with amino, mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)amino or C1-4 alkyloxycarbonylamino-, —C3-7alkenyl-CO—NH— optionally substituted with amino, mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)amino- or C1-4alkyloxycarbonylamino-, C1-5alkyl-oxy-C1-5alkyl-, —C1-5alkyl NR13—, —C1-5alkyl-, —C1-5alkyl-NR14—CO—C1-5alkyl-, —C1-5alkyl-CO NR15—C1-5alkyl-, —C1-6alkyl-CO—NH—, —C1-6alkyl-NH—CO—, —C1-3alkyl-NH—CS-Het20-, —C1-3alkyl-NH—CO-Het20, —C1-2alkyl-CO-Het21-CO—, -Het22-CH2—CO—NH—C1-3alkyl-, —CO—NH—C1-6alkyl-, —NH—CO—C1-6alkyl-, —CO—C1-7alkyl-, —C1-7alkyl-CO—, —C1-6alkyl-CO—C1-6alkyl-, —C1-2alkyl-NH—CO—CR16R17—NH—, —C1-2alkyl-CO—NH—CR18R19—CO—, —C1-2alkyl-CO—NR20—C1-3alkyl-CO—, C1-2alkyl-NR21—CH2—CO—NH—C1-3alkyl-, or NR22—CO—C1-3alkyl-NH—, X1 represents a direct bond, O or —O—C1-2alkyl-, CO, —CO—C1-2alkyl-, NR11, —NR11—C1-2alkyl-, —CH2—, —O—N═CH— or —C1-2alkyl-; X2 represents a direct bond, O, —O—C1-2alkyl-, CO, —CO—C1-2alkyl-, NR12, —NR12—C1-2alkyl-, —CH2—, —O—N═CH— or —C1-2alkyl-. The growth inhibitory effect anti-tumour activity of the present compounds has been demonstrated in vitro, in enzymatic on the receptor tyrosine kinase EGFR.
US07648974B1

19-nor-vitamin D analogs having an additional dihydrofuran ring connecting the 3β-oxygen and carbon-2 of the A-ring of the analog, and pharmaceutical uses therefore, are described. These compounds exhibit selective in vitro and in vivo activities, making them therapeutic agents for the treatment or prophylaxis of autoimmune diseases, some types of cancers, metabolic bone diseases, osteomalacia, osteopenia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis, or other skin diseases.
US07648972B2

Compounds of formula I are provided where X1 and X2 are independently selected from H or hydroxy protecting groups. Such compounds are used in preparing pharmaceutical compositions and are useful in treating a variety of biological conditions.
US07648970B2

The present invention comprises compounds, compositions thereof, and methods capable of delivering modified inositol hexaphosphate (IHP) comprising an internal pyrophosphate ring to the cytoplasm of mammalian cells. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions thereof, and methods that enhance the ability of mammalian red blood cells to deliver oxygen, by delivering IHP to the cytoplasm of the red blood cells.
US07648960B2

Methods are provided for purifying peptides and proteins by incorporating the peptide or protein into a diketopiperazine or competitive complexing agent to facilitate removal of one or more impurities from the peptide or protein. Formulations and methods also are provided for the improved transport of active agents across biological membranes, resulting for example in a rapid increase in blood agent concentration. The formulations include microparticles formed of (i) the active agent, which may be charged or neutral, and (ii) a transport enhancer that masks the charge of the agent and/or that forms hydrogen bonds with the target biological membrane in order to facilitate transport. In one embodiment insulin is administered via the pulmonary delivery of microparticles comprising fumaryl diketopiperazine and insulin in its biologically active form. This method of delivering insulin results in a rapid increase in blood insulin concentration that is comparable to the increase resulting from intravenous delivery.
US07648957B2

The present invention discloses a composition comprising an insulin sensitizer and a peptide fraction, which promotes significant reduction in blood glucose levels and stabilizes blood glucose levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
US07648953B2

A unique eco-friendly liquid laundry detergent enhanced with natural essence and further comprising non-petroleum source anionic and nonionic surfactants, naturally occurring builders, and optional enzymes, to yield remarkably effective yet environmentally responsible detergents.
US07648952B2

A liquid washing and cleaning composition comprising:one or more of constituents a1) through a4) a1) alkylbenzenesulfonate, a2) olefinsulfonate, a3) alkylsulfate, a4) alkyl ether sulfate or mixtures thereof, b) secondary alkanesulfonate, c) at least one soap, d) at least one nonionic surfactant and e) at least one cationic surfactant, wherein the mixing ratio of the secondary alkanesulfonate to the component AT formed from the one or more of constituents a1, a2, a3 and a4 is 4.9 to 0.1: 5.1 to 9.9.
US07648951B2

A pouch, and a process for making thereof, comprising the steps of: pre-sealing a compartment comprising a pouch material, the compartment containing an anhydrous composition to form a pre-sealed compartment; fitting a first piece of the pouch material into a mould, pouring a particulate dishwashing product into the mould; placing the pre-sealed compartment over the mould; sealing the pre-sealed compartment and said first piece of pouch material together to form the multi-compartment pouch.
US07648950B2

The present invention relates to the use of a polyalkylmethacrylate polymer to improve the air release of a functional fluid.
US07648945B2

The present invention relates to a herbicide combination comprising components (A) and (B), where (A) is one or more herbicides from the group of the compounds of the formula (I) or salts thereof in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and A are as defined in claim 1; and (B) is one or more herbicides different from herbicide (A), preferably from the group of compounds consisting of (B1) herbicides which can be employed selectively and which are effective mainly against monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous harmful plants, (B2) herbicides which can be employed selectively and which are effective mainly against dicotyledonous harmful plants and (B3) herbicides which can be employed selectively and which are effective mainly against monocotyledonous harmful plants, (B4) herbicides which can be employed non-selectively and which are effective against monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous harmful plants, for example for use in the non-selective field or in crops which are specifically tolerant.
US07648943B2

An azo dye represented by formula (II) as defined in the specification, a process of producing the same and a coloring composition containing the azo dye.
US07648927B2

Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method for depositing films or layers using a UV source during a photoexcitation process. The films are deposited on a substrate and usually contain a material, such as silicon (e.g., epitaxy, crystalline, microcrystalline, polysilicon, or amorphous), silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or other silicon-containing materials. The photoexcitation process may expose the substrate and/or gases to an energy beam or flux prior to, during, or subsequent a deposition process. Therefore, the photoexcitation process may be used to pre-treat or post-treat the substrate or material, to deposit the silicon-containing material, and to enhance chamber cleaning processes. Attributes of the method that are enhanced by the UV photoexcitation process include removing native oxides prior to deposition, removing volatiles from deposited films, increasing surface energy of the deposited films, increasing the excitation energy of precursors, reducing deposition time, and reducing deposition temperature.
US07648924B2

A method of manufacturing an L-shaped spacer is described. First, a substrate is provided and a protruding structure is formed thereon. Next, a dielectric material is formed on the substrate and covers the stacked structure. Then, the dielectric material on the top of the protruding structure and on portions of the substrate is removed to form an L-shaped spacer.
US07648918B2

Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a photo acid generator (PAG) layer on the substrate, exposing the PAG layer to radiation, and forming a photoresist layer on the exposed PAG layer. The exposed PAG layer generates an acid. The acid decomposes a portion of the formed photoresist layer. In one embodiment, the PAG layer includes organic BARC. The decomposed portion of the photoresist layer may be used as a masking element.
US07648917B2

A manufacturing method of a solid-state imaging device includes: forming a first and second insulating films having different properties on a silicon substrate such that they cover sides of gate electrodes formed on the silicon substrate; subjecting the second insulating film to selective etching, and forming sidewalls on the sides of the gate electrode; subjecting the gate electrode having the sidewalls formed to ion implantation; covering the gate electrode having the sidewalls formed and forming a third insulating film on the silicon substrate; covering with a mask material part of the gate electrodes covered with the third insulating film, and subjecting the substrate to etching to remove exposed third insulating film; and, after removing the mask material, forming a metal film capable of forming a silicide on the silicon substrate such that the metal film covers the gate electrodes and the third insulating film to form a silicide layer.
US07648916B2

Methods for monitoring and detecting optical emissions while performing photoresist stripping and removal of residues from a substrate or a film stack on a substrate are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes positioning a substrate comprising a photoresist layer into a processing chamber; processing the photoresist layer using a multiple step plasma process; and monitoring the plasma for a hydrogen optical emission during the multiple step plasma process; wherein the multiple step plasma process includes removing a bulk of the photoresist layer using a bulk removal step; and switching to an overetch step in response to the monitored hydrogen optical emission.
US07648908B2

After a groove is formed in an insulating layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, a barrier metal layer is formed on the insulating layer by an ALD process so as to cover the side walls and bottom of the groove, and an impurity layer is formed in or on the surface of the barrier metal layer by an ion implantation process or by an ALD process. Thereafter, the barrier metal layer and the impurity layer are alloyed, and then an inlaid interconnect layer, which is composed of a Cu seed layer and a Cu plating layer, is formed in the groove. Then, an impurity element in the alloyed barrier metal layer is thermally diffused into the inlaid interconnect layer.
US07648880B2

A double-gate field effect transistor (DGFET) structure and method of forming such a structure in which the parasitic capacitance under the source/drain regions is substantially reduced are provided. In the present invention, self-aligned isolation regions are provided to reduce the parasitic capacitance in the DGFET structure. Additionally, the present invention encapsulates the silicon-containing channel layer to enable the back-gate to be oxidized to a greater extent thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance of the structure even further.
US07648878B2

A pad oxide layer is formed on a substrate. A pad nitride layer is formed on the pad oxide layer. The pad nitride layer and the pad oxide layer are patterned. Predetermined portions of the substrate are etched using the pad nitride layer as an etch barrier to thereby form trenches used as device isolation regions. The trenches are filled with an insulation layer to thereby form device isolation regions. The pad nitride layer is removed. Recesses are formed by etching predetermined portions of the pad oxide layer and the substrate. The pad oxide layer is removed. A gate oxide layer is formed on the recesses and on the substrate. Gate structures of which bottom portions are buried in the recesses on the gate oxide layer are formed.
US07648875B2

A first interlayer dielectric is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A contact pad is formed to contact the substrate through the first interlayer dielectric. A bitline is formed on the first interlayer dielectric not to contact the contact pad. A second interlayer dielectric is formed and planarized to expose the top of the bitline. A protective layer is formed an entire surface of the resultant structure. A sacrificial layer is formed on the protective layer. The sacrificial layer, the protective layer, and the second interlayer dielectric are patterned between two adjacent bitlines to form a bottom electrode contact hole exposing the contact pad. A conductive layer is formed and planarized to form a bottom electrode contact plug filling the bottom electrode contact hole.
US07648874B2

In a method of manufacturing a dielectric structure, after a first dielectric layer is formed on a substrate by using a metal oxide doped with silicon, the substrate is placed on a susceptor of a chamber. By treating the first dielectric layer with a plasma in controlling a voltage difference between the susceptor and a ground, a second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer including a metal oxynitride doped with silicon having enough content of nitrogen is formed on the first dielectric layer. Therefore, dielectric properties of the dielectric structure comprising the first and the second dielectric layers can be improved and a leakage current can be greatly decreased. By adapting the dielectric structure to a gate insulation layer and/or to a dielectric layer of a capacitor or of a non-volatile semiconductor memory device, capacitances and electrical properties can be improved.
US07648873B2

A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a first capacitor electrode over a semiconductor substrate. A capacitor dielectric region is formed onto the first capacitor electrode. The capacitor dielectric region has an exposed oxide containing surface. The exposed oxide containing surface of the capacitor dielectric region is treated with at least one of a borane or a silane. A second capacitor electrode is deposited over the treated oxide containing surface. The second capacitor electrode has an inner metal surface contacting against the treated oxide containing surface. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US07648870B2

A method of forming a fuse region in a semiconductor damascene process in which a specific layer is formed to prevent corrosion and re-connection of a severed part of the fuse region to prevent malfunction. A first conductive layer is formed over a substrate and an interlayer dielectric layer is deposited over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is buried in the interlayer dielectric layer by a dual damascene process to simultaneously form an interconnection and a fuse. The resultant structure is coated with a passivation layer. The fuse is cut to form a severed portion. A selective metal layer is deposited over the severed portion.
US07648868B2

Metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices having metal gate stacks and techniques for improving performance thereof are provided. In one aspect, a metal-oxide semiconductor device is provided comprising a substrate having a buried oxide layer at least a portion of which is configured to serve as a primary background oxygen getterer of the device; and a gate stack separated from the substrate by an interfacial oxide layer. The gate stack comprises a high-K layer over the interfacial oxide layer; and a metal gate layer over the high-K layer.
US07648864B2

A method (and resultant structure) of forming a semiconductor structure, includes forming a mixed rare earth oxide on silicon. The mixed rare earth oxide is lattice-matched to silicon.
US07648860B2

A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor or like structure provides conductive “tails” below an overhang region formed by a top gate structure. The tails increase in thickness as they extend outward from a point under the overhang to the source and drain contacts. The tails provide a low resistance conduction path between the source and drain regions and the channel, with low parasitic capacitance. The thickness profile of the tails is controlled by the deposition of material over and on the lateral side surfaces of the gate structure.
US07648859B2

The microcavity is delineated by a cover, comprising a first layer, in which at least one hole is formed. A second layer hermetically seals the microcavity. A third layer is arranged between the first and the second layer. An additional microcavity, communicating with the hole, is arranged between the first and the third layer. At least one additional hole, adjacent to the additional microcavity, formed in the third layer and offset with respect to the hole, is sealed by the second layer, after sacrificial layers have been removed through the additional hole. The microcomponent includes at least one mechanically stressed layer arranged above the first layer.
US07648851B2

A method for fabricating a back-side illuminated image sensor includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and back surface, providing a plurality of transistors, metal interconnects, and metal pads on front surface of the substrate, bonding a supporting layer to the front surface of the substrate, thinning-down the semiconductor substrate from the back surface, clearing-out a region of the semiconductor substrate from the back surface that covers a fine alignment mark by performing registration from the back surface and using a global alignment mark as a reference, and processing the back surface of the substrate by performing registration from the back surface and using the fine alignment mark as a reference.
US07648843B2

This invention pertains to a surface ligand; preparation of the ligand; colloidal nanoparticle, such as quantum dot bearing one or more of the ligand; and a bioconjugate characterized by a nanoparticle bearing one or more of the ligand conjugated to a biomolecule. The ligand is characterized by the presence of a first module containing atoms that can attach to an inorganic surface; a second module that imparts water-solubility to the ligand and to the inorganic surface that may be attached to the ligand; and a third module that contains a functional group that can, directly or indirectly, conjugate to a biomolecule. Order of the modules can be different and other modules and groups can be on the ligand. Preparation of the ligand includes the steps of reacting a compound having atoms that can attach to an inorganic surface with a water-solubilizing compound that imparts the property of water-solubility to the ligand and the inorganic surface to which it may be attached and purification thereof. Colloidal nanoparticle is characterized by an inorganic surface having attached to it one or more of the ligands. The colloidal bioconjugate is characterized by an inorganic surface having attached thereto one or more of the ligand wherein at least some of the ligand have a biomolecule conjugated thereto.
US07648842B2

The present invention relates to a unique dual color security paper authentication system. The authenticating system comprises the combination of a security paper together with a coordinated applicator. The paper contains a starch, an iodide salt and an acidic developer resin. The applicator of the system comprises two authenticating solutions. The first authenticating solution comprises one or more of a sulfonamide and a copper salt dispersed in a solvent. The second authenticating solution comprises one or more of a leuco and fluoran dye precursor dispersed in a solvent. On applying the authenticating solutions to authentic security paper, a first color of a starch iodine is expressed and a second color of a leuco or fluoran dye is expressed.
US07648841B2

The present invention relates to a reagent for determining the absolute configuration of a chiral compound containing as an active ingredient a metalloporphyrin dimer, wherein the metalloporphyrin dimer has an alkaline-earth metal ion as a central metal and has a carbon chain-crosslinked structure in which at least one of the two porphyrin rings has a substituent bulkier than methyl at least one of the second carbon atoms from a carbon atom bonded to the crosslinking carbon chain along the outer periphery of the porphyrin ring and a method for determining the absolute configuration of an asymmetric carbon atom of the chiral compound using the reagent.
US07648838B2

Provided is a lysis method for cells or viruses, including: immobilizing a metal-ligand complex on a solid support; and mixing the complex immobilized on the support with a cell or virus solution. According to the lysis method, by immobilizing a chemical on a solid support to perform cell lysis, the dilution problem according to the addition of a cell lysis solution can be resolved and a separate process of removing the chemical is not required so as to reduce the steps upon LOC implementation. In addition, since a variety of solid supports, such as chips, beads, nanoparticles etc. can be used, cell lysis apparatuses of various forms can be fabricated.
US07648836B1

Systems and methods for measuring the moisture and sediment content of a sample. In one embodiment, a sample to be tested is collected in a field bottle. The sample from the field bottle is then transferred from the field bottle, and into and through an analysis bottle containing a desiccant material. As the sample is being pulled through the analysis bottle, a microwave measurement system (or other scattering parameter measuring system) is used to measure the effects of the sample on the scattering parameters of the desiccant material. By measuring the effects of the sample on the scattering parameters of the desiccant material, the sample's moisture content can be determined. The sample's moisture can also be determined by measuring the expanded volume of the desiccant. A filter section having a sight glass with graduations is used to determine the sediment content of the sample.
US07648827B2

The present invention relates to the significant functional role of several C. elegans genes and of their corresponding gene products in cell cycle progression during cell division that could be identified by means of RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) and to the identification and isolation of functional orthologs of said genes including all biologically functional derivatives thereof. The invention further relates to the use of said genes and gene products (including said orthologs) in the development or isolation of anti-proliferative agents, particularly their use in appropriate screening assays, and their use for diagnosis and treatment of proliferative and other diseases. In particular, the invention relates to the use of small interfering RNAs derived from said genes for the treatment of proliferative diseases.
US07648824B2

The present invention provides a method of identifying a base at a target position in a sample nucleic acid sequence, said method comprising: subjecting a primer hybridised to said sample nucleic acid immediately adjacent to the target position, to a polymerase primer extension reaction in the presence of a nucleotide, whereby the nucleotide will only become incorporated if it is complementary to the base in the target position, and determining whether or not said nucleotide is incorporated by detecting whether PPi is released, the identity of the target base being determined from the identity of any nucleotide incorporated, wherein, where said nucleotide comprises an adenine base, an α-thio triphosphate analogue of said nucleotide is used, ant the Rp isomer of said analogue and/or the degradation products of said analogue are eliminated from the polymerase reaction step.
US07648813B2

By using an intaglio plate for holding a pattern formed by a developing agent, a transfer device for transferring patterns developed on the intaglio plate to a transfer object medium, and a baking chamber for eliminating an electrode layer after transfer or heightening resistance thereof, the patterns developed on the intaglio plate are transferred onto the electrode layer disposed at the opposite side of the transfer object medium, and then heated in the baking chamber, whereby the electrode layer is eliminated or heightened in resistance.
US07648802B2

The present invention presents three new classes of phase-shifting mask patterns. In optical image forming systems, a mask with phase shifted regions can act as a precision instrument for characterizing imaging. Three new classes of phase-shifting mask patterns have been invented to characterize projection printing tool illumination and phase-shifting mask (PSM) performance. The linear phase grating (LPG) and linear phase ring (LPR) both serve to characterize illumination angular distribution and uniformity. A third new class, the interferometric-probe monitor for phase-shifting masks (IPM-PSM), measures the effective phase, transmittance and edge effects of various phase-shifted mask features. All three patterns allow performance comparison across the field, tool-to-tool, over time, or to intended design.
US07648801B2

A battery of series-connected rechargeable lithium ion cells each of which contains a negative electrode; a negative electrode current collector; a positive electrode; a positive electrode current collector; and an electrolyte comprising charge carrying medium, lithium salt and cyclable redox chemical shuttle. The negative electrode has a larger i rreversible first cycle capacity loss than that of the positive electrode, and is driven to a potential above that of the positive electrode if the cell is discharged to a state of cell reversal. The shuttle has an electrochemical potential above the positive electrode maximum normal operating potential, and prevents the negative electrode potential from reaching even higher and more destructive positive values during overdischarge. The current collector has a lithium alloying potential below the negative electrode minimum normal operating potential. The battery chemically limits or eliminates cell damage due to repeated overdischarge, and may operate without electronic overdischarge protection circuitry.
US07648793B2

A fuel cell system includes first and second fuel cell stacks which are juxtaposed to each other. An assembly manifold is attached to the first and second fuel cell stacks. A connection block is provided at a central position of the assembly manifold. A fuel gas supply port and a fuel gas discharge port are provided on a front surface of the connection block, and an oxygen-containing gas supply port and an oxygen-containing gas discharge port are provided on a back surface of the connection block. A fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are equally supplied to each of the first and second fuel cell stacks.
US07648790B2

An electrolyte for a fuel cell comprising a proton conducting resin comprising a backbone comprising a polyurea resin and side chains that comprise an active hydrogen group at a terminal and a fuel cell employing the same are provided. The electrolyte has improved proton conductivity, heat resistance, and mechanical strength.
US07648778B2

An organic electroluminescent element comprises: a pair of electrodes; and at least one organic compound layer between the pair of electrodes, said at least one organic compound layer comprising a light-emitting layer, wherein the organic luminescent element comprises at least one complex represented by formula (1): wherein M11 represents a hexacoordinate transition metal ion, Y11 represents a nitrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted carbon atom, L11 represents a ligand, Q11 and Q12 each represents an atomic group for forming a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, n11 represents an integer of 1 to 3, n12 represents an integer of 0 to 4, X11 represents a counter ion, and n13 represents an integer of 0 to 3.
US07648777B2

An organic electroluminescent compound and an organic electroluminescent device using the same. The organic electroluminescent compound having Formula 1 can be used as blue electroluminescent compound. The organic electroluminescent device using the organic electroluminescent compound having Formula 1 has improved luminous efficiency and color purity.
US07648770B2

The invention aims to provide a resin primer which can stick an insulator layer to a conductor foil whereof the surface is not much roughened with sufficient adhesive force, a conductor foil with resin, a laminated sheet and a method of manufacturing same. The resin primer of the invention comprises a resin having film-forming ability and a breaking energy of 0.15 J or more. The conductor foil with resin of the invention comprises a resin layer comprising a conductor foil and the aforesaid resin primer. Further, the laminated sheet of the invention comprises the conductor foil, an insulating layer disposed facing the conductor foil, and a resin layer comprising the aforesaid resin primer disposed between the conductor foil and insulating layer so that it is in contact therewith. This laminated sheet can be manufactured by heating and pressurizing a laminate comprising the aforesaid conductor foil with resin, and a prepreg laminated on this resin layer.
US07648766B2

A composite silicone rubber powder comprising: (A) a silicone rubber powder having an average particle size within the range of 0.1 to 500 μm and hardness of at least 15 by type A durometer according to JIS K 6253, wherein the surface of said silicone rubber powder is coated with (B) a microfine inorganic powder having the BET specific surface area of at least 10 m2/g, said composite silicone rubber powder being characterized by the fact that the surface thereof is treated with (C) an organic silicon compound having a silicon-bonded hydrolyzable group, or with a product of partial hydrolysis of said compound, is characterized by excellent dispersibility in coating and cosmetic materials and having the possibility of improving matting properties of coating materials, and feel of use of cosmetic materials.
US07648763B2

The invention relates to an object, in particular a security element for security papers, bank notes, identity card or the like, as well as a security paper and a document of value with such a security element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing the object, in particular the security element or the security paper and the document of value with such a security element. The method in particular serves for manufacturing a precious-metal-coloured, preferably gold-coloured coating on a substrate.
US07648762B2

A hard coating composition that can be coated on a transparent plastic substrate is disclosed. The hard coating composition includes (a) a silver nanoparticle sol, (b) a conductive filler, (c) a photocurable resin, (d) a photopolymerization initiator, and (e) an organic solvent. The composition has a viscosity of about 5 to 100 cps. The silver nanoparticle sol includes a plurality of silver nanoparticles. The plurality of silver nanoparticles has a diameter between about 1 nm and about 10 nm.
US07648759B2

A carbon fiber composite material compact contains less of expensive carbon fibers, and the compact can therefore be used for general purposes which do not require highly superior physical properties. The carbon fiber composite material compact is produced by staking a first carbon fiber layer, a core layer, a second carbon fiber layer so as to form a laminate, and then compacting the laminate while impregnating an impregnable resin therein.
US07648758B2

Disclosed are composite materials that can exhibit low transmission energy loss and can also be temperature resistant. The composites include reinforcement fibers held in a polymeric matrix. The polymeric matrix can include an amorphous polymer component. Also disclosed are methods of forming the composites. Methods can include forming amorphous thermoplastic polymer fibers, forming a fabric from the fibers, combining the fabric with reinforcement fibers, and molding the structure thus formed under heat and pressure such that the amorphous thermoplastic polymer flows and forms a polymeric matrix incorporating the reinforcement fibers. The composites can be molded from multi-layer structures that can include layers of differing materials, for instance layers formed of polyaramids, fiberglass, or carbon fiber wovens or nonwovens. The composites can advantageously be utilized in low loss dielectric applications, such as in forming circuit board substrates, radomes, antennas, and the like.
US07648756B2

A coating is provided for enhancing low temperature heat sealability and providing high hot tack to polymeric substrates. The coating is water-based and includes a dispersion of a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic or methacrylic acid, and a compatible adhesion enhancer which is an aliphatic polyurethane emulsion. The coating may also include additives such as wetting agents, matting agents, antiblocking agents, and tackifying resins. The coating may be applied to a variety of polymeric substrates and may be heat sealed to itself, or to polymeric substrates, cellulosic substrates, and metal substrates.
US07648755B2

Provides a non-white construction surface comprising a substrate, a first reflective coating on at least a portion of an outer surface of the substrate, the coated substrate exhibiting a minimum direct solar reflectance value of at least about 25%, and a second reflective coating on at least a portion of the first reflective coating, wherein the combination of the first reflective coating and the second reflective coating provide the substrate with at least one of (i) a reflectivity of at least about 20% at substantially all points in the wavelength range between 770 and 2500 nm, and (ii) a summed reflectance value of at least 7000 as measured in the range between 770 and 2500 nm inclusive. Also provided are various substrates having the coatings described as well as methods of providing the described construction surfaces.
US07648754B2

The present disclosure generally relates to a polymeric cellular confinement system which can be filled with soil, concrete, aggregate, earth materials, and the like. More specifically, the present disclosure concerns a cellular confinement system characterized by improved durability against damage generated by UV light, humidity, and aggressive soils, or combinations thereof.
US07648752B2

A composite web adapted for use as a component in a disposable absorbent article is disclosed. The composite web comprises a first fibrous layer and a second layer, the first and second layers each comprising a body-facing side and a garment-facing side and are disposed in a face to face relationship to form a laminate. The first fibrous layer comprises a fibrous web of randomly oriented fibers with respect to an X-Y plane, and a plurality of discrete regions of fiber reorientation at least on the body-facing side thereof, and a plurality of fibers having portions reoriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the X-Y plane and extending toward the garment-facing side.
US07648743B2

The disclosed is a liquid crystal compound and method for manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal compound can be used alone or mixed with commercially available liquid crystal compounds. Because low rotational viscosity of the liquid crystal compound of the invention, it can be used as positive or negative dielectric anisotropic liquid crystal composition.
US07648741B2

A method of forming a pattern of electrical conductors on a receiving substrate (110) comprises forming metal nanoparticles of a conductive material. A donor substrate (45) is formed. A layer of release material (75) is deposited on a first side of the donor substrate. The metal nanoparticles are deposited on the release material. The metal nanoparticulate layer are placed in contact with the receiving substrate. A pattern is written on a sandwich formed by the donor substrate and the receiving substrate, causing metal nanoparticles from the nanoparticulate layer (90) to anneal and transfer to the receiving substrate to form the pattern of electrical conductors on the receiving substrate.
US07648739B2

A substrate having a surface with reversibly switchable properties. The surface comprises a nanolayer of a material that switches from a first conformation state to a second conformation state when an external stimulus is applied. When the nanolayer is in the first conformation state, the surface is characterized by a first property, and when the nanolayer is in the second conformation state, the surface is characterized by a second property.
US07648738B2

Compounds of the formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV), wherein Ch1 is e.g. the formula (V) or (VI); Ch2 is the formula (VII) or (VIII); Het1 is for example furyl, thienyl, pyrrolyl, pyridyl, benzothienyl, quinolyl or bithienyl; each of which is optionally substituted; Het2 and Het2′ e.g. are furylene, thienylene, pyrrolylene, benzothienylene, quinolylene, furylenecarbonyl, thienylenecarbonyl, benzothienylenecarbonyl or bithienylenecarbonyl; each of which is optionally substituted; A1, and Ar1′ i.a. are phenyl, naphthyl, benzoyl or naphthoyl, each of which is optionally substituted; Ar2 is for example phenylene, optionally substituted; M i.a. is C1-C20alkylene; R1 is for example C1-C12alkyl or phenyl; R2 and R2′ for example are hydrogen or C1-C20 alkyl; exhibit an unexpectedly good performance in photopolymerization reactions.
US07648733B2

A polymer composite multiend roving material used to make structural composite parts includes a bundle of fibers held together by a high integrity sizing composition and surrounded by a powder coating polymer material. The powder coating material is approximately 10-80% of the dry weight of the multiend composite roving weight. The multiend composite roving material may then be easily processed further to form a molded composite part having good mechanical properties and high fiber content.
US07648731B2

Methods of fabricating perpendicular write elements for perpendicular magnetic recording heads are discussed. In write element fabrication, write poles are fabricated according to one of many desired methods. The write poles during fabrication are typically covered by a hard mask and a photolithographic soft mask. According to the methods described herein, the soft mask is removed such as by chemical etching. The hard mask is then removed, such as by CMP and ion etching, to expose the write poles. Shield gap material may then be deposited on the write poles to define the shield gap between the write poles and the trailing shields. Trailing shield material may then be deposited on the shield gap material to form the trailing shields corresponding with the write poles.
US07648729B2

This mask includes: a substrate in which an aperture is formed; a mask member which, along with being formed with a plurality of through holes, is joined to the substrate in correspondence to the aperture; and spacers which hold the substrate and the mask member with a predetermined gap between them.
US07648726B2

A method including forming a first coating layer derived from an alkoxide on a substrate having a dimension suitable for an implant and forming a second coating layer on the first coating layer that promotes osseointegration. An apparatus comprising a substrate having a dimension suitable as a medical or dental implant and a coating on a surface of a first coating layer derived from an alkoxide and a second coating layer that promotes osseointegration.
US07648719B2

Method for oxygen treatment of liquid unsaturated carbon compounds with carbon number between 6 and 26 wherein the material is placed in a reaction chamber (11), a mixture ozone and oxygen is passed through the material, and by controlling the flow rate of the gas mixture through the material the temperature of the reaction is controlled to remain below a predetermined maximum value being 100° C. As a result of the reaction a novel material is obtained which has an epoxy-structure, has a higher density and smaller viscosity than the starting material, it has excellent burning properties and can be used as a limited rate source of oxygen. The apparatus for carrying of the method comprises an oxygen source, and ozonizer (6), a reaction chamber (11) for containing the liquid starting material, a gas pump (13) for removing the gas from the reaction chamber, and a temperature control system. An expedient field of application for the novel material is a therapeutic composition that facilitates natural metabolism of cells that comprises hydroxy proline and a neutral carrier material, wherein the amount of the material is below 20% and the amount of hydroxy proline is below 10%.
US07648715B2

Polymeric particles comprising a polymeric matrix and colourant distributed throughout the matrix, wherein the polymeric matrix that has been formed from a blend of monomers comprising a first monomer which is an ethylenically unsaturated ionic monomer and a second monomer which is an ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer which is capable of forming a homopolymer of glass transition temperature in excess of 50° C., and in which the first monomer is a salt of a volatile counterion component, characterized in that the polymeric matrix is impermeable to the colourant The particles obtainable by the process of the invention can be used in a variety of industrial processes, for instance in the manufacture of inks, paper and cosmetics.
US07648709B2

The present invention relates to the field of Immunology, specifically with the branch of Immuno-Allergy and in particular with the use of adjuvant or carrier compounds, capable of modulating the immune response to allergens. The technical objective that is pursued is to obtain a pharmaceutical preparation of therapeutic or prophylactic use using bacterial proteoliposomes, which transform the allergic response Th2 and IgE when being applied in allergic individuals, toward a protector response Th1; as well as it is able to prevent the appearance and the development of allergies in individuals non-allergic yet. The vaccine composition consists of proteoliposomes derived from Gram-negative bacteria coupled to allergens and optionally contains other adjuvants or antigens. The method for its preparation and an immunization scheme of two doses are provided.
US07648691B2

A fullerene mixture comprising any two or more of C60, C70 and higher fullerenes having greater than 70 carbon atoms is brought into contact with an amine having two or more nitrogen atoms, especially an amine having an amidine structure, in a solvent to form a complex of a specific fullerene contained in the fullerene mixture and the amine, and the complex is separated from a solution in which fullerenes not forming the complex are dissolved. Consequently, a method of fullerene separation, by which the specific fullerene is separated from the fullerene mixture with ease and at low cost, and the complex having the fullerene can be provided.
US07648688B2

Disclosed herein is a method of separating carbon dioxide from a gas mixture using a biopolymer, including: introducing hemocyte or extrapallial fluid, extracted from shells, into a reactor filled with 1 L of a solution containing a calcium source, and then dissolving the hemocyte or extrapallial fluid in the solution to form a mixed solution; and mixing carbon dioxide or a gas mixture containing carbon dioxide into the mixed solution to separate carbon dioxide from the gas mixture.
US07648679B2

The invention relates to an electric pipette (1) comprising a body (2), a tip part (4), a hook part (5), a push-button part (6) and a display part (7), said body (1) having a vertical axis (3) and at least one of the parts selected from the group consisting of the hook part (5), the push-button part (6) and the display part (7) is rotatable about the vertical axis (3) of the electric pipette (1) correspondingly by an angle φ1, φ2 or φ3.
US07648678B2

The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for automatic staining of at least one tissue sample accommodated on a slide by applying reagents. The system may include at least one slide provided in a slide rack, a fluid containment element, a slide holder, a vertical slide positioner to pivot the slides to a vertical position, and a slide immerser element to immerse the vertical slide into a fluid containment element or even a dip tank. By pivoting the slides from a horizontal to a vertical position, an automated method and apparatus for carrying out a pretreatment in an automated staining apparatus may be provided. The pivoting of slides may ensure an appropriate orientation of the slides for both the pretreatment and the staining processes.
US07648675B2

A method of sintering a composite body characterized by a transition metal carbide phase (such as a ZrC phase) substantially evenly distributed in a second, typically refractory, transition metal (such as W) matrix at ambient pressures, including blending a first predetermined amount of first transition metal oxide powder (such as ZrO2) with a second predetermined amount of second transition metal carbide powder (such as WC powder). Next the blended powders are mixed to yield a substantially homogeneous powder mixture and a portion of the substantially homogeneous powder mixture is formed into a green body. The body is fired to a first temperature, wherein the first transition metal oxide is substantially reduced and the simultaneously generated CO and gas are evolved from the body to substantially eliminate oxides from the green body, and the body is heated to a second temperature and sintered to yield a composite body of about 99 percent theoretical density and characterized by a first transition metal carbide phase distributed substantially evenly in a second transition metal matrix.
US07648672B2

In a system for processing metal, a furnace is provided which receives the metal being processed. At least one heating burner is provided in the furnace together with at least one atmosphere burner of substantially a same construction as the heating burner. An exhaust of the atmosphere burner at least partially provides an atmosphere within the furnace for the metal processing. An exhaust of the heating burner is separate from the exhaust of the atmosphere burner. A fuel feed for the atmosphere burner and a fuel feed for the heating burner are each separately controllable.
US07648664B2

A material feed system for solid freeform fabrication. The build material is delivered in discrete or quantized amounts by a clamp feed system in a non-flowable state to the dispensing device and the material is then changed to a flowable state prior to being dispensed. The feed system can be used to build three-dimensional objects in color, if desired. The clamped feed system is integrated with a waste removal system.
US07648651B2

A solvent composition contains a tetralin compound (a) represented by the formula (I) and a polyether compound (b) represented by the formula (II). The solvent composition is excellent in safety and almost odorless, having a high capability of dissolving various organic materials, and also excellent in affinity to various substrates. The solvent composition is suitably used for various applications including various kinds of paints, adhesives, coating materials, detergents, and the like. wherein x is an integer of 0 to 4; y is an integer of 0 to 8; R1 and R2 each independently represent an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl or alkenyloxy group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms; these groups may be substituted by a halogen atom; and when a plurality of R1 or R2 exists, R1 and R2 each may be the same or different, wherein m is 1 to 10; p is 0, 1, 2, or 3; Prop represents 1,2-propylene group; R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and when m is 2 or more, a methyl substituent in the 1,2-propylene group represented by Prop may be randomly positioned.
US07648649B2

Light emitting devices including backlights having a light source and a phosphor material including a complex fluoride phosphor activated with Mn4+ which may include at least one of (A) A2[MF5]:Mn4+; where A is selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4, and combinations thereof; and where M is selected from Al, Ga, In, or combinations thereof; (B) A3[MF6]:Mn4+, where A is selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4, and combinations thereof; and where M is selected from Al, Ga, In, or combinations thereof; (C) Zn2[MF7]:Mn4+, where M is selected from Al, Ga, In, or combinations thereof; and (D) A[In2F7]:Mn4+ where A is selected from Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4, or combinations thereof.
US07648633B2

A hollow fiber membrane module with a fixed structure comprises: a bearing shell (7), an inlet (8), a concentrated water outlet (10), a produced water outlet (9), a central tube (1) and hollow fiber membranes (6), in which the hollow fiber membranes (6), the central tube (1) and the bearing shell (7) are fixed together, the inlet (8) is located at one end of the hollow fiber membranes (6), the concentrated water outlet (10) is located at the other end of the hollow fiber membranes (6), the produced water outlet(s) (9) is(are) located at one end or both ends of the central tube (1), and there are small holes drilled on the side wall of the central tube (1). The module also comprises at least one separate fixed ring(s) (2) for fixing the hollow fiber membranes (6), with the separate fixed ring(s) (2) fixed on the central tube (1) and the hollow fiber membranes (6) arranged in parallel through the separate fixed ring(s) (2).
US07648622B2

A method and apparatus for electropolishing a conductive surface of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus includes a polisher having at least one first electrode and at least one second electrode separated from one another by an isolation region. A moving mechanism rotates the wafer while the conductive surface of the wafer is moved linearly and parallel to a first direction, which varies an exposure of the relative surface areas of the conductive surface to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode.
US07648620B2

A method for manufacturing a master disk for magnetic transfer, comprising the steps of electroforming a master substrate of a metal disk with a surface on which an convexoconcave pattern corresponding to information to be transferred is transferred using a reverse die with a reversed convexoconcave pattern, and forming a magnetic layer on the convexoconcave pattern of the master substrate, the method comprising the steps of:a conductive layer forming step to form a conductive layer with a thickness t1 on a surface of the reverse die;an initial electroforming step to form a first plated layer with a thickness t2 equal to or more than the thickness t1 of the conductive layer by plating a surface of the conductive layer at a current density of 0.35 A/dm2 or less; anda main electroforming step to form a second plated layer by plating a surface of the first plated layer at a current density of 0.35 A/dm2 or more.
US07648618B2

A method for refining inorganic short fibers at a high yield rate. In the refining method of inorganic short fibers according to the present invention, an electric field is applied to dielectric liquid in which inorganic short fibers that include impurities are dispersed. The inorganic short fibers to which the electric field is applied are polarized and bonded with each other. The inorganic short fibers in the dielectric liquid are caused to fall. The falling inorganic short fibers are collected separately from the falling impurities utilizing the difference between the falling rate of the bonded inorganic fibers and the falling rate of the impurities.
US07648608B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a multilayer coextrudate, comprising a plastic layer that has release properties vis-vis adhesives, the release-property producing materials being disposed in the plastic layer. When the coextrudate is produced, a first web(support web I) is provided on the one side of which an adhesive layer is disposed, followed by the plastic layer having the release properties, which in turn is linked with a second web (support web II). The release layer does not show substantial migration with respect to the adhesive and the release effect does not substantially change afterwards, especially during storage.
US07648606B2

An improved apparatus, system and method of balancing a tire for a vehicle is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a new tire for a vehicle is provided wherein the tire incorporates a plurality of removable portions and/or attachments that may be removed from their position on the external portion of the tire to properly balance the tire about the wheel assembly. Further, a system and method is provided that may be employed to properly balance the tire without the necessity of adding metal or other type weights to the wheel and tire assembly.
US07648601B2

A high-strength, high conductivity copper alloy wire that is excellent in resistance to stress relaxation, which contains 1.0 to 4.5% by mass of Ni, 0.2 to 1.1% by mass of Si, 0.05 to 1.5% by mass of Sn, and less than 0.005% (including zero) by mass of S, with the balance being Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein the wire has a conductivity of from 20% to 60% IACS and a tensile strength of from 700 to 1,300 MPa, and a method of producing the same.
US07648596B2

An apparatus for rolling of a powder metallurgical metallic workpiece is provided having a feeding device, a first induction heating apparatus in operable communication with a first RF generator and at least a first hot rolling mill. A process control device monitors at least one parameter of the first RF generator and outputs a signal. A method for continuous rolling of a metallic workpiece is also provided using the apparatus for rolling. The process control device signal can be used to monitor metallurgical properties of the workpiece and provide in-line evaluation of the workpiece.
US07648593B2

An aluminum alloy comprising Al, Sc, Gd, Zr, and optionally Mg. The aluminum alloy is strengthened by an aluminum solid solution matrix and a dispersion of Al3X precipitate having an L12 structure where X comprises Sc, Gd and Zr. Mg is a preferred addition to the alloy containing Gd and Zr. The alloying additions control strengthening and coarsening kinetics of the alloy through control of diffusivity in the aluminum matrix and coherency strain of the Al3X precipitate.
US07648591B2

A medical device that is at least partially formed of a novel metal alloy, which novel metal alloy improves the physical properties of the medical device.
US07648589B2

A method for making a ductile and porous shape memory alloy (SMA) using spark plasma sintering, and an energy absorbing structure including a ductile and porous SMA are disclosed. In an exemplary structure, an SMA spring encompasses a generally cylindrical energy absorbing material. The function of the SMA spring is to resist the bulging of the cylinder under large compressive loading, thereby increasing a buckling load that the cylindrical energy absorbing material can accommodate. The SMA spring also contributes to the resistance of the energy absorbing structure to an initial compressive loading. Preferably, the cylinder is formed of ductile, porous and super elastic SMA. A working prototype includes a NiTi spring, and a porous NiTi cylinder or rod.
US07648581B2

In a substrate cleaning method for cleaning a backside of a substrate on a surface of which a predetermined processing is performed, a two phase substance contacts the backside of the substrate, and a flow of the substance is generated near the backside of the substrate under a specified pressure. The two phase substance is a gas containing aerosol or a supercritical substance, and the specified pressure is higher than or equal to 133 Pa (1 Torr). Further, in the substrate cleaning method, a high-energy light may be irradiated on the backside of the substrate.
US07648578B1

A substrate is held by a susceptor (holding tool) in a processing chamber. A plate is provided on a periphery of the substrate. Gas supply ports are constructed to be provided on a side of the substrate and above the plate, and to supply gas to the substrate from a space above the plate. Outlets are provided at least on an upstream side and downstream side of the substrate on the plate, and are adapted to discharge the gas to a space below the plate. An exhaust port communicates with the outlets, and is provided on an opposite side to the gas supply ports with the substrate sandwiched there between and below the plate. The outlets are composed so that conductance of the upstream outlet in a gas flow between the outlets can be larger than conductance of the downstream outlet.
US07648575B2

An improved freeze-thaw durability cementitious composition is provided that uses at least partially degradable polymeric particles that are blended directly into the cementitious composition mixture. The degradable polymeric particles provide void spaces in the cementitious material matrix, and such void spaces act to increase freeze-thaw durability of the cementitious material.
US07648571B2

A non-aqueous pigment dispersion includes a diketopyrrolo-pyrrole pigment, a polymeric dispersant, and a dispersion synergist in a dispersion medium wherein the dispersion synergist is a quinacridone derivative containing at least one acid group or a salt thereof.
US07648570B2

A non-aqueous inkjet ink includes a quinacridone pigment and a dispersion synergist wherein the quinacridone pigment is a mixed crystal including a dimethyl substituted quinacridone and a monomethyl substituted quinacridone and the dispersion synergist includes at least one acid group.
US07648569B2

A method and an apparatus for injecting two-phase (gas+solid) carbon dioxide into a gas stream. Liquid carbon dioxide is cryogenically expanded into two-phase carbon dioxide, which is then injected into the center of the stream. An inerting gas is also injected into the stream along with the two-phase carbon dioxide.
US07648559B2

The invention relates to a method for fractional crystallization of an at most partially solidified molten metal, in which a layer of at most partially solidified molten metal having an upper surface and a lower surface is divided into a series of compartments communicating with each other, in which the metal is stirred in at least some of the compartments, and in which crystals formed and/or existing in the layer of metal are selectively transported in a predetermined direction and molten metal is selectively transported in the opposite direction.
US07648558B2

Methods for treating aluminum in a furnace. An aluminum charge is introduced into a furnace and melted with heat from at least one burner. The burner is supplied with at least one oxidizer and at least one fuel. The oxidizer is made up of at least 10% oxygen by volume. The concentration of a first gas is measured in the furnace atmosphere or in a flue gas exiting the furnace. The oxidation of the molten aluminum is then reduced by holding the flow rate of the oxidizer steady while varying the flow rate of the fuel, according to the concentration of a second gas in the furnace or in the flue gas exiting the furnace. The concentration of the second gas is determined by comparing the measured species concentration and the intrinsic concentration which would be present absent the aluminum charge.
US07648554B2

The main object of the present invention is to manufacture, on an industrial scale, metal nanoparticles with excellent dispersion stability, and therefore provides metal nanoparticles containing a metal component, further containing at least one of phosphorus, nitrogen, and oxygen, and the average particle size being from 1 to 100 nm.
US07648549B2

A system, apparatus and method for detecting defects in a honeycomb body. The system and apparatus include a fixture adapted to hold the honeycomb body, a particulate fluid source, a pipe which defines a flow path between the particulate fluid source and a first end face of the honeycomb body thereby allowing particulate fluid to flow from the particulate fluid source to the first end face of the honeycomb body. The particulate fluid emerges at a second end face of the honeycomb body through defects, if any, in the honeycomb body where the positions of such defects may be monitored. The system and apparatus includes a flow straightener disposed in the flow path to minimize boundary layer influence of the pipe on the flow of the particulate fluid. A substantially uniform velocity flow profile is provided to the first end face of the honeycomb body.
US07648535B2

The agent for coloring keratin fibers is free of chemical oxidants, is in the form of an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic dye-containing preparation, and contains a combination of oxidation dyes and at least three direct dyes. The agent is characterized by a quantitative ratio of oxidation dyes to direct dyes equal to 5:1 to 0.5:1. A method of dyeing hair is described in which the agent is applied to hair and allowed to act on the hair for an acting time of 5 to 60 minutes without addition of chemical oxidants, so that air oxidation provides a uniform and stable coloration of the hair.
US07648527B2

Methods of reducing retrograde fluid flow through a valve within a body vessel are provided. The methods can include the steps of identifying a valve exhibiting an undesirable amount of retrograde fluid flow within a body vessel, such as a venous valve or a heart valve, and providing a means for reducing the retrograde fluid flow. A medical device providing a desired amount of retrograde fluid flow can be modified after permitting the medical device to remain in a body cavity for a remodeling-effective time period. The implanted medical device can be modified by subsequently reducing the amount of retrograde fluid flow permitted across the implanted prosthetic valve within the body vessel.
US07648516B2

A medical knife has a cutting edge formed along the outer edge of a blade portion, and the thickness of the lower portion located under a boundary acting as a surface including the cutting edge is made thinner than that of an upper portion located on the boundary, or a lower surface is composed of the surface including the cutting edge. The surface of the upper portion on the above surface including the cutting edge is composed of a first slanting surface constituting the cutting edge, a second reflecting surface, and a flat surface composed of a non-reflecting surface as well as the lower portion has a lower slanting surface 10 and a lower flat surface 11 each composed of a reflecting surface. With the above arrangement, the medical knife can reduce the amount of reflected light when an operation such as an ophthalmic operation is executed under a microscope.
US07648515B2

The present disclosure is directed to devices for approximating body vessels and method for performing the same. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the device includes an inner member, an outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the inner member, an expandable anchor for engaging the a first body vessel, and a joining member for engagement between the first body vessel and the second body vessel.
US07648514B1

A medical device includes an actuator handle, an elongate flexible inner tubular member operatively connected at one end to the handle, two jaws pivotably mounted to a distal end of the inner tubular member and biased to an open configuration, and an elongate flexible outer tubular member operatively connected at one end to the handle and slidably surrounding the inner tubular member. The outer tubular member is provided at a distal end with two cutouts or open slots opposed to one another to define a pair of longitudinally extending opposed fingers. The fingers are engageable with respective ones of the jaws to pivot the jaws towards one another during a distally directed stroke of the outer tubular member so that the jaws assume a closed configuration. The cutouts or open slots are disposed alongside the jaws in the closed configuration thereof to provide clearance for tissue material grasped in and protruding laterally from the jaws.
US07648502B2

A low profile, short, tapered distal tip catheter and methods for its manufacture are provided. The catheter tip is configured to have a taper over a relatively short length resulting in a low profile that is useful when navigating the catheter tip into tight passages such as the Papilla of Vater. The configuration of the tip and process for making it can be employed in any medical catheter but are found to be most useful in a multilumen papillotome catheter used in biliary procedures.
US07648499B2

An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The electrosurgical generator includes a power supply for generating a DC voltage. The electrosurgical generator also includes a first parallel inductor-capacitor circuit being driven by a first signal at a first predetermined frequency and a second parallel inductor-capacitor inductor-capacitor circuit driven by a second signal at the first predetermined frequency phase shifted 180°. The electrosurgical generator further includes a series inductor-capacitor resonant circuit operably connected in series with a primary winding of a transformer. The first and second parallel inductor-capacitor circuits are operably connected to the transformer, such that the first inductor-capacitor circuit generates a positive half sine wave and the second inductor-capacitor circuit generates a 180° phase-shifted positive half sine wave to generate a full sine wave in a secondary winding of the transformer.
US07648497B2

An elongated catheter device with a distal balloon assembly is adapted for endovascular insertion. Coolant injected through the device may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. Plural balloons may be provided, wherein a secondary outer balloon surrounds a primary inner balloon, the primary balloon being filled with coolant and acting as the cooling chamber, the secondary balloon being coupled to a vacuum return lumen to serve as a robust leak containment device and thermal insulator around the cooling chamber. Various configurations, such as surface modification of the balloon interface, or placement of particles, coatings, or expandable meshes or coils in the balloon interface, may be employed to achieve this function.
US07648495B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for delivering drugs or gene therapy within a patient's vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a material eluting a bioactive substance held in place within the patient's vessel by an anchor. The anchor and eluting material are sized and/or collapsible from a delivery configuration, in which the anchor and material may be delivered into the patient's vasculature within a delivery sheath, to a deployed configuration, wherein the anchor engages an interior wall of the patient's vessel. The eluting material may elute recombinant genes, drugs, or any other bioactive substance.
US07648481B2

A syringe tip cap sealingly closes a distal opening of a syringe body. The syringe tip cap has a fastening ring which can be placed and fastened on the syringe body about the distal opening, and a closure cap which closes the distal opening in a sealed manner and is connected releasably to the fastening ring. The fastening ring has a locking means device that locks together with a locking device of the closure cap. The locking device of the fastening ring and the locking device of the closure cap are configured in such a way that they cannot be unlocked without sustaining damage. The syringe tip cap may be produced in a two-component injection molding process.
US07648479B2

When a patient is fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, ingested food can be removed through the gastrostomy connection using a pump-based or siphon-based system to achieve weight loss. The process of removing ingested food can be improved by alternating the infusion of liquid into the stomach with the removal of material from the stomach. Optionally, stomach acid may be captured and returned to the stomach. Optionally, nutritional supplements or medicines may be added to the infused liquid. Optionally, a flush mount connectorized system with a built in valve may be used to simplify the interface with the gastrostomy hardware that remains installed in the patient. Optionally, the system may be configured to disable itself from further use after a triggering event (e.g., the passage of time or a predetermined number of uses) has occurred.
US07648473B1

A traction extension table used to aid the user in performing assisted lower back and abdominal extensions for the treatment of bulging/herniated lumbar discs. The table has a frame constructed utilizing a plurality of cushioned sections forming the table's top with one movable along a roller assembly mating with the table frame for section relocation and releasable securement upon relocation. Another is contoured to have table frame supported hand-placement supports at the head. The contoured cushion is hingedly attached to the table frame and also connected to at least one shock absorber. To better accommodate the user, the pads have lumbar and chest harnesses to keep the user in position while performing an exercise while the chest pad has a face hole to accommodate the user's nose while lying face down on the table.
US07648463B1

A monitoring device (20) and method (200) for monitoring the health of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device (20) preferably includes eyewear (25) with an optical sensor (30), a digital storage and processing device (35) with a display member (40) and a control component (43), and a connection cable (45). The monitoring device (20) preferably displays the following information about the user: pulse rate; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; and distance traveled.
US07648462B2

A system and method for limiting a temperature induced in a body by an ultrasound imaging catheter are provided. The method includes receiving, at an isolation box, an imaging signal from an imaging catheter, receiving, at an isolation box, a signal indicative of a temperature of tissue adjacent to the imaging catheter, removing power to the imaging catheter at the isolation box if the signal indicates the temperature of tissue adjacent to the imaging catheter exceeds a known value, and sending the imaging signal from the catheter to a processor if the signal indicates the temperature of tissue adjacent to the imaging catheter is less than the limit.
US07648459B2

An ultrasonic probe according to the present invention includes: an ultrasonic element for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic signal; a signal line for transmitting an electric signal to or from the ultrasonic element; and a ground line for supplying a ground potential to the ultrasonic element. The ultrasonic element is connected electrically with a sensor signal substrate and a sensor ground substrate. These substrates are connected electrically with the signal line and the ground line, respectively, via a cable substrate. The sensor ground substrate and the cable substrate are connected directly or via a relay ground substrate.
US07648447B2

A leg exercise device for use with an office chair including a back, a seat, and a seat support. The leg exercise device includes a leg exercise mechanism for use by a user while seated on the office chair to exercise the user's legs, and a rigid connection mechanism extending from the leg exercise mechanism for detachably and rigidly connecting the leg exercise mechanism to the seat support of the office chair.
US07648440B2

A method and apparatus are provided to control operation of an electro-mechanical torque transmission device selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear modes and two continuously variable modes, and operative to transmit torque input from a plurality of torque-generative devices. The transmission device includes a hydraulic circuit and is operative in one of a plurality of operating modes by selective actuation of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated torque-transfer clutches. The method comprises monitoring pressures in the hydraulic circuit, and restricting operation of the transmission when any one of the monitored hydraulic pressures does not correspond to an expected pressure thereat. Presence of a fault is verified during the restricted operation.
US07648439B2

A system and method for controlling electromechanical valves operating in a transmission is presented. According to the method, transmission operation can be improved by heating the valves, at least during some conditions.
US07648436B2

A technique for providing a variable-ratio coupling between output shaft and input motor involves driving an output shaft with drivers that are out of phase with each other. Advantageously, the technique provides a gear reduction via a simple, high-efficiency mechanism; continuous output torque is provided by alternating the load between two belts deflected by, by way of example but not limitation, cam devices.
US07648424B2

A golf club, particularly a “putter” or “chipper”, is provided with a concave ball striking face that establishes line contact with a golf ball rather than the usual point contact and enhances the capability of a user to control the direction of ball movement resulting from a golf stroke. The concave ball striking surface may be curved and may have the same or greater curvature than the curvature of a golf ball and may have smoothly and gently merging surface regions of compound curvature. The concave ball striking face surface may have compound regions including a curved region and a planar region being smoothly and gently merged. The concave ball striking surface may be defined on an integral metal club head structure or may be defined by a polymer insert that is recessed into an insert receiving receptacle of the club head. Additionally, the face portion of a golf club head may have a recessed face to further aid in training and to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of ball movement resulting from a golf stroke.
US07648423B2

A golf teaching device including a cloth towel having a major surface on which indicia is printed and also including a rear foot position indicator, a plurality of lead foot position indicators, and first and second ball placement indicators. The plurality of lead foot position indicators includes spaced, first and second shot specific identifiers. The first shot specific identifier and the first ball placement indicator have an identical, first primary color, whereas the second shot specific identifier and the second ball placement indicator have an identical, second primary color. The first and second primary colors are different from one another. With this configuration, a user of the device quickly and easily confirm proper foot and golf ball placement in performing a desired golf shot.
US07648421B2

A chipping net comprising a resilient but flexible rod formed into a figure eight and folded at a crossing of the figure eight, thereby forming a base loop for placement on a surface below the crossing and a main loop above the crossing. The main loop and the base loop are angled relative to each other, with the angle being less than 90 degrees. The chipping net also includes a net connected to the main loop for receiving golf balls. The force of the rod trying to expand into a circle out of the figure eight forces the main loop away from the base loop.
US07648420B2

A multi-purpose sports facility is provided with a common base structure comprising a plurality of areas, each of which constitutes a track, pitch or court for practicing a respective sports activity. The invention enables people to learn and practice sport, choosing from the activities most widely practiced the one that they prefer and is tracks, pitches or courts most suitable for their own physical and mental aptitudes.
US07648419B2

A joint arrangement including a constant velocity ball joint (1) which is constructed as a counter track joint, with an inner hub (4) having first inner track grooves (16) and second inner track grooves (17), and an outer hub (7) in which first outer track grooves (20) and second outer track grooves (21) are arranged on an inner surface in an alternating matter distributed around the axis of the outer hub. The joint arrangement also includes a displacement unit (12), which transmits torque and permits axial displacements along a longitudinal axis (9), and which is constructed as a roller guide unit with inner tracks 28 and outer tracks (29) extending parallel to each other.
US07648418B2

A constant velocity twin ball joint, having an outer joint part with outer ball tracks, an inner joint part with inner ball tracks. Circumferentially adjoining pairs of tracks comprise center lines of the outer and inner ball tracks which, when the longitudinal axes are aligned, are positioned in planes which extend parallel relative to one another and are symmetric relative to the longitudinal axes. A ball cage is positioned between the outer joint part and the inner joint part and comprises circumferentially distributed cage windows which each accommodate pairs of balls of adjoining pairs of tracks positioned in parallel planes. The circumferential length of second cage windows for second pairs of balls is smaller than the circumferential length of first cage windows for first pairs of balls.
US07648416B2

A musical rhythm is expressed by the number of the timing marks (for example, three timing marks when in simple triple time); and a musical tempo is expressed by the distance among the timing marks and a timing ball that moves at a fixed speed among those timing marks. Accordingly, a player may easily grasp the tempo of the music and easily determine the rhythm of the music in a sound game.
US07648406B2

A method for producing a carbon nanotube array element includes the steps of: providing a first substrate coated with a conductive paste layer; forming an array of thin film blocks of catalyst on a second substrate; forming each of the thin film blocks into islands of catalyst; forming carbon nanotube bundles on the islands of catalyst, each of the carbon nanotube bundles including a plurality of carbon nanotubes and having a free end portion; pressing the second substrate toward the first substrate such that the free end portions insert into the conductive paste layer; solidifying the conductive paste layer; and removing the second substrate together with the islands of catalyst from the carbon nanotube bundles, thereby forming an open end for each of the carbon nanotubes. A carbon nanotube array element for a field emission cathode device is also disclosed.
US07648400B2

An electrical connector (100) including an insulative housing (1) having a front mating face (16), a receiving cavity (10) recessed rearwardly from the front mating face to receive a mating plug and a plurality of passageways; a number of contacts retained in the passageways respectively and including a first contact (21) having a first vertical base portion (210), a first curved portion (218) being curved forwardly from an upper side of the first vertical base portion, a second curved portion (270) and a vertical plate portion (219) connecting with both the first curved portion and the second curved portion, a first contacting arm (211) extending rearwardly from the second curved portion and projecting into the receiving cavity, a first soldering portion (216) connected to a bottom end of the first vertical base portion; both the vertical plate portion (211) and the first contacting arm (211) is deflectable along a direction perpendicular to the plug insertion direction.
US07648384B2

An electrical hook-up device including an outlet, a plug and a tight-seal casing with a cover and a shutter and enabling a tightly sealed hook-up of the plug in the outlet. The casing takes the form of an accessory removably mounted on the outlet, and the shutter of said casing is also movably mounted on the cover.
US07648374B2

An insulation sheath for a USB flash drive is provided. The insulation sheath includes a first silicone body with a first aperture configured to receive a USB flash drive therein. A second silicone body includes a second aperture configured to receive a USB flash drive cap therein. A combination insulation sheath and USB device is also provided. Further, a method for electrically insulating a USB device is provided.
US07648373B2

A cable connector may be disclosed. The connector may include a connector housing having a first threaded portion and an insert having compression voids. The insert may be configured for insertion into the connector housing. The connector may also include a compression nut configured to engage the first threaded portion. The compression nut may be configured to compress the insert to close the compression voids when the compression nut engages the first threaded portion. The cable connector may also include an end stop having an adjustable throat diameter configured to adjust in proportion to an adjustable inner diameter of the cable connector as the connector engages or armor of an armored cable.
US07648372B2

A cable assembly (1000) includes a connector (1) having an insulated housing (1) and a plurality of contacts (10) received therein; a printed circuit board (2) having a front portion and an opposite rear portion, with the front portion thereof connected to the connector; a cable (4) coupled to the rear portion of the printed circuit board; a framework (3) having at least a retainer (31) and two arms (33, 34) extending rearward from lateral sides of the retainer, said connector held by the retainer and the printed circuit board supported by at least one of the two arms; and a cover enclosing the framework.
US07648363B2

A method of reversibly whitening teeth in the presence of water which comprises allowing a tooth whitening component to infiltrate into the enamel surface layer toward the inside and remain therein so as to make the enamel cloudy and white by altering its optical properties without causing any chemical reactions, thereby whiten the thus treated teeth compared with untreated ones.
US07648353B2

A visual monitoring device for rotary presses, in which a rotor, with upper and lower punches and a die plate, at least one compression station, at least one filling station, and at least one ejector station are arranged in a housing, at which individual process steps occur, characterized in that arranged in the housing is at least one high speed camera, whose lens is directed onto a location in the housing, and to which an image analysis device is connected.
US07648352B2

The improved apparatus includes an improved extruder die assembly comprising a forming section, an injection section, and a converging nozzle section having axially aligned ridgelines which gradually project into the bore of the nozzle as the nozzle converges to gradually disrupt the axial flow of an extrudate at specific peripheral points thereby altering the extrudate's velocity profile. By gradually disrupting the axial flow in close proximity to the projecting ridgelines prior to its extrusion, the dimensional quality of the resulting direct expanded food piece is greatly improved. Moreover, by carefully positioning the capillary channels of the injection section into that portion of the flowing extrudate not affected by the axially aligned ridgelines, a distinct colored and/or flavored pattern is imparted into the extrudable food mass during the extrusion process while improving the quality of dimensional design aspects of the resulting extruded, complexly shaped, direct expanded food products.
US07648348B2

A submersible water pump and a dewatering system comprising the submersible pump. The submersible water pump includes a housing and an outer tube. The housing includes a housing dividing wall and a cylinder head having a bore therethrough through which the outer tube fits. The housing is in slidable engagement with the outer tube and the housing dividing wall. The dewatering system with the submersible pump is used to pump water from vertical coal bed methane wells.
US07648345B2

Pumps for Steam Condensates and other Liquids, include receivers that may be connected firstly to the liquid source, and after filling are then pressurised to discharge the liquid to a transfer line, or to a vessel at a higher pressure than that of the source. The use of a small pilot valve to detect the liquid level, mounted externally to each receiver, and controlling the opening and closing of the pressurising and venting valves, enables an unusually low profile to be achieved.
US07648341B2

The restoring process machines out a crack in the platform of a turbine blade to form a pocket that then receives a plug of compatible material. The plug is brazed in place and the blade is the machined and cleaned to present a clean fresh surface where the plug is inserted. The plug has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion so that the plug area has less compressive stresses in the repaired area.
US07648339B1

Cloth or fabric fan blades self-inflate when rotated about an axis to produce air movement, the blades being secured to a fan hub which is in turn connected to a fan motor assembly that provides the rotational force to inflate the blades, the blades collapsing upon contact with any object for safety purposes, the innovative blades being lightweight and safe such that no fan guard is required.
US07648338B1

A dual, counter-rotating, coaxial rotor system provides individual control of an upper rotor system and a lower rotor system. The lower rotor control system and the upper rotor control system provide six controls or “knobs” to minimize or theoretically eliminate airframe vibration. In a dual, counter-rotating, coaxial rotor system, application of a HHC system to the two rotor systems individually but located on the common axis, will yield essentially complete vibration reduction because the 6 controls will suppress the 6 loads.
US07648336B2

A gas turbine stator includes a vane assembly, and a platform that is configured to receive the vane assembly. The vane assembly includes a vane and a cap. The vane extends radially from the cap. The vane includes a pressure side shell and a separate suction side shell.
US07648330B2

Noise control with respect to rotating machinery such as gas turbine engines is important to meet acceptable operational and environmental constraints. Buzz-saw noise in particular is due to differences in blade to blade geometries both as assembled and due to blade manufacturing tolerance variations. Generally, a plurality of blades rotate within a duct and some noise propagates forwards of the blade assembly. In order to abate such noise an acoustic lining is provided. By consideration of the acoustic attenuation effects of that lining, it is possible to rearrange the blades within the blade assembly such that the overall noise attenuation effects are improved. Thus, the blade assembly may be rearranged such that there is a reduction in the Fourier coefficients at harmonics above and below the harmonics most attenuated by the acoustic attenuation treatment or lining or alternatively the effect of that lining maximized by rearrangement of the blades to shift the harmonics to those most attenuated by the acoustic treatment.
US07648326B2

In combination a vehicle having an extension and an adaptor faceplate. The extension includes a first power-operated extension mount and a second mount. The adaptor faceplate comprising a rigid member securable to skid steer attachments with the rigid member having a front side and a back side with a frame extending from the back side of the rigid member for supporting a first connecting member and a second connecting member thereon with the first connecting member attachable to the first power-operated extension mount and the second connecting member attachable to the second extension mount.
US07648324B1

In a loading platform system for mounting on vehicles, particularly trucks, comprising at least one lift support arrangement consisting of two essentially parallel spaced support structures, an essentially plate-like loading platform for lifting and lowering a load, at least one lift actuator for lifting and lowering the loading platform and a slide unit, which is movable back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and mountable on the vehicle and on which at least the lift support arrangement, the loading platform and the lift actuator are mounted. The slide unit is adapted to be mounted on the support frame of the vehicle by transverse frame members, which are fitted to the spacing of the vehicle support frame members and include means at their ends for mounting them to the vehicle support frame members.
US07648323B2

A system and method is used to automatically process the contents of a containers. The contents may be bulk materials used by a business or organization. The container enters the system via a tow assembly mechanism, a grasping mechanism clasps the container, a lid secures the contents, the container is lifted and rotated to allow the contents of the container to exit the container.
US07648314B2

A cutting pick comprising a cutting tip 10 formed such as from SiC-D and a metal pick body 11. The pick body 11 has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than the cutting tip 10. The pick body 11 includes a generally cylindrical cavity 14 within which is received a generally cylindrical anchor portion 13. The tip 10 includes a coating 17 bonded to the outer surface of the anchor portion 13. An annulus 24 is left between the coating 17 and the cavity 14 within which is a solder or braze material which bonds to each of the coating 17 and the cavity 14. The pick body 11 employs the difference in thermal expansion to exert pressure on the anchor portion 13 to fix the tip 10 to the pick body 11.
US07648308B2

This frame (2) comprises a bottom plate (22) which has a base (26) which defines a frame support surface (28) which is directed towards an inner side (I) and a skirt (20) which is intended to receive a covering element (4) and which defines an outer side (E). The bottom plate (22) comprises at least one cell (32) which is open towards the inner side (I). Use in frames for manholes.
US07648307B2

An underground structure cover comprises a cover body (10) and a receiving frame (20) arranged so that the cover body is fitted in and supported by the receiving frame in the manner that an inclined surface (11) of the outer circumference of the body meets an inclined surface (21) of the inner circumference of the frame. The inclined surfaces (11, 21) each have an upper inclined surface (11a, 21a) and a lower inclined surface (11b, 21b), and the lower inclined surfaces (11b, 21b) are steeper than the upper inclined surfaces (11a, 21a). The body (10) is fitted in and supported by the part (20) at the upper inclined surfaces (11a, 21a) and the lower inclined surfaces (11b, 21b). By this, the body is prevented from being wedged into the frame too deeply and also from becoming inclined with respect to the frame or riding up.
US07648306B2

A turnbuckle device (11) for clamping concrete shell elements (1, 2), having two claws (12, 13), which may be displaced toward one another, and a wedge (18) or the like, the claws (12, 13) having legs (14, 20; 41), the legs (14, 20; 41) having contact surfaces (30, 31; 43) extending in a plane to rest on struts (7, 21; 50) of frames (5, 6) of concrete shell elements (1, 2), the legs (14, 20; 41) having lugs on their free ends (16, 22; 40), which are capable of engaging behind depressions (9, 15) in frames (5, 6) of concrete shell elements (1, 2), is characterized in that an extension (17; 42; 44; 45) is provided on a lug (16; 40) of a leg (14; 41), which extends away from the contact surface (30, 43) at least partially perpendicularly to the plane of the contact surface (30; 43) of the leg (14; 41). The mounting of the turnbuckle device is thus made easier.
US07648304B2

A shield for a vehicle suspension ball joint having a receptacle configured to receive a flexible dust cover. The shield comprises a rigid shroud connected to the receptacle. The shroud generally surrounds the dust cover and is positioned proximate an arm of the vehicle suspension. The shield protects the dust cover from road-borne materials.
US07648303B2

Device for locking the articulated joint in the longitudinal direction between the plate of a dust mop and the handle, which permits deactivation and subsequent reactivation of the locking of the articulated joint between the handle and the plate in a longitudinal direction, carried out by the user with his feet instead of his hands.
US07648299B2

A writing implement includes a shaft part that holds a stylus and a cap, which can be screwed onto the shaft part in order to cover the stylus from an initial position of engagement up to a final position. A resistance against the screwing on, which is greater than the resistance when screwing on from the initial position of engagement up to an intermediate position, acts upon the cap when screwing on the cap from the intermediate position, which is located between the initial position of engagement and the final position, until reaching the final position.
US07648296B2

An apparatus including a cover, a foam housing, a pushing cap, a container, and a seal. The container may be adaptable for retaining a solvent, and the combination of the seal and the container may retain the solvent in a completely enclosed chamber. The seal may prevent the solvent from coming out of the container unless the seal is broken. The cover may be oriented with respect to the pushing cap so that when the cover is pressed in a first direction, the pushing cap moves in the first direction, and snaps into a first position on the container while breaking the seal, and allows the solvent to come out of the container and out of the foam housing.
US07648295B2

A handheld cleaning device, particularly for footwear cleaning, including first and second opposed ends, with each end having access to a reservoir containing either a cleaning solution or a shoe polishing compound. A method of using the device to clean and polish footwear is also described.
US07648294B2

The invention provides for a modular printer including a housing having an upper and lower cover, with a first side wall having an air duct with an air inlet, and a second side wall defining air exit vents, so that warm air can be ducted over print media passing through the housing. The printer further includes entry and exit media feed roller assemblies at respective opposite ends of the housing for feeding the print media through the housing. Also included is a print engine having two opposing arcuate printheads having a radius of curvature which approximates that of the radius of the rollers. The printhead are at least partially received between opposite halves of the rollers of the entry roller assembly. The print engine is configured to print ink followed by a fixative onto the print media, with the feed assemblies configured to feed the media through the housing at a predetermined rate so that said media only leaves the housing when the fixative has dried.
US07648290B2

Application of a modular coaxial package design, compatible with telecommunication passive component packaging, to microchip lasers, in particular to passively Q-switched microlasers, pumped with a fiber-coupled diode, is disclosed. The number of parts is thereby reduced while providing the adequate degrees of freedom for the active or passive alignment of the optical elements within the package.
US07648289B2

A module is configured to be attached to a cage. A handle is rotatable about a rotation shaft between an accommodated position where the module is mounted to the cage and a withdrawal position where the module can be withdrawn from the cage. A resiliently-bendable tongue piece performs engagement and disengagement between the module and the cage. A notch portion is provided to the tongue piece. A press portion is provided to the handle on a circumference having a center located on the rotation shaft of the handle, the press portion configured to contact with the notch portion when the handle is at the accommodated position. A cam rotatable with the handle so as to resiliently bend the tongue piece.
US07648281B2

A fluid dynamic bearing is provided. A structure in which a shaft member and an annular member fitted about the shaft member are rotatably supported by a bearing member and an annular member on the bearing member has a fifth gap for storing a lubricating fluid and supplying it to a second gap below the annular member on the shaft member and a third gap around its outer periphery through a fourth gap. The fourth and fifth gaps are tapered to produce a capillary drawing force toward the third and second gaps, so that the lubricating fluid may be supplied effectively from the fifth gap to the second and third gaps. This makes it possible to suppress any sudden formation of a reduced pressure upon exposure to impact or vibration to prevent the leakage of any lubricating fluid caused by the generation of bubbles, while making up for the loss of any lubricating fluid by vaporization.
US07648280B2

A hydrodynamic fluid film journal bearing system includes a journal sleeve and one or more hydrodynamic fluid film foils positioned at least partially within the journal sleeve. The journal sleeve defines an inner diameter surface, an outer diameter surface, a wall thickness between the inner and outer diameter surfaces, and opposite first and second ends. The wall thickness of the journal sleeve is reduced at a first region located between the first and second ends, and a chamfered region is formed on the outer diameter surface of the journal sleeve between the first o-ring land and the first end of the journal sleeve.
US07648277B2

A device for supporting and guiding a rotating shaft, in particular a rotor shaft of an airplane turboprop or turbojet, the device comprising an oil squeeze damper around each bearing of the shaft, said damper comprising an annular space surrounding the outer ring of the bearing and defined by annular sealing elements, each having a small number of calibrated oil outlet orifices formed in its outer periphery.
US07648264B2

An electric food preparation appliance composed of: a jar having a bottom and an open top; a rotary working tool installed in the jar to be driven in rotation through the bottom of the jar; a lid for closing the top of the jar and having an opening; a mixing accessory constructed to be installed in the jar through the opening; and a side support member provided to hold the mixing accessory when the mixing accessory is not installed in the jar.
US07648258B2

An LED lamp includes a heat sink, an LED module attached to a top surface of the heat sink in a thermal conductive relationship therewith and a cover coupled to the top surface of the heat sink and covering the LED module. The heat sink is column-shaped and has a central axis. The heat sink comprises a conducting member and a plurality of spaced and parallel fins extending outwardly from the conducting member. A distance between each of inner edges of the fins and the central axis is gradually decreased from the top surface to a bottom surface of the heat sink.
US07648253B2

A light fixture device has a light housing to receive a light source therein, a support assembly for supporting the light fixture relative to an anchor location, the support assembly including a post portion for mounting at the anchor location and a body portion, the body portion having a pair of opposed end regions, the post portion including a pair of cavities, each to receive a corresponding end region, the body portion being movable relative to the post portion about a first axis, the body portion and light housing having respective first and second support formations, the light housing being movable relative to the body portion about a second axis, to cause corresponding relative movement between the first and second support formations, the end regions and cavities having complementary third and fourth support formations, wherein relative movement between the body portion and post portion causes a corresponding relative movement between the complementary third and fourth formations.
US07648252B2

A lighting fixture for use in an environment which requires protection from EMI/RFI emissions. The fixture comprises a body forming a light-emitting opening, lighting components including at least one lamp in the body, a lens covering the opening, and a conductive grid across the opening, the grid being separate from the lens, electrically connected to the body, and positioned between the lighting components and the opening.
US07648250B2

A direct type backlight assembly is disclosed, in which a lamp guide is formed in a shape which can absorb an external force to prevent distortion from occurring from contact between the lamp guide and a diffusion plate, and to prevent the diffusion plate from being damaged. The direct type backlight assembly includes a light-emission lamp provided under an LCD panel; a reflecting plate provided on the bottom side of the light-emission lamp; a diffusion plate provided above the light-emission lamp; optical sheets provided on the diffusion plate; and a lamp guide provided on and connected with the reflecting plate, wherein the lamp guide has a supporter having a compression structure, the height thereof varying based on a load applied thereto.
US07648247B2

A light source device (411) has a lamp body (411A) including a light source lamp, a reflector (417) and an anti-explosion glass (418), and a lamp housing (411B) for accommodating the lamp body (411A). A plurality of projections (411B8) protruding along an optical axis of a light beam irradiated by the light source lamp are formed on the lamp housing (411B). Further, the reflector (417) has an approximately concave cross section and a positioning surface (417C) that touches the projections (411B8) of the lamp housing (411B) to locate the lamp body (411A) relative to the lamp housing (411B) is provided on a distal side of the concave section. The positioning surface (417C) is continuously flush.
US07648245B2

A cooling system of a thin projector, and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The system comprises a heat source 1 in a housing, first and second suction ports formed at side and lower surfaces of the housing, respectively, a discharge port formed at an upper surface of the housing, first and second air stream forming units 2 and 3 to form first and second air stream along which air induced from the first and second suction ports is guided to the discharge port while cooling the heat source, respectively, a sensor unit to detect a temperature of suction air induced from the first and second suction ports and a temperature of discharge air discharged from the discharge port, and a controller 6 to control the first and second air stream forming units 2 and 3 using the temperatures of the suction and discharge air.
US07648244B2

An illuminating unit with a compact design capable of improving collimating characteristics of beams emitted from a plurality of light sources positioned at different locations, and a projection-type image display apparatus employing the illuminating unit. The illuminating unit includes a base, a plurality of light sources to emit beams of different wavelength bands, and at least one color filter with a predetermined curvature to reflect one or more beams of predetermined wavelengths from among the beams emitted by the plurality of light sources such that the reflected one or more beams propagate in a first direction and to pass one or more remaining beams of other wavelength bands. The projection-type image display apparatus includes the illuminating unit, an optical integrator, an image-forming system, a beam splitter, and a projection lens.
US07648241B2

An apparatus for measuring a subject's cornea, comprising (A.) a slit projection subsystem comprising a light source, (B.) a mask subsystem disposed in a path of light from the light source, comprising a first slit mask defining a plurality of apertures, (C.) a movement apparatus adapted to move at least a portion of the slit projection subsystem, the movement apparatus configured and arranged such that, by moving the portion of the slit projection subsystem, portions of the light can be selectively transmitted through an aperture of the plurality of apertures toward the cornea, (D.) an imaging element configured and arranged to image at least one of the plurality of apertures onto the cornea, and (E.) an image capture subsystem arranged to capture images of the portions of light after the light impinges on the cornea.