US07769122B2
A timing recovery circuit capable of enhancing the reliability of timing recovery in a receiver apparatus in a communication system that employs the scheme of modulating the amplitude of a carrier wave. In the receiver apparatus which receives a transmitted signal created by modulating the amplitude of the carrier wave, and which comprises an AD converter for converting the received signal into a digital signal by sampling the received signal at an n-times oversampling rate, the timing recovery circuit which recovers a clock signal by extracting timing information from the output of the AD converter is constructed by containing therein a decimation filter for decimating the output of the AD converter down to an m-times oversampling rate (where 1
US07769115B2
Techniques are described that provide noncoherent demodulation via correlating “dirty” templates in wireless communication systems. In particular, the described techniques cross-correlate dirty templates that are adjacent symbol-long segments of the received noisy waveform. Unlike transmitted reference (TR) and differential templates that are noisy, i.e., propagate through the wireless communication channel, these dirty templates are both noisy and offset in time and, thus, are dirty. As a result, the described techniques enable noncoherent demodulation without timing synchronization and channel estimation. Symbol demodulation may be performed utilizing a maximum likelihood (ML) sequence detector or, alternatively, conditional ML demodulation may be performed to reduce receiver complexity. The described techniques may also be applied to a TR scheme to improve performance in the presence of mistiming. In any case, the techniques may be applied to narrowband, wideband, or ultra-wideband (UWB) communication systems and remain operational without timing synchronization or channel estimation.
US07769111B2
A method and apparatus for the detection and correction of large carrier offsets. A set of known correction carrier offsets are used to translate an input signal having a carrier offset. After applying each correction carrier offset, a state of a timing recovery loop is evaluated. The set of known correction carrier offsets are sequentially used to translate the input signal until the timing recovery loop is locked. The carrier offset is substantially acquired when the timing recovery loop is locked.
US07769104B2
A system and method that scrambles the phase characteristic of a carrier signal are described. The scrambling of the phase characteristic of each carrier signal includes associating a value with each carrier signal and computing a phase shift for each carrier signal based on the value associated with that carrier signal. The value is determined independently of any input bit value carried by that carrier signal. The phase shift computed for each carrier signal is combined with the phase characteristic of that carrier signal so as to substantially scramble the phase characteristic of the carrier signals. Bits of an input signal are modulated onto the carrier signals having the substantially scrambled phase characteristic to produce a transmission signal with a reduced PAR.
US07769098B2
A method of determining indices for matrix codewords in a matrix codeword codebook. The matrix codewords are adapted for communicating information between a transmitter and a receiver. The method includes retrieving from temporary storage, an eigenmode representation for a communications channel, where the eigenmode representation is based upon on a received signal precoded by a first matrix codeword. The method also includes performing a test on multiple vector codewords to identify a first vector codeword among the multiple vector codewords, where the test includes determining a relationship between the first vector codeword and the representation of an eigenmode. The first vector codeword is associated with a first vector codeword index that identifies the first vector codeword. The method also includes generating a matrix codeword index associated with a second matrix codeword in the matrix codeword codebook. The matrix codeword index is based upon the first vector codeword index, and the order of the first vector codeword is different from the order of the second matrix codeword.
US07769097B2
Methods and apparatus to control transmission of a multicarrier wireless communication channel through multiple antennas is generally described.
US07769093B2
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a spectrally efficient multicarrier modulation technique for high speed data transmission over multipath fading channels, but has low power efficiency. OFDM signals have large crest factors, or peak-to-average power ratios (PARs) which lead to power inefficiency in the RF portion of the transmitter. Selected mapping (SLM) is a distortionless technique that has good PAR reduction capability. However, the biggest limitation of SLM is the need to transmit side information. Disclosed is a technique or algorithm using constant modulus (i.e., phase shift keying, PSK) inputs that implements SLM without having to transmit any side information and without causing any distortion.
US07769080B2
A method and apparatus for updating a square root matrix of a covariance matrix when sample sets are added to or removed from a received signal. When a sample set is added to the received signal, a processor augments the square root matrix to generate an updated square root matrix for future processing. When a sample set is no longer present in the received signal, the processor reduces the square root matrix to generate the updated square root matrix.
US07769079B2
In a code division multiple access communication system (100), a method and an accompanying apparatus provide for an efficient control of a gain level of a communication channel at various mobility levels. A rate of change of a carrier to interference ratio (C/I) of a communication channel received at a receiver (400) is determined. The gain level of the communication channel may be based on the rate of change of the C/I of the communication channel. A mobility level of the communication channel may be compared to a low mobility threshold corresponding to a low mobility level. If the mobility level meets the low mobility threshold, the gain level of the communication channel may be based on the rate of change of the C/I of the communication channel.
US07769077B2
A diversity transmitting/receiving apparatus and method is provided, which is implemented using space-time trellis codes (STTC) constructed from a Pseudo Noise (PN) sequence set in a Direct Sequence (DS) CDMA system. The transmitter comprises a PN sequence generator, a space-time encoder, first and second modulators, and first and second multiple transmit antennas. The space-time encoder selects two of the multiple PN sequences to construct STTC, and space-time encodes data from a data source according to the STTC to output an Wary data symbol. The two modulators modulate the space-time encoded data according to the STTC. The two multiple transmit antennas wirelessly transmit outputs of the two modulators, respectively. By applying a method using space-time coding in a DS CDMA system including multiple transmit antennas, it is possible to achieve both diversity and additional coding gain and also to reduce multiple user interference by increasing the PN sequence length.
US07769069B2
Improving the lifetime of an integrated semiconductor laser diode module into which a GaN semiconductor laser diode and a GaP semiconductor laser diode are integrated, and the lasing properties of the laser diodes. Prior to a joining step of an LD 1 wafer that is made of a nitride semiconductor structure formed on a GaN substrate and an LD 2 wafer that is made of an aluminum gallium indium phosphide semiconductor structure, a facet of a resonator of the nitride semiconductor structure is formed by etching. A facet of a resonator of the aluminum gallium indium phosphide semiconductor structure is formed, after the joining step, by cleaving. The wafers are joined so that the facets of the resonators of the nitride semiconductor structure and aluminum gallium indium phosphide semiconductor structure are out of alignment in a lengthwise direction of the resonators.
US07769061B2
A laser light source device includes a laser light source that emits a laser beam as a fundamental wave and an optical wavelength conversion element that converts the fundamental wave into a second harmonic. An optical lens system including a first surface having positive power and a second surface having negative power is arranged between the laser light source and the optical wavelength conversion element. The first surface and the second surface are arranged in order from the laser light source side.
US07769058B2
To provide a low-cost, high reliability and high-powered operation enabled optical fiber laser, in the optical fiber laser for oscillating a laser light by introducing an excitation light for exciting the rare earth elements into the optical fiber doped partially by the rare earth elements, the optical fiber is wrapped around the base member, and one part of the outer circumferential area of the wrapped optical fiber is processed in order to form a flat surface, and one face of the prism is made contacted to the flat surface, and the excitation light is introduced to another surface of the prism.
US07769047B2
A wireless communication system and method is provided for the transfer and processing of data in accordance with specialized data transfer protocols while utilizing conventional base station equipment. For example, the wireless communication system may include a subscriber station that provides for the modification of data packets in accordance with a proprietary protocol and the addressing of the modified data packets to a server. The server is adapted to reconstruct the data packets for transmission to other local subscriber stations or to a packet-switched network. In additional embodiments, the base station itself rather than a server operates to reconstruct the data packets.
US07769042B2
Communicating data packets between a client device and a host system generally includes using a protocol server module, located on the client device, that terminates a communication session that uses a first protocol and that is intended to enable communications between a source and a destination, in which the source is one of a client device operating system protocol stack and the host system and the destination is one of the client device operating system protocol stack and the host system but differs from the source. The protocol server module translates data packets from the source between the first protocol and a second protocol that is different from the first protocol and transports the data packets having the second protocol to the destination. A controller module generally also is included on the client device. The protocol server module may include a PPP server module located on the client device.
US07769041B2
The invention relates to the scheduling of data transfers in a multi-hop packet network. The nodes of the network are adapted to schedule their transmissions according to a common time sequence, recurring in time domain and comprising a control portion for transmission of at least one control packet and a data portion for transmission of data packets. In order to accomplish a simple and controlled way for minimizing delay and delay variation, the network is classified into several levels with respect to a certain node, each level comprising the nodes located at the same distance from said certain node, measured in number of hops along the shortest path in the network. The data portion is further divided into successive reservation periods, each being allocated to transmissions of delay sensitive traffic through the hops between two predetermined neighboring levels so that a data packet can be transferred across the network within a single time sequence.
US07769040B2
A method of selecting at least one routing path between an access node and a gateway is provided. The method includes the access node receiving over a plurality of channels, indicators from at least one upstream access node, the indicators providing information of selected upstream paths between each of the upstream access nodes and upstream gateways. The access node determines an optimal set of routing paths between the access node and at least one upstream gateway, based upon the indicators, the optimal set of routing paths including a combination of paths over multiple channels.
US07769037B2
A method and apparatus for processing a signal on an intermediate network node at an edge of a provider packet-switched network to support a link-layer virtual private network includes receiving a signal on a particular interface. The particular interface is for a direct communication link to a customer network node outside the provider network. It is determined whether the signal indicates that the particular interface is changing from an inactive state to an active state, whereby the signal is called first sign of life (FSOL). If it is determined that the signal is FSOL, then configuration data is determined for configuring the particular interface for the particular virtual private network. The signal is processed based on the configuration data. These techniques allow a dynamic response to new signals on a customer interface without human intervention by the provider.
US07769030B2
An outlet for a Local Area Network (LAN), containing an integrated adapter that converts VoIP to and from analog telephony, and a standard telephone jack (e.g. RJ-11 in North America) for connecting an ordinary analog (POTS) telephone set. Such an outlet allows using analog telephone sets in a VoIP environment, eliminating the need for an IP telephone set or external adapter. The outlet may also include a hub that allows connecting both an analog telephone set via an adapter, as well as retaining the data network connection, which may be accessed by a network jack. The invention may also be applied to a telephone line-based data networking system. In such an environment, the data networking circuitry as well as the VoIP/POTS adapters are integrated into a telephone outlet, providing for regular analog service, VoIP telephony service using an analog telephone set, and data networking as well. In such a configuration, the outlet requires two standard telephone jacks and a data-networking jack. Outlets according to the invention can be used to retrofit existing LAN and in-building telephone wiring, as well as original equipment in new installation.
US07769024B1
An apparatus includes a processor and a silicon switch. The silicon switch includes a network port to exchange packets of data with one or more networks and a packet classifier to select packets that satisfy one or more packet classification rules. Each of the packet classification rules describes at least one packet characteristic. The silicon switch further includes an action circuit to perform actions in response to processor commands. The processor generates each of the processor commands based on a plurality of the selected packets. The processor performs comparisons between each of the selected packets and at least one pattern, and generates the processor commands based on a history of results of the comparisons. The processor executes a computer program written in a scripting language. The computer program performs the comparisons. A pattern is added to the computer program at runtime without rebooting the apparatus.
US07769023B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for redirecting fiber channel data that is transmitted between a first and a second node, such as a host and target, in a storage area network (SAN) to an intelligent node that facilitates implementation of a service on such redirected data. Such redirection is provided transparently with respect to the first and second nodes without significantly reconfiguring the existing infrastructure of the first and second nodes. In a specific Fiber Channel implementation, the redirection is accomplished without rewiring any of the nodes in the network fabric or reconfiguring zones or virtual storage area networks (VSANs). In general, such redirection is accomplished by rewriting the data as it traverses on a path between the first and second node towards an original destination (e.g., the first or second node) so that the data is redirected to an intelligent node. The intelligent node then facilitates implementation of a service on such redirected data and then forwards the serviced data back to its original destination. In one example, setup of this redirection function is accomplished simply by making a request to a network device (e.g., a host and/or target switch) in the first and second node's communication path, where the request identifies the first node, the second node, and the intelligent node.
US07769018B2
One embodiment presented herein comprises a method of establishing at least two simultaneous forms of communication between at least two entities. The method can use a service to facilitate the communication or the entities can establish communications on their own (or one entity could be establishing multiple forms of communication with a service). One embodiment begins by connecting one of the entities to a service. The service is then used to establish an initial communication form between the entities. Alternatively, if a service is not used, the entities can establish the initial communication themselves. Next, a list of alternative communication forms that are possible between the entities is created. This list can be prioritized according to a number of different parameters. This list can be created using a previously established database maintained by the service or can be created by the entities themselves as they communicate over the initial communication channel. The alternative communication forms are tested (potentially in priority order) by the service and/or the entities. After or during the testing, the method establishes at least one additional communication form between the entities from the alternative communication forms that passed the testing, such that the entities simultaneously communicate over the initial communication form and the additional communication form.
US07769017B2
Originating endpoints may obtain reachability information from a directory service, which collects contact and related information from available users. When initiating a peer-to-peer communication session to an endpoint of a destination user, the originating endpoint will access the directory service to obtain reachability information for the destination user. The reachability information may contain one or more addresses, one of which will be a peer-to-peer communication session address. From the reachability information, the originating terminal will determine an appropriate address to initiate communications with the destination user. The reachability information may identify multiple addresses, where only certain of the addresses may be peer-to-peer communication addresses and other addresses may be used to establish other types of sessions through disparate types of networks.
US07769009B1
This present disclosure allows files and data stores to be automatically replicated directly from one mobile device to other mobile devices within a mobile environment. The disclosed systems and methods enable a group of mobile device users to maintain a dynamic data store of current data for shared use and modification. Configurable software allows mobile users to select predefined events or triggers that will automatically cause a data store to be replicated from that user's mobile device to every other mobile device in a specified group.
US07769008B2
A packet routing arrangement, when receiving a request to join or leave a multicast group from a host unregistered to that group, a response is sent exclusively to the unregistered host. In the packet routing arrangement, when receiving a request packet from a host to join or leave a group, including the identifier of the group, it is determined whether the source host of the packet is registered to that group; and, if it is not registered, the first group identifier is changed to a second group identifier assigned to another delivery server delivering information to the other unregistered host and the packet is transferred to this other delivery server. When receiving a packet containing certain information from this delivery server, the second group identifier included in the received packet is changed to the first group identifier and the packet is transmitted to the unregistered host.
US07769006B1
An Ethernet Metropolitan Area Network (10) provides connectivity to one or more customer premises (161, 162, 163) to packet-bases services, such as ATM, Frame Relay, or IP while advantageously providing a mechanism for assuring security and regulation of customer traffic. Upon receipt of each customer-generated information frame (20), an ingress Multi-Service Platform (MSP) (122) “tags” the frame with a customer descriptor (22′) that specifically identifies the recipient customer. In practice, the MSP tags each frame by overwriting the Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier (22) with the routing descriptor. Using the customer descriptor in each frame, a recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) (18) or ATM switch can map the information as appropriate to direct the information to the specific customer. In addition, the customer descriptor (22′) may also include Quality of Service (QoS) allowing the recipient Provider Edge Router (PER) (18) or ATM switch to vary the QoS level accordingly.
US07769005B2
A communication apparatus generates an IP network communication path on a local interface, which is constituted of a USB between a computer and the communication apparatus, or the like, using a PPP or the like, and communicates through the IP network communication path with the computer. The computer uses a general-purpose network application like a WEB browser for accessing a resource of the communication apparatus through the local interface. In addition, the communication apparatus provides domain name service and service such as IP packet routing, and the like, for the computer through the local interface. A user in a host apparatus side can use a unified interface for the user's operation and setup operation of a communication apparatus without being limited to an interface of accessing the communication apparatus.
US07768999B1
A method and system is disclosed for interworking between half-duplex and full-duplex conferencing. A half-duplex (HD) conference will be conducted through one conference server and will involve floor-control, a full-duplex (FD) conference will be conducted through another conference server, and the conference servers will exchange bearer traffic so as to cooperatively provide an HD/FD conference. When the HD conference server detects that any of the participating HD client stations holds the floor in the HD conference, the HD conference server directs the FD conference server to put the participating FD client stations in a listen-only mode with respect to the HD conference. On the other hand, when the HD conference server detects that none of the HD client stations holds the floor, the HD conference server directs the FD conference server to lift the listen-only restriction.
US07768998B1
A VoIP call signaling method including a codec selection mechanism that measures the effective data transmission rate and other network characteristics. In some embodiments, a proxy performs a network test between itself and both end terminals to quantify the quality of the link before notifying both of the endpoints the optimal codec they should use for a peer-to-peer call. In alternative embodiments, the proxy informs the endpoints of the network characteristics and allows the endpoints to negotiate the codec selection. The network test preferably identifies delay, bandwidth, jitter and packet loss rates.
US07768994B2
A data transmission method and apparatus for performing a data transmission between end terminals of a telecommunication network, where the data is transmitted from at least one of the end terminals using the first data bearer. Then, data transmission is switched from the first to the second data bearer, if a predetermined bearer need condition has been determined or in order to obtain a subscriber identity used for gathering charging data. The network service provided by the operator can be improved, since the bearer switching allows an increase of the overall speed of the data transmission, an adaptation of the bearer bandwidth to the data amount, and a provision of the subscriber identity. The first data bearer may be a USSD or SMS data bearer, and the second data bearer may be a circuit-switched data bearer or a GPRS bearer, or vice versa.
US07768992B2
A mobile ad-hoc network (MANET) includes a source mobile node, a destination mobile node, and a plurality of neighboring mobile nodes. The mobile nodes are operative for contending for a plurality of time division multiple access (TDMA) slots in a frame using beacons. Each neighboring node selects a TDMA slot per frame. For neighboring nodes not receiving an acknowledgment for successful beacons, those nodes contend on empty TDMA slots and resolve residual collisions using a collision detection mechanism.
US07768987B2
A frequency resource operating apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data at a different hopping pattern speed according to a CSI in a BWA communication system are provided. In a method of transmitting and receiving data using CSI in a mobile communication system, a BS sets the CSI of an MS to an initial CSI and sends data to the MS according to the initial CSI. The MS sends a downlink CSI to the BS. The BS groups the MS based on the downlink CSI and sends data to the MS according to a hopping pattern for the group of the MS among hopping patterns preset for predetermined groups.
US07768986B2
A transmitter site transmits a plurality of different data signals at a chip rate over a shared spectrum in a code division multiple access communication system. Each transmitted data signal experiences a similar channel response. A combined signal of the transmitted data signals is received. The combined signal is sampled at a multiple of the chip rate. The channel response for the combined signal is determined. A spread data vector is determined using the combined signal samples and the estimated channel response. The data of the different data signals is determined using the spread data vector.
US07768981B1
A wireless network device comprises a first wireless communication device that includes a first radio frequency (RF) transceiver that generates a synchronization pulse and that transmits and receives data according to a first period. A second wireless communication device receives a signal indicative of the synchronization pulse and includes a second RF transceiver that transmits and receives data according to a second period. The second period is not equal to the first period and the second wireless communication device adjusts the second period according to the first period and the synchronization pulse.
US07768978B2
In a VoIP system that employs the AMR coding system, by classifying packets by means of unequal error protection implemented during data coding based on the AMR coding system, and by transmitting packets through transport channels 26 corresponding to the required quality for the respective packets, an efficient and high-quality mobile communication system is obtained.
US07768960B1
A system and method are described for repeatedly and efficiently performing a wireless communication channel survey to determine whether comparable communications devices exist, which frequencies are in use, and the identities of the comparable communications devices. A beacon data table stores received beacon data which is used to predict beacon arrival times, thereby allowing a receiver to be tuned away from an active data communications channel for a shorter dwell time than a beacon period. A further efficiency can be gained if beacon generators cooperatively stagger their beacon times according to one or more measurable characteristics of the beacon generator, e.g. the operating channel number and the SSID.
US07768952B2
Systems and methods for providing network access to mobile devices that travel with a vehicle, such as a train, a bus, a boat, etc. along or adjacent to a relatively fixed path that may extend over a large geographic area. Mobile devices access the network through stationary access points arranged along or adjacent to the path and communicate with a communication network. The communication network may be arranged as an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) local area network emulation (LANE) network. One of the mobile devices may be a mobile access point which can couple other mobile devices to the network and record authentication information of other mobile devices so that fast transitions can be made from one stationary access point to another as the vehicle moves along the path.
US07768944B2
The present invention discloses a document for formally defining service level requirements in a service oriented architecture (SOA). This document can include a service specification that defines functional attributes and a capability specification that defines performance requirements. These functional attributes and performance requirements can influence the response of the SOA to a service request. For example, a dynamic interpreter of the requirements document can dynamically adjust SOA resources to ensure performance requirements specified in the requirements document are met.
US07768937B2
This invention relates to a non-intrusive video quality assessment system. A method and apparatus are provided in which video frame parameters are extracted from a sequence of packets by generating a first video quality parameter for each group of packets associated with a particular frame of video data in dependence upon the frame rate of the video stream; and generating a second video quality parameter for each of said group of packets in dependence upon the size of encoded data comprising the video frame.
US07768934B2
A transmitting device includes: (i) an encoding rate managing section which controls an encoding rate of an encoding rate altering section which alters the encoding rate; (ii) an error resilience managing section which controls error resilience of an error resilience adding section; and a channel conditions measurement section which measures channel conditions of a communications medium. The encoding rate managing section and the error resilience managing section calculates a transmission capacity of packets in accordance with the channel conditions having been measured by the channel conditions measurement section, and then performs control of encoding rate setting or error resilience setting in accordance with the calculated transmission capacity.
US07768927B1
The present invention comprises methods for increasing the rank of the routing matrix of an IP network by systematically altering link weights in the IP network. A full rank routing matrix may be used with further methods in accordance with the present invention to estimate the mean traffic of the IP network based upon the full rank routing matrix and measured link utilization values. The mean traffic and the covariance of the traffic may be iteratively estimated until the estimates coverage. Example methods in accordance with the present invention for estimating mean traffic and covariance of traffic are described for both stationary and non-stationary link utilization data.
US07768922B2
A communication terminal device of the present invention includes: a packet classification section 103 for classifying the packets by stream types and destinations; a packet accumulation section 104-107 for accumulating the packets classified by the packet classification section, so as to be separately stored based on classification by the stream types and the destinations; a QoS control section 113 for determining a transmission start requirement based on a QoS parameter which defines a transmission quality of a stream; a transmission control section 108 for determining whether the transmission start requirement is satisfied; a framing section 109 for generating the frame by concatenating the packets accumulated in the packet accumulation section if it is determined by the transmission control section that the transmission start requirement is satisfied; and a transmission section 110 for transmitting the frame generated by the framing section to a destination communication terminal device.
US07768919B1
A selective packet discard mechanism is disclosed for selectively discarding packets at buffers in packet switches in the event of traffic congestion. The mechanism makes use of ordering information contained in data packets, such as forward sequence numbers or timestamps, to estimate the packet loss that traffic flows may have already incurred at upstream packet-switching nodes. This estimated upstream packet loss information is used to make improved packet discard decisions. The mechanism may be applied independently to a plurality of buffers at a plurality of packet switches to form a distributed data traffic management system.
US07768915B2
According to one embodiment, a main apparatus includes a transmitter which transmits a control signal necessary for notifying the communication connection to a first telephone terminal belonging to the group and a second telephone terminal belonging to the group, when the first telephone terminal establishes communication connection by using the line, a monitoring module configured to monitor congestion of at least an own apparatus, and a controller which controls execution and stoppage of transmission processing of the control signal to the second telephone terminal carried out by the transmitter based on a result of congestion monitoring carried out by the monitoring module.
US07768904B2
A method and system are provided for fail-safe renaming of logical circuit identifiers for rerouted logical circuits in a data network. A network management module is provided for accessing a network device provisioned for routing data over a first logical circuit in the data network. The network management module is further utilized for deleting the first logical circuit in the network device upon detecting a failure in the first logical circuit and provisioning a second logical circuit in the network device for rerouting the data from the first logical circuit. In provisioning the second logical circuit, the network management module is utilized to assign a second logical circuit identifier to identify the second logical circuit. The network management module is further utilized for renaming a first logical circuit identifier to the second logical circuit identifier and renaming a logical circuit label for the first logical circuit in a logical element module in communication with the network management module. The renamed logical circuit label includes the first logical circuit identifier and may be utilized to indicate that the logical circuit data from the failed logical circuit has been rerouted.
US07768898B2
A multi-layer information storage medium 600 includes: a data-reading surface; and eight recording layers 601 to 608 for recording data which is read out by using a blue-violet light beam. Each of the recording layers 601 to 608 has a user data area 610. A recording layer which is the most distant from the data-reading surface 601 includes a disk information area 26 and a defect management area 27 for recording management information concerning all of the recording layers 601 to 608.
US07768892B2
The recording apparatus (300A) of the present invention includes a drive apparatus (320). The drive apparatus (320) includes a head section (334) for performing a recording operation or a reproduction operation for an information recording medium (100) and a drive control section (331) for controlling the head section (334). The drive control section (331) receives an update instruction including a third address indicating at least a part of the locations of the information recording medium (100) at which the first address information is recorded and the second address information. In accordance with the update instruction, the drive control section (331) controls the head section (334) to record the second address information in the information recording medium (100), generates disc management information including correlation information (336) which correlates the first address information with the second address information, and controls the head section (334) to record the disc management information in the information recording medium (100). The drive control section (331) controls the head section (334) to record the second information in the information recording medium (100) in accordance with the second address.
US07768891B2
An optical disc recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing data in and from an optical disc by the use of the optical disc as a recording medium, comprises analog processing means including a binarization unit for subjecting a signal read from the optical disc to binarization and a servo unit for controlling recording and reproducing a signal in and from the optical disc; synchronous clock generating means for generating a synchronous clock signal which is synchronized with the signal read from the optical disc; address detecting means for detecting address information indicating a physical position on the optical disc based on the signal read from the optical disc, and outputting a signal indicating the address information and a signal indicating that the address has been detected when the address information has been detected; a sector counter for holding a sector count value of a sector as a recording unit on the optical disc, and updating the sector count value according to the synchronous clock signal and the signal output from the address detecting means; and gate signal generation switching means for generating gate a signal which controls the analog processing means, based on one of the sector count value held in the sector counter and information obtained from the analog processing means, according to the signal indicating that the address has been detected, which is output from the address detecting means.
US07768882B2
A focal control adjusting method according to the present invention comprises a first step for detecting a focal error signal obtained through condensing and irradiating a light beam on a rotating recording medium, and a second step for setting a focal control gain for controlling a positional shift between a recording surface of the recording medium and the light beam based on the focal error signal detected in the first step, wherein a result obtained by multiplying the position detection signal (sub light beams) by a preset coefficient is added to the position detection signal (main light beam), and a result of the addition is detected as the focal error signal in the first step, and the coefficient is set in accordance with the focal error signal in the first step.
US07768875B2
An underwater sounding apparatus includes a transmitter section (3) for transmitting an acoustic signal in a specific direction underwater from a ship, a receiver section (4) for receiving an echo reflected from inside a fish school FS as a result of the aforementioned transmitted acoustic signal by means of a receiving beam, and a signal processing section (5) for processing signals picked up by the aforementioned receiving beam. The signal processing section (5) calculates fish quantity information about the aforementioned fish school FS by integrating equivalent input sound intensities obtained by the aforementioned receiving beam in specific three-dimensional directions.
US07768874B2
A system and method of horizontal wave measurement is disclosed. The system for measuring the directional spectrum of waves in a fluid medium having a substantially planar surface may include a sonar system having a plurality of transducers for generating respective acoustic beams and receiving echoes from one or more range cells located substantially within the beams, at least one of the plurality of acoustic beams being angled non-orthogonally to at least one other of the plurality of acoustic beams. The method may calculate the directional spectrum associated with the waves from the received echoes.
US07768867B2
Stacked semiconductor device includes plural memory chips, stacked together, in which waveform distortion at high speed transmission is removed. Stacked semiconductor device 1 includes plural memory chips 11, 12 stacked together. Data strobe signal (DQS) and inverted data strobe signal (/DQS), as control signals for inputting/outputting data twice per cycle, are used as two single-ended data strobe signals. Data strobe signal and inverted data strobe signal mate with each other. Data strobe signal line for the data strobe signal L4 is connected to data strobe signal (DQS) pad of first memory chip 11. Inverted data strobe signal line for /DQS signal L5 is connected to inverted data strobe signal (/DQS) pad of second memory chip 12.
US07768862B2
A memory arrangement including a memory array, which has at least one memory block with a power supply device which can be activated, an address decoder, which is coupled to the at least one memory block in order to control access to the at least one memory block, and an activation device for selectively activating the power supply device of memory blocks. The address decoder is set up to interact with the activation device in such a manner that, when a memory block is accessed for the first time, the power supply device of the memory block is activated and remains activated after the access operation has ended.
US07768845B2
A memory capable of operating at a high speed is obtained. This memory includes memory cells arranged on the intersectional positions between bit lines and word lines respectively. A read operation and a first and second rewrite operations performed when reading data of the memory cells are started by changing voltages applied to the bit lines and the word lines to applied voltages responsive to each operation, and when each operation performed when reading data of the memory cells is transferred, the voltages applied to the bit lines and the word lines are directly changed from the applied voltages responsive to the operation before transition to the applied voltages responsive to the operation after transition.
US07768836B2
A group of non-volatile memory cells are programmed in a programming pass by a series of incremental programming pulses where each pulse is followed by a program-verify and possibly program-inhibition step. Performance is improved during the programming pass by delayed starting and prematurely terminating the various verify levels that demarcate the multiple memory states. This amounts to skipping the verifying and inhibiting steps of the fastest and slowest programming (fringe) cells of the group. A reference pulse is established when the fastest cells have all been program-verified relative to a first verify level. The starting of what verify level at what pulse will then be delayed relative to the reference pulse. Verifying stops for a given verify level when only a predetermined number of cells remain unverified relative to that given level. Any errors arising from over- or under-programming of the fringe cells are corrected by an error correction code.
US07768829B2
In a memory cell array, a plurality of memory cells are arranged in a matrix. Each of the plurality of memory cells stores one of a plurality of threshold levels. When writing one of the plurality of threshold levels into a first memory cell of the memory cell array, a control circuit writes a threshold level a little lower than the original threshold level. When not writing a second memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell consecutively, the control circuit writes the original threshold level into the first memory cell.
US07768828B2
There is provided a flash memory device capable of manipulating multi-bit and single-bit data. The flash memory device can include a memory cell array with a plurality of memory blocks. The flash memory device can also include a judgment circuit for storing multi-bit/single-bit information indicating whether each of the memory blocks is a multi-bit memory block or not, determining whether or not a memory block of an inputted block address is a multi-bit memory block according to the stored multi-bit/single-bit information and outputting an appropriate flag signal. A read/write circuit for selectively performing multi-bit and single-bit read/program operations of the memory block corresponding to the block address is also included, as well as control logic for controlling the read/write circuit such that the read/write circuit can perform multi-bit or single-bit read/program operations based on the flag signal. An error checking and correction (ECC) circuit including a multi-bit ECC unit and a single-bit ECC unit for checking and correcting an error in a data of the read/write circuit can also be included.
US07768826B2
A set of memory cells can be erased by individually erasing portions of the set in order to normalize the erase behavior of each memory cell and provide more consistent erase rates. An erase voltage pulse can be applied to the set of memory cells with a first group of cells biased for erase and a second group biased to inhibit erase. A second erase voltage pulse can then be applied with the second group biased for erase and the first group biased to inhibit erase. The groups are chosen so that the erase potentials for the cells in the first subset during the first pulse are about equal, so that the erase potentials for the cells in the second subset during the second pulse are about equal, and so that the erase potentials for the cells of the first subset are about the same as the erase potentials for the cells of the second subset. In one embodiment, the bias conditions for the string during each individual erase are selected so that every memory cell of the set will experience similar capacitive coupling effects from neighboring transistors.
US07768824B2
The present invention provides a low-resistance magnetoresistive element of a spin-injection write type. A crystallization promoting layer that promotes crystallization is formed in contact with an interfacial magnetic layer having an amorphous structure, so that crystallization is promoted from the side of a tunnel barrier layer, and the interface between the tunnel barrier layer and the interfacial magnetic layer is adjusted. With this arrangement, it is possible to form a magnetoresistive element that has a low resistance so as to obtain a desired current value, and has a high TMR ratio.
US07768811B2
The ferroelectric memory apparatus stores data, and includes: a ferroelectric memory element; a temperature sensor which detects a temperature of the apparatus; a control unit that outputs a control signal indicating a voltage, the voltage increasing as the temperature detected by the temperature sensor decreases; and a voltage generating unit that generates the voltage indicated by the control signal outputted by the control unit, and to supply the generated voltage to the ferroelectric memory element. This provides a ferroelectric memory apparatus which can recover from effects of thermal stress suffered after shipment—i.e., reduction in the polarization amount needed for data retention as well as imprint degradation—using a relatively simple configuration.
US07768810B2
In an integrated circuit, a radiation tolerant static random access memory device comprising a first inverter having an input and an output, a second inverter having an input and an output. A first resistor is coupled between the output of the first inverter and the input of the second inverter. A second resistor is coupled between the output of the second inverter and the input of the first inverter. A first write transistor is coupled to the output of the first inverter and has a gate coupled to a source of a first set of write-control signals and a second write transistor is coupled to the output of the second inverter and has a gate coupled to said source of a second set of write-control signals. Finally, a pass transistor has a gate coupled to the output of on of the first and second inverters.
US07768803B2
A control circuit for a power converter includes a voltage command unit that generates a voltage command signal, a voltage command compensation unit that compensates the voltage command signal to generate a compensatory voltage command signal, and a switching pattern arithmetic unit that generates a switching signal for each of semiconductor switching elements of the power converter based on the compensatory voltage command signal and a carrier wave. The conversional fundamental frequency of the power converter is f and the carrier frequency of the carrier wave is fc. The voltage command compensation unit generates a compensation signal including at least one compensatory frequency component of fc−n×f (where n denotes successive positive and negative integers), and generates the compensatory voltage command signal.
US07768794B1
A surge suppression device includes a bus bar that extends along a length of the surge suppression device. Multiple surge suppression modules each have an attachment device that attaches and detaches to the bus bar without disrupting connections of other surge suppression modules coupled to the same bus bar.
US07768792B2
A front end module includes a multilayered structure. The multilayered structure includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a duplex unit. The multilayered structure further includes a ground layer. The ground layer includes a ground pattern having at least one block on a surface of a substrate of the front end module.
US07768791B2
A device for integrating LCD monitor circuitry to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of manufacturing LCD monitors are disclosed. The device of the invention comprises: a power converting circuit, providing power required by the LCD monitor circuitry; a back-light driving circuit, providing a driving signal required by a LCD back-light module; and an image processing circuit, processing an image signal for LCD displaying; wherein said power converting circuit, said back-light driving circuit and said image processing circuit are integrated on a single-layered printed circuit board (PCB).
US07768790B2
An electronic circuit capable of efficiently transmitting signals in a case where signals are transmitted over substrates with three or more substrates three-dimensionally mounted. In the present invention, LSI chips are stacked in three layers, and a bus is formed over three chips. The first through the third transmitter coils 13a, 13b, 13c and the first through the third receiver coils 15a, 15b, 15c are formed by wiring on the first through the third LSI chips 11a, 11b, 11c. These three pairs of transmitter and receiver coils are disposed so that the centers of the openings thereof are coincident with each other, whereby three pairs of transmitter and receiver coils 13 and 15 form inductive coupling to enable communications. The first through the third transmitter circuits 12a, 12b, 12c are connected to the first through the third transmitter coils 13a, 13b and 13c, respectively, and the first through the third receiver circuits 14a, 14b, 14c are connected to the first through the third receiver coils 15a, 15b, 15c, respectively.
US07768786B2
A heatsink assembly includes a heatsink which has a base board and fins extending from a top thereof. The heatsink is directly put on the chip set. A positioning device includes a rectangular frame which is mounted to the heatsink and includes two first extensions and two second extensions extending from two pairs of opposite sides thereof. Each first extension has a hook extending from an inside thereof so as to hook the circuit board and the second extensions each have a first inclined surface engaged with the inclined surface defined in a periphery of the chip. Two flexible rods extend from the two opposite sides of the rectangular frame and each flexible rod has a pressing portion which presses on the top of the base board of the heatsink.
US07768784B2
A heat dissipation assembly includes a heat sink, a retention module surrounding the heat sink, and a pair of wire clips pivotably attached to the retention module to press the heat sink against an electronic component on a printed circuit board. The retention module includes three walls surrounding a rectangular opening through which the heat sink contacts with the electronic component. Two barbs and two supporting members are formed on the three walls. Each clip includes a pivoting section retained in one supporting member, an abutting section pressing the heat sink toward the electronic component, and a locking section locked with one barb, a connecting section connecting the abutting section with the pivoting section, and a handle formed from the locking section. Each clip is entirely located at a corresponding side of the heat sink.
US07768783B1
Embodiments for cooling electronic modules are disclosed. In accordance with at least one embodiment, an electronic module is inserted into a cooling sled that is equipped with a bay. The bay of the cooling sled is equipped with a pair of sides to retain the electronic module. The electronic module contains a working fluid that is sealed inside the module with one or more electronic components. During the operation of the electronic module, the working fluid is vaporized by the heat generated by the one or more electronic components. The electronic module is then cooled via the cooling sled. The cooling of the electronic module condenses the working fluid that is vaporized by the heat generated by the one or more electronic components. The condensed cooling fluid is then returned to the one or more electronic components via a wick structure that is also sealed in the electronic module.
US07768773B2
An electrolytic capacitor anode etched with an organic acid prior to anodic oxidation of the anode to create the dielectric layer. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the organic acid can etch away at least a portion of any oxides on the anode. This provides a relatively uniform surface for the creation of the dielectric, which in turn leads to a dielectric layer having a substantially uniform thickness and homogeneous amorphous structure and thus improved leakage current and stability. The organic acid may also have other residual benefits, such as removing any metallic impurities from the surface of the anode.
US07768772B2
The present subject matter includes a capacitor stack disposed in a case, the capacitor stack including one or more substantially planar electrode layers. The one or more substantially planar electrode layers have an etched surface, an unetched surface, and a grade bordering the etched surface and the unetched surface. Also, the present subject matter includes a lid conforming sealingly connected to the material defining the first aperture. Additionally, the present subject matter includes a feedthrough assembly connected to the capacitor stack and passing through the feedthrough hole and sealingly connected to the material defining the feedthrough hole. In the present subject matter, the one or more substantially planar electrode layers are made by printing a curable resin mask onto the one or more substantially planar electrode layers and etching the layers, the curable resin mask defining the grade and adapted to resist etching.
US07768769B2
A lithium ion capacitor having a high capacity retention at the time of continuous charge at a high temperature and excellent durability. The lithium ion capacitor includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an aprotic organic solvent electrolyte solution of a lithium salt as an electrolytic solution. The positive electrode active material is a material capable of reversibly supporting lithium ions and/or anions, a negative electrode active material is a material capable of reversibly supporting lithium ions, the negative electrode and/or the positive electrode is doped with lithium ions so that the potential of the positive electrode is at most 2.0 V after the positive electrode and the negative electrode are short-circuited, and the electrolytic solution contains vinylene carbonate or its derivative.
US07768766B2
A plasma processing system is disclosed. The plasma processing system may include an electrostatic chuck (ESC) positioned inside a plasma processing chamber and configured to support a wafer. The ESC may include a positive terminal (+ESC) for providing a first force to the wafer and a negative terminal (−ESC) for providing a second force to the wafer. The plasma processing system may also include a first trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) and a second TIA configured to measure a first set of voltages for calculating a value of a positive load current applied to the positive terminal. The plasma processing system may also include a third TIA and a fourth TIA configured to measure a second set of voltages for calculating a value of a negative load current applied to the negative terminal.
US07768761B2
An electrical surge protection device (12) confers protection to an output node (13) from electrical surges on a data or power line (10) incident on an input node (11). A transistorized surge protection device (18) is located in a current path between the input node (11) and the output node (13) and is configured to assume an isolating state in response to an over-current therethrough. A voltage-triggered protective circuit comprising a diac (16) in series with a bi-directional zener diode (14) is connected between the output side of the transistorized surge protection device (18) and a surge sinking node (15). The voltage-triggered circuit assumes a low-impedance state in response to an electrical surge at output terminal 13. Consequently a surge current is passed through zener diode (14) and surge diac (16) to the surge sinking node. In response to the surge current the transistorized surge protection device (18) assumes a high impedance configuration thereby isolating output node (13) from input node (11). Since neither the zener diode and diac combination, nor the transistorized surge protection device (18) are subject to sustained surge associated currents, embodiments of the invention can be compactly packaged.
US07768759B2
A control circuit of a semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element which supplies an electric power to a load; an over-heat protecting unit having: a temperature detecting section which detects a rise in temperature; a latch section which holds an output of the temperature detecting section; and a gate interrupting section which interrupts an input to a gate of the semiconductor element in accordance with the output of the latch section; a control unit which supplies a PWM signal for turning on/off the semiconductor element; a driving electric power supply unit which supplies a driving electric power for driving the over-heat protecting unit; and a timer unit which allows the driving electric power supply unit to supply the driving electric power for a predetermined period when the input to the gate of the semiconductor element is interrupted and the control unit stops to supply the PWM signal.
US07768758B2
An anti-serial cascade circuit including two silicon carbide JFETs and two silicon MOSFETs is known. Disclosed is a combination of a JFET, a smart power MOSFET SPM and a thyristor with an associated trigger circuit, which is connected in parallel to the SPM. According to an embodiment of the invention, a logic circuit co-ordinates the functional sequence.
US07768742B2
The present invention is a truncated probe for a perpendicular recording write head. The truncated probe is formed in a resist using a pullback process. In the pullback process, a trench is formed in the resist. The resist is then heated to a required temperature for a predetermined duration of time. By controlling the temperature and time, the amount of pullback of the resist is controlled to form a specified angle for the truncated probe. Further, the present invention increases the efficiency of the write head by reducing the distance between the air-bearing surface (ABS) and a magnetic back gap of the perpendicular recording write head yokes. This reduction reduces the length of the write head and permits a faster rise time of a recorded signal.
US07768739B2
Described herein is a mobile data storage magazine for interacting with a docking station. The magazine can include a magazine frame containing a plurality of operatively interconnected disk drives, a first contact element associated with the magazine frame capable of conducting electrical power to at least one of the plurality of disk drives when engaged with a second contact element associated with the docking station wherein the first and second contact elements are adapted to cooperate in a non male/female relationship. The magazine can further comprise a first communication element capable of conducting data between at least one of the plurality of disk drives and the docking station when the first communication element is operatively linked to a second communication element associated with the docking station.
US07768736B2
Certifying a media while servowriting the media by formatting a full compliment of servo data in storage tracks of the media in a minimum number of passes per storage track while simultaneously performing a 100% media certification of the storage tracks during the minimum number of passes per storage track.
US07768732B2
A gain controller for a gain loop of a read channel includes a comparator circuit, an accumulator circuit, and a function circuit. The comparator circuit determines an error between an actual sample of a read signal and a corresponding ideal sample of the read signal, and the accumulator circuit holds a gain-correction value and adjusts the gain-correction value in response to the error. The function circuit generates a gain-correction signal by performing a predetermined mathematical operation involving the gain-correction value, and provides the gain-correction signal to a variable-gain amplifier that is operable to amplify actual samples of the read signal. Because such a gain controller allows one to locate the variable-gain amplifier (VGA) after the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a read channel, the gain controller may significantly reduce the latency of the gain-acquisition (GA) loop or the gain-tracking (GT) loop of the read channel. The gain controller may also allow the GA loop and the GT loop to be completely contained with in the digital portion of the read channel.
US07768729B2
A method according to one embodiment comprises determining a growth rate of an erase band width between an aggressor track and a substantially unerased portion of a data track on a magnetic medium during a first number of write cycles on the aggressor track; and estimating the erase band width, or derived parameter thereof, for or after a second number of write cycles on the aggressor track, the second number of write cycles being greater than the first number of write cycles.
US07768723B2
A replacement apparatus for an optical element mounted between two adjacent optical elements in a lithography objective has a holder for the optical element to be replaced, which holder can be moved into the lithography objective through a lateral opening in a housing of the same.
US07768712B2
The invention relates to a variable focus lens (10), comprising a rigid ring (22), a flexible membrane (20) attached to the front surface of the ring, a rigid transparent front cover (40), attached to the flexible membrane (50), and a rigid rear cover (20) on the rear surface of the ring (22). A cavity (60) is formed between the flexible membrane (50) and the rear cover (20), and the cavity is filled with a liquid. The amount of liquid in the cavity can be varied to vary the curvature of the flexible membrane and so vary the optical characteristics of the lens. The rear cover can be integral with the ring, or formed separately. Further, a second flexible membrane can be positioned between the rear cover and the ring. The various parts of the lens can be held together by adhesive.
US07768711B2
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a lens, in which the method includes exposing a photoresist to light using a phase shift mask. Here, the phase shift mask includes layout portions respectively corresponding to pixels and lens, in which each of the layout portions has: a light-blocking portion which has a shape of a substantially circle or a substantially concentric zone; a light-transmitting portion which has a shape of a substantially circle or a substantially concentric zone; a phase shift portion which has a shape of a substantially circle or a substantially concentric zone; and a light-blocking frame. Furthermore, the light-transmitting portion, the light-blocking portion and the phase shift portion are arranged alternately so as to form concentric circles, and the light-blocking frame corresponds to a whole or a part of a perimeter of the lens.
US07768697B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring spectral tilt uses an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to separate a multiplexed optical signal having a plurality of wavelength channels into a plurality of sub-bands, where each sub-band spans a different wavelength range and includes more than one wavelength channel. A photodetector array is provided to measure the optical power in each of the sub-bands, while control electronics calculate spectral tilt of the multiplexed optical signal using the measured optical power in each of the sub-bands. The spectral tilt monitor in accordance with the instant invention provides spectral resolution, increased monitoring speeds, and decreased manufacturing costs.
US07768696B2
The present invention purposes to provide a THz-wave generator capable of generating a THz-wave stably and efficiently, and particularly, to provide the THz-wave generator which is stable against a frequency shift of a laser source and which can easily vary the frequency of the THz-wave.A THz-wave generator, for inputting a laser beam from a light source unit A including a laser source to a THz-wave generating element D, and generating a THz-wave (fT) from the THz-wave generating element, wherein a light circulating unit including an SSB optical modulator, and wavelength selecting means C are disposed between the laser source A and the THz-wave generating element D, the laser beam is guided into the light circulating unit, a specific wavelength lightwave is selected out of lightwaves having a plurality of wavelengths generated in the light circulating unit by the wavelength selecting means, and the specific wavelength (f0, fn) lightwave is input to the THz-wave generating element.
US07768694B2
A doubly-resonant cavity structure includes at least one cavity structures so as to allow total frequency conversion for second or third-harmonic generation using χ(2) and χ(3) nonlinearities between the at least one cavity structures. The total frequency conversion is efficiently optimized by determining a critical power allowing for such total frequency conversion to occur depending on the cavity parameters of the at least one cavity structures.
US07768692B2
A single-photon generator includes a single-photon generating device generating a single-photon pulse having a wavelength on the shorter wavelength side than a communication wavelength band, and a single-photon wavelength conversion device performing wavelength conversion of the single-photon pulse into a single-photon pulse of the communication wavelength band, using pump pulse light for single-photon wavelength conversion.
US07768686B2
A light-beam-scanning system includes two counter-rotating prism wheels. Each prism wheel has a set of prisms at its periphery, selected so that prisms of equal half-angle deflections are sequentially aligned. A light transceiver structure directs a light beam parallel to the rotational axes of the prism wheels and at a distance from the rotational axes so that the light beam passes through the aligned prisms. A prism-wheel drive is operable to drive the prism wheels in opposite rotational directions.
US07768685B2
A hologram optical element having a thin form and a high degree of light transmittance, moreover that provides superior handling ease, as well as a surface light source device employing this hologram optical element. The angle at which light can be bent in this hologram optical element, has low wavelength dependency, and the hologram optical element enables prevention of spectral separation in white light incident from an oblique direction which is bent to a vertical direction and emitted. A transmitting diffraction grating, when light of wavelengths λ1, λ2 and λ3 within the ranges 0.46≦λ1≦0.50 μm (blue light), 0.53≦λ2≦0.57 μm (green light), 0.60≦λ3≦0.64 μm (red light) is incident at angle θi, the maximum diffraction angle for diffractive efficiency of each wavelength is within the range from −5 degrees to +5 degrees.
US07768673B2
A multi-bit halftone generating system provides for halftone intergeneration in printers which can print dots of plural gray scale levels. Input image data includes information for more gray scale levels than can be handled by those associated with a printing device. Higher order bits of the pixels of the electronic document are used to select a gray scale level from those available from the printer. Remaining bits are used to generate a halftone pattern which is superimposed upon this selected gray scale. Thus, improved dither rendering is quickly and efficiently accomplished and improved image generation results from using the gray scales available from the printing device.
US07768672B2
This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for color management in image/text printing or display systems, and more particularly to a system and method for automatically achieving spot color production through use of a plurality of gain matrices per spot color in determining spot color coordinates. Furthermore, this disclosure provides a means for mapping out-of-gamut target spot colors substantially near a boundary of the gamut of an image output device, such as a printer or display.
US07768671B2
An image characterized by an original image gamut is received in an imaging device characterized by a device gamut. The original image gamut is enhanced to a first set of modified color values that occupy a greater fraction of the device gamut than the original image gamut. The modified color values of each pixel are mapped to new color values within the device gamut.
US07768668B2
A fax account is described and creates an association between users and documents that are faxed. A fax account allows a user to secure their faxed documents and organize and streamline fax communication via different transports. In at least some embodiments, security is enhanced through the use of an authentication model that authenticates individual users before giving them access to the fax functionality or, more accurately, their fax account. In at least some embodiments, fax accounts also provide users with an infrastructure through which they can manage their documents. In addition, in at least some embodiments, fax accounts can be used to manage and direct received faxes to the intended recipient, thus reducing the possibility of an unintended recipient gaining access to the fax.
US07768664B2
A communication system includes a first apparatus and a second apparatus. The first apparatus matches first identification information with second identification information, and transmits the first identification information to the second apparatus when the first identification information does not match with the second identification information. The second apparatus matches the first identification information with third identification information, determines the first apparatus as a communication destination when the first identification information matches with the third identification information, and transmits predetermined information to the first apparatus.
US07768658B2
An anomaly detection system and a method thereof are disclosed. The system comprises at least a light reflecting unit, a light-emitting unit, an image pick-up unit and a processing module. Each of the light reflecting unit is disposed on an object-to-be-detected that all of which are capable of reflecting light emitted from the light-emitting unit and thus cooperatively generating a reflection image relating to the object-to-be-detected to be received by the image pick-up unit for enabling the same to generate an image signal accordingly. The image signal is then transmitted to the processing module where it is analyzed and compared with a standard image signal so as to determine whether the position of the object-to-be-detected is abnormal.
US07768654B2
A differential interference contrast (DIC) determination device and method utilizes an illumination source, a layer having a pair of two apertures that receive illumination from the illumination source, and a photodetector to receive Young's interference from the illumination passing through the pair of two apertures. In addition, a surface plasmon assisted optofluidic microscope and method utilize an illumination source, a fluid channel having a layer with at least one aperture as a surface, and a photodetector that receives a signal based on the illumination passing through the aperture. The layer is corrugated (e.g., via fabrication) and parameters of the corrugation optimize the signal received on the photodetector.
US07768653B2
A wavefront measurement system includes a source of electromagnetic radiation. An illumination system delivers the electromagnetic radiation to an object plane. A source of a diffraction pattern is in the object plane. A projection optical system projects the diffraction pattern onto an image plane, which includes a mechanism (e.g., a shearing grating) to introduce the lateral shear. A detector is located optically conjugate with the pupil of the projection optical system, and receives an instant fringe pattern, resulting from the interference between sheared wavefronts, from the image plane. The diffraction pattern is dynamically scanned across a pupil of the projection optical system, and the resulting time-integrated interferogram obtained from the detector is used to measure the wavefront aberration across the entire pupil.
US07768645B2
A miniature readhead is provided for photometric color detection using ambient light. The readhead is hand-held, including a superposed plate and tray. The tray receives sample media configured to react and to change color according to an amount of analyte in a sample. The plate is optically transmissive, so that ambient light is transmissible therethrough to the sample media indexed within the tray. An array of light detectors is disposed along the plate, including sets of detectors configured to detect light of at least three mutually distinct wavelengths reflected from the test areas. Light shields superposed with each of the light detectors selectively permit ambient light to pass to the tray, while substantially preventing ambient light from reaching the light detectors prior to reflecting from the test areas. The readhead may be incorporated into a photometric diagnostic instrument configured to analyze the reflections and derive a diagnosis value.
US07768644B2
A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.
US07768636B2
A belt inspecting apparatus applies illuminating light beams (R, G, B) through light guides to a flat inner portion, a flat outer portion, flat side portions, and curved portions of a metal belt. The illuminating light beams, which are reflected by the metal belt, are guided through the light guides to color cameras, which detect the illuminating light beams as image information. A surface state decision unit compares the detected image information with normal image information in order to determine whether the metal belt contains flaws therein or not.
US07768630B2
A method of evaluating the Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) of an optical fiber by arranging the optical fiber at substantially zero tension on a surface, propagating prescribed evaluation optical signals along the optical fiber, measuring fiber Differential Group Delay (DGD) values in response to the evaluation optical signals, repeating at least once the acts of propagating and measuring, each time preliminarily inducing a change in a mode coupling of the fiber, and determining the fiber PMD on the basis of a calculated DGD average value. Changes in the polarization mode coupling of the fiber are induced by, moving at least a section of the fiber substantially orthogonally to the surface. An improved PMD evaluation apparatus includes a fiber arrangement surface adapted to have a fiber under test arranged thereon at substantially zero tension, and, operatively associated with the fiber arrangement surface, a fiber moving device activatable for moving the at least a section of the fiber substantially orthogonally to the fiber arrangement surface.
US07768622B2
A method for producing a liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, an electrode and an alignment layer formed on each substrate and a liquid crystal filled between the substrates, where at least one alignment layer exhibits a vertically orienting property. The method includes alignment-treating at least one of the alignment layers by irradiating the alignment layer exhibiting a vertically orienting property with ultraviolet rays, in two different directions, by providing two lamps for projection of ultraviolet rays. Also disclosed is manufacturing equipment for orienting an alignment layer of a liquid crystal display device, including a first lamp and a second lamp located at a different position than the first lamp, but on the same side of the alignment layer. Also, both lamps irradiate different ultraviolet rays that are within ±10 degrees of parallelism, and the first and second lamps irradiate ultraviolet rays in two different directions.
US07768618B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on the substrate, a first insulation layer on the plurality of the gate lines, a plurality of gate link lines electrically connected to the gate lines, and a plurality of data link lines electrically connected to the data lines, the gate link lines and the data link lines being on the first insulation layer.
US07768612B2
A large screen liquid crystal display device using a transverse electric field system which is capable of dramatically improving an aperture ratio, a transmittance ratio, brightness, and contrast with low cost and high production yield. For example, the width of the common electrodes that shield the electric fields of the video signal lines can be decreased dramatically and the aperture ratio can be improved dramatically. Especially, the bumps covering the video signal lines can be used along with the spacers, and with the use of halftone exposure method, the bumps covering the video signal lines and the spacers can be constructed at the same time, which dramatically shortens the time required for the production process.
US07768611B2
A liquid crystal display comprises a display panel that includes at least one pixel transistor, at least one pixel electrode in electrical communication with the pixel transistor, at least one common electrode, and a liquid crystal material between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. The pixel transistor includes a thin film layer of essentially single crystal silicon that has a thickness in a range of between about 100 nm and about 200 nm. The pixel electrode has a thickness in a range of between about 5 nm and about 20 nm. The common electrode has a thickness of between about 50 nm and about 200 nm.
US07768601B2
A gate wire including a gate line and a gate electrode is formed on an insulating substrate of a TFT array panel. A semiconductor pattern made of amorphous silicon is formed on the gate insulating layer covering the gate wire. A data wire including a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode is formed on the semiconductor pattern or the gate insulating layer covering the gate wire. A part of the semiconductor pattern extends under the data line, and a light blocking member overlapping the semiconductor pattern under the data line is formed using the same layer as the gate wire. The light blocking member is to prevent light incident upon the substrate from a backlight from entering the amorphous silicon layers; therefore, the stripes of different brightness and waterfall phenomenon in which the stripes move up and down can be removed in an LCD using a backlight driven by a rectangular wave of ON/OFF signals outputted from inverter.
US07768585B2
A display device includes a substrate having a display area and a non-display area. A plurality of pixel electrodes are arrayed in a matrix within the display area on the substrate. A plurality of display elements are arranged corresponding in position to the pixel electrodes. A plurality of switching thin-film transistors are connected respectively to the pixel electrodes. A plurality of scanning lines are provided to supply a scanning signal to the switching thin-film transistors. A plurality of data lines are provided to supply a data signal to the switching thin-film transistors. The non-display area of the substrate includes a driver forming area in which a driver for driving at least one of the scanning line and the data line is to be mounted, and a static-electricity protecting circuit is provided in the driver forming area.
US07768581B2
A tuner module including a first carrier, a tuner, a second carrier, a tuner connector, a digital modulator, a digital decoder, an analog decoder and a display unit is provided. The tuner is disposed on the first carrier for tuning the frequency to receive a source signal to generate a digital or an analog video signal. The tuner outputs the digital or the analog video signal via the tuner connector. The digital modulator receives the digital video signal via the tuner connector to output a transport stream. The digital decoder controls the display to display frames. The analog decoder receives an analog video signal via the tuner connector to generate a decoded signal. The display unit receives the decoded signal for controlling the display to display frames. The tuner connector, the digital modulator, the digital decoder, the analog decoder and the display unit are disposed on the second carrier.
US07768565B2
An electronic camera capable of exposure control is disclosed which flexibly responds to situations during the display of confirmation moving image before photographing. An aspect of an electronic camera includes: an image-capturing device capturing images of subjects; a display section displaying the image outputted from the image-capturing device in real time during continuous capturing; and a control unit performing feedback control that is a repetition of a loop that corrects capturing condition based on the brightness of the image outputted from the image-capturing device, in which the control unit sets at least two kinds of capturing conditions to include entire dynamic range of the image-capturing device in first loop immediately after feedback control starts, and based on levels of brightness of at least two kinds of images outputted from the image-capturing device under the capturing conditions, calculates correct capturing conditions for images outputted following the images to obtain correct exposures.
US07768550B2
A camera according to the present invention can use a captured image of a communication target device to identify the communication target device when transmitting data to the outside. The camera includes a formatting section for converting transmission data to a format suitable for transmission to the communication target device identified.
US07768543B2
Systems and Methods to transmit and simultaneously display all video streams in a video conference by dynamically adapting video streams based on audio volume of the participants include allocating an amount of bandwidth to a participant in a videoconference; determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference, and changing the amount of bandwidth allocated to the participant responsive to the determined level of activity. In another aspect, a method for displaying video streams includes creating a graphical representation of a participant in a videoconference; displaying the created graphical representation; determining a level of activity exhibited by the participant during the videoconference; and altering the displayed graphical representation of the participant responsive to the determined level of activity.
US07768542B2
A multi-beam optical scanning device which enables uniform scan line pitch and high precision image, includes a light source having plural light emitting members, a rotary polygonal mirror having a deflecting surface, a first optical system for imaging a light beam on the deflecting surface and a second optical system for imaging the light beam on a scan surface to be scanned, wherein the optical axis of the first optical system is disposed at a particular angle in a sub-scan section with respect to a plane perpendicular to the deflection axis of the deflecting surface, and wherein, with respect to the imaging magnification in the sub-scan section of the second optical system on the optical axis and between the deflecting surface and the scan surface, the imaging magnification at a scan start side is made large while the imaging magnification at the scan end side is made small or, alternatively, the imaging magnification at a scan start side is made small while the imaging magnification at the scan end side is made large.
US07768536B2
A method of displaying pages of information on an electronic screen may include receiving a first page of information including first text, and rendering the first page of information including the first text on the electronic screen at a first zoom setting. After rendering the first page of information at the first zoom setting, zoom input may be accepted from a user through a user interface, and the first page of information including the first text may be rendered on the electronic screen at a second zoom setting different than the first zoom setting responsive to the zoom input. In addition, a target text size may be saved in electronic memory, and the target text size may represent a size of the first text on the electronic screen at the second zoom setting. A second page of information including second text different than the first text may be received, and a third zoom setting may be determined responsive to the target text size and responsive to the second text. The second page of information including the second text may then be rendered on the electronic screen at a third zoom setting. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed.
US07768528B1
Methods and computer program code computer program codes for modifying an expression of an actor in at least one video frame based on performance of the actor in a sequence of frames of video footage. A plurality of control points are identified for characterizing the shape of the actor in each frame of the video footage by a shape vector comprising positions of the control points. The shape vectors of each frame are then warped to a common standard frame thereby generating an aligned shape vector and a transformed image for each frame. The aligned shape vectors and attendant texture vectors are transformed in accordance with specified pose and expression parameters to create new shape and texture vectors which are reinserted into the sequence of frames so as to reanimate the actor.
US07768521B2
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus, including: first storage means for storing data in a unit of a word; second storage means for storing data in a unit of a word, address information for managing writing and reading out of the data of a unit of a word and a correction flag which indicates, in a unit of a word, whether or not it is necessary to correct the data, in an associated relationship with each other; and supplying means for reading out and supplying the data of a unit of a word, corresponding address information and a corresponding correction flag stored in the second storage means to the first storage means; the first storage means referring to the address information to correct the data of a unit of a word corresponding to the correction flag to the data of a unit of a word.
US07768519B1
A high-performance crossbar for a pipeline is disclosed. In particular, one embodiment of the crossbar receives multimedia data at a first throughput from a source operating in a first pipeline stage. The received data are stored in at least one input buffer corresponding to the source in the crossbar. The crossbar also causes the multimedia data from the input buffer to be routed to at least one output buffer at a second throughput. The output buffer corresponds to a destination operating in a second pipeline stage. Then the crossbar causes the multimedia data from the output buffer to be routed to the destination at the first throughput.
US07768517B2
A system for processing video data includes a host processor, a first media processing device coupled to a first buffer, the first media processing device configured to perform a first processing task on a frame of video data, and a second media processing device coupled to a second buffer, the second media processing device configured to perform a second processing task on the processed frame of video data. The architecture allows the two devices to have asymmetric video processing capabilities. Thus, the first device may advantageously perform a first task, such as decoding, while the second device performs a second task, such as post processing, according to the respective capabilities of each device, thereby increasing processing efficiency relative to prior art systems. Further, one driver may be used for both devices, enabling applications to take advantage of the system's accelerated processing capabilities without requiring code changes.
US07768512B1
A system and method for rendering a graphic primitive by linear or perspective interpolation from vertex points. An interpolation engine is employed to interpolate channel values along edges of the primitive to determine values along a scan line containing a selected point. The interpolation engine is then employed to interpolate along the scan line. Processing time may further be reduced by the use of an improved adder/subtractor as a component of the interpolation engine to reduce sequential steps and improve parallelism.
US07768505B2
At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image displaying apparatus, which includes a drawing-light-beam projecting unit, a scanning device, an indicating device, a light receiving device, and a position detecting device. The drawing-light-beam projecting unit projects a visible drawing light beam. The scanning device can two-dimensionally scan visible light and invisible light on a surface to be scanned. The indicating device can indicate any position on the surface to be scanned. The light receiving device can receive invisible light deflected by the indicating device and obtain a light receiving timing. The position detecting device can obtain the position indicated by the indicating device in an image projected by the drawing-light-beam projecting unit, on the basis of the light receiving timing.
US07768492B2
No flicker is displayed on the display screen during display of moving pictures and power consumption can be reduced by adding a high quality moving picture display function. Moreover, the number of times of transfer of moving pictures by comprising a still-picture•text•system•I/O bus•interface and a moving picture interface (external display interface), providing a display operation change register (DM) and a RAM access change register (RM) which are changed selectively depending on display content (display mode) displayed on a display device and displaying the display data on the display device via a picture memory even in the moving picture display mode.
US07768491B2
An apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines, a gate driver, a data driver, a data converter, and a timing controller. The timing controller controls the drive time of the gate and data lines, and generates a content data signal that is supplied to the data converter. The data converter processes the received content data signal, detects whether the content data signal corresponds to a moving or non-moving image, and outputs a modulated data signal to increase or decrease the response speed of a liquid crystal. The type of modulated data signal output from the data converter depends on whether the data converter detects a moving or non-moving image. A data driver receives the modulated data signal and converts the signal into a video signal that is supplied to the data lines.
US07768490B2
A common voltage compensation device suitable for a display panel of a liquid crystal display is provided. The common voltage compensation device includes a timing controller and a compensation circuit. The timing controller receives an image signal and generates control signals to the compensation circuit according to a determination mechanism. The compensation circuit sends a common voltage compensation signal to the display panel according to the control signals outputted from the timing controller in order to compensate the common voltage on the display panel. The determination mechanism performs an analysis of a gray scale distribution of a horizontal line signal of the image signal, and determines whether to compensate the common voltage according to an analysis result, and determines a polarity required to be compensated to perform the compensation when the compensation is needed.
US07768475B2
A display panel provided with at least two arrays of coplanar electrodes Y, Y′ and a network of address electrodes X is described. The network of address electrodes X is formed between the plates bearing these electrodes and has a two-dimensional set of elementary discharge regions. Each elementary discharge region is subdivided into two matrix discharge regions, each located at the intersection of one Y of the coplanar electrodes and of the address electrode X and one coplanar discharge region between the coplanar electrodes Y, Y′. Each matrix discharge region is located closer to the external edge than the internal edge of the coplanar electrode Y with which the matrix discharge region is associated.
US07768469B2
A low profile receiving and/or transmitting antenna includes an array of antenna elements that collect and coherently combine millimeter wave or other radiation. The antenna elements are physically configured so that radiation at a predetermined wavelength band impinging on the antenna at a particular angle of incidence is collected by the elements and collected in-phase. Two or more mechanical rotators may be disposed to alter the angle of incidence of incoming or outgoing radiation to match the particular angle of incidence.
US07768456B2
First and second wires are formed so that the further away from a semiconductor chip, the greater the distance between the first and second wires. This prevents currents flowing through the first and second wires from cancelling out each other, and further enables a metallic plate to be disposed as far away from the semiconductor chip as possible. In addition, configuring the metallic plate to have a constant width that is wider than the diameters of the first and second wires results in a wide connection range, thereby ensuring connection even when mounting misalignments occur between the wires and the metallic plate.
US07768451B2
Methods and apparatus for providing high integrity probability of connect fix (PCF) in GPS navigation applications, such as precision approach and landing and airborne refueling. In an exemplary embodiment, an enlarged pull in region is used to compute protection levels. In an exemplary embodiment, geometric extra-redundancy is used to enhance PCF and PAF (probability of almost fixed). In an exemplary embodiment, geometric extra-redundancy almost fixed solutions provide superior accuracy and integrity for GPS navigation applications.
US07768447B2
Methods and apparatuses process sensing signals. A method for redrawing a sensing image when a range is or has been changed, according to one aspect of the present invention, records the sensing image and outputs the sensing image to a display; records additional information displayed upon a screen and outputs the additional information to the display; computes a new image from the recorded sensing image using an image manipulation computer function, so that the computed image fits a new scale of the changed range, and recording the computed image; and computes changes to the recorded additional information to adjust the additional information to the new scale of the changed range, and records the computed additional information.
US07768436B2
An switching interface is provided for use on a vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment the switching interface comprises a receiver and a switch assembly. The receiver may include an input node; a regulated power supply electrically couple to the input node; and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to measure a voltage potential between the input node and the receiver ground. The switch assembly may include a first resistor electrically coupled to the receiver input node, the first resistor having a first resistive value; a first switch electrically coupled between the first resistor and a switch assembly ground; a second resistor electrically coupled to the first resistor and the first switch, the second resistor having a second resistive value; and a second switch coupled between the second resistor and the switch assembly ground. The first and second resistive values may be selected such that the switch assembly has a separate switch assembly state for each switch with an associated voltage potential measured between the input node and ground for each of the switch assembly states.
US07768433B2
Techniques for enhancing the slew rate of an active circuit within a feedback circuit (such as a ΔΣ ADC) are described. In one design, a ΔΣ ADC includes an integrator, a slew rate enhancement circuit, and a control circuit. The integrator receives an input signal and provides an output signal. The slew rate enhancement circuit enhances the slew rate of the integrator based on a feedback signal in the ΔΣ ADC. The slew rate enhancement circuit may provide (i) a boost current for only certain values (e.g., the largest and smallest values) of the feedback signal or (ii) different amounts of boost current for different values of the feedback signal. In one design, the slew rate enhancement circuit includes at least one boost circuit coupled to the integrator. Each boost circuit provides a boost current to enhance the slew rate of the integrator when that boost circuit is enabled.
US07768432B2
An analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion device is provided and includes a first A/D conversion stage. The A/D conversion stage includes a first pre-amp unit, first and second latch units, and a first conversion unit. The first pre-amp unit amplifies the analog input data and outputs a first amplified data. The first and second latch units are enabled by first and second latch clock signals to latch the first and second amplified data and generate first and second latched data, respectively. The first pre-amp unit is reset between a time point when the first latch unit is enabled and a time point when the second latch unit is enabled. The first conversion unit receives the analog input data, and the first and second latched data and accordingly generates a first analog output data.
US07768431B2
A band elimination filter 35 that eliminates or reduces a low frequency noise superposed on resolver signals S1 and S2 is provided between a synchronous detection circuit 34 that performs synchronous detection by referring to an excitation signal and a controller 36 that controls a digital angle output φ to make a deviation (sin(θ−φ)), which is the output of the synchronous detection circuit, zero.
US07768428B1
A Safety Warning Device which when the visual tape and laser mechanisms are components of vertical posts (both primary and corresponding), can be mounted to a base (permanent or portable) or customized to fit on a flatbed trailer, which when the visual tape is extended and the laser mechanism is activated provides both an audible and visual warning, notifying person(s) when they are in danger or in a restricted/unauthorized area. The tape is a visual warning which is high enough to be seen by person(s). The height can be adjusted on both the primary and corresponding posts. The laser is both a visual warning (as the light/laser beam is visible) and an audible warning when the laser connection is disturbed or interrupted. This can be an immediate warning as well as a signal sent to an alternative warning mechanism.
US07768424B2
The reader (1) for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader (1) is capable of receiving data, in a variety of different protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader (1) is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (2), a RF module, a display (4), a keypad (5) a trigger switch (6), a handle (7) a communication port (8), a battery charging interface (9), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader (1) is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port (8).
US07768422B2
The present invention provides a method of restoring a remotely-located control device of a wireless load control system to a default factory setting. The control device is operable to be coupled to a source of power and has a memory for storing programming information. First, a beacon message is transmitted repeatedly on a predetermined channel. Second, power is applied to the control device. Subsequently, the control device listens for the beacon message for a predetermined amount of time on each of the plurality of channels, and receives the beacon message on the predetermined channel. Next, the a first signal uniquely identifying the control device is transmitted wirelessly from the control device on the predetermined channel within a predetermined amount of time power is applied to the control device. Finally, the control device receives a second signal transmitted on the predetermined channel, and programs the memory with the default factory setting in response to the second signal.
US07768419B2
A mobile communication terminal which includes a plurality of lights, apparatus for controlling the activation of the lights, apparatus for storing a number of sequences of activation of the lights, and apparatus for assigning one of the stored sequences of the activation of the lights to a particular event in the mobile communication terminal.
US07768416B2
A method of managing the operation of machines that perform washing and drying operations according to payment made by customers is provided. The method includes recording operating information of a laundry room machine, and transmitting at least one of recorded times and recorded operating information of the laundry room machine in response to a request from a communicator.
US07768415B2
One disclosed method involves providing a first device comprising a sensor configured to sense a stimulus experienced by the first device, a controller configured to process data received from the sensor and thereby obtain processed sensor data, a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data from the first device to a second device, and a battery configured to supply power to at least the controller and the transmitter. The first device is operated in a first operational mode in which the sensor, the controller, and the transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit processed data to the second device. When it is determined that the battery is in a low power condition, the first device is operated in a second operational mode wherein the sensor, controller, and transmitter are not used to obtain and transmit processed sensor data to the second device, but wherein the first device at least occasionally transmits a signal to the second device that indicates a low power condition of the battery.
US07768413B2
A monitoring system includes one or more monitoring devices, positioned in sewer manholes, storm drains, etc., and a remote monitoring station that communicates wirelessly therewith. The monitoring device may be an integrated unit, including sensors, a two-way telemetry unit, a power supply, a processor, and supporting hardware, all located in an enclosed, waterproof housing. The monitoring device is placed within a manhole cavity to obtain depth (e.g., water level) measurements, images, and other data, and report the measurements back to the remote monitoring station, which analyzes the data and responds to alert messages when a dangerous water level is detected. An additional sensor may monitor the manhole cover for security purposes. A distributed mesh network of wireless nodes may be used to relay communications from the monitoring devices along alternative paths, through bridge nodes that may connect to a public wireless or cellular network.
US07768411B2
A temperature information management system for use in vehicles, particularly commercial airliners. The system provides a sensing section, a converter section, an operations section, an archival section, and a communications section that are all functionally integrated to monitor continuous operating temperatures for an airliner. The system provides a sensing a sensing section for continuously monitoring operating temperatures in designated areas of an airliner. The sensing section generates real-time outputs of information. The system provides a converter section that translates the real-time output information into a digital data format. The system also provides an operations section that has an interface for receiving the digital data and transmits an alert regarding the operating temperatures. An archival section is provided for storing the real-time output information from the sensing section, the digital data from the converter section and the information transmitted from the operations section. The system also provides for a communications section for communicating the information generated, translated, stored and transmitted to systems on-board the airliner, one or more ground aviation control centers, or a combination of both.
US07768410B2
A flame sensing system having a flame rod, a signal generator, a signal measurement circuit, and a controller, where the frequency and/or amplitude of the excitation signal may be variable. The signal measurement circuit may include a bias circuitry that references the flame signal to a voltage, a capacitor that varies the filtration, an AC coupling capacitor, a current limiting resistor, and a low-pass filter. The system may determine the flame-sensing rod contamination, the stray capacitance of the flame sensing system, and compensate for stray capacitance in the flame sensing system. The flame model may include a circuit that simulates a flame in the presence of the sensing rod, and another circuit that simulates a contact surface between the flame and the sensing rod.
US07768408B2
Method and system for providing a fault tolerant data receiver unit configured with a partitioned or separate processing units, each configured to perform a predetermined and/or specific processing associated with the one or more substantially non-overlapping functions of the data monitoring and management system is provided.
US07768402B2
A method and system for reading and identifying RFID tags of the invention is disclosed. The invention is capable of registering and storing information of a plurality of RFID tags attached to objects of the same group into a memory block of at least a specified RFID reader or RFID tag. The invention is also capable of enabling at least a specified RFID reader/tag in response to a first inquiry of an interrogator by transmitting each identification code of the plurality of RFID tags to the interrogator for acknowledgement. The method is capable of achieving the objective of reducing the overall communication time as the reader does not have to inquire one by one to the RFID tags to save the number of times of communication between the inquiry of the reader and the response of the RFID tags. In addition, the reading rate of the RFID system can be improved effectively since at least one of the RFID tags can function as a spokesman for those RFID tags hidden deeply inside a pile of the objects of the group.
US07768394B2
An apparatus, system and method are provided for an integrated location detection and wireless communication tracking node. The tracking node includes a housing, a wireless node located in the housing, and a tracking receiver located in the housing. The tracking receiver is coupled to the wireless node and the wireless node is operable to transmit a location signal received by the tracking receiver from a tracking device. The wireless node may include a wireless relay node that is operable to relay a radio frequency signal from a leaf node to one of a gateway and an intermediate node.
US07768393B2
A system and method for asset tracking utilizing a wireless device. An asset such as a vehicle can be equipped with a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor and an accelerometer in association with a remote control hardware component capable of responding to SMS (Short Message Service) command transmitted from the wireless device. As soon as the theft of the asset is detected, a “Theft in progress” SMS data can be transmitted from the wireless device to the remote device attached to the asset. The device then queries the geomagnetic sensor and the accelerometer at a pre-defined rate and transmits the X-Y-Z coordinates and acceleration values to the cell phone/computer via SMS at regular intervals. The device can also log the route of vehicle in a non-volatile memory which can be queried utilizing a “Request History” command.
US07768389B2
A wireless interface device services communications between a wirelessly enabled host and at least one user input device. The wireless interface device includes a wireless interface unit, a processing unit, an input/output unit, and may include a power management unit. The wireless interface unit wirelessly interfaces with the wirelessly enabled host. The processing unit and the wireless interface unit interact to determine when the wireless interface unit has established a link with the wirelessly enabled host. When the wireless interface unit has established a link with the wirelessly enabled host, the processing unit interacts with the input/output unit to direct the input/output unit to output a link established indication. When the wireless interface unit enters a sniff mode or a park mode, a second link established indication may be provided. When the link is taken down or lost, a link non-established indication may be provided.
US07768383B2
A method for localizing individual wheels and/or wheel identifiers of individual wheels of a double wheel of a motor vehicle includes the following steps: determining the axle of the respective double wheel; determining the motor vehicle side of the respective double wheel; determining the position of the respective double wheel by the position of the axle and the position of the motor vehicle side; determining the direction of travel of the motor vehicle; determining the direction of rotation of the individual wheels and/or wheel identifiers of the respective double wheel; localization of the individual wheels and/or wheel identifiers of the individual wheels by the position of the associated double wheel, the direction of travel of the motor vehicle and the rotational directions of the individual wheels and/or wheel identifiers.
US07768381B2
A collision detection apparatus for a vehicle having a vehicle bumper, which includes a bumper reinforcement includes a chamber member, a pressure sensor, and a collision detecting device. The chamber member is provided inside the vehicle bumper at a front surface of the bumper reinforcement. The pressure sensor is configured to sense change of pressure in the chamber space. The chamber member includes a deformable part and a non-deformable part, each of which extends in a vehicle width direction. The deformable part is compressed to be deformed between the collision object and the bumper reinforcement in a case, where the collision object collides with the vehicle bumper. The non-deformable part is limited from being compressed to be deformed.
US07768380B2
Security system and method for monitoring vehicular compartments includes at least one optical image receiving unit arranged to receive optical images of a compartment of the vehicle, e.g., from at least a portion of the face of a person located at a driver's station in a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and produce image signals therefrom and a processor including an electronic facial-recognition system coupled to the optical image receiving unit(s) responsive to the image signals and controllably coupled to the enabling system, and an electronic storage device coupled to the facial-recognition system to store a set of image signals. The facial-recognition system enables ignition of the vehicle system only if signals representative of select characteristics of a scanned face of the person derived from the image signals produced by the optical image receiving unit(s) match a member of a set of signals stored in the electronic storage device. Each member representative of select characteristics of the scanned face of an authorized operator.
US07768379B2
The present invention provides a system and methods for a radio frequency identification (RFID) system which securely and conveniently integrates important travel-related applications. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an RFID system comprises a transponder identification application and various additional applications useful in particular travel contexts; for example, airline, hotel, rental car, and payment-related applications. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an RFID system further comprises space and security features within specific applications which provide partnering organizations the ability to construct custom and secure file structures.
US07768377B2
A system and method of providing security for a vehicle starting system. The method including a first step of storing secure information identifying an authorized user of a vehicle. A next step includes detecting an attempt to start a vehicle without an authorized coded starting device. A next step includes placing a telephone call using a vehicle communication device to a service operator requesting service. A next step includes calling the vehicle by the service operator. A next step includes confirming the particular user of the vehicle using the stored information. A next step includes authorizing the starting of the vehicle. Unauthorized coded starting devices can include a non-programmable key, an unprogrammed programmable key, and a code scanning device.
US07768372B2
An inductance formed in a stacking of insulating layers, the inductance comprising first and second half-turns, each first half-turn being at least partly symmetrical to one of the second half-turns, the first half-turns being distributed in first groups of first half-turns at least partly aligned along the insulating layer stacking direction and the second half-turns being distributed in second groups of second half-turns at least partly aligned along the insulating layer stacking direction. For any pair of first adjacent half-turns of a same group, one of the first half-turns in the pair is electrically series-connected to the other one of the first half-turns in the pair by a single second half turn and for each pair of second adjacent half-turns of a same group, one of the second half-turns in the pair is electrically series-connected to the other one of the second half-turns in the pair by a single first half-turn.
US07768368B2
The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuating apparatus with an armature unit, which is guided axially in a housing and is capable of being moved by means of energizing a coil apparatus, contact plug means, which are held in an insulator unit, being associated with the coil apparatus, and an elongated ground contact of the contact plug means being electrically conductively connected to the housing, and the ground contact interacting electrically conductively at an engagement end which is opposite its free end with a yoke section, which is associated with the housing preferably at the front end, in such a way that, in a fitted state, a cutout formed in the engagement end in the ground contact engages over a projection of the yoke section and/or at least partially surrounds it.
US07768364B2
Bulk acoustic resonators with multi-layer electrodes for Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) resonator devices. Various electrode combinations are disclosed. The invention provides a better compromise at resonant frequencies from 1800 MHz to 4 GHz in terms of keff2 and resistance than state of the art solutions using either Mo, or a bilayer of Al and W.
US07768353B2
Embodiments of the invention may provide for enhancement systems and methods for a power amplifier output control system. In an example embodiment, driver amplifier control may be provided in conjunction with power amplifier control to improve the power efficiency and/or dynamic range of the transmitter system. Furthermore, control over the driver amplifier may allow for relaxed power control slope, which may lessens the burden of digital to analog converters (DACs) in transmitter systems such as cellular transmitter systems. Also, systems and methods in accordance with example embodiments of the invention may provide a less sensitive solution to operational environment variations such as temperature, battery power voltage and implementation IC process.
US07768343B1
A start-up circuit for a bandgap reference circuit includes a sampling circuit for sampling current through a diode in one of first and second diode/resistor networks that respectively provide complementary PTAT and CTAT characteristics in the bandgap reference, and a current injection circuit to inject current to a PMOS bus of the bandgap reference if the sampled current is not higher than a pre-designated low value. By virtue of this operation, since current through the diode itself is sampled, the start-up circuit ensures that current through the sampled diode is higher than the pre-designated low value, thereby leading to rapid start-up of the bandgap reference to a stable operating point.
US07768332B2
Spurious noise that occurs in the vicinity of a carrier can be removed even when a high-resolution cycle is set, thereby realizing low jitters in a high-precision variable clock signal. Cycle data that is set by a pattern generator in a waveform generation apparatus (a semiconductor test apparatus) is corrected in such a manner that spurious noise that occurs in a carrier of a high-precision variable clock is produced at a position far from the carrier in terms of frequency. As a result, the spurious noise can be assuredly removed by a phase-locked loop circuit, thereby realizing low jitters in the high-precision variable clock signal.
US07768330B2
For example, a gain control part and a common node control part are provided in a logic circuit including a data acquisition part that has a differential amplifier configuration and acquires a data input signal when a click signal is an “H” level and a latch part that latches a data output signal from the data acquisition part when the click signal is an “L” level. The gain control part is provided between common nodes of NMOS transistors in the differential amplifier and serves to make the gain of the differential amplifier higher in a high frequency band than in a low frequency band. When the clock signal is an “L” level, the common node control part serves to control an electrical charge so as to eliminate a potential difference between the common nodes. Thus, the transition time of the data output signal is speeded up and the setup margin is increased in the latch part. The above described technique can therefore speed up operations of various logic circuits such as a latch circuit.
US07768329B2
A shift register capable of supplying only a necessary clock signal to a necessary unit register with simple constitution. A semiconductor device is provided with a shift register in which a plurality of stages of unit registers is connected, in which the unit register comprises a flip-flop circuit, a first switch and a second switch, a first clock signal line is electrically connected to the flip-flop circuit through the first switch, a second clock signal line is electrically connected to the flip-flop circuit through the second switch, the first switch is controlled to be on/off by an output signal from the flip-flop circuit, and the second switch is controlled to be on/off by an input signal to the flip-flop circuit.
US07768328B2
A semiconductor circuit according to the present invention includes: a differential input section to receive input differential signals; a load resistance section to output a voltage according to a current output by the differential input section; differential signal output terminals to output a differential signal corresponding to the voltage output from the load resistance section; a low-pass filter to extract a direct-current component of the differential signal output from the differential signal output terminals; and a load adjustment section to feed back the direct-current component extracted by the low-pass filter to adjust a resistance value of the load resistance section.
US07768323B2
A control device including: an input terminal for receiving a logic control signal; an output terminal for delivering an output control signal from the high-voltage MOS transistor; a first NMOS control transistor with low internal impedance, which is connected between ground and the output terminal and the gate of which is connected to the input terminal; and a second PMOS control transistor, which is connected between a supply terminal and the output terminal and the gate of which is connected to the input terminal by a bipolar transistor mounted to a common base, and which is current controlled at the emitter thereof by a capacitive connecting circuit.
US07768321B2
A single-ended differential sense amplifier comprises a dynamic reference voltage generation circuit and a differential sense amplifier circuit. Input data with an input data line voltage is provided to the differential sense amplifier circuit. The input data line voltage also feeds back to the dynamic reference voltage generation circuit, which then generates a dynamic reference voltage based on the input data line voltage. The differential sense amplifier circuit is coupled to the dynamic reference voltage generation circuit and receives the dynamic reference voltage for determining the input data. The dynamic reference voltage increases and the input data line voltage decreases when reading the input data of a logic state, e.g., logic “0.”
US07768317B1
A radiation-tolerant flash-based FPGA switching element includes a plurality of memory cells each having a memory transistor and a switch transistor sharing a floating gate. Four such memory cells are combined such that two sets of two switch transistors are wired in series and the two sets of series-wired switch transistors are also wired in parallel. The four memory transistors associated with the series-parallel combination of switch transistors are all programmed to the same on or off state. The series combination prevents an “on” radiation-hit fault to one of the floating gates from creating a false connection and the parallel combination prevents an “off” radiation-hit fault to one of the floating gates from creating a false open circuit.
US07768310B2
A semiconductor device connected to other semiconductor device, includes a control portion which controls a drive capability for the other semiconductor device based on control information for the other semiconductor device.
US07768303B2
An apparatus includes a first sequential circuit which captures an input signal according to a first clock signal, a second sequential circuit which captures the input signal according to a second clock signal and outputs the captured input signal to a logic circuit, the second clock signal being modulated so that a period of the second clock signal is shorter than that of the first clock signal, a third sequential circuit which captures an output signal of the logic circuit according to the second clock signal, and a verification circuit which verifies whether an output signal of the first sequential circuit and an output signal of the third sequential circuit match with each other.
US07768298B2
A system including a plurality of transmission lines, a transmitter outputting respective signals to each of the plurality of transmission lines, a receiver receiving each of the plurality of signals via respective transmission lines, the receiver including a connection path connected to a termination voltage, a plurality of termination circuits distributed along the connection path, each termination circuit receiving a unique termination voltage from the connection path, receiving a respective signal and outputting a terminated input signal, a reference voltage generator including multiple reference voltage generator units connected to a common voltage, each reference voltage generator unit uniquely receiving at least one unique termination voltage and outputting a reference voltage, and a plurality of data input buffers receiving respective signals and an appropriate reference voltage of the multiple reference voltages output from the reference voltage generator.
US07768295B2
An advanced repeater utilizing signal distribution delay. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, such an advanced repeater circuit comprises an output stage for driving an output signal line responsive to an input signal and a feedback loop coupled to said output signal line for changing state of said output stage subsequent to a delay after a transition of said output signal. The delay is due to transmission line effects of said output signal line.
US07768288B2
A detection device for a chip. A faulty chip is detected from a plurality of chips via the detection device. The chips are installed on a printed circuit board. The detection device electrically connected to the printed circuit board comprises a updateable chip and a substitute printed circuit board. The substitute printed circuit board is electrically connected to the updateable chip and comprises a plurality of pins disposed on two sides thereof for connecting to each chip.
US07768287B2
Methods and apparatus provide for: selectively supplying a first source of power to a plurality of circuit blocks of a system using a plurality of gate circuits responsive to respective control signals provided by at least one control circuit; and providing a second source of power to operate the control circuit before the first source of power is available to the gate circuits such that the control signals are valid before such availability.
US07768281B2
A probe assembly used to lap a bar, the bar being provided with elements that are to be formed into sliders, is provided. The probe assembly comprises an elastically deflectable probe, and a stopper for applying bending deformation to the probe so as to cause first bending deflection at a leading end of the probe and for maintaining the first bending deflection of the leading end while preventing a bending deformation at the leading end from becoming smaller than the first bending deflection. The leading end of the probe is adapted to be subjected to second bending deflection that is larger than the first bending deflection in a same direction as a direction of the first bending deflection and thereby to abut against an electrode pad to establish electrical connection between the probe and the electrode pad, the electrode pad being provided on a surface of the bar other than a surface to be lapped.
US07768274B2
A voltage tolerance measuring apparatus configured to measure voltage tolerance of a motherboard includes a first connector configured to connect with a power connector of a computer power supply, a second connector configured to connect with a power connector of the motherboard, and a measuring circuit having an adjustable direct current (DC) power supply and a switch circuit. The adjustable DC power supply is connected to power pins of the second connector via the switch circuit. The switch circuit is connected to a power-on pin of the second connector. When the switch circuit receives a power-on signal of the motherboard via the power-on pin of the second connector, the switch circuit controls the adjustable DC power supply to supply power to the power pins of the second connector.
US07768271B2
Method for calibrating a vectorial network analyzer, with n measurement ports (n>2) and at least m measurement sites, where m>n+1 includes measurement of three different n-port reflection standards, connected between measurement ports in any desired order, and successive measurement of reflection and transmission parameters at different transmission standards, connected between two respective measurement ports, and computational determination of error coefficients and error-corrected scattering matrices [Sx] of the n-port standards. Reflection standards, Short and Open, are unknown, but physically identical at each n-fold one-port. Reflection standard, realized by wave terminations, is known, but can be different at each n-fold one-port. Transmission standards are measured at a transmission standard, having known length and attenuation at a two-port, and at unknown transmission standards, identical for incident and reflected waves at remaining two-ports, which can be connected. Unknown reflection and transmission values are determined computationally by the measurements.
US07768267B2
An ionization gauge that eliminates a hot cathode or filament, but maintains a level of precision of gas density measurements approaching that of a hot cathode ionization gauge. The ionization gauge includes a collector electrode disposed in an ionization volume, an electron source without a heated cathode, and an electrostatic shutter that regulates the flow of electrons between the electron source and the ionization volume. The electrostatic shutter controls the flow of electrons based on feedback from an anode defining the ionization volume. The electron source can be a Penning or glow discharge ionization gauge.
US07768263B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field in an imaging space, a gradient magnetic field generating means for generating a gradient magnetic field in the imaging space, high-frequency magnetic field generating means for generating a high-frequency magnetic field so as to induce nuclear magnetic resonance in a subject placed in the imaging space, signal receiving means for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the subject, signal processing means for reconstructing an image by using the detected nuclear magnetic resonance signal, display means for displaying the image, a table for placing the subject thereon to dispose the subject in the imaging means, and table moving means for moving the table on which the subject is placed.While moving the portions to be imaged of the subject continuously or stepwise in the imaging space and disposing the subject, a whole-body image of a large region of the subject is created.The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus further comprises means for detecting information on the displacement of the subject from a desired position and setting means for setting movement information on the table according to the displacement information.The table moving means moves the table according to the movement information set by the setting means to capture the whole-body image.
US07768258B2
A digital based two wire proximity transmitter system and a method for calibrating the system, wherein the transmitter includes a customized linearization table uniquely generated during calibration to take into account the unique impedance properties of a particular probe/coaxial cable configuration. During calibration, the probe is positioned adjacent a calibration target. The calibration target is selected to have the same material characteristics as the target to be monitored during actual operation of the transmitter in the field. At a fixed distance between the probe and calibration target, the resonant frequency of the probe/cable system is determined. Thereafter, utilizing this resonant frequency to excite the probe, the voltage response of the probe/cable system is determined as the distance between the probe and the target material is incrementally changed. The voltage output is used to build a table for incremental distances, wherein each distance is characterized by a non-linear output that has been equated to a linear output. This uniquely generated table is subsequently downloaded into the transmitter for reference during monitoring.
US07768253B2
A sampling module, for sampling one or more analog characteristics of a power transmission system, including at least one input circuit for sampling a respective analog characteristic. Each input circuit includes: a scaling circuit for reducing the magnitude of the analog characteristic to a desired level; an isolating circuit for creating an electrical barrier between respective upstream and downstream portions of the input circuit; and an analog to digital converter for digitizing the analog characteristic to produce a digital data stream. The scaling circuit is electrically connected to an input of the analog to digital converter, and the isolating circuit is electrically connected directly to an output thereof.
US07768252B2
Systems and methods may be provided for threshold determinations for spectrum sensing. The systems and methods may include receiving a false alarm rate, where the false alarm rate is associated with false occupancy identifications of a spectrum segment, determining a noise floor as a function of a noise figure and characteristics of a multi-resolution spectrum sensing (MRSS) window, and calculating a sensing threshold based at least in part upon the false alarm rate and the noise floor. The systems and methods may also include determining whether a portion of an RF spectrum is occupied based at least in part on the calculated sensing threshold.
US07768251B2
A method of testing a superconducting coil path formed in a layer of superconducting material. The material is provided on a former (6) having a substantially curved surface. The method comprises the step of scanning the layer to detect defects in the layer.
US07768248B1
Embodiments of the invention describe a reference current generator circuit having a core circuit that includes a first transistor in a first current path for conduct a first current and a second transistor in a second current path for conduct a second current. The second transistor has a threshold voltage that is different from the threshold voltage of the first transistor by at least 10%. The voltage differential between the first and second transistors generate a voltage across a resistive component coupled in series with the second transistor in the second current path.
US07768246B2
An output ripple control circuit and method for a PWM system uses a hysteresis threshold to clamp the output ripple of the PWM system such that the output ripple will not vary with the dc level of the output voltage, and therefore the output ripple control may be combined into any main loop technologies.
US07768244B2
An electrical energy generation system comprising: a plurality of photovoltaic generators connected in parallel and connected to a common load via respective DC voltage converters; and a regulator configured to vary the transconductances of said respective voltage converters to maximize the power generated by said current generators; wherein: said generators are also connected to a common input of an additional voltage converter the output of which is connected to said common load; and said regulator is also configured to vary the transconductance of said additional voltage converter to maximize the power generated by said current generators.
US07768226B2
Problems with accuracy reading position detection signal peaks and minute phase differences in the detection current make motor drive control easily susceptible to differences in motor characteristics. The rotor position is determined based on whether or not a terminal difference voltage, which is the difference voltage between the motor terminal voltage and the pseudo-neutral-point voltage when the motor phases are selectively energized, exceeds a specific threshold value. The phase energized to start the motor is determined based on this determination and the motor is energized accordingly to start. Instead of switching directly from the search step at the initial rotor position to the back-EMF voltage mode, a search and start mode that creates initial rotor speed sufficient to start the motor is executed before entering the back-EMF voltage mode.
US07768224B2
The present invention is aimed at provision of a control apparatus for and a control method of controlling a motor for a vehicle driven by a driving circuit that operates according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. Measurement of a duty of an output signal from the driving circuit is executed, and a difference between the measured duty and a target duty in a PWM control is then obtained to further execute setting of a correction value for correcting the target duty based on the above difference and to generate the PWM signal based on the corrected target duty.
US07768214B2
A step-up/step-down regulator circuit wherein a switch has a terminal connected to an end of an inductor, another terminal grounded, and a control terminal connected to an end of a switch. In this way, performing an open/close control of the switch can indirectly perform an open/close control of the switch, thereby solving the problem that the structure and operation of a switch control circuit will be complicated when the switching between step-up and step-down operation is realized.
US07768210B2
A hybrid electroluminescent (EL) device comprises at least one inorganic diode element and at least one organic EL element that are electrically connected in series. The absolute value of the breakdown voltage of the inorganic diode element is greater than the absolute value of the maximum reverse bias voltage across the series. The inorganic diode element can be a power diode, a Schottky barrier diode, or a light-emitting diode.
US07768203B2
A plasma display panel may include first and second substrates facing each other and spaced apart from each other, barrier ribs between the first and second substrates, the barrier ribs defining discharge cells to define discharge and non-discharge regions, address electrodes extending in a first direction in respect to the discharge cells, and first and second electrodes formed on the second substrate and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, where at least one of the first and second electrodes includes black projections extending from the discharge region to the non-discharge region.
US07768200B2
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel. The plasma display panel includes black matrices formed in a front substrate, and first barrier ribs, which are formed opposite to the black matrices on a rear substrate and partition pixel cells. The first barrier ribs have a width wider than that of the black matrices. Even if misalignment occurs during a process of adhering substrates, the black matrices do not protrude into discharge spaces. Therefore, the defective ratio can be lowered and the picture quality can be improved.
US07768199B2
Display panel comprising two plates, separated by a gas-filled space partitioned by separating elements forming an array of barrier ribs, and arrays of coplanar sustain electrodes and address electrodes; with each cell subdivided into a trigger zone at each of the intersections of an address electrode with a sustain electrode and into at least one coplanar discharge expansion zone that extends between the trigger zones, the array of barrier ribs is designed so that, in each cell, each coplanar expansion zone has a width that is less than the width of all the trigger zones.By applying a method of driving the sustain discharges in the display panel by matrix triggering, the luminous efficiency is very substantially improved.
US07768192B2
A lighting device comprising sources of visible light comprising solid state light emitters and/or luminescent materials emitting three or four different hues. A first group of the sources, when illuminated, emit light of two hues which, if combined, would produce illumination having coordinates within an area on a 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram defined by points having coordinates: 0.59, 0.24; 0.40, 0.50; 0.24, 0.53; 0.17, 0.25; and 0.30, 0.12. A second group of the sources is of an additional hue. Mixing light from the first and second groups produces illumination within ten MacAdam ellipses of the blackbody locus. Also, a lighting device comprising a white light source having a CRI of 75 or less and at least one solid state light emitters and/or luminescent material. Also, methods of lighting.
US07768188B2
An optical filter is provided on the output side of light from plural kinds of cells that output light with colors different from one another. In the optical filter, the penetrable rate of at least a portion of the wavelength band of light output from the cell with the color having highest luminescent intensity is set lower than that of the wavelength band of other kinds of cells. Consequently, the reflectance rate of outer light incident to a display can be reduced. Particularly, in a room environment using artificial lighting, the reflectance rate of outer light can be reduced in the wavelength band of light with relatively high luminescent intensity. Resultingly, bright room contrast can be improved by suppressing the reflection of outer light. Since the penetrable rate of the color with the highest luminescent intensity is reduced, reduction in brightness of the display can be kept to a minimum.
US07768180B2
An enclosure is provided for housing pixels of a graphical display. The enclosure provides one or more laminar structures at a first surface of the enclosure. The laminar structure may be made up of a first material of a predetermined thickness at the first surface and a second material in sufficiently close proximity with the first material to allow heat conduction. The second material preferably has a thermal conductivity greater than the thermal conductivity of the first material. Thermal conductors are provided in or attached to the second material in the laminar structure to conduct heat to a second surface of the enclosure. The first material may be, for example, a polymer. The second material may be, for example, a heat wick, a metal mesh or heat pipes. The second surface may be cooled by an air stream, which may also reduce humidity at the surface.
US07768179B2
A quartz crystal unit comprising a case having an interior space and a mounting portion in the interior space, and a quartz crystal resonator having a base portion and first and second vibrational arms, the quartz crystal resonator being vibratable in a flexural mode, a capacitance ratio r1 of a fundamental mode of vibration of the quartz crystal resonator being less than a capacitance ratio r2 of a second overtone mode of vibration thereof, a mounting arm protruding from the base portion and extending in a common direction with at least one of the first and second vibrational arms, the mounting arm being mounted on the mounting portion of the case, an electrode being disposed on a surface of the mounting arm and a surface in the interior space of the case, the electrode disposed on the surface of the mounting arm being connected to the electrode disposed on the surface in the interior space of the case.
US07768178B2
In a piezoelectric device, a first electrode, a first piezoelectric film, a second piezoelectric film, and a second electrode are formed in this order on a first electrode formed above a surface of the substrate, and an intermediate electrode is arranged between the first and second piezoelectric films. Each of the first and second piezoelectric films has a thickness of 10 micrometers or smaller, and has a first surface facing toward the substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface. At least one of the first and second surfaces has an arithmetic average surface roughness (Ra) of 0.5 micrometers or smaller.
US07768174B2
Devices and methods of use for brush holder assemblies are disclosed. Brush holder assemblies including a mounting block and a brush holder are disclosed. Also illustrated is a brush holder assembly including a first portion in sliding engagement with a second portion. In some embodiments the brush holder includes a channel, such that at least a portion of the mounting block is disposed within the channel of the brush holder.
US07768167B2
A method for assembling an electric motor of the type comprising a stator unit (5) and a rotary unit (6) housed in a containment compartment (2a) delimited by a casing (2), comprises the step of exposing the compartment (2a) to a different pressure relative to the outside environment and the step of checking for the passage of fluid between the outside environment and the compartment (2a) in order to test the motor (1) hermetic seal.
US07768165B2
A control system that can accommodate the wide variations in the output of a generator, such as a permanent magnet alternator, while providing an output with relatively uniform phase ripple. The control system includes a zero crossing detector and variable ramp generator for generating control signals to a switching rectifier to generate a regulated DC signal.
US07768163B2
A motor may include a rotor provided with a rotation shaft, a stator, a frame fixed to the stator and provided with a bearing part that rotatably supports an output side of the rotation shaft, and an urging member mounted on the bearing part for urging the rotation shaft. The bearing part may include a bearing, formed with a protruded part protruded from a flat plate part of the frame. The urging member may include a bottom face part provided with a spring part for urging the rotation shaft, a pair of side plate parts bent from side edge parts of the bottom face part, and a pair of hook parts bent on inner sides from the pair of the side plate parts to be engaged with the protruded part. The urging member is mounted on the bearing part such that the hook parts are engaged with the protruded part.
US07768160B1
Electromagnetic motor with a slider that moves linearly with respect to the stator in either direction. Embodiments include slider internal or external the stator. Slider includes one magnetic flux producing element in all embodiments. Internal slider embodiments stator includes a minimum of three magnetic flux producing elements and a maximum of four such elements. External slider embodiments stator includes two magnetic flux producing elements. All embodiments provide positive slider return to center at rest position. In internal slider embodiments the slider is centered within the stator resulting from either: a combination of a repelling force from a single magnetic flux producing element in opposition to gravitational pull on the slider due to its weight; or equal and opposite repelling forces on opposite sides of the stator from a magnetic flux producing element on opposite sides of the stator all three elements in longitudinal alignment with each other.
US07768158B2
A cylindrical linear motor includes a stator and a movable element disposed via a clearance with respect to the stator and movable rectilinearly with respect to the stator. The movable element has a plurality of permanent magnets fixed to a movable element core. The stator salient poles 3b are pitched at τs and the permanent magnets 11 are pitched at τp so that a relationship of 3/4<τp/τs<3/2 is established.
US07768155B2
A method and apparatus for converting DC input power to AC output power. The apparatus comprises an input capacitor, a DC-AC inverter, a burst mode controller for causing energy to be stored in the input capacitor during at least one storage period and the energy to be drawn from the input capacitor during at least one burst period, wherein the AC output power is greater than the DC input power during the at least one burst period; a first feedback loop for determining a maximum power point (MPP) and operating the DC-AC inverter proximate the MPP; and a second feedback loop for determining a difference in a first power measurement and a second power measurement, producing an error signal indicative of the difference, and coupling the error signal to the first feedback loop to adjust at least one operating parameter of the DC-AC inverter to drive toward the MPP.
US07768154B2
Inverter bus structures, assemblies and associated methods are disclosed herein. One embodiment of the disclosure, for example, is directed to a power inverter including an inverter module for converting DC power to AC power, a printed circuit board carrying a capacitor array, a DC power source, and a bus structure. The bus structure is physically coupled each of the inverter module and the printed circuit board, and the bus structure electrically couples each of the inverter module, the printed circuit board to the DC power source.
US07768150B2
A power management unit for a battery-operated electronic device having a bus interface for the interconnection with another electronic device, the power management unit including an electric energy storage element coupled between a battery of the battery-operated electronic device and a voltage supply line of the bus interface, the electric energy storage element being operable to charge/discharge electric energy; a drive circuitry arranged to control a charge/discharge of the electric energy storage element. The drive circuitry is operable to cause an electric power supplied by the other electronic device through the voltage supply line to re-charge the battery; or, in case the other electronic device does not supply electric power, cause the battery supply electric power to the other electronic device through the voltage supply line. The power management unit is particularly adapted for battery-operated, mobile USB OTG devices.
US07768141B2
A dicing die attachment film includes a die attachment layer attached to one surface of a semiconductor wafer; a dicing film layer attached to a dicing die that is used for cutting the semi-conductor wafer into die units; and an intermediate layer laminated between the die attachment layer and the dicing film layer. The intermediate layer has a modulus of 100 to 3000 MPa, which is greater than a modulus of the die attachment layer and the dicing film layer.
US07768132B2
A circuit device including a multilayer wiring structure having an improved heat radiation performance, and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. A circuit device of the invention includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer laminated while interposing a first insulating layer. The first wiring layer is connected to the second wiring layer in a desired position through a connecting portion formed so as to penetrate the first insulating layer. The connecting portion includes a first connecting portion protruding in a thickness direction from the first wiring layer, and a second connecting portion protruding in the thickness direction from the second wiring layer. The first connecting portion and the second connecting portion contact each other at an intermediate portion in the thickness direction of the insulating layer.
US07768125B2
A chip package system is provided including providing a chip having interconnects provided thereon; forming a molding compound on the chip and encapsulating the interconnects; and forming a recess in the molding compound above the interconnects to expose the interconnects.
US07768123B2
A semiconductor die package. It includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a first semiconductor die having its front surface facing the first surface of the substrate, a conductive adhesive disposed between the first semiconductor die and the first surface of the substrate, and a second semiconductor die located on the first semiconductor die. The front surface of second semiconductor die faces away from the first semiconductor die, and the back surface faces toward the first semiconductor die. A plurality of conductive structures electrically couple regions at the front surface of the second semiconductor die to conductive regions at the first surface of the substrate.
US07768112B2
A method for cutting and molding in small windows of a window-type semiconductor package and the semiconductor package fabricated from the same are revealed. According to the method, a substrate strip has a plurality of small windows disposed at the sides or at the corners of the substrate strip. The external surface of the substrate strip includes a plurality of window molding areas surrounding the small windows and extending to the scribe lines. A plurality of chips are disposed on the substrate strip. Then, an encapsulant is formed in the small windows to encapsulate the electrical connecting components and formed on the window molding areas so that the encapsulant extends to the scribe lines. Therefore, the mold flashes at the small windows can be effectively reduced. Additionally, the encapsulant on the window molding areas is cut when singulating the substrate units so that the adhesion area of the encapsulant to the substrate strip is increased to prevent the delamination of traces and solder mask of the substrate units.
US07768110B2
An IC card capable of reinforcing the prevention of the electrostatic damage without causing a rise in the cost of a semiconductor integrated circuit chip. The semiconductor integrated circuit chip (2) is mounted on a card substrate (1), and plural connection terminals (3) are exposed. The connection terminals are connected to predetermined external terminals (4) of the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, first overvoltage protection elements (7, 8, 9) connected to the external terminals are integrated in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, and second overvoltage protection elements such as surface-mount type varistors (11) connected to the connection terminals are mounted on the card substrate. The varistors are variable resistor elements having a current tolerating ability greater than that of the first overvoltage protection elements. The varistors have been selected by taking into consideration a relationship between the characteristics and the ability of the first overvoltage protection elements contained in the semiconductor integrated circuit chip, and exhibit the effect for preventing the electrostatic damage.
US07768107B2
A semiconductor component includes at least one semiconductor chip arranged on a mounting substrate and connected thereto via bonding wires. For effective dissipation of heat, a solderable interlayer is arranged on the active upper side of the semiconductor chip and a heat sink is soldered onto the solderable interlayer. A method is also described for producing a semiconductor component with a solderable interlayer disposed on an active upper side of a semiconductor chip and with a heat sink soldered to the solderable interlayer.
US07768102B2
A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip having a rear surface provided with an uneven structure having a preselected pattern and comprised of concave and convex portions. The preselected pattern of the uneven structure is tilted so as to be in parallel to a crystal orientation of <110> of the semiconductor chip. An electrode is disposed on the concave and convex portions of the uneven structure.
US07768081B2
A semiconductor device is provided in which energy band gap can be electrically varied. The device includes nanowires embedded in a material that exhibits a deformation when properly addressed, e.g., a piezoelectric material such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), aluminum nitride (A1N) or zinc oxide (Zn0). The nanowires can be reversibly strained by applying a local deformation to the piezoelectric material by applying a voltage to the material. The resulting band gap variation can be utilized to tune the color of the light emitted from e.g., a LED or a laser. Further, contact resistance in semiconductor junctions can be controlled, e.g., for use in memories and switches.
US07768079B2
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to transistors with high-k dielectric spacer liner to mitigate lateral oxide encroachment. In this regard a semiconductor device is introduced having a substrate, a high-k gate dielectric layer on the substrate, a metal gate electrode on the high-k gate dielectric layer, and a high-k dielectric layer on either side of and adjacent to the metal gate electrode and high-k gate dielectric layer, extending a distance away from the metal gate electrode and high-k gate dielectric layer on the substrate. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US07768069B2
A method for forming a FIN-FET device employs a blanket planarizing layer formed upon a blanket topographic gate electrode material layer. The blanket planarizing layer is patterned and employed as a mask layer for patterning the blanket topographic gate electrode material layer to form a gate electrode. Since the blanket planarizing layer is formed as a planarizing layer, a photoresist layer formed thereupon is formed with enhanced resolution. As a result, the gate electrode is also formed with enhanced resolution. A resulting FIN-FET structure has the patterned planarizing layer formed in an inverted “U” shape upon the gate electrode.
US07768065B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode GE electrically connected to a gate portion which is made of a polysilicon film provided in the inside of a plurality of grooves formed in a striped form along the direction of T of a chip region CA wherein the gate electrode GE is formed as a film at the same layer level as a source electrode SE electrically connected to a source region formed between adjacent stripe-shaped grooves and the gate electrode GE is constituted of a gate electrode portion G1 formed along a periphery of the chip region CA and a gate finger portion G2 arranged so that the chip region CA is divided into halves along the direction of X. The source electrode SE is constituted of an upper portion and a lower portion, both relative to the gate finger portion G2, and the gate electrode GE and the source electrode SE are connected to a lead frame via a bump electrode.
US07768057B2
In an EEPROM consisting of a NAND cell in which a plurality of memory cells are connected in series, the control gate voltage Vread of the memory cell in a block selected by the data read operation is made different from the each of the voltages Vsg1, Vsg2 of the select gate of the select transistor in the selected block so as to make it possible to achieve a high speed reading without bringing about the breakdown of the insulating film interposed between the select gate and the channel of the select transistor. The high speed reading can also be made possible in the DINOR cell, the AND cell, NOR cell and the NAND cell having a single memory cell connected thereto, if the control gate voltage of the memory cell is made different from the voltage of the select gate of the select transistor.
US07768052B1
A method of fabricating a high-performance capacitor that may be incorporated into a standard CMOS fabrication process suitable for submicron devices is described. The parameters used in the standard CMOS process may be maintained, particularly for the definition and etch of the lower electrode layer. To reduce variation in critical dimension width, an Anti-Reflective Layer (ARL) is used, such as a Plasma Enhanced chemical vapor deposition Anti-Reflective Layer (PEARL) or other Anti-Reflective Coatings (ARCS), such as a conductive film like TiN. This ARL formation occurs after the capacitor specific process steps, but prior to the masking used for defining the lower electrodes. A Rapid Thermal Oxidation (RTO) is performed subsequent to removing the unwanted capacitor dielectric layer from the transistor poly outside of the capacitor regions, but prior to the PEARL deposition. Another embodiment instead eliminates the capacitor dielectric removal step, which is then replaced by a step to form an additional layer that is later etched away to leave spacers on the capacitor sides, thereby eliminating any undercutting of the dielectric.
US07768049B2
Integrated memory circuits, key components in thousands of electronic and computer products, have been made using ferroelectric materials, which offer faster write cycles and lower power requirements than some other materials. However, the present inventors have recognized, for example, that conventional techniques for working with the polymers produce polymer layers with thickness variations that compromise performance and manufacturing yield. Accordingly, the present inventors devised unique methods and structures for polymer-based ferroelectric memories. One exemplary method entails forming an insulative layer on a substrate, forming two or more first conductive structures, with at least two of the first conductive structures separated by a gap, forming a gap-filling structure within the gap, and forming a polymer-based ferroelectric layer over the gap-filling structure and the first conductive structures. In some embodiments, the gap-filling structure is a polymer, a spin-on-glass, or a flow-fill oxide.
US07768046B2
An image sensor has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a photo-detecting surface and a semiconductor region of a second conductivity type disposed under the photo-detecting surface and forming a junction with the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric body is provided in the semiconductor substrate beneath the junction so that a width of the dielectric body in a direction parallel to the photo-detecting surface does not extend beyond a width of the semiconductor region in the direction parallel to the photo-detecting surface. The dielectric body is polarized due to charges forming a depletion region generated by the semiconductor substrate and the semiconductor region. A width of the dielectric body is approximately equal to a width of an inner surface of the depletion in the direction parallel to the photo-detecting surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US07768044B2
An on-chip capacitive device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a MOS capacitor formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a metal interconnect capacitor formed at least in part in a region above the MOS capacitor. The MOS capacitor and the metal interconnect capacitor are connected in parallel to form a single capacitive device. The capacitance densities of the MOS capacitor and the metal interconnect capacitor are, thereby, combined. Advantageously, significant capacitance density gains can be achieved without additional processing steps.
US07768043B2
A transistor is located on a GaAs substrate. An air bridge extends to provide a cavity above gate electrodes of the transistor. An opening is sealed by the end ball of a second wire. Further, the semiconductor device is wholly covered by sealing resin.
US07768040B2
An imager device is disclosed including a first substrate having an array of photo-sensitive elements formed thereon, a first conductive layer formed above the first substrate, a first conductive member extending through the first substrate, the first conductive member being conductively coupled to the first conductive layer, a standoff structure formed above the first substrate, a second conductive layer formed above the standoff structure, the second conductive layer being conductively coupled to the first conductive layer, and an electrically powered device positioned above the standoff structure, the electrically powered device being electrically coupled to the second conductive layer. A method of making an imager device is disclosed including providing a first substrate having a first conductive layer and an array of photosensitive elements formed above the first substrate, forming a conductive member that extends through the first substrate and is conductively coupled to the first conductive layer, forming a standoff structure above the first substrate, forming a patterned conductive layer above the standoff structure, the patterned conductive layer being conductively coupled to the first conductive layer, and conductively coupling an electrically powered device to the patterned conductive layer positioned above the standoff structure.
US07768031B2
To provide a DC drive type inorganic light emitting device excellent in luminous efficiency, provided is a light emitting device, including: a substrate; and a first layer and a second layer laminated on the substrate, in which the second layer is formed of a first portion containing Zn and at least one element chosen from S and Se as its constituent elements; and a second portion containing at least one element chosen from Cu and Ag and at least one element chosen from S and Se as its constituent elements; the first layer is made of a light emitting layer formed of at least one element chosen from S and Se and of Zn; and, in the second layer, the second portion has a cross section parallel to the substrate which tapers toward the first layer.
US07768010B2
Provided are a poly crystalline silicon semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. Portions of a silicon layer except for gates are removed to reduce a parasitic capacitance caused from the silicon layer existing on gate bus lines. The silicon layer exists under the gates only, thus the parasitic capacitance is reduced and the deterioration and the delay of signals are prevented. Accordingly, the poly crystalline silicon semiconductor device, such as a thin film transistor, has excellent electric characteristics.
US07768000B2
A manufacturing method for a thin film transistor array panel including forming a gate electrode, forming an insulating layer on the gate electrode, sequentially forming a lower conducting layer and a upper conducting layer on the insulating layer, etching the upper conducting layer to form a first source electrode and a first drain electrode, etching the lower conducting layer to form the second source electrode and the second drain electrode, over-etching the second source electrode and the second drain electrode, and forming an organic semiconductor between the second source electrode and the second drain electrode.
US07767997B2
A nonvolatile, sophisticated semiconductor device with a small surface area and a simple structure capable of switching connections between three or more electrodes. In a semiconductor device at least one of the electrodes contains atoms such as copper or silver in the solid electrolyte capable of easily moving within the solid electrolyte, and those electrodes face each other and applying a voltage switches the voltage on and off by generating or annihilating the conductive path between the electrodes. Moreover applying a voltage to a separate third electrode can annihilate the conductive path formed between two electrodes without applying a voltage to the two electrode joined by the conductive path.
US07767993B2
A resistance change memory device including a substrate, first and second wiring lines formed above the substrate to be insulated from each other, and memory cells disposed between the first and second wiring lines, wherein the memory cell includes: a variable resistance element for storing as information a resistance value; and a Schottky diode connected in series to the variable resistance element. The variable resistance element has: a recording layer formed of a composite compound containing at least one transition element and a cavity site for housing a cation ion; and electrodes formed on the opposite sides of the recording layer, one of which serves as a cation source in a write or erase mode for supplying a cation to the recording layer to be housed in the cavity site therein.
US07767985B2
According to one exemplary embodiment, an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) pellicle for use with a lithographic mask comprises a carbon nanotube film. The carbon nanotube EUV pellicle can be mounted on the lithographic mask. The carbon nanotube EUV pellicle protects the lithographic mask from contamination by undesirable particles and also prevents the undesirable particles from forming a focused image on the surface of a semiconductor wafer during fabrication; while advantageously, the carbon nanotube pellicle has a high level of EUV light transmittance.
US07767984B2
A method, tool, and machine for hardening a photoresist image while the photoresist image is immersed in a liquid.
US07767981B2
An image capturing system includes a cassette having a radiation detector, an image memory, and a cassette controller, an image capturing apparatus, a display device, and a host computer. The cassette controller comprises a capacity value transmitter for transmitting a capacity value of the radiation image information to the host computer before transmission process, and an image transmitter for transmitting the radiation image information. The host computer comprises an indicator controller for controlling the display device to display an indicator representing the capacity value received from the cassette as the upper limit, and a bar controller for controlling the display device to display a bar moving toward the indicator and having a length corresponding to the received capacity value of the radiation image information while the radiation image information is being received.
US07767977B1
An ion source includes an arc chamber having an extraction aperture, and a plasma sheath modulator. The plasma sheath modulator is configured to control a shape of a boundary between plasma and a plasma sheath proximate the extraction aperture. The plasma sheath modulator may include a pair of insulators positioned in the arc chamber and spaced apart by a gap positioned proximate the extraction aperture. A well focused ion beam having a high current density can be generated by the ion source. A high current density ion beam can improve the throughput of an associated process. The emittance of the ion beam can also be controlled.
US07767973B2
For a uniform image quality of digital X-ray records, a solid-state detector is provided. The detector includes light-sensitive pixel elements arranged in an active matrix, and a reset light source arranged behind them in the radiation direction of X-ray radiation, with the reset light source being in the form of an arrangement with light-emitting diodes and with the light-emitting diodes being designed such that can be driven individually and their intensity can be controlled individually. At least one of a failed and malfunctioning light-emitting diode is detectable. The intensities of the serviceable light-emitting diodes are driven and controlled in the event of a failure or a malfunction of at least one light-emitting diode in such a manner that the intensity and/or the homogeneity of the reset light source remains the same.
US07767970B2
A method of determining a film coating thickness on a substrate including making near-IR spectra of a series of coating thickness or coating weight standards on an appropriate substrate material to match sample material in question, pre-processing the data to prepare it for multivariate calibration methods, performing the multivariate calibration, saving the calibration model in the hand-held near-IR device in an appropriate format, and using the calibration model to predict sample material thickness in question from their near IR spectra.
US07767962B2
A magnetically focused scanning charged particle microscope having an array detector placed to detect scattered particles, wherein the particles fall substantially non-tangentially to the surface of the array detector.
US07767961B2
A method for determining interfacial information and critical dimensions of a sample using atomic force microscopy. Tip-specimen deconvolution is performed on the scan lines before the critical dimension information processing. Local maxima and minima or local slope change of each scan line are found on a plurality of scan lines. A best fit line is then found for the plurality of maxim and minima or slope change points. Two best fit lines may be found using a plurality of maxima or minima or slope change points. An intersection of the two best fit lines can be used to determine a critical dimension such as a transition point. Such a method may be used to determine a track width of a trapezoidal magnetic write head or may be used to determine the location of a flare point on a magnetic write head.
US07767953B2
A ladder resistor circuit generates a plurality of different reference voltages. A plurality of switching circuits correspond to a plurality of taps of the ladder resistor circuit. Each of the plurality of switching circuits is connected at one end to a corresponding one of the taps and connected at the other end to an output node, and has a variable on-resistance value. A control circuit selects continuous n (where n is any integer equal to or greater than 2) of the plurality of switching circuits, turns the n switching circuits on, and sets the respective on-resistance values of the n switching circuits.
US07767952B2
A semiconductor imaging device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix-like pattern, each of the pixels including a first photoelectric conversion unit, a second photoelectric conversion unit, a third photoelectric conversion unit and a forth photoelectric conversion unit for converting received light into signal charge; a first signal voltage conversion unit and a second voltage conversion unit for converting the signal charge into voltage; a first transistor for controlling the signal charge to be transferred from the first photoelectric conversion unit, the second photoelectric conversion unit, the third photoelectric conversion unit and the forth photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal voltage conversion unit and the second voltage conversion unit; and a signal voltage read-out unit having second, third and forth transistors.
US07767951B1
Image acquisition methods and systems utilizing a pixilated transducer.
US07767950B2
A system is described for capturing images comprising: a display for displaying graphical images and text; a plurality of apertures formed in the display; an image detector array configured behind the display and configured to sense light transmitted through the apertures in the display, the light reflected from a subject positioned in front of the display; and image processing logic to generate image data using the light transmitted through the apertures, the image data representing an image of a subject.
US07767944B2
A vibration controlled housing. The novel housing includes a housing structure and a mechanism for receiving a control signal and in accordance therewith electronically tuning a structural response of the structure. In an illustrative embodiment, the housing structure includes a composite material containing a plurality of piezoelectric fibers adapted to generate an electrical signal in response to a deformation in the structure and to deform the structure in response to an electrical signal applied thereto. A control circuit receives the sensed signal from the fibers and generates an excitation signal that is applied to the fibers to increase the stiffness or compliance of the fibers at predetermined frequencies. In an illustrative embodiment, the control signal is adapted to provide low frequency stiffness and strength performance while attenuating high frequency vibrations to protect electronics housed within the structure.
US07767941B2
Heating systems and methods for inductive heating or a combination of resistive and inductive heating. A heater coil is inductively coupled to an article and a current signal is supplied to the heater coil. The heater coil generates a magnetic flux, based on the applied current signal, for inductively heating the article. Current pulses of a certain profile are used to enhance the rate, intensity and/or power of inductive heating delivered by the heating element or coil and/or to enhance the lifetime or reduce the cost of the inductive heating system.
US07767936B2
A breathable electrical heater element for a topical application device such as a wound dressing or a therapeutic heating pad is disclosed. The heater element is formed by photochemically etching a track pattern onto a porous metallised fabric (e.g. nickel coated woven polyester). The heater element has a skin or wound contact layer laminated to the front face of the heater element. An adhesive layer is laminated to the back face of the heater element. The adhesive layer forms an overhang to provide an adhesive border around the wound contact layer to adhere the device to the skin of a patient. Therapeutically active drugs (optionally microencapsulated) may be incorporated into the skin or wound contact layer. Operation of the heater element causes the skin or wound contact layer to release the active drugs to the skin or wound of the patient. Appropriate control of the temperature of the heater element allows control of the release of the active drugs.
US07767930B2
The invention provides a method of rapidly machining multiple, often similar or nearly identical, features using a LASER machining system. During LASER machining, light of a wavelength and intensity that will modify the workpiece to be machined is directed at the workpiece and interacts to produce the desired change. If several features are to be machined, the processing speed can be increased by operating on a multiplicity of features at once. In one embodiment of the invention, this is achieved by separating the LASER beam into multiple beams and machining the desired features simultaneously.
US07767917B2
A load disconnecting circuit is disclosed with a housing that has a first housing section, which houses the drive, and has a second housing section, which houses a fixed contact element and a longitudinally extended moving contact element. The second housing section has a longitudinal extension adapted to the moving contact element. Field-control rings are placed on the second housing section while encircling it, of which the first are arranged in the vicinity of the fixed contact element and the second are arranged in the vicinity of the switch-off position of the moving contact element. Via a respective connection conductor, the first field-control ring is connected to the potential of the fixed contact element, and the second field-control ring is connected to the potential of the moving contact element when in its switch-off position.
US07767906B2
A wire-fixing element is coupled into an opening of a base. A wire passes through the opening, and one part of the wire is disposed in the base. The wire-fixing element includes a first end and a second end. A pair of arms is disposed at the first end and the arms are buckled into the opening. A supporting member is disposed at the second end and is used for supporting the wire.
US07767890B2
A stringed instrument, such as a guitar, having components made from glass, and methods of manufacturing and assembling the same are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides for manufacturing a glass fretboard, manufacturing glass frets, assembling the glass frets to the fretboard, and assembling the fretboard to the neck of the stringed instrument. In addition to the fretboard and frets, other components of the stringed instrument may also be made from glass. For example, the present invention further provides a method for manufacturing glass saddles and top nuts to allow the strings of the stringed instrument to substantially entirely contact glass. This produces a clean, crisp sound and overcomes the problem of generating an inferior sound that results from the imperfections found in natural wood components, for example.
US07767884B2
The isolation and function of a plant LpTFL1 from Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) are described, along with generation of transgenic Arabidopsis ryegrass, and red fescue plants. Thc gene prevents or represses flowering of transgenic plants. Methods for using the gene to repress or prevent flowering are described.
US07767883B2
An automated seed sampler includes a sampling station; a sampler for removing material from a seed in the sampling station; a seed conveyer for conveying the seed from the sampling station to a compartment in a seed tray; and a conveyor for conveying the material removed from the seed to a corresponding compartment in a sample tray. The method of the present invention comprises feeding seeds individually to a sampling station, removing a sample from the seed in the sampling station; conveying the sample to a compartment in a sample tray, and conveying the seed to a corresponding compartment in a seed tray. The samples can be tested, and the seeds can be sorted according to the results of the testing of their corresponding samples.
US07767879B2
The present invention provides a transgenic animal model of Alzheimer's Disease designated TgCRND8 as well as a method for making such model, which allows for the characterization of the etiology of the disease as well as for provide a system for the development and testing of potential treatments.
US07767878B2
A disposable absorbent article includes an absorbent mat between a liquid-permeable top sheet and a liquid-impermeable back sheet. The absorbent mat includes a sheet-shaped water-absorbent layer that contains a water-absorbent resin powder but that does not contain pulp fibers; and a fiber assembly layer that contains a water-absorbent resin powder and pulp fibers in this order from a top sheet side. The sheet-shaped water-absorbent layer includes a plurality of water-absorbent resin presence regions in each of which the water-absorbent resin powder is wrapped; and a plurality of water-absorbent resin powder absence regions each being formed between the two adjacent water-absorbent resin powder presence regions.
US07767877B2
A liquid-absorbing core which is for use in suction type drug volatilizers which comprises hydrophilic fibers and/or water-absorbing fibers. The hydrophilic fibers have an affinity for water, and are rayon, cotton, etc. Especially preferred is rayon because it has a high affinity for water. Examples of the water-absorbing fibers include water-absorbing synthetic fibers made of a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or polysodium acrylate and other synthetic fibers treated by, e.g., adding and adhering polyvinyl alcohol or polysodium acrylate thereto or coating them with the polymer. In the liquid-absorbing core, the hydrophilic fibers and/or water-absorbing fibers may be disposed so as to have a porosity of 10 to 80%.
US07767875B2
A toilet training wetness indicator for alerting a wearer to urination and a garment incorporating such an element. The toilet training wetness indicator, which may be an insertable wetness indicator or integrated directly into a garment, such as training pants, comprises a liquid permeable enclosure having a liquid absorbent body enclosed therein. The liquid absorbent body absorbs liquid within the pants and applies hydraulic pressure to the enclosure upon absorption of a preselected amount of liquid. The enclosure limits expansion of the absorbent body so that the wetness indicator stiffens as liquid is absorbed. The wetness indicator has a first stiffness and is relatively pliable when dry and a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness upon absorption of the preselected amount of liquid.
US07767855B2
Processes comprising: providing an aromatic alcohol; and reacting the aromatic alcohol with ammonia at a temperature of 80 to 350° C. in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst to form a crude reaction product comprising a corresponding primary aromatic amine, wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises a catalytically active composition which, prior to reduction with hydrogen, comprises 90 to 99.8% by weight of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of an oxygen-comprising compound of palladium, and 0.1 to 5.0% by weight of an oxygen-comprising compound of platinum.
US07767841B1
A number of cationic gold(I) and neutral gold(III) complexes have been synthesized and found to be stabilized by the use of N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. These species are often employed as in situ-generated reactive intermediates in gold catalyzed organic transformations. An isolated, well-defined cationic species was tested in gold mediated carbene transfer reactions from ethyl diazoacetate.
US07767834B2
Reagents are provided for the introduction of phosphonate groups into fluorescent dyes. Methods are also provided for preparing dye conjugates.
US07767826B2
This invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of optically pure L-(+)-ergothioneine. The process for the chemical synthesis of L-ergothioneine comprises steps which consist of reacting L-histidine alkyl ester with an acid halide, chloroformate or pyrocarbonate in the presence of a base, hydrolysis of the alkyl-(S,Z)-2,4,5-triamidopent-4-enoate to obtain a (S)-alkyl 2,5-diamido-4-oxopentanoate, acid catalyzed hydrolysis of the (S)-alkyl 2,5-diamido-4-oxopentanoate followed by reaction with a metal thiocyanate to obtain the thiohistidine, protection of the sulfur of thiohistidine as the tert-butyl thioether, dialkylation of the primary amine to obtain a tertiary amine, quaternization of the tertiary amine, and removal of the protecting group to obtain the desired (S)-3-(2-mercapto-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-2-(trialkylammonio)propanoate (I). This process affords a better yield and is capable of practical application at large scale.
US07767818B2
Compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, n and m are as defined herein. The compounds are useful as inhibitors of HCV NS3 protease.
US07767810B2
Certain macrocyclic modules comprising 3-24 synthons are provided herein. Each synthon is independently selected from cyclic substituents, wherein each synthon selected is bonded to the next through a linker to form a closed ring that defines a pore. One or more lipophilic moieties and one or more hydrophilic moieties are bonded to one or more of the synthons, resulting in the formation of the desired macrocyclic modules. Those modules may be subsequently linked to one another to form selectively-permeable membranes. Membranes comprising macrocyclic modules may be useful in filtering certain molecular species from a solution. Selective passage of particular species is determined, in part, by the size of the module's pore and the nature of the lipophilic/hydrophobic species attached thereto. Also provided are methods of making and using macrocyclic modules and membranes.
US07767797B1
The invention features novel macrocyclic compounds, methods of making the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of treatment using the compounds.
US07767794B2
Novel conjugates of 5-fluoro-uracil and novel 5-fluoro-uracil immunogens and monoclonal antibodies generated by these immunogens which are useful in immunoassays for the quantification and monitoring of 5-fluoro-uracil in biological fluids.
US07767790B2
The invention relates to the field of apoptosis. The invention provides novel therapeutic possibilities, for example novel combinatorial therapies or novel therapeutic compounds that can work alone, sequentially to, or jointly with apoptin, especially in those cases wherein p53 is (partly) non-functional.
US07767785B2
The present invention relates to conjugated polymers which comprise both structural units of the formula (1) and also structural units of the formula (2). The materials according to the invention are more readily soluble, display improved air stability and display a smaller voltage increase during prolonged operation when used in a polymeric organic light-emitting diode (PLED) than polymers according to the prior art.
US07767766B2
A method of manufacture of soluble, microbiologically active and stable acrolein polymer comprising: (a) polymerising acrolein in the presence of base to form a polymer of acrolein; (b) dissolving the polymer of acrolein in an alcohol selected from monoalcohols and polyols optionally with addition of water to form an alcohol solution of the polymer of acrolein; (c) heating the alcohol solution of the polymer of acrolein; and (d) mixing base with the polymer of acrolein.
US07767755B2
A composition that includes functionalized polymers and particulate filler is provided. The composition includes at least three components: (1) a polymer that includes a first type of functionality such as a functional group including a primary or secondary amine functionality, (2) a polymer that includes a second type of functionality such as an alkoxysilane or other silica interacting functionality, and (3) at least two types of particulate filler. One of the functionalized polymers can be made in the presence of the other.
US07767747B2
Emulsion compositions containing a silicone polymer and organic polymer as an alloy and/or hybrid emulsion can be made by (i) first forming an emulsion containing a silicone polymer by emulsion polymerization in which (a) the ring of a cyclic siloxane oligomer is opened, in which (b)an hydroxy endblocked siloxane oligomer is condensed, using an acid or base catalyst in the presence of water, or in which (c) an hydrogen endblocked siloxane oligomer and a vinyl endblocked siloxane oligomer are reacted by hydrosilylation using a catalyst; (ii) adding to the emulsion in (i) the components for preparing an emulsion containing an organic polymer by free radical emulsion polymerization of an ethylenically unsaturated organic monomer, and (iii) heating the emulsion. The resulting coalesced compositions produce polymer blends or alloys whose properties are influenced by the composition and morphology of the hybrid emulsion particles. The compositions may be spray dried whenever it is desired to employ the particles in powder type applications. In an embodiment, the two emulsions are prepared separately of one another and then combined.
US07767746B2
An insulation composition that comprises at least one nitrile butadiene rubber, basalt fibers, and nanoclay is disclosed. Further disclosed is an insulation composition that comprises polybenzimidazole fibers, basalt fibers, and nanoclay. The basalt fibers may be present in the insulation compositions in a range of from approximately 1% by weight to approximately 6% by weight of the total weight of the insulation composition. The nanoclay may be present in the insulation compositions in a range of from approximately 5% by weight to approximately 10% by weight of the total weight of the insulation composition. Rocket motors including the insulation compositions and methods of insulating a rocket motor are also disclosed.
US07767745B2
Method for making a mixture used in the production of a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane including metal oxide(s). The mixture includes PTFE resin, a lubricating agent, and a metal oxide. The mixture may be further processed to form a PTFE membrane.
US07767744B2
A resin composition, includes: an aliphatic polyester; a second polymer compound having a glass transition point higher than a glass transition point of the aliphatic polyester; and aluminum phosphate.
US07767743B2
A branched isobutylene-styrenic elastomer with a broad molecular weight distribution is disclosed comprising an interpolymer of an isoolefin monomer as isobutylene, a styrenic monomer such as p-methylstyrene, and a multiolefin such as divinylbenzene. The elastomer has improved green strength, relaxation characteristics, and processability in melt processing, while retaining excellent aging characteristics and barrier properties, and can be used in a blend with a linear isobutylene-p-alkylstyrene elastomer to improve processability of the linear elastomer. Also disclosed are a method for processing the linear elastomer with an effective amount of the branched elastomer to improve processability, and nanocomposites, curable compositions, cured compositions and useful articles formed from the branched elastomer and the linear-branched elastomer blends.
US07767739B2
A phosphazene compound, which can effectively enhance flame retardancy without deteriorating mechanical properties of a resin molded product, and is also less likely to deteriorate thermal reliability and dielectric properties, is represented by the formula (1) shown below. n represents an integer of 3 to 15. wherein A represents a group selected from the group consisting of an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group and a group having a cyanato group, and at least one is a group having a cyanato group, and an example of A is a cyanatophenyl-substituted phenyloxy group represented by the formula (4) shown below, and Y in the formula (4) represents O, S, SO2, CH2, CHCH3, C(CH3)2, C(CF3)2, C(CH3)CH2CH3 or CO.
US07767730B2
This invention relates to ophthalmic devices and methods for their production where the ophthalmic device contain a polymer and at least one heterocyclic compound comprising at least one N—Cl and/or N—Br bond.
US07767727B2
An autoxidisable architectural coating composition suitable for application to surfaces found in and around buildings at ambient temperatures and in natural daylight wherein surface autoxidation of the composition is promoted by a combination of low concentrations of metal ions (especially manganese or vanadium) and 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one as photoinitiator. The composition avoids the need to use more than trace amounts cobalt ions which are rumoured to be carcinogenic yet achieves adequately fast rates of autoxidation. Preferably the use of cobalt is avoided altogether. The use of the low concentrations of the other metal ions reduces discoloration of the compositions often to levels below what is achieved using conventional cobalt promoters. Also a modification in which surface autoxidation is promoted by a combination of 2,2-dimethoxy-1,2-diphenylethan-1-one and trace amounts of cobalt ions in the absence of other surface autoxidation promoting metal ions. Finally, a method for applying the autoxidisable coatings to surfaces under ambient temperatures in which they are subject to natural daylight or similar low energy irradiation is disclosed.
US07767724B2
According to the present invention, there is provided expandable beads of a styrene-modified linear low-density polyethylene-based resin comprising a volatile blowing agent and a base resin, the base resin containing more than 300 parts by weight and less than 1000 parts by weight of a polystyrene-based resin component relative to 100 parts by weight of a non-crosslinked linear low-density polyethylene-based resin component, wherein the base resin contains 2 to 40 wt % of a gel component comprising a graft copolymer of the polystyrene-based resin component and the low-density polyethylene-based resin component.
US07767720B2
Single domain wafer-scale colloidal crystals and macroporous polymers are formed by dispersing concentrated solutions of colloids, desirably mondisperse silica colloids, in a viscous monomer, desirably ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and spin-coating them onto a substrate. Subsequent photopolymerization produces three-dimensionally ordered colloidal crystals trapped inside a polymer matrix. Selective removal of the polymer matrix, such as by oxygen plasma treatment, or removal of the silica spheres, such as by wet etching, produces large-area colloidal crystals and macroporous polymers, respectively.
US07767715B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (1) and to processes for the preparation of, intermediates used in the preparation of, compositions containing and the uses of, such derivatives. The compounds according to the present invention are useful in numerous diseases, disorders and conditions, in particular inflammatory, allergic and respiratory diseases, disorders and conditions.
US07767709B2
An oral pharmaceutical composition characterized in that it consists of a suspension of a platinum complex of general formula I, wherein A and A′ independently of one another are an NH3 group or an amino or diamino group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, B and B′ independently of one another are a halogen atom or a hydroxy group or are an —O—C(O)—R or an —O—C(O)—R′ group wherein R and R′ independently of one another are hydrogen atom, an alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkylamino or alkoxy group which groups contain 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or functional derivatives of these groups, X and X′ independently of one another are a halogen atom or a monocarboxylate group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or X and X′ together form a dicarboxylate group containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms, in at least one pharmaceutically acceptable vegetable, animal, mineral, synthetic or semisynthetic oil and/or in at least one pharmaceutically acceptable vegetable, animal, mineral, synthetic or semisynthetic oily substance, in which suspension the content of the platinum complex of general formula I is 0.5 to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, and which suspension optionally contains at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
US07767708B2
An improved weight and growth stimulant for domesticated animals such as cattle, pigs and sheep is comprised of an anabolic agent that is subcutaneously administered in the form of a dual release implant formulation. Increased gains are particularly improved when zeranol is administered in an immediate-release and controlled-release formulation which allows for a one-time dosage injection.
US07767698B2
A liquid pharmaceutical formulation comprising nicotine in any form for administration essentially to the lungs being acidified and/or alkalized by buffering and/or pH regulation providing for a tmax of nicotine in arterial blood of a subject within a short period of time after administration.The administration is preferably by spraying an aerosol into the oral cavity for further distribution essentially into the lungs. A method for manufacturing said formulation. Use of said formulation in therapy, such as therapy for treating addiction to tobacco.
US07767687B2
The present invention provides compounds having the formula: wherein A-B together represent one of the following structures: n, R1, R2, R3, R4, L1, L2, Y and Z are as defined in classes and subclasses herein, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, as described generally and in subclasses herein, which compounds are useful as inhibitors of protein kinase (e.g., RAF), and thus are useful, for example, for the treatment of RAF mediated diseases.
US07767679B2
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, m, t, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, L, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US07767656B2
A physical blend of inverse thermal gelling and shear-thinning, thixotropic polymers that has a lower gelation temperature than the thermal gelling polymer alone is provided. The blend results in an injectable hydrogel that does not flow freely at room temperature, but is injectable due to its shear-thinning properties. The thermal-gelling properties of the polymer promote a more mechanically stable gel at body temperature than at room temperature. The polymer matrix gel has inherent therapeutic benefit and can also be used as a drug delivery vehicle for localized release of therapeutic agents.
US07767653B2
Exogenous cDNA capable of expressing interferon″ activity, exogenous interferon″ protein, inducers of endogenous interferon″ protein activity, inducers of endogenous interferon $ protein activity, inducers of endogenous interferon′ activity, or inducers of other immune-enhancing activity can be combined with a vaccine to enhance an immune response. Specifically disclosed are adjuvant and vaccine combinations where the adjuvant comprises a cDNA capable of expressing interferon″ activity, a complex comprising polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid, or a complex comprising polyriboinosinic-polyribocytidilic acid, poly-L-lysine, and carboxymethylcellulose and where the vaccine is a live vaccine virus derived from a virus causing porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome disease.
US07767652B2
Medical devices and methods for reducing localized fibrosis at the site of the medical device.
US07767650B2
Novel ligand compounds having the structural formula (I): in which: Ar is a radical selected from among the radicals of formulae (a)-(c) below: are formulated into pharmaceutical compositions suited for administration in human or veterinary medicine, or, alternatively into cosmetic compositions.
US07767649B2
This invention is directed to compounds that provide for sustained systemic concentrations of GABA analogs following administration to animals. This invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions including and methods using such compounds.
US07767639B2
The present invention concerns a compound of formula wherein the wavy line indicates that the double bond in position 3 is in a configuration E or Z or a mixture thereof, and R is a C2-C6 alkyl or alkenyl group, which is a useful perfuming ingredient capable of imparting odor notes of the violet leaves type as well as a green/fruity aspect.
US07767637B2
A solvent for urethane adhesives and coatings, the solvent having a carbaldehyde and a cyclic amide as constituents. In some embodiments the solvent consists only of miscible constituents. In some embodiments the carbaldehyde is benzaldehyde and in some embodiments the cyclic amide is N-methylpyrrolidone (M-pyrole). An extender may be added to the solvent. In some embodiments the extender is miscible with the other ingredients, and in some embodiments the extender is non-aqueous. For example, the extender may include isopropanol, ethanol, tetrahydro furfuryl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, Gamma-butyrolactone or a caprolactone. In some embodiments a carbaldehyde and a cyclic amide are heated and used to separate a urethane bonded to a component.