US07882555B2
The invention provides an application layer security method and system to secure trusted computer applications from executing out of their intended and authorized scope caused by illegal or harmful operation requests received from a distrusted environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a protective layer is implemented in between a trusted application and distrusted application operation requests. In operation, the protective layer identifies an application path of each operation request. Depending on the application path identified, one or more security pipes scrutinize the application contents of the operation request to determine if the operation request is illegal or harmful to the application or a surrounding environment.
US07882552B2
A secure access method for use with a communication network which communicates information between an information resource controller and a remote unit comprising a smart card, the method including: identifying, at the remote unit, a command to upload data; employing, in response to said command, a hash function at the remote unit to encode contents of at least a portion of a memory at the remote unit and thereby to produce a hashed result; transmitting the hashed result to the information resource controller; comparing, at the information resource controller, the hashed result with a trusted hashed result maintained at the information resource controller thereby to provide a comparison result; if the comparing produces an unfavorable result, performing at least one of: revoking the remote unit by the information resource controller; and cancelling authorizations to the remote unit; and determining that the at least a portion of the memory at the remote unit has integrity based, at least in part, on the comparison result.
US07882551B2
A technique of allowing entry of the password which is not 100% correct. This password would be used to verify identity and/or login information in low security techniques. The password is scored relative to the correct password. The scoring can take into effect least mean squares differences, and other information such as letter groups, thereby detecting missed characters or extra characters, as well as shift on the keyboard.
US07882545B2
A method is used to authenticate a wireless device for secure operation on a wireless local area network, the wireless local area network including a controller. The method to include broadcasting from the controller a configuration message based on the controller being physically switched to a configuration mode. The method to also include accepting at the controller a response from the wireless device, the response accepted based on receiving the response within a fixed time period following the broadcasting of the configuration message, the accepted response including information encrypted using the controller's public key. A user message is obtained, the user message entered by the user at the controller and maintained at the controller. The wireless device is authenticated based on whether the response including the encrypted information, when decrypted with a private key associated with the controller's public key, matches the user message.
US07882544B2
Under the present invention, role types are defined by association with certain permissible actions. Once defined in this manner, a role type can then be bound to “nodes” of a hierarchical tree that represent computer-based resources such as dynamic object spaces. Once bound to a node, instances of this role type are created that will be inherited by hierarchical descendants of that node unless a role type block (e.g., inheritance or propagation) has been established for the corresponding role type. The present invention also allows the computer-based resources to be defined as virtual or private. Virtual resources represent general protected concepts in the system instead of computer-based resources and are subject to be bound with roles, while private resources are not. That is, the private resources remain the “property” of the creating user or group.
US07882542B2
Compromised host computers in an enterprise network environment comprising a plurality of security products called endpoints are detected in an automated manner by an arrangement in which a reputation service provides updates to identify resources including website URIs (Universal Resource Identifiers) and IP addresses (collectively “resources”) whose reputations have changed and represent potential threats or adversaries to the enterprise network. Responsively to the updates, a malware analyzer, which can be configured as a standalone endpoint, or incorporated into an endpoint having anti-virus/malware detection capability, or incorporated into the reputation service, will analyze logs maintained by another endpoint (typically a firewall, router, proxy server, or gateway) to identify, in a retroactive manner over some predetermined time window, those client computers in the environment that had any past communications with a resource that is newly categorized by the reputation service as malicious. Every client computer so identified is likely to be compromised.
US07882537B2
A security policy management system for deriving a security policy from setting details of security devices as components of an information system includes a setting information storage unit for storing setting information representing settings with regard to security functions of devices included in a network system to be managed, and a general-purpose security policy generator for generating a security policy including a description expressed in a format independent of descriptions depending on particular devices, based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit.
US07882535B2
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US07882528B1
Methods and systems for enhancing a user's viewing experience are described. Various embodiments can record episodes of a special event program, record previously-broadcast episodes of a special event program, assist the user in recording episodes that are associated with a program for which they have set up a record event, maintain an entertainment system's user interface by automatically removing record events, handle season premiers and finales by automatically recording them, and assist the user in recording episodes in which they might be interested.
US07882527B2
A digital television (DTV) signal for use in a DTV receiver includes an extended text table (ETT) which includes a header and a message body. The header includes a table identification extension field which serves to establish uniqueness of the ETT, and the message includes an extended text message (ETM). If the ETT is an event ETT, the table ID extension field includes an event identification which specifies an identification number of an event associated with the ETT. On the other hand, if the ETT is a channel ETT, the table identification extension field includes a source identification which specifies a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the ETT. A section-filtering unit included in the DTV receiver is able to use table identification extension fields of a plurality of ETTs for section-filtering a pertinent event or channel ETT from the ETTs.
US07882520B2
A broadcast program recording overrun and underrun scheduling system provides a system for adjusting the start and end times of a broadcast program's recording schedule that has a predetermined start and end broadcast time. An on screen program guide is displayed to the viewer via a monitor or television and lists the predetermined scheduled broadcast times and channels of a plurality of broadcast programs. The viewer selects a particular broadcast program to record from the program guide using a remote input device. The invention schedules the broadcast program to be recorded by inserting the program's information such as program identifier, start and end times, and storage duration into a recording schedule database. The invention allows the viewer to adjust the scheduled start and/or end recording times for a broadcast program by specifying the time increment to add or subtract from the start and/or end recording times of a specific program or series of programs. The invention adjusts the recording schedule to the viewer's modifications. Broadcast programs are recorded onto a persistent storage device when the recording schedule indicates that it is time to do so. The viewer is allowed to adjust the end recording time of a program while the program is being recorded. The viewer can randomly access the recorded programs on the persistent storage device for play back.
US07882517B2
A method of content substitution involves receiving an ordered stream of packets containing content marked by a first packet identifier (PID) and one or more substitute content portions marked by one or more secondary PIDs, where the number and placement of packets marked by secondary PIDs ahead of packets marked by the first PID in the stream is retained during transmission of the ordered stream of packets; initiating processing for display or storage of content contained in packets having the first PID; initiating processing for display or storage of content contained in packets having a selected secondary PID that meets a substitution criterion; and either deleting or processing the content having the first PID depending upon a number of received intervening packets having secondary PIDs that reside between the packets having the first PID and the packets having the selected secondary PID that meets the substitution criterion. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US07882514B2
Display device ON/OFF detection methods and apparatus are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein to determine whether a presentation device is ON or OFF comprises determining a plurality of metrics based on monitoring at least one output of the presentation device, wherein each metric in the plurality of metrics comprises a decision indicating an operating state of the presentation device, and combining the plurality of metrics to determine whether the presentation device is one of ON or OFF, wherein combining the plurality of metrics comprises at least one of weighting the plurality of metrics or determining a majority vote of the plurality of metrics.
US07882513B2
An optical disk device of the present application includes: a turntable 30 including plural induction grooves 31a to 31h as concave portions radially extending from vicinity of a center of the turntable 30 and having open portions in an outer periphery of the turntable 30 and plural through-holes 32a to 32h penetrating bottom faces 33a to 33h on the vicinity of the center side of the plural induction grooves 31a to 31h and a top face of the turntable 30; and an outer rotor type spindle motor 35 provided with plural fins 36a to 36h as convex portions on a rotor on a side face thereof. The optical disk device of the present application utilizes an airflow generated by rotation of the rotor of the spindle motor 35 and the turntable 30 in conjunction therewith as a dust removing wind for removing dust attaching to an objective lens side area.
US07882509B2
The persistent binding of STP SAS addresses to SATA devices is disclosed so that SATA devices can be moved to different insertion points (ports) within a SAS expander and still properly receive I/O requests. When a SATA device is inserted into the SAS expander, it is interrogated to obtain information about the attached device. This information may be combined using a hashing function to obtain a unique ID for the SATA device. A table can be used to assign a STP SAS address to the Phy connected to the device based in the unique ID. In this manner, the same STP SAS address will be assigned to the Phy connected to a particular SATA device, regardless of where the device is connected to the SAS expander.
US07882508B1
To perform information tracing, at least one signature to be traced is received. It is detected that a first process causes data to be provided to at least one of a second process and a file. It is determined whether the data contains the at least one signature. In response to determining that the data contains the at least one signature, a log is updated. The log contains information identifying at least one of processes and files that are part of a flow of the at least one signature.
US07882505B2
In a multi-processor multi-threaded computer system, resources are dynamically assigned during program operation to either threads or processors in such a manner that resource usage is maximized. In one embodiment, the choice of whether to assign resources to threads or processors is dependent on the number of threads versus the number of processors. In another embodiment, when the system is operating in one assignment mode, the amount of wasted resources is measured and when this measured amount exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the maximum resources that could be wasted were the system operating in the other assignment mode, the assignment is switched to the other assignment mode.
US07882499B2
Dynamically compiled code is stored for future use by an emulator application. The emulator application may recall the previously compiled code rather than recompile the same code again. Recycling previously compiled code prevents unneeded code compilation, and saves valuable processing time and resources. Previously compiled code can be associated with code identification information. When compiled code is needed, one or more indexes of compiled code identification information is searched. If the appropriate identification information is found, the corresponding code is loaded and executed.
US07882498B2
Provided are a method, system, and program for parallelizing source code with a compiler. Source code including source code statements is received. The source code statements are processed to determine a dependency of the statements. Multiple groups of statements are determined from the determined dependency of the statements, wherein statements in one group are dependent on one another. At least one directive is inserted in the source code, wherein each directive is associated with one group of statements. Resulting threaded code is generated including the inserted at least one directive. The group of statements to which the directive in the resulting threaded code applies are processed as a separate task. Each group of statements designated by the directive to be processed as a separate task may be processed concurrently with respect to other groups of statements.
US07882494B2
The invention includes a computer readable storage medium with executable instructions to run a segment of code and identify associated variables. The segment of code is stopped at a predetermined breakpoint and state values that correspond to the associated variables are identified. A variable is selected from the associated variables via a Graphical User Interface, where the selected variable has a variable state. The variable state is saved to a data store via the Graphical User Interface.
US07882491B2
A system and method for automatically generating a data flow diagram in response to a first diagram. The first diagram may specify one or more states and one or more state transitions, wherein each state transition specifies a transition from a first state to a second state. A data flow diagram may be automatically generated from the first diagram. A hardware description may be generated from the data flow diagram. The hardware description may be usable to configure a programmable hardware element such as, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The configured programmable hardware element may implement a hardware implementation of the data flow diagram.
US07882480B2
Methods are disclosed to create efficient model-based Sub-Resolution Assist Features (MB-SRAF). An SRAF guidance map is created, where each design target edge location votes for a given field point on whether a single-pixel SRAF placed on this field point would improve or degrade the aerial image over the process window. In one embodiment, the SRAF guidance map is used to determine SRAF placement rules and/or to fine tune already-placed SRAFs. In another embodiment the SRAF guidance map is used directly to place SRAFs in a mask layout.
US07882478B2
In one aspect of the invention is a method for reducing crosstalk and maintaining clearances between traces on a printed circuit board design. Crosstalk caused by placing traces a virtual printed circuit board are reduced by placing artificial obstructs, called spacers, between traces and/or between traces and nets to create a user-specified clearance between the traces and/or nets. As additional traces and/or nets are added to the virtual printed circuit board, the spacers are dynamic and adjust accordingly to maintain the specified clearances.
US07882476B2
Standard cells without a well potential fixing active region (4T-11 to 4T-14, 4T-21 to 4T-24, 4T-31 to 4T-34, 4T-41 to 4T-44) are read from a library and a circuit is temporarily designed by automatic layout wiring. Then, a change in the substrate potential is estimated from at least one of the number of transistors to be switched at the same timing in the temporarily designed circuit, the sizes of transistors, the transition probability, and the appearance probability. It is determined whether the estimated change in the substrate potential is within a reference value. If the estimated change in the substrate potential has exceeded the reference value, standard cells with a well potential fixing active region (2T-11, 2T-21, 2T-31 and 2T-41) are read from the library and placed in a region where the estimated change in the substrate potential exceeds the reference value. Thereafter, automatic layout wiring is done again, thereby forming a circuit.
US07882467B2
Provided are an evaluation method and device of a test pattern which enable an appropriate evaluation in a reliability test with a simulation time reduced and high accuracy. It is assumed that each possible internal state of a cell determined at least by a logic value or a voltage value of an input terminal is a cell state, and each possible state of a transistor determined by a voltage between terminals of the transistor is a transistor state. The method comprises steps of: verifying operation of a semiconductor integrated circuit at a gate level or higher; acquiring an appearance cell state continuously appearing for a predetermined time or more in the operation verification; acquiring an appearance transistor state using the corresponding appearance cell state in the operation verification for each transistor; and calculating a test activity ratio of the transistor using the corresponding appearance transistor state for each transistor.
US07882457B1
Power consumption estimation is performed at the system level in a design process, thus allowing early evaluation of feasibility and other considerations relating to logic/DSP design and hardware implementation of a proposed electronic design. Evaluation of the system level power consumption estimate(s) permits adjustment of a system level representation of the proposed electronic design, prior to investment of substantial resources in the electronic design. Other estimates, including other power consumption estimates, may be performed to adjust the proposed electronic design as well. Such estimates may be made in response to gate level power consumption estimates and/or hardware level power consumption estimates.
US07882443B2
A method improving a customers experience in a queue located in a three-dimensional virtual environment is provided. The method includes the creation of computer controlled pseudo avatars that are added and removed from queues to create the perception that the queues are moving. A conversational avatar is further provided to engage the customer avatars in conversation.
US07882438B2
Providing quality management and intelligent manufacturing with labels and smart tags in event-based product manufacturing. Some of the disclosed embodiments include a system, method, and computer-readable media for storing, during a process, data associated with a material. Also disclosed are a method of collecting, storing, and reporting machine productivity, waste, and delay information on an event basis in a manufacturing system, a method of capturing and storing material history, a method of automating tracking of positions of components used in a process and correlating portions of a component with production problems, an improved inventory management system, and a method of tracking and recording actions of specific operators of a process performed by a machine. The embodiments are operable in an intelligent manufacturing system including a process for converting raw materials to a product, a process control system including one or more sensors capable of generating an alarm in response to an event that results in one of waste, machine delay, or decrease product quality, a data logger associated with the process control system for obtaining event parameters associated with the event, a database on a server for recording event parameters obtained by the data logger, and a reporting system cooperatively associated with the database for reporting productivity parameters regarding the process derived at least in part from the event parameters.
US07882434B2
A method is provided for prompting a user who interacts with content on a display screen via a pointing device that a potential mistake may have been made during the interaction. The interaction includes a plurality of actions associated with the content of the display screen. The content is created by programming code. Programming code is analyzed to determine the next most likely action to occur during user interaction with the display screen contents at a plurality of different points in the programming code. After an action occurs by a user at a point in the programming code, it is detected whether the user performed the next most likely action. The user is prompted with an indication if the user did not perform the next most likely action and therefore may have made a potential mistake.
US07882433B2
A family management system provides a family manager with family-related and work-related information. This information may be provided to the family manager in the form of one or more screens depicting calendars, e-mail, and/or other tasks. In particular, family-related and work-related matters may be merged on a single screen so that the family manager can facilitate scheduling better between family-related and work-related matters.
US07882429B2
A computer-implemented method of processing an Extensible Markup Language (XML) document can include loading an execution plan into a virtual machine, wherein the execution plan represents an XML schema, and loading an XML document into the virtual machine. XML processing functions available within the virtual machine can be selectively invoked according to the execution plan, wherein the XML processing functions operate upon the XML document. An indication of whether the XML document is valid according to the XML processing functions can be output.
US07882420B2
A method for writing data to a storage pool includes receiving a write operation to write a logical block of data to the storage pool, determining a number (n−1) of physical blocks required to store the logical block of data, generating a parity block using the logical block of data, allocating n physical blocks in the storage pool, writing the parity block in the first of n allocated physical block, and writing the logical block of data across the remaining n−1 allocated physical blocks, where n is less than a number of disks in the storage pool, and where each of the n allocated physical blocks is located on a different disk in the storage pool.
US07882413B2
Time-space encoding and/or decoding may employ time variant linear transformations. Turbo coding and/or decoding may be used in conjunction with the use of time variant linear transformations. Such time variant linear transformations may be unitary in nature.
US07882409B2
Proposed are methods and apparatuses for synthesis of a new class of compressors called augmented multimode compactors, capable of achieving a flexible trade-off between compaction ratio, observability, control data volume and diagnostic properties in the presence of a large number of unknown values. The augmented multimode compactors reduce and/or completely avoid the X-masking effect in the compacted test responses. In addition, a requirement for constructing compactors is that any single error in the test response produces a unique erroneous signature within S consecutive shift cycles where the erroneous signature is calculated as a difference between the faulty signature and the fault-free signature.
US07882404B2
The present invention implements a method and apparatus for using components within a Serializer/DeSerializer (SerDes) to emulate the effects of a backplane in order to facilitate automated test equipment (ATE) testing of the SerDes. The SerDes includes a transmitter pre-emphasis circuit (TPXE) that pre-emphasizes a transmitted signal and a receiver equalization circuit (RXEQ) that equalizes a received signal. The TPXE includes coefficients that are dynamically programmable.
US07882403B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for controlling an interleaver/deinterleaver memory in a mobile communication system are provided. In particular, an apparatus and method are provided which can reduce unnecessary time and power consumption by eliminating an unnecessary memory erasure. A write address generator generates write addresses. A memory stores values mapped to the write addresses. A memory controller controls the memory in which an input signal is accumulated to a value stored at a write address which is then recorded at the write address if the value stored at the write address is recorded for a previous packet when the input signal is generated. The memory controller controls the memory in which the input signal is recorded at the write address if the value stored at the current record address is a valid value for a current packet.
US07882400B2
An information processing apparatus which makes it possible to accurately manage a plurality of storage media realized by cooperation with each other while maintaining a combination or combinations thereof, and manage data for each OS. A storage media supporting device removably supporting at least one storage medium is removably attached to the information processing apparatus. When the storage media supporting device is attached to the information processing apparatus, the storage media housed in the storage media supporting device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus. The contents of data stored in the storage media are detected, and a visible identifier provided on the storage media supporting device is changed into a state corresponding to the detection result.
US07882391B2
To aim at autonomously selecting and switching over a management system by a terminal device, and preventing the terminal device from switching over the system, managing the self-terminal, to a backup system even in the case of a temporary fault from which to recover relatively immediately and in the case of occurrence of an inconvenience (trouble) negligible enough not to be treated as the fault. Included are a terminal device 21 transmitting, a registration request (S101) to a backup system 1b, if a fault occurs in a main system 1a, and the backup system 1b not providing a management service even when receiving the registration request (S101) till a startup request (S204) made by a monitoring server 18b is received.
US07882384B2
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a circuit including a data relay stage configurable to receive primary data via a primary data interface, a primary clock having a frequency FP and a secondary clock having a frequency FS′. The primary data is received over a fixed periodic interval TI and at a rate substantially equal to FP. The amount of primary data received over TI is known to be N. The data relay stage is further configurable to provide secondary data via a secondary data interface based on the primary data and the secondary clock. The circuit also includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit configurable to receive an interval reference signal having a frequency FI substantially equal to 1/TI. The PLL circuit is also configurable to provide the secondary clock based on the interval reference signal.
US07882379B2
Methods and apparatus provide for reducing power consumption by decreasing operating frequencies of waiting processors in a multiprocessor system. Power consumption may be reduced by having a processor enter a low frequency mode when the processor is in a loop waiting for data that have been locked by another processor. The frequency of operation of the waiting processor may be reduced to a fraction (one half, one quarter, etc.) of the normal, initial clock frequency. The multiprocessor system may monitor a number of times (loop count) that a waiting processor takes the wait loop and compare the number to a threshold. When the loop count is greater than or equal to the threshold, the clock frequency of the waiting processor is reduced. When the waiting processor ceases to wait and does not take the wait loop branch (e.g., because the other processor has released the lock on the data), the loop count is reset to zero and the frequency of operation of waiting processor is increased to an increased frequency, such as the normal, initial level.
US07882376B2
The present invention provides an LSI which comprises first circuit areas (e.g., an I/O area and a VBAT area) in which power is always held ON, a second circuit area (e.g., a CORE area) capable of ON/OFF-switching of the power, a power control circuit which is provided within the corresponding first circuit area and outputs a control signal for performing power control on the second circuit area, and a reset signal detection circuit which is provided within the corresponding first circuit area and detects an internal standby reset signal or an external standby reset signal to control the operation of the power control circuit.
US07882374B2
A method of powering up a portable terminal, which automatically executes a software program when powered on, the terminal having a manually operated power-up key, wherein the method comprises the step of: a) at the beginning, moving (in 32) the key from an idle position in which the terminal is powered off to an active position in which the terminal is powered up, then b) before a first predetermined time interval (Δ1) has elapsed since the beginning of step a), starting (in 36) to run the software program on the terminal, the first time interval being long enough to check that the key has not been inadvertently moved, then c) when the first time interval elapsed, if the key is still in the active position, continuing (in 42) to run the software program, else powering down the terminal (in 40).
US07882363B2
There is described an authentication system in which during an enrolment process a distinctive characteristic of a subject being enrolled is measured to generate a reference number representative of the subject. Authentication data is then generated using the reference number, and the authentication data is stored for use in a subsequent verification process. During verification, the representative characteristic of the subject being verified is re-measured to generate a test number representative of the subject being verified and the authentication data during enrolment is retrieved. The authentication system then checks for equality between the test number and the reference number using the retrieved authentication data. If the test number and the reference number are equal, then the authenticity of the subject is verified, otherwise the authenticity is denied.
US07882362B2
In a data management apparatus (1) including a recording device (12) for recording contents data and a data processing section for processing the contents data, first management data for managing the contents data according to a first reference is recorded in the recording device (12), and the data processing section reproduces the contents data based on the first management data, and transfers the contents data to an external device (2) based on second management data which is used for management of the contents data by the external device according to a second reference different from the first reference. As a result, the protection of the contents data can be made while complying with related laws, and the contents data with optional functions added thereto can be backed up.
US07882351B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for enabling a recipient of a cryptographically-signed electronic communication to verify the authenticity of the communication on-the-fly using a signed chain of check values, the chain being constructed from the original content of the communication, and each check value in the chain being at least partially dependent on the signed root of the chain and a portion of the communication. Fault tolerance can be provided by including error-check values in the communication that enable a decoding device to maintain the chain's security in the face of communication errors. In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for enabling secure quasi-random access to a content file by constructing a hierarchy of hash values from the file, the hierarchy deriving its security in a manner similar to that used by the above-described chain. The hierarchy culminates with a signed hash that can be used to verify the integrity of other hash values in the hierarchy, and these other hash values can, in turn, be used to efficiently verify the authenticity of arbitrary portions of the content file.
US07882346B2
This invention proposes an integrated process for AAA (Authentication, Authorisation, and Accounting) with the order reversed whereby L2 follows L3. The L3 process treats the wireless link as any normal IP access link, and the L3 authorisation provides L3 processing, but also includes the L2 terminal authentication identifiers so that the L2 security parameters can also be returned. This means that the wireless link and the IP layer are not secured until after the L3 authorisation has completed and therefore the first IP messages that trigger authorisation are sent insecurely. This invention also provides methods to avoid these insecure messages presenting any opportunities to an attacker. Finally, the inventions include methods to enable L3 before L2 authorisation when a user is roaming in a foreign network.
US07882342B1
A computer-implemented method of imaging a computer system may include taking an image of the computer system that includes those files needed to boot an operating system but excludes at least some of those files that are not needed to boot the operating system. The image may be loaded on a target computer system, which may or may not be the same as the imaged computer system, to enable the target computer system to boot the operating system. Those files that are not needed to boot the operating system may be streamed to the target computer system on an as-needed basis or in the background. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US07882329B2
Provided are techniques for cancellation of premigration of a member in a chain. A set of premigration messages are received, wherein a separate premigration message is received for each logical volume in a chain of logical volumes. While processing the premigration messages in order of receipt of each of the premigration messages, a cancel message indicating that premigration of a logical volume in the chain is to be cancelled is received. In response to determining that the logical volume whose premigration is to be cancelled has not already been transferred to physical storage media, premigration of the logical volume is cancelled by removing a premigration message for that logical volume from the set of premigration messages and premigration of each other logical volume in the chain of logical volumes is continued in order of receipt.
US07882328B2
Provided are techniques for cancellation of premigration of a member in a chain. A set of premigration messages are received, wherein a separate premigration message is received for each logical volume in a chain of logical volumes. While processing the premigration messages in order of receipt of each of the premigration messages, a cancel message indicating that premigration of a logical volume in the chain is to be cancelled is received. In response to determining that the logical volume whose premigration is to be cancelled has not already been transferred to physical storage media, premigration of the logical volume is cancelled by removing a premigration message for that logical volume from the set of premigration messages and premigration of each other logical volume in the chain of logical volumes is continued in order of receipt.
US07882327B2
In one embodiment, a method comprises assigning a unique node number to each of a first plurality of nodes in a first partition of a system and a second plurality of nodes in a second partition of the system. A first memory address space spans first memory included in the first partition and a second memory address space spans second memory included in the second partition. The first memory address space and the second memory address space are generally logically distinct. The method further comprises programming a first address map in the first partition to map the first memory address space to node numbers, wherein the programming comprises mapping a first memory address range within the first memory address space to a first node number assigned to a first node of the second plurality of nodes in the second partition, whereby the first memory address range is mapped to the second partition.
US07882322B2
A system and method to organize and use data sent over a double data rate interface so that the system operation does not experience a time penalty. The first cycle of data is used independently of the second cycle so that latency is not jeopardized. There are many applications. In a preferred embodiment for an L2 cache, the system transmits congruence class data in the first half and can start to access the L2 cache directory with the congruence class data.
US07882316B2
A network component useful in tracking write activity by writing logs containing write address information is described. The tracking component may be used in networked systems employing data mirrors to record data block addresses written to a primary storage volume during the time a data mirror is unavailable. The tracking component can be available to any network originating node, and may therefore track write activity on multiple volumes. At the time a data mirror is reconstructed, the log written may be used to construct a list of block addresses pointing to locations on a primary storage volume wherein data differs from a secondary storage volume member of the mirror. The locations may be copied from the primary to secondary storage volume to reconstruct the data mirror. The performance impact of the tracking component is minimal and a shared network resource is offered that increases fault tolerance in the event of backup device failures.
US07882306B2
A memory device capable of sequentially outputting multiple pages of cached data while mitigating any interruption typically caused by fetching and transferring operations. The memory device outputs cached data from a first page while data from a second page is fetched into sense amplifier circuitry. When the outputting of the first page reaches a predetermined transfer point, a portion of the fetched data from the second page is transferred into the cache at the same time the remainder of the cached first page is being output. The remainder of the second page is transferred into the cache after all of the data from the first page is output while the outputting of the first portion of the second page begins with little or no interruption.
US07882305B2
Provided are a storage apparatus and its data management method capable of preventing the loss of data retained in a volatile cache memory even during an unexpected power shutdown. This storage apparatus includes a cache memory configured from a volatile and nonvolatile memory. The volatile cache memory caches data according to a write request from a host system and data staged from a disk drive, and the nonvolatile cache memory only caches data staged from a disk drive. Upon an unexpected power shutdown, the storage apparatus immediately backs up the dirty data and other information cached in the volatile cache memory to the nonvolatile cache memory.
US07882303B2
A computer system to prevent intervention and falsification by setting encrypted transfer between a host computer and a first storage device that provides a virtual volume and between the first storage device and second and third storage devices that provide a real volume corresponding to the virtual volume. A management computer specifies the second and third storage device that provide the real volume corresponding to the virtual volume by providing a volume corresponding to the virtual volume used by a host computer in which encrypted transfer becomes necessary, and setting the encrypted transfer to communication between the first storage device and the second and third storage devices, makes a reconnection thereof, and also sets the encrypted transfer to an I/O port used for the communication with the host computer in the first storage device.
US07882299B2
A method of programming a non-volatile memory array using an on-chip write cache is disclosed. Individual data packets received by the memory system are stored in cache memory. More than one data packet may be stored in this way and then programmed to a single page of the non-volatile array. This results in more efficient use of storage space in the non-volatile array.
US07882288B2
A method and apparatus for transferring data from a first electronic device to a second electronic device, both first and second electronic devices having Universal Serial Bus (USB) client interfaces, the method comprising the steps: connecting the two electronic devices with a USB cable; toggling the voltage on a VBUS line of the USB cable between logic high voltage and no voltage at the first electronic device; detecting toggles of the VBUS line at the second electronic device; and interpreting the toggles detected in the detecting step as data.
US07882287B2
A multifunction device includes a plurality of slots capable of accepting the insertion of media. Initially, the multifunction device is set to a single drive mode (automatic switching mode) and subsequently is set to a multi-drive mode upon receiving a GET_MAX_LUN command from a personal computer. In the single drive mode, a drive is assigned only to one slot in which a medium has been first inserted. In the multi-drive mode, drives are assigned for all of the slots respectively.
US07882282B2
A demodulator can include first data and clock pads to couple the demodulator to a host device via a first bus, and second data and clock pads to couple the demodulator to a radio frequency (RF) tuner via a second bus. The device may further include passthrough logic to couple host data and a host clock from the first bus to the second bus and to couple tuner data from the second bus to the first bus during a passthrough mode. During this mode, however, the two buses may remain electrically decoupled. When the passthrough mode is disabled, the RF tuner is thus shielded from noise present on the first bus.
US07882280B2
A packet switching integrated circuit chip is configured to receive packets, e.g., RapidIO™-compliant packets, from a plurality of external sources, and selectively passes data in the received packets to a plurality of external recipients. The chip is configured to pass first received packets without modification and to terminate second received packets and preprocess payloads thereof to produce new packets. The chip may be configured to perform signal sample processing operations on the second received packets, such as bit extension, bit truncation, bit reordering and/or bit arithmetic operations. The chip may be further configured to manage the first and second received packets based on destination addresses in the received packets.
US07882272B2
A media processing device has a media drive for writing data on one side of recording media, a label printer for printing on the other side of the media M, media stackers for storing the media, and a transportation arm for transporting the media to any of the media drive, the label printer, and the media stackers according to control commands sent from a host computer. The control method for the media processing device has an execution step of starting executing a plurality of control commands based on a start process command; a decision step of determining if all of the control commands executed normally; and a transmission step of sending a normal termination report to the host computer as the response to the end process command that is sent as a set with the start process command if step determines that all control commands executed normally.
US07882271B2
An apparatus and associated method are provided for performing a storage transaction associated with a network I/O command by employing an ASIC having an interconnect selectively coupling a plurality of dedicated purpose function controllers in the ASIC to a policy processor via a list manager in the ASIC communicating on a peripheral device bus to which the policy processor is connected.
US07882270B2
The present invention provides a shadow community producing system matched to a variable area of an internet base and a method of the same, which allows users connecting with unspecified web sites of an internet base to arbitrarily and automatically construct a community area in the web sites in real time, and allows a number of third parties connecting to the web sites to confirm creation information regarding the community and access to the community area, thereby enhancing convenience and consistency in information sharing. The present invention has advantages in that it allows users to create shadow communities matched with URLs on all areas accessible through the user's terminals regardless of web site producing companies, thereby sharing objective information with many and unspecified users; allows users to freely create and manage shadow communities for web sites not having communities, categories, and products.
US07882269B2
A modularized broadcast receiver driver architecture includes one or more control nodes, under control of a network module, that perform a series of one or more functions to receive a broadcast signal and extract content information from the signal. None of the multiple control nodes requires knowledge of the network type via which the signal is being received. Rather, a network module is aware of the network type and configures the control nodes to carry out their respective functions.
US07882267B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a request for communications service. The request for communications service originates from a client communications device associated with a user and requests communications service from a service provider. An availability of at least one of i) a communications network operated by the service provider and ii) another communications network operated by another service provider is dynamically assessed in real-time. A best-value scenario of segmentation, dispersion, assemblage, and routing of electronic data is assessed to fulfill the request. The best-value scenario maximizes profitability for the service provider. The communications service is provided to fulfill the request according to the best-value scenario.
US07882265B2
A protocol management system is capable of detecting certain message protocols and applying policy rules to the detected message protocols that prevent intrusion, or abuse, of a network's resources. In one aspect, a protocol message gateway is configured to apply policy rules to high level message protocols, such as those that reside at layer 7 of the ISO protocol stack.
US07882262B2
A system and method of generating an overall top N query result from multiple sets of sessionized network events that correspond to different time periods include identifying a subset within each set of network events whose event attributes satisfy a predefined query, generating an aggregation result table for each identified subset of network events in accordance with an aggregation attribute, identifying matching first and second entries in first and second aggregation result tables that have a same aggregation attribute value, generating a new entry in a query result table by merging the matching first and second entries together, and selecting entries in the query result table that have highest session counts as the overall top N query result.
US07882257B2
In a stream processing node, a producer of properly ordered portions of a data stream, hereinafter referred to as substreams, is coupled to a stream fabric that is further coupled to a series of potential consumers for the data stream, one of the potential consumers being a content processing element. The producer outputs the substreams to a stream queue that is associated with the data stream within the stream fabric. Subsequently, a portion of the data within the stream queue is copied and analyzed by the content processing element which determines what further actions are to be taken with respect to the data within the particular stream queue. These actions could include copying a further portion of the data within the stream queue to the content processing element for further analysis; redirecting the data within the stream queue to another consumer of the data stream, such as another processing element or an interface with a packet switched network; modifying a portion of the data within the stream queue; and/or transferring a portion of the data within the stream queue to another stream queue.
US07882247B2
Method and apparatus including a mobility server enables secure connectivity using standards-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) IPSEC algorithms in a mobile and intermittently connected computing environment. Transitions between and among networks occur seamlessly—with a mobility server being effective to shield networked applications from interruptions in connectivity. The applications and/or users need not be aware of these transitions, although intervention is possible.
US07882243B2
Voice chat enhances the game playing experience by allowing gamers in different locations to have conversations within the gaming environment. Functionality can be implemented within a gaming system to send an external invitation a user who is logged out of the game system to participate in a voice chat and/or multiplayer game session. The user can choose to accept the invitation and participate in the voice chat session on a device such as a mobile phone. Automatically generating external requests improves convenience for players, especially when inviting several other players to a voice chat session, because they do not have to find external contact information for each player who is not logged in.
US07882239B2
A method is provided of establishing a communications session between first and second devices associated with first and second parties respectively. A session request message indicates a request to establish the session and comprises session information. In response to the session request message, further information is retrieved and included in the session request message. A session is established based on information in the resulting session request message. The session may be established between the first and second devices using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Summary information is included for determining complete information by the second device after the session has been established. The complete information is stored in a mail server and the summary information derived from the complete information is stored in a database. The summary information is retrieved from the database for inclusion in the further information so as to enable the second device subsequently to retrieve complete information from the mail server relating to that summary information.
US07882234B2
This invention has as its object to set a one-to-one relationship upon establishing a wireless communication channel between a wireless communication device on the information transmitting side and a wireless communication device that receives and processes the information even in an environment including a plurality of wireless communication devices, and to assure simple user's operations at least until the communication channel is established. To this end, when the user inputs a wireless communication channel establishment instruction to both a digital camera and printer having wireless communication channel establishment instruction to both a digital camera and printer having wireless communication functions, these devices execute wireless communication establishment processes within an allowable time period which is specified by a time set in a timer and a retry count. When the devices can seize each other within that time period, the communication channel is established. After that, the digital camera sends a sensed image to the printer, which prints the sensed image.
US07882233B2
A system and method for providing content to users including a multicast sub-system providing content to multiple users and a unicast sub-system providing content to individual users. The multicast sub-system being operative to push to each of a plurality of user communities, content relating to the community and the unicast sub-system being operative to provide on demand to a user, content which has not been previously pushed to the user.
US07882230B2
Servers are allocated for use in one of a plurality of compute-resources or for stand-by storage in a free-pool. Server load metrics are selected (e.g., ping-reply time or CP utilization) for measuring load in the servers. Metrics are measured for the servers allocated to the compute-resources. Several metrics can be measured simultaneously. The metrics for each compute-resource are normalized and averaged. Then, the metrics for each compute-resource are combined using weighting coefficients, producing a global load value, G, for each compute-resource. The G value is recalculated at timed intervals. Upper and lower thresholds are set for each compute-resource, and the G values are compared to the thresholds. If the G value exceeds the upper threshold, then a server in the free-pool is reallocated to the compute-resource; if the G value is less than the lower threshold, then a server is moved from the compute-resource to the free-pool.
US07882228B2
An exemplary system includes an application portal providing access to items of a plurality of remote applications, wherein at least one of the items is related to more than one of the remote applications, and an authorization layer that is included in the portal and that includes a permission map indicating an association between a user and at least one of the items of the plurality of remote applications that the user is permitted to access. In certain embodiments, the items include an application program interface (API). In certain embodiments, the authorization layer is synchronized with the remote applications, whereby the permission map is updated concerning information about at least one of the items that the user is permitted to access. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US07882225B2
There is provided an information processing device comprising: an image processing unit including at least one of an image reading function and a print function; a historical information acquisition unit to acquire a plurality of pieces of historical information, each of the plurality of pieces of historical information concerning execution of at least one of the image reading and print functions; a historical information transmission unit to transmit the historical information to the client device; a request reception unit to receive from the client device a request for data corresponding to a selected piece of historical information selected from the plurality of pieces of historical information through the client device, the data concerning a job executed by at least one of the image reading function and the print function; and a data obtaining unit configured to obtain the data corresponding to the request received by the request reception unit.
US07882217B2
A computer-implemented method for communication analysis includes monitoring communication sessions, which are conducted by entities in a communication network. Identifiers that identify the entities are extracted from the monitored sessions. The identifiers extracted from the sessions are grouped in respective identity clusters, each identity cluster identifying a respective entity. A subset of the identity clusters, which includes identifiers that identify a target entity, is merged to form a merged identity cluster that identifies the target entity. An activity of the target entity in the communication network is tracked using the merged identity cluster.
US07882213B2
A network management system in which an administrator may specify attributes of interest, and the specified attributes are monitored. Graphs/reports corresponding to the specified reports may be generated in a single place (e.g., on a web page) such that the data points for the various attributes may be correlated easily. The specified attributes may contain attributes which are dynamically created (e.g., counters measuring various aspects related to instances of objects). The network management system provides the ability to discover such attributes using a suitable interface, and selection of such attributes as well.
US07882210B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for monitoring one or more computers in a distributed computing system. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include determining, at a node, a first quantity of first agents reporting to the node and limiting the quantity of first agents to not exceed a predetermined threshold. The first agents configured to directly report to the node a first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents. A second quantity of second agents may also be determined. The second agents report to the node through the first agents. The second agents report a second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents. The first agents may be notified to report to the node the first information corresponding to systems being monitored by the first agents. The second agents may be notified to report to at least one of the first agents the second information corresponding to systems being monitored by the second agents. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US07882209B1
A computer system and techniques are disclosed that provide support for the operations of a modern telecommunication services provider. The computer system includes several software modules arranged in layers that are configured to provide services, such as a data access, workflow, and business-management functions. In some preferred embodiments, data cleansing and enterprise-view functionality are provided. An application program interface is also provided that allows a software program to execute software modules contained in the layers to perform specific tasks.
US07882206B2
A storage device system has a plurality of storage devices for storing information; a storage device control section that controls storage of information in the storage devices; and a connection unit connected to the storage device control section. Furthermore, the storage device system has a first communication control section that includes a first processor which is connected to the storage device control section via the connection unit and also connected on a first network external to the storage device system, which converts information of a first form received over the first external network into information of a second form, and which issues a request for access to the storage devices; and a second processor which accesses the storage devices via the connection unit and the storage device control section in response to the access request issued from the first processor, and which controls activation of the first processor.
US07882195B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for filtering and prioritizing instant messaging threaded conversations in an instant messaging system based on thread content. The instant messaging client analyzes an incoming message to determine the thread subject. Based on the thread subject analysis, the client determines the priority level associated with the incoming message. The message is then delivered and displayed to the recipient according to the priority level. The present invention also allows a participant initiating a thread of conversation to override filter settings on a messaging client. The authority to override settings may be predicated on an external list, such as a corporate telephone directory. As a result, the participant, having some authority or rights to override the recipient's instant messaging settings, may be allowed to conduct a messaging session with the recipient.
US07882189B2
A system and method are disclosed for classifying a message. The method includes receiving the message, identifying in the message a distinguishing property; generating a signature using the distinguishing property; and comparing the signature to a database of signatures generated by previously classified messages.
US07882166B2
A data transfer method for a network system wherein a plurality of computers are connected to each other through a switched network is improved in terms of the TLB hit ratio. Each of the computers includes a main storage device, a processor for issuing a communication process command and a communication device for processing the communication command from the processor and communicating with another one of the computers through a switched network. The communication device includes a transmission section and a reception section each of which includes a TLB for retaining a plurality of TLB entries. When a communication command including information of that one of the computers which is a sending source is issued from the processor, the reception section determines that one of the TLB entries which is to be used in accordance with the computer of the sending source.
US07882163B2
An electronic abacus includes a calculating apparatus, an input apparatus and a display apparatus. The input apparatus and the display apparatus are connected to the calculating apparatus respectively. The calculating apparatus receives the input information from the input apparatus, processes the information, and displays the processed information on the display apparatus. The input apparatus includes function keys and number input keys The number input keys include several sets of numeral keys. Each set of the numeral keys is corresponding to one digit of the input information displayed in the display apparatus. Each set of the numeral key includes the keys indicating “5”, “−5”, “4”, “−4”, “3”, “−3”, “2”, “−2”, “1”, “−1” respectively.
US07882148B2
A context modeler models a context representation and a method models a context representation. The context modeler models a context representation in an application. The context is represented in a current situation by at least one context entity that is included in at least one collection of references to a plurality of entities in a database in accordance with the situation. The context modeler includes an activation model for assigning an activation attribute to the at least one context entity indicating the importance of the at least one context entity in the current situation. The context modeler takes into account the activation attribute in modeling the context representation.
US07882145B2
A method and system for coordinating content processing in a mobile delivery framework, the method having the steps of embedding, within a metadata envelope associated with content, external references to external enablers; and inserting content processing coordination rules into the metadata envelope.
US07882141B2
A digital pictorial book system includes an image capturing module for capturing an image; a main object selecting module for selecting a main object out of the image; an inclination measuring module for measuring inclination of the image capturing module in a vertical direction; and a name searching module for searching for a name of the main object in an image database, which stores a name of an object corresponded to a feature of the object, on the basis of the main object selected by the main object selecting module and the inclination measured by the inclination measuring module.
US07882138B1
Progressive evaluation of predicate expressions in streaming XPath processor. A method for evaluating multiple XPath predicate expressions of multiple XPath queries includes identifying includes determining hit of a location path in a SAX event. All XPath predicate expressions of all XPath queries corresponding to the location path are then identified. All leaf nodes in the XPath predicate expressions corresponding to the location path are then determined. Thereafter, storage of nearest parent nodes of the leaf nodes is checked. Each nearest parent node is a first parent node which is encountered while moving from a leaf node towards a root node in an XPath predicate expression and which requires storage for storing intermediate Boolean result. Results of parent nodes of the leaf nodes are the determined based on the checking. Thereafter, the results of the parent nodes are stored if the results of the parent nodes are Boolean results. Further, results of root nodes of the XPath predicate expressions are determined by progressively evaluating subsequent parent nodes of the parent node.
US07882136B2
A storage system includes a file server connected with a plurality of computers, and a second storage device connected with a first storage device, in which the second storage device has a second volume; the first storage device has a virtual volume virtualized with a first volume and the second volume as a self-device possessed volume; and the file server mounts the first volume as a first directory, mounts the virtual volume as a second directory, and copies predetermined files in the second directory into the first directory.
US07882111B2
A method of determining content relevance for a user sets a user preference, which is related to a first area of content. The method calculates a set of scores, by using a combination, of the user preference, affinity data, and a parametric weight. The method organizes the content by using the set of scores, such that the organization of the content has a desirable relationship to the user, and recommends the selected content. Preferably, the method precomputes the affinity data and/or the parametric weight to generate and store the precompiled data for later retrieval. The affinity data describes a relationship between a first item of content and a second item of content, and the parametric weight describes an attribute of the second item. Additional embodiments include a system implementation and computer readable medium.
US07882095B2
Methods and systems provide simple syndication, browsing, searching, and subscribing solutions to networks of friends. In at least some embodiments, the approaches utilize standard HTTP protocols for consumption, subscription, and interaction of data while using the local file system for publication. The inventive approach overlays a URL address space that can be handled and routed interchangeably between multiple clients and servers or “locations”. In this manner, generated requests for user published content can be satisfied by local caches, servers, or peers through, for example, a peer-to-peer network. Accordingly, the inventive solutions provide a platform to make this possible with a simple publishing model that is fully compatible with existing Internet enabled applications.
US07882094B2
An address matching system that maintains a central database of valid addresses has been designed. According to the invention, address matching requests are received by the system from a plurality of remote users located at respective machines (“clients”). Those requests are processed at the central system, and the results are returned to the client that made the request. In addition, novel techniques are implemented for improving the likelihood of obtaining one or more matches from a request.
US07882091B2
A record tagging, storage and filtering system and method that permits paper records to be tagged, stored and filtered according to user criteria. The system includes a scanning module, a central server, one or more user workstations and an optical character recognition server. After scanning, the records may then be serialized and categorized by project, and then supplemented automatically by the system with a hypertext data file. The system provides for the manual input of additional hypertext data and merger of the hypertext data file with other records in the project. The end user may then search and/or filter records according to information contained in the hypertext data file. Because the pages may be sorted according to user criteria, the user may shuffle through pages from various different documents, thus allowing them to quickly retrieve the records they need and perform such actions as trend-spotting.
US07882089B1
Embodiments for caching database information are disclosed. A query may specify a set of information to be retrieved from a database file. The database file may be parsed according to the query to retrieve the set of information. The query and the corresponding set of information retrieved from the database file may be stored in a cache file. The cache file may be searched for the query, which may enable the set of information to be retrieved from the cache file. Searching the cache file and retrieving the set of information from the cache file may be faster than searching the database file to retrieve the set of information. The cache file may be associated with a currency token which may indicate whether the cache file is current. The currency token may indicate whether the database file has been updated since being parsed according to the query.
US07882087B2
The invention relates to a method of updating a data storage system. The method updates a raw database using an input data stream based on an input temporal value associated with the input data stream and a raw temporal value associated with the raw database. The method includes updating a derived database associated with the data storage system using the updated raw database based on the input temporal value, a derived temporal value and a user-defined relationship, the derived temporal value being associated with the derived database. The invention also relates to a computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium including instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by at least one computing device updates a data storage system. The invention further relates to a data storage system. The system includes a raw database, a derived database and a computing device operatively coupled to the raw database and the derived database.
US07882084B1
A system, method, and apparatus are directed towards identifying adaptive length segments of redundant data for encoding a data structure. Initial boundaries are identified for an input matching segment within input data and for a candidate store matching segment in a synchronized store. The data prior to and after the boundaries are compared to identify matching data. As matching data is identified, at least one of the boundaries of the matching segments is revised. An encoded representation of the resulting input matching segment is then generated based in part on pointers and offsets into the synchronized store. A data structure is generated based on the encoded representation and unmatched portion, which is sent to a receiver. The receiver uses the data structure to extract matching data from the synchronized store, and together with the unmatched input data in the data structure, reconstruct the input data.
US07882075B2
An automated system and method for predicting a future resource utilization tendency by analyzing a change in resource usage on the basis of a real operation condition in a computer system. A CPU utilization estimating unit acquires a resource log and a transaction log, and estimates utilization for each transaction, and information on the number of executions for each transaction, a processing amount predicting unit performs a statistical time-series analysis on the basis of time-series data of the number of executions for each transaction included in the transaction log and predicts an amount of processing for each type of a transaction, and a resource utilization predicting unit predicts the computer resource utilization or demand on from the estimated resource utilization for each transaction and the future predicted amount of processing for each transaction.
US07882072B1
A system may present a document including a form. Forms content may be received into the form. The received forms content may be periodically and automatically saved to reduce the likelihood that received forms content is lost prior to form submission.
US07882064B2
File system replication includes determining whether one of a plurality of files included in an original file system has been updated since a previous replication, the file having a plurality of data segments, and in the event that the file has been updated, locating among the plurality of data segments a previously stored data segment that is newly referenced by the file, and that does not require replication.
US07882063B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for synchronizing configuration values between a database and a remote input utility by configuring the database for remote input and loading the configuration values to a control file at the server, and copying the configuration values to a control file at remote system including the input utility, executing the input utility at a remote system using configuration values from the control file at the remote system to prepare data for input to the database, and responsive to the configuration values at the control file of the server, updating the configuration values in the control file at the remote system before migrating the new data from the input utility to the database.
US07882061B1
Data is replicated from a source to a target. For each of a plurality of replication processing threads (one thread at a time) a corresponding batch of one or more non-synchronization tasks is formed. Each batch of one or more non-synchronization tasks includes a next consecutive set of non-synchronization tasks drawn from a source of non-synchronization tasks that is common to the replication processing threads included in the plurality of replication processing threads. A replication processing thread that has associated with it an outstanding batch of one or more non-synchronization tasks that the thread has not finished communicates via an associated connection to the target as needed to perform such unfinished tasks included in the outstanding batch without regard to whether other threads included in the plurality of threads are communicating with the target via one or more other connections to the target.
US07882049B2
System and method for controlling a process with spatially dependent conditions for producing a product with spatially dependent properties, e.g., a web/sheet-based process for producing a web/sheet-based product. Input data comprising a plurality of input data sets are provided to a neural network (analog or computer-based), each data set comprising values for one or more input parameters, each comprising a respective process condition or product property. The input data preserve spatial relationships of the input data. The neural network generates output data in accordance with the input data, the output data comprising a plurality of output data sets, each comprising values for one or more output parameters, each comprising a predicted process condition or product property. The output data preserve spatial relationships of the output data, which correspond to the spatial relationships of the input data. The output data are useable by a controller or operator to control the process.
US07882048B2
Disclosed are methods, systems, and/or processor program products that include generating a population of genotypes, the genotypes based on at least one stimulus to a system, measuring at least one response of the system upon providing the population of genotypes to at least one model of the system, and, based on the measured at least one response of the system, performing at least one of: (a) applying at least one genetic operator to at least some of the population of genotypes, and iteratively returning to generating a population of genotypes, and (b) associating a condition of the system with at least one of the population of genotypes.
US07882043B2
Methods, systems, and computer programs for servicing and/or providing spontaneous collaboration between a shopper and consultants concerning a shopping goal. Information about the shopper's physical or logical proximity to a particular product category, combined with the current contents of his or her shopping cart is used to determine one or more shopping goals. Information about each potential consultant, including physical proximity, willingness to consult, areas of expertise and recent experience is used to rank each consultant in terms of relevance to one or more shopping goal. Communication is established between the shopper and one or more consultants in order that consulting services be provided. Consultants' evaluations are maintained persistently for use in future ranking. In some cases collaboration is coordinated by a service bureau.
US07882037B2
An online service and system are provided through which digital content publishers can package, protect, market and sell their content through on-line retailers, and through which on-line retailers can both build a unique inventory of digital content with all associated marketing metadata to sell through their on-line stores and seamlessly integrate the digital content into their on-line shopping cart. The system provides publishers with abstract fulfillment such that they only.
US07882036B1
System and method for printing indicia on mailing items, such as envelopes, cards, or label media, has a host computer system connected to a postal security device. The postal security device stores postage funds and, responsive to the host computer postage requests, provides data to the host computer representing an IBI Lite barcode having at least part of a unique authentication code. The host computer utilizes such data to produce print data representing postage indicia, and send such print data to one of a mailing machine, stand-alone printer, or printing system, for printing on a mailing item to be associated with the authentication code. A plurality of host computer systems each with their respective PSD may be provided. A reset computer system can communicate with each PSD, via their respective host computer, to provide additional postage funds and to receive information representing transaction data stored in the host computer.
US07882035B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for pre-performing operations for accessing protected content. Cryptographic user key pairs can be pre-generated and distributed in response to a variety of different events prior to provisioning client machine for accessing protected content. Usage licenses can be pre-generated and allocated prior to requests for usage licenses. Usage licenses can be pre-obtained for client machines prior to client machines access protected content. Pre-performed operations can be performed in response to detected events, such as, for example, reduced resource consumption in a Digital Rights Management system.
US07882034B2
In one embodiment, an elapsed playback time associated with a digital playback device is determined and compared to an allotted playback time for the device. In the event the elapsed and allotted playback times satisfy a predetermined relationship with respect to one another, further content playback on the device may be denied or otherwise regulated until content playback rights intrinsic to the device are renewed or “recharged”.
US07882033B2
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention allow guests at a hospitality facility to communicate via VoIP from a remote terminal. For example, guests at a client terminal can place and receive phone calls, experience content, and receive targeted messages while continuing to play games at the client terminal. Based on the stored guest preference information, hospitality facility operators can selectively target information to each guest.
US07882025B1
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for creating and using a common, generic, data/object model to represent information grids or lookup tables, such as a mortgage asset pricing information grid. The common model allows a common software representation for logically different attributes.
US07882024B2
A system and method for forwarding multiple credit applications to multiple potential lenders. A user computer or a credit management server sends queries to potential lenders inquiring about the respective information fields used in the potential lenders' respective credit applications. The queries also request information relating to the desired format and transmission method of the respective credit applications. With this information, a dynamic credit application is generated which includes all of information fields from all potential lenders. A credit applicant enters credit information into the dynamic credit application. The system then generates tailored credit applications for each lender and forwards these tailored applications to the respective potential lenders. The lenders process the tailored applications and provide results to the user.
US07882018B2
A system and method are provided for modifying how market updates are provided in an electronic trading environment upon detecting one or more triggering events. One example method includes defining an event to be used to trigger modification of how market updates are provided to a client entity, receiving a market update from an electronic exchange, and, when the event is detected, modifying how the market update is provided to the client entity. As an example, the modification of how the market update is provided to the client entity may include providing less data in relation to market updates, and sending the market updates less frequently.
US07882011B2
Systems and methods of conducting financial transactions are disclosed. One method disclosed comprises receiving prices from a plurality of providers, updating a database of providers based at least in part on the received prices, and arranging the prices in the updated database of providers by arranging bid rates in a first order, arranging offer rates in a second order, and resolving a tie.
US07882010B2
A system for determining an opening price for products traded over a distributed, networked computer system, includes a plurality of workstations for entering orders for financial products into the distributed, networked computer system and a server computer coupled to the workstations for receiving the orders. The server computer determines when a time just prior to an official opening time for opening regular trading has been reached, and executes a server process that determines an opening price for the product. The server process identifies the oldest of interest at the most aggressive price on each side of the market and selects the older interest of the identified interest to designate as initial interest. The server process matches initial interest against all contra side interest.
US07882009B2
The present invention is a reverse auction/lease and review/evaluation method to be used on the Internet. The method permits quantitative analysis of competitive leasing offers according to financial fundamentals and lessee defined qualitative variables and their relative weighting. The invention includes multiple Internet displayable screens which depict and permit inclusion of quantitative and qualitative variables as defined by the lessee. The invention also includes a scoring system by which the lessee can objectively and quantitatively measure competitive bids of prospective lessors participating in a reverse auction conducted on the Internet.
US07882003B2
A system includes one or more remote check deposit locations, and one or more treasury receipt servers to receive check information captured from the one or more remote check deposit locations, and to receive transaction data from an originating depository financial institution (ODFI), the transaction data including an amount of funds available from clearing the captured check information.
US07882000B2
An automated payment system for processing payment by a customer to a company. The payment system includes a document scanning system which has an input receptacle adapted to accept a document. After receiving an authorization agreement from the customer, the scanner acquires at least one image from the document. Also provided is a first computer adapted to receive images from the document scanning system. Adapted to communicate information represented by the image, a first communication link couples the document scanning system and the first computer. The payment system also includes a second computer adapted to receive images which is in communication with the first computer via a second communication link. The second communication link is adapted to communicate images and payment information.
US07881993B2
System, method and computer program product for optimal pricing of financial products. Data related to the financial product is extracted from at least one data source. A structured data file is generated from the data. The structured data file comprises a plurality of attributes and a plurality of price parameters related to the financial product. The plurality of price parameters comprise a price conversion probability measure and a business measure parameter associated with the financial product. Then, the optimal price associated with the financial product is estimated based on the plurality of attributes, the plurality of parameters, the price conversion probability measure and the business measure parameter.
US07881979B2
Method for an event organizer to arrange receipt of gifts and services rendered in conjunction with the event in which an on-line database of gifts and services is created, and each gift and service is associated with a first price representing its cost to the organizer. Gift givers access the database, view the gifts and services with a second price that is greater than the first price, and can select gifts and services for purchase on behalf of the organizer. Then, the organizer receives funds from each gift giver equal to the second price for the selected gifts and services and directs gift and service providers to provide the selected gift or perform the selected service at the event. A difference between the first and second prices is determined and the organizer can use at least part of this difference to purchase gifts and services prior to the event.
US07881977B2
A construction bidding system and method includes manager, general contractor and subcontractor workstations that communicate with a server hosting a website over a network such as the Internet. The server also communicates with a number of databases. A manager enters project information into a project database and selects general contractors from a general contractor database. The manager sends each selected general contractor an invitation to bid. A general contractor receives the invitation to bid, reviews the project information and selects subcontractors from a subcontractor database. The general contractor sends each selected subcontractor an invitation to bid. A subcontractor receives the invitation to bid and responds with bid information that is entered in to a bid database. The general contractor uses the bid information from the subcontractors to prepare and submit a bid to the manager.
US07881964B2
A computer based technique for providing a list of selectable computer solutions in a self-support environment. The technique includes sending a computer solution to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer for the computer solution from the list. The computer solution includes at least an automated solution.
US07881961B2
A method of managing capacity in a business process on demand for providing a service to a service requester. The method comprises the steps of providing a business process having one or more service inputs, at least one service output, at least one capacity constraint having a capacity level and a queue located ahead of the capacity constraint having an upper queue threshold and a lower queue threshold. The method further comprises gathering with a performance monitoring subsystem a set of business process data, and adjusting with a capacity management subsystem the capacity level of the capacity constraint in response to the set of business process data gathered by the performance monitoring subsystem.
US07881955B2
A reservation and management system for recreational activities offered by a plurality of activity operators, comprises a database for storing information regarding a plurality of recreational activities, including inventory information and a financial record containing financial information, for reservation transactions carried out for said activity and profile information for a plurality of subscribers, including activity operators and resellers. The system includes a reservation information compiler for providing information for an activity, a transaction module for updating inventory information and financial record following a reservation transaction request. A plurality of purchase modules are also provided, allowing clients and resellers to access information and make reservation for activities. An operator inventory management module allows to receive and update activity information.
US07881954B2
This invention relates to an electronic means by which people can select the exact seat or seats they want for any type of event or reserve an appointment for any activity. More specifically, a customer or a ticket re-seller or a venue operator can go, for example, to the internet and select the event or activity for which he wants a ticket or tickets or reserve a time and reserve and order the exact seat or seats or the time of his choosing directly online. The seat or seats or reserved time he selects is then removed from the inventory for that activity or event and made not available for any other buyer and such is so indicated by a graphical representation or other such indicator on the online map or picture representing availability of seating or time for that event.
US07881946B1
In response to a user selection of a management function to configure a storage area network, a resource manager application generates a graphical user interface that displays a list including at least initial process steps requiring selection of resources in the storage area network to execute the management function. Based on input from a user such as selection of resources for a given process step in the list, the resource manager application dynamically selects further process steps in addition to the list of initial process steps for display in the list. In this way, a user can i) view a changing list of process steps and ii) identify which additional process steps are required to perform a respective management function as a result of making a selection of storage area network resources for the given process step.
US07881931B2
Copies of original sound recordings are identified by extracting features from the copy, creating a vector of those features, and comparing that vector against a database of vectors. Identification can be performed for copies of sound recordings that have been subjected to compression and other manipulation such that they are not exact replicas of the original. Computational efficiency permits many hundreds of queries to be serviced at the same time. The vectors may be less than 100 bytes, so that many millions of vectors can be stored on a portable device.
US07881928B2
Techniques for enhanced linguistic transformation are disclosed. For example, a method of linguistic transformation includes the steps of providing at least one input to a plurality of modules, wherein at least one module has a different configuration than at least another module, obtaining at least one output from each of at least a subset of the plurality of modules, and generating a set of distinct outputs. The input and the output include linguistic representations and at least a portion of the output is a result of applying one or more linguistic transformations to at least a portion of the input.Techniques for displaying a plurality of results so as to emphasize component-level differences are also disclosed. By way of example, a method of displaying a plurality of results includes the steps of determining at least one primary result within the plurality of results; displaying the at least one primary result with at least a first set of color attributes; and displaying at least one alternative result with at least a second set of color attributes. Each result represents an application of at least one linguistic transformation to a common input and each result comprises a plurality of components.
US07881924B2
The present invention is a system and method for computer analysis of computer generated communications to produce indications and warnings of dangerous behavior. A method of computer analysis of computer generated communications in accordance with the invention, includes collecting at least one computer generated communication produced by or received by an author; parsing the collected at least one computer generated communication to identify categories of information therein; processing the categories of information with at least one analysis to quantify at least one type of information in each category; and generating an output communication when a difference between the quantification of at least one type of information for at least one category and a reference for the at least one category is detected involving a psychological state of the author to which a responsive action should be taken with content of the output communication and the at least one category being programmable to define a psychological state in response to which an action should be taken and what the action is to be taken in response to the defined psychological state.
US07881922B2
A communication device comprises processing means, storage means for storing a database of language components, display means and user interface means. The processing means is arranged to determine at least one qualifier, to access the database, and to select at least one language component according to the at least one determined qualifier, and the display means is arranged to display the at least selected language component. A user can select a displayed language component, and this can be outputted as an audio or wireless signal.
US07881913B2
A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial data storage device, and a processor cooperating with the geospatial data storage device for selectively inpainting data into at least one void in geospatial model data using a partial differential equation (PDE) algorithm and an exemplar algorithm.
US07881894B2
One delay circuit is inserted in open loop inside a clock recovery circuit for improving the accuracy of clock recovery. One oscillator signal φ(0) to φ(2i−1) is provided with a basic Step of Time. A rational number of Step of Time corresponding to a bit-duration is measured inside a received flow of bits. The oscillator signal φ(0) to j(2i−1) is transformed into a clock signal CK having active edges of said clock signal in phase with at least one oscillator signal φ(0) to φ(2i−1), two consecutive active edges being separated by a time duration proportional to the integer part of the number of Step of Time. A time delay is computed proportional to the fractional part of the number of Step of Time. The next active edge of the clock signal CK is delayed of said computed delay.
US07881891B2
A system and method for optimizing and implementing a metrology sampling plan. A system is provided that includes a system for collecting historical metrology data from a metrology tool; and a reduction analysis system that compares an initial capability calculated from the historical metrology data with a recalculated capability for a reduced data set, wherein the reduced data set is obtained by removing a subset of data from the historical metrology data.
US07881888B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining location of faults in a wind power plant comprising a first plurality of wind turbines arranged in n groups, each group comprising mn wind turbines electrically arranged in series, each of the wind turbines having a fault detector and a timing device for recording a time of fault occurrence, all groups electrically connected via a bus bar. The method may comprise the steps of detecting a fault, obtaining a status indicator from each of the fault detectors and timing devices, evaluating time of fault occurrence for two wind turbines in each of the n groups to determine if the fault have occurred inside a group, evaluating if a fault is registered in the wind turbine closest to the bus bar in each group. Further the present invention relates to a wind park.
US07881877B2
Techniques for determining effects on a biological system include determining rate constants for a particular time interval starting at an initial time. Each rate constant indicates a rate of transition from one of four states to a different one of the four states for a component of a biological system in presence of an external factor. A temporal change in a probability that the component is in a particular state after the initial time is determined without numerical iteration over multiple time steps. This includes determining three relaxation time constants that describe exponential changes based on the rate constants. The effect of the external factor on the biological system is determined based on the temporal change in the probability that the component is in the particular state. The probability at an arbitrary time is determined based on the rate constants and initial probabilities.
US07881864B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide navigation devices (10) and methods for receiving and/or forming geoblogs. The provided navigation devices (10) are generally operable to retrieve a geoblog utilizing the current geographic location of the device (10) and a user input, form a geoblog utilizing the current geographic location of the device (10) and selected pre-defined comment, and/or automatically title a geoblog utilizing a current geographic location of the device (10). Such configurations and variations thereof enable users to easily share information related to a geographic location.
US07881855B2
A method and control unit for metering fuel into at least one combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one pilot injection and one main injection per combustion cycle, combustion features being detected and an effect of a fuel quantity injected prior to the main injection being ascertained from the combustion features. An actual value of a combined effect of at least two pilot injections per combustion cycle is ascertained and the actual value is regulated to a setpoint value via an intervention on at least one of the pilot injections.
US07881854B2
The invention relates to a method of control of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one electrically controlled inlet valve.To reduce hydrocarbon emissions by the cold engine, the opening of the valve is controlled in two successive phases (32, 34), the first phase (32) corresponding principally with the admission of fuel and the second phase (34) mainly corresponding with the air inlet. The opening of the valve is substantially lower during the first phase than during the second phase in order to pulverize the fuel into fine droplets during the first phase.
US07881849B2
In an electric parking brake system, the moving force-based target tension is set based on the inclination angle of a vehicle and the shift position, and the slack compensation amount is determined based on the inclination angle of the vehicle and the shift position. The control target tension is set to a smaller value from among the slack-based target tension, which is the sum of the moving force-based target tension and the slack compensation amount, and the maximum value of the output power that can be produced by an electric motor. The electric motor is controlled such that the tension of the cable matches the control target tension (the slack-based target tension, in most cases).
US07881848B2
A lane departure prevention apparatus includes a control section configured to carry out a lane departure prevention control to prevent a vehicle from departing from a lane, and to finish the lane departure prevention control by using a predetermined finish parameter; a vehicle-state detecting section configured to detect a state of vehicle at least when or after the lane departure prevention control is started; and a control finish-parameter correcting section configured to correct the predetermined finish parameter on the basis of the vehicle state detected by the vehicle-state detecting section.
US07881834B2
The present invention essentially concerns a method for a motor vehicle speed ratio shift. Said method uses a power transmission device (1.1) comprising a traction chain consisting of a heat engine (2), a clutch (3), an electrical machine (4), a gearbox (5), and wheels (6). The invention is characterized in that, upon shifting, the heat engine (2) is started before, during or after the torque (CMEL) observable on the shaft (11) of the electrical machine (4) is canceled, by means of a starter system (7) mechanically independent of the electrical machine (4).
US07881830B2
Nonlinear functions (table and map) of a temperature estimation model are corrected based on outputs from a temperature sensor. An electronic control system calculates, for a plant model constructed to calculate an estimated temperature value of the plant, an estimated temperature value using a correlation model between a first parameter regarding the plant and a second parameter regarding the plant model. This control system controls the temperature of the plant based on the calculated estimated temperature value of the plant. The control system also defines a plurality of functions (Wi) in a range of a plurality of the first parameters for the correlation model, calculates correction coefficients (Kli, Kci) that adjust the height of the plurality of functions based on the output of the temperature sensor and the calculated estimated temperature value of the plant, and corrects the correlation model by the plurality of functions (Wi) and correction coefficients (Kli, Kci).
US07881817B2
A method for processing an audio signal, comprising the steps of extracting an ancillary signal for generating the audio signal and an extension signal included in the ancillary signal from a received bit stream, reading length information for the extension signal, skipping decoding of the extension signal or not using a result of the decoding based on the length information, and generating the audio signal using the ancillary signal. Accordingly, in case of processing the audio signal by the present invention, it is able to reduce a corresponding load of operation to enable efficient processing and enhance a sound quality.
US07881815B2
A method and system for process control. The control system can be operably coupled to a processing system. The control system can include control devices operably coupled to the processing system; a modeling module to provide a linear model based at least in part on the processing system; a computational module to provide controller algorithms associated with the control devices; a user interface module to present at a user interface controller information based at least in part on the linear model and the controller algorithms; and a separate coordination module for establishing communication between the modeling module, the computational module and the user interface module. One or more control signals can be provided to at least one of the control devices for controlling the processing system. In one embodiment, the modeling module can generate the linear model from a non-linear process.
US07881814B2
A method for modeling an excitation system for a synchronous electrical power generator including: selecting a standard mathematical excitation system model from a plurality of standard excitation system models stored electronically; wherein the selected standard model is selected based on a similarity to the excitation system and can be an IEEE standard model; collecting data from the excitation system; determining parameter settings for the selected standard model using first pre-calculated and then collected (measured) data; verifying the selected standard model with tailored parameter settings by comparing an output of the model to a corresponding output of the excitation system; storing electronically the verified selected standard model with tailored settings; generating a report of the verified selected standard model with the tailored settings; performing rapidly and automatically model generation from a maintenance computer proximate to the excitation system; performing rapidly and automatically model generation without the need for system experts or extra equipment; and providing means to repeat test an operating excitation system at low cost and risk.
US07881811B2
An electrode assembly for use in a prosthetic hearing implant, the electrode assembly comprising: an elongate carrier member for implantation into the cochlea, the carrier member having a proximal end adapted to be positioned in a basal region of the cochlea, and a distal end adapted to be positioned in an apical region of the cochlea; and a plurality of electrodes disposed along a longitudinal surface of the carrier member, wherein the plurality of electrodes have a predetermined spacing to attain a desired flexibility along the length of the carrier member.
US07881810B1
A chamber or vasculature of a heart may be accessed via the pericardial space of the heart. Initially, the pericardial space may be accessed via a transmyocardial approach or a subxiphoid approach. A lead or other implantable apparatus may thus be routed into the pericardial space, through myocardial tissue and into the chamber or vasculature. The lead or other apparatus may be used to sense activity in or provide therapy to the heart.
US07881790B1
Hemodynamic signals, such as photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, pressure signals, and impedance signals, are sampled once per cyclical body cycle to reduce the amount of data, processing and/or power required to analyze the hemodynamic signals.
US07881786B2
A medical device capable of delivering automatic rate-adjusting pacing therapies is provided having an adjustable upper rate limit responsive to an indication of myocardial irritability. The device, which may be embodied as a pacemaker, a pacemaker/cardioverter/defibrillator, or the like, responds to the detection of an arrhythmia as an indicator of myocardial irritability by adjusting an upper rate limit. The adjusted upper rate limit is applied as the maximum allowable pacing rate during delivery of any pacing therapies previously defined as “long-term” pacing therapies.
US07881783B2
An implantable medical electrode lead for stimulation of bodily tissue. The lead is adapted for use with a needle lumen diameter of not greater than 0.05 inch, and includes a lead body and a tine assembly. The lead body has a distal section forming at least one exposed electrode surface. The tine assembly includes a plurality of tines each having a base end coupled to an exterior of the lead body immediately adjacent the exposed electrode surface and a free end that is movable relative to the lead body to inhibit axial migration of the lead body upon implantation into a patient. In one embodiment, the lead body is a PNE lead and provides two electrode surfaces for bipolar operation.
US07881780B2
A system and method for a biological interface system that processes multicellular signals of a patient and controls one or more devices is disclosed. The system includes a sensor that detects the multicellular signals and a processing unit for producing the control signal based on the multicellular signals. The system further includes an automated configuration routine that is used to set or modify the value of one or more system configuration parameters.
US07881772B2
Some embodiments include transmission of a pulse to imaging elements in order to read an image frame from the imaging elements, prior to exposure of the imaging elements to radiation that is to be converted to and captured as image data, wherein the pulse is transmitted so that the image frame is read and the imaging elements become ready to capture image data associated with the radiation substantially immediately before the imaging elements are exposed to the radiation. Embodiments may also include transmission of a second pulse to the imaging elements in order to read a second image frame from the imaging elements, wherein the second pulse is transmitted at a predetermined time after the exposure of the imaging elements to the radiation is complete, wherein one of the imaging elements produces second radiation after the exposure of the imaging elements to the radiation is complete, and wherein the predetermined time is a time suitable to substantially capture image data associated with the second radiation.
US07881771B2
A bone reposition device includes first and second bone supports for supporting first and second portions of a fracture or osteotomize bone about a fracture or osteotomize site, a plurality of sequentially connected connection members and a plurality of joints each with at least a pair of adjacent parts for connecting the connection members therebetween and to the first and second bone supports. The plurality of joints includes at least six joints, each of which possesses one degree of freedom and allows controllable relative rotation or translation of said pair of adjacent parts about one of three axes respectively.
US07881767B2
System for registering a first image with a second image, the system including a first medical positioning system for detecting a first position and orientation of the body of a patient, a second medical positioning system for detecting a second position and orientation of the body, and a registering module coupled with a second imager and with the second medical positioning system, the first medical positioning system being associated with and coupled with a first imager, the first imager acquiring the first image from the body, the first imager producing the first image by associating the first image with the first position and orientation, the second medical positioning system being associated with and coupled with the second imager, the second imager acquiring the second image and associating the second image with the second position and orientation, the registering module registering the first image with the second image, according to the first position and orientation and the second position and orientation.
US07881759B2
Loudspeaker sounds in a communications handset may be amplified in predetermined frequency ranges through positioning the loudspeaker between ported and unported spaces. In one embodiment, an empty volume of space disposed in front of the loudspeaker is included to shape the frequency response of the loudspeaker. A port connecting this volume of space to the environment may be located at a longitudinal end of the handset. In one embodiment, the port may pass through a space formed by an antenna loop. An additional empty volume of space may be disposed behind the loudspeaker to further shape the frequency response of the loudspeaker.
US07881749B2
A mobile communication device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment comprises a transceiver, a motion sensor, and logic. The transceiver is configured to communicate wireless signals. The logic is configured to perform a comparison of data from the motion sensor to data indicative of an expected flight path of the mobile communication device and to control an activation state of at least one component based on the comparison.
US07881748B2
A system that provisions a multimode mobile or converged device with local time information and network provider identification when the multimode mobile device is operating within the purview of a wireless local area network (WLAN). The system includes components that receive protocol data and that extract network provider identification from the received protocol data as well as utilizing the received protocol data to ascertain the local time.
US07881746B2
An integrated circuit includes a first wireless interface circuit that transceives first packetized data between a host module and a first external device in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol, wherein the first wireless interface circuit includes a first processing module that processes the first packetized data. A second wireless interface circuit, coupled to the first wireless interface device, transceives second packetized data between the host module and a second external device in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol, wherein the second wireless interface circuit includes a second processing module that processes the second packetized data, wherein the second wireless interface circuit is operable to assign a first processing task to the first processing module and wherein the first processing task relates to the processing of the second packetized data.
US07881745B1
Disclosed herein is a network for managing one of a firmware update service option and a software update service option in electronic devices such as, for example, a mobile handset. The network is capable of determining whether a mobile handset is capable of facilitating firmware updates based upon, for example, firmware update service options (FUSO) and associated FUSO numbers. When a new mobile phone is used for the first time in the electronic device network, an OTAPA process may be employed not only to program number assignment module parameters but also for initiating one of a firmware or software update or for setting flags and parameters that facilitate subsequent firmware or software updates. A mobile handset, may periodically or as necessary, communicate ability to update firmware and/or software to the electronic device network.
US07881742B2
Techniques for performing power control during discontinuous transmission (DTX) operation are described. A UE transmits on the uplink during a transmission burst and receives TPC commands generated by a Node B based on the uplink transmission. The UE may receive two TPC commands at the end of the transmission burst that are not applied during the transmission burst. The UE saves and applies these two TPC commands in the next transmission burst. In one design, the UE applies each saved TPC command in one slot of the next transmission burst. In another design, the UE combines the two saved TPC commands and applies the combined value in the first two slots of the next transmission burst. In yet another design, the UE selects one of the saved TPC commands and applies the selected TPC command in the first two slots of the next transmission burst.
US07881738B2
Systems and methods for reducing latency in a group communication system including transmitting an access probe; establishing predetermined criteria relating to communication parameters; and setting a retransmission timeout value at a communication device based upon the predetermined criteria, wherein the retransmission timeout value is an amount of time the communication device waits for an acknowledgment following the transmission of the access probe before it initiates retransmission of the access probe.
US07881731B2
A method for providing triggered location information of a target terminal is provided. The method includes transmitting by a previous H-SLP a report message informing that a target terminal is in a roaming state during the triggered location service to an H-SLP of the target terminal or the target terminal. The H-SLP of the target terminal selects a new V-SLP based on a location identifier (LID) received from the target terminal, and the H-SLP provides the V-SLP with an ID of the target terminal, a positioning method of the target terminal (SET CAPABLITY), and the LID as the information on the network in which the target terminal currently exists. The newly selected V-SLP determines the positioning method and protocol used for the positioning with the target terminal by using the SET CAPABILITY, the newly selected V-SLP transmits its own IP address and the newly determined positioning method and protocol (POSMETHOD) to the H-SLP. The H-SLP transmits the IP address of the newly selected H-SLP and the new POSMETHOD to the target terminal, the target terminal transmits a positioning inducing message to the new V-SLP and calculates a location value by using the determined POSMETHOD, in such a manner that the triggered location service is maintained even though the target terminal is in a roaming state during the service by performing the step of selecting the H-SLP for calculating the location value of the target terminal without interruption.
US07881724B2
Transmitting information using a preamble of a Random Access Channel (RACH) in an Evolved Universal mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) is provided. A preamble transmission is used to inform a base station of specific information when a terminal uses a RACH and the base station efficiently allocates radio resources for data transmission to the terminal according to the specific information. Delay time before the terminal transmits data is reduced and unnecessary consumption of radio resources is minimized.
US07881723B2
Disclosed are a method for automatically controlling volume so that sending volume and receiving volume are equal in accordance with a communication network accessed at a communication terminal, and an apparatus for performing the method. The present invention receives communication information from an accessed base station in a mobile communication terminal and automatically adjusts volume to make sending volume and receiving volume equal in accordance with the received communication information. Accordingly, a user does not need to do anything to control volume.
US07881720B2
A radio planning method and apparatus for determining the setting scheme of base stations in an indoor environment is provided. A radio signal propagation model is generated including a theoretical attenuation part and an environment affecting part. Through on-site measurements, a site radio signal propagation characteristics database is constructed combining the indoor radio signal propagation model and on-site measurement results. Based on the environment-dependent database, a radio signal map representing the radio signal distribution to be generated in the site in the case of placing any type of base station in any position is generated, using the indoor radio signal propagation model. By applying a signal-to-quality mapping, the distribution of a specific quality metric for any base station is obtained. Thus, by inputting different base station parameters, respective radio signal maps can be generated to optimize positioning of base stations.
US07881705B2
There is provided a mobile communication terminal including an information storage unit having registered therein a plurality of registration names and position specification information data with which at least a position can be specified which are correlated respectively; an instruction input unit for acquiring instruction input from a user; an information extraction unit for extracting position specification information required for receiving a desired information service; an information communication unit for transmitting the position specification information extracted by the information extraction unit to an information service provider side; an information presentation unit for presenting information in a form which can be recognized by the user; and a received information presentation control unit for causing the information presentation unit to present the information returned from the information service provider side and received by the information reception unit.
US07881702B2
A system includes a personal wireless mobile communication device that is configured to transmit a short-range wireless signal. The short-range wireless signal is processed by a server, and the server executes an action based on the short-range wireless signal. In an embodiment, the action executed by the server is the creation of an Interactive session on a display unit as a function of the short-range wireless signal.
US07881701B2
A system for verifying and updating a telephone number. After dialing a telephone number, a contact name and a timestamp in a service provider database is compared with a contact name and a timestamp in a storage device. If the contact name in the service provider database does not match the contact name in the storage device and the timestamp in the service provider database is not more recent than the timestamp in the storage device, a determination is made as to whether the service provider database indicates that a new telephone number is associated with the contact name. If a new telephone number is indicated for the contact name, the service provider database is queried for the new telephone number and the dialed telephone number is routed to the new telephone number. Also, the storage device is updated with the new telephone number.
US07881699B2
Systems and methods subscriber profile management to facilitate seamless roaming of mobile devices from one network to another. A subscriber profile management system is provided that includes a time to live (“TTL”) generator that generates a TTL limit for a subscriber based on usage characteristics of the subscriber. The subscriber profile management system further includes an administration module that administers TTL limits, TTL limit database that store TTL limits, a subscriber profile database that stores subscriber profiles, a usage measurement database that stores usage measurements, and a TTL limit reference module that administers TTLs when a subscriber profile and TTL limit are transmitted. The invention further includes a series of methods that support seamless roaming capabilities of a subscriber throughout visited networks without the need to continually make proxy calls to re-authenticate a subscriber.
US07881691B2
A direct conversion method is disclosed. The method comprises: amplifying the input signal to generate an amplified signal; down-converting the amplified signal into two intermediate signals using a first set of ternary signals and a second set of ternary signals, respectively; filtering the first intermediate signal to generate a third intermediate signal; filtering the second intermediate signal to generate a fourth intermediate signal; digitizing the third intermediate signal into a first output signal in accordance with a first clock; digitizing the fourth intermediate signal into a second output signal in accordance with the first clock; and generating the first set of ternary signals and the second set of ternary signals based on a second clock.
US07881687B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for removing a Radio Frequency (RF) Direct Current (DC) offset in a signal. The method includes: subtracting a canceling DC from a signal carrying an RF DC offset and generating an RF DC offset residual; outputting the signal when the RF DC offset residual in the signal is zero; adjusting the canceling DC according to the RF DC offset residual in the signal if the RF DC offset residual is not zero. The system includes a receiver, an RF DC offset canceling unit, a determining unit, a canceling DC adjusting unit, and an output unit. With embodiments of the present invention, the RF DC offset in the signal may be effectively removed.
US07881684B2
In a system for measuring a time difference of arrival of signals for positioning, an accurate time difference is measured by a receiver which is reduced in power consumption, size, and cost. The system comprises a node (under measurement) for transmitting a positioning signal, a reference station for transmitting a reference signal, and a plurality of access points for receiving the positioning signal and reference signal, and a server connected to the plurality of access points through a network. Each of the plurality of access points measures a time difference between the reception of the positioning signal and the reception of the reference signal, and a frequency deviation from the reference station, using a clock signal and a signal for shifting the clock signal, and the server calculates the position of the node based on the measured time difference and frequency deviation.
US07881681B2
A converting/steering device has a normal mode and a calibration mode. The converting/steering device includes a merged mixer/VGA and a mode controller. The merged mixer/VGA has a mixing stage and an amplifying stage. In the normal mode, the mode controller deactivates the mixing stage of the merged mixer/VGA, and the device operates as an RF VGA. In the calibration mode, the mode controller activates the mixing stage of the merged mixer/VGA and passes a local oscillator signal to the mixing stage, so that the device operates as a down-mixer.
US07881679B1
A phase locked loop and power amplifier are integrated on single chip. To eliminate cross-talk between the components, a frequency translation block is introduced to change the output frequency of the PLL. To isolate the components from unwanted feedback, a high isolation buffer is introduced between the components. To further isolate the components, the voltage supply domains for each component is physically separated. Each separate voltage supply domain can include a separate high isolation ring, separate voltage regulator, and separate bandgap reference.
US07881675B1
Improved electrical connector apparatus including a wireless transceiver is disclosed. The wireless transceiver is configured to pass signals between the terminals of the connector and an external device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a complementary wireless transceiver with a PC or other computerized device. In another embodiment, the connector comprises an RJ45 modular jack, and the wireless transceiver comprises a Bluetooth transceiver. In yet another embodiment, an 802.11 transceiver is used. In yet a further embodiment, an ultrawideband (UWB) interface is used.
US07881668B2
A receiving apparatus is for receiving radio signals including image information transmitted by a mobile transmitting device through a plurality of receiving antennas. The receiving apparatus includes a plurality of frequency converters for outputting modulated signals obtained by converting respective radio signal received through the plurality of receiving antennas by different modulation frequencies; a superposing unit for superposing each of the modulated signals generated by the plurality of frequency converters on a frequency axis; a cable with a single coaxial cable where each of the modulated signals superposed by the superposing unit is transmitted; and a receiving unit for demodulating each modulated signal input through the cable to receive and output the image information.
US07881666B2
A method of controlling location information of subscribers (210, 212, 222) in a wireless, ad-hoc communications network (200). The network (200) comprises a plurality of nodes (204, 216, 226), wherein at least portion of said nodes are provided with Home Location Registers (HLRs) (206, 218, 228) and each of said nodes (204, 216, 226) has a Visitor Location Register (VLR) (208, 220, 230). When an operation of a first node (216) is to be reconfigured at least a part of records from a first HLR (218) assigned to said first node (216) are transferred to at least one of the other nodes (226) of the network (200).
US07881664B2
The present invention comprises a docking system for connecting a portable communication device to a further signal transmission line. The docking system may be arranged within a workstation such as a desk or a tray. The system may also envelope a room in a building or be located in a vehicle, to control and restrict the radiative emission from the communication device and to direct such radiation to a further remote antenna and or signal distribution system connected to the transmission line.
US07881658B2
A method and system for entertainment and information services delivered via mobile telecommunication devices include a communication network, and a station communicatively linked to the communication network. The station includes an output and an interface. Also included is a head-end having at least one database configured to store programs including an audio content. The head-end receives a request from the station for a desired one of the programs, verifies the request, transmits a first portion of the desired program to the station, and records an association between the identification and the desired program. The head-end further suspends transmission of a second portion of the program based upon detection of an indication to suspend transmission. The head-end further transmits the second portion of the program based upon detection of an indication to resume transmission and stored bookmark data indicating the starting location in the program of the second portion.
US07881657B2
A method and system of performing high-throughput identifications of broadcast content is provided. A device can send a content identification query, which includes a sample of content being broadcast, to a server to request an identity of the content. The server will perform a computational identification of the content, return the result to the device, and store the result. For all subsequently received content identification queries requesting an identity of content being broadcast from the same source and in a time during which the content is still being broadcast from the source, the server will send the stored content identification in response to the subsequent queries. If a subsequent content identification query does not request the identity of content being broadcast from the same source or is not received during the time that the content is still being broadcast, the server will perform a computational identification of a content sample.
US07881644B2
A developing device includes: a developer carrier that carries toner thereon; a toner supply member that supplies toner to the developer carrier; a development chamber having the developer carrier and the toner supply member; a replaceable toner cartridge that supplies toner to the development chamber and collects toner from the development chamber; and a contact member that is in contact with the toner supply member to form a nip portion. At the time of replacement to the toner cartridge that contains new toner therein, the new toner is supplied from the toner cartridge into the development chamber and is made to pass through a nip portion between the toner supply member and the contact member within the development chamber, and then nip-passed toner is collected from the development chamber into the toner cartridge.
US07881642B2
This is a thumper assembly that is positioned in a developer station of a xerographic marking system. A waste container connected to a drop tube collects waste developer from this station. A magnet prevents magnetic developer from moving through the tube when the container is removed. Once a new container is installed, the magnet is moved away from the tube thereby allowing magnetic developer lodged therein to again move through the tube. A thumper is moved striking the tube to further dislodge developer and allow this developer to move through the tube into the waste container.
US07881637B2
Aspects of this disclosure describe a multi-pass printer having a photoreceptor device mounted on an axis, a developer that is arranged adjacent to the photoreceptor device and is movable between a first position and a second position, and a camming mechanism mounted on the axis that acts upon the developer to urge the developer between the first and second positions. The camming mechanism can further include a camming disc that is mounted to rotate about the axis. The camming disc can also have an outer periphery edge having a first portion defined by a first radius and a second portion defined by a second radius. The camming mechanism can also have a developer roll spacing cam having an effective radius that maintains a spacing between the developer and the photoreceptor device.
US07881630B2
The present invention carries out temperature detection and temperature control accurately in a temperature control device using a noncontact-type temperature detecting section. The temperature control device obtains the surface temperature of a fixing roller by using a temperature correspondence table in which correspondences between output voltage values of a main NTC thermistor which detects heat generated by infrared radiation from the fixing roller and the surface temperatures of the fixing roller are shown for respective output voltage values of a compensation NTC thermistor. Here, the output voltage values of the main NTC thermistor and the output voltage values of the compensation NTC thermistor are set in the temperature correspondence table so that an interval between adjacent values of the compensation temperatures corresponding to the output voltage values of the compensation NTC thermistor is smaller than an interval between adjacent values of the surface temperatures of the fixing roller which temperatures correspond to the output values of the main NTC thermistor.
US07881622B2
An image forming apparatus includes a feeding portion, an image forming portion, a discharge portion, a paper transport path, a plurality of detection members, and a control portion. The image forming portion forms images on sheets of paper fed from the feeding portion. The path transports paper from the feeding portion to the discharge portion via the image forming portion. The detection members detect transport state of paper at respective locations on the path including the feeding portion, between the feeding and image forming portions, within the image forming portion, between the image forming and discharge portions, and the discharge portion. Upon detection of paper jam at any of the locations, the control portion displays, on an indicator, information identifying a location where the jam has occurred, and the image forming portion where paper is detected by the detection members, as locations of paper to be eliminated from the path.
US07881621B2
An optical transmitter for generating a modulated optical signal for transmission over a fiber optic link to a remote receiver including a laser; an input coupled to the laser for directly amplitude modulating the laser with an RF signal to produce an optical signal including an amplitude modulated information-containing component; and a phase modulator coupled to the output of the laser for reducing or canceling the noise signals generated in the laser.
US07881618B2
System and method for m-ary phase shifting keying modulation. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for performing m-ary phase-keying shift modulation. The method includes providing at least a first signal and a second signal by a signal source. The first signal and the second signal are characterized by a first signal strength level. The method also includes attenuating the second signal to provide a third signal. The second signal are characterized by a second signal strength level which is at approximate 50% of the first signal strength level. The method additionally includes coupling the first signal to a first bias voltage to provide a fourth signal. Furthermore, the method includes coupling the third signal to a second bias voltage to provide a fifth signal. The method also includes a step for providing a sixth signal by combing the fourth signal and the fifth signal.
US07881609B2
A ranging signal R1 generated by a signal generator and reaches to a signal checker via a working system transmission line, a loop circuit, and an auxiliary system transmission line. The signal checker measures a delay time from the generation to the arrival of the signal R1. A ranging signal R2 generated by the signal generator and reaches to a signal checker via an auxiliary system transmission line, a loop circuit, and an auxiliary system transmission line. The signal checker measures a delay time from the generation to the arrival of the signal R12. A delay time of the working system transmission line is calculated from the delay times of the signals R1 and R2. Disruption of the services provided by the other ONUs can be prevented since the working system transmission line is not used for upstream communication of the ranging signals R1 and R2.
US07881598B1
An anti-shake auto-focus modular structure includes an image sensor, an auto-focus module for driving a lens to focus captured image on the image sensor; a plurality of suspension wires for suspending the auto-focus module at a position perpendicular to a light entering direction (z-axis), so that the auto-focus module is movable in an x-axis or a y-axis direction; a deviation compensation magnet assembly including at least one x-axis magnet and at least one y-axis magnet; a deviation compensation assembly including at least one x-axis driving winding and at least one y-axis driving winding corresponding to the x-axis magnet and the y-axis magnet, respectively, for producing an electromagnetic field each to drive the x-axis or the y-axis magnet and accordingly the auto-focus module to move in the x-axis or the y-axis direction for compensating a positional deviation of the auto-focus module in the x-axis or the y-axis direction.
US07881594B2
An integrated semiconductor heating assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, a chamber formed therein, and an exit port in fluid communication with the chamber, allowing fluid to exit the chamber in response to heating the chamber. The integrated heating assembly includes a first heating element adjacent the chamber, which can generate heat above a selected threshold and bias fluid in the chamber toward the exit port. A second heating element is positioned adjacent the exit port to generate heat above a selected threshold, facilitating movement of the fluid through the exit port away from the chamber. Addition of the second heating element reduces the amount of heat emitted per heating element and minimizes thickness of a heat absorption material toward an open end of the exit port. Since such material is expensive, this reduces the manufacturing cost and retail price of the assembly while improving efficiency and longevity thereof.
US07881591B2
The information recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a reproduction period list reader for reading out a reproduction period list from a recording medium; a specific-time skipping device that skips a reading-out position of information from the recording medium over a prescribed time; and a reproduction period list modifier that deletes a skip period from a reproduction period in a reproduction period list using a skip start point and a skip end point in the reproduction period list that is read out by the reproduction period list reader when specific-time skip is carried out by the specific-time skipping device during reproduction of the information from the recording medium.
US07881589B2
When playing an AV Clip recorded on a BD-ROM, a judgment is made, for each elementary stream, which of a plurality of predetermined conditions the elementary stream satisfies. The plurality of predetermined conditions include (a) a condition that a playback apparatus has a capability of playing the elementary stream, (b) a language attribute of the elementary stream matches a language setting of the playback apparatus, and (c) a channel attribute of the elementary stream is surround sound and the playback apparatus has a surround output capability. The playback apparatus assigns a priority to each elementary stream based on which conditions the elementary stream satisfies, selects an elementary stream having a highest priority, and plays the selected elementary stream.
US07881585B2
A digital video recorder-controller apparatus (DVRC) having a network port for transmitting and receiving digitized video signals and for controlling one or more other DVRCs, and/or digital video recorders (DVRs, e.g., DVRCs operating in slave-mode). A digital video system including a networked DVRC having cameras and a networked DVR having cameras. The DVR may be remote from the DVRC, yet video signals from the cameras of the both the DVR and the DVRC can be selected, viewed, and/or recorded at the DVRC's location. A method for expanding a digital video system including providing at least one DVRC.
US07881582B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are disclosed for slowing display of digital video that include receiving in a video display device a digital video stream for display, identifying by the video display device a digital video clip of the digital video stream, the digital video clip comprising consecutive frames characterized by a same digital video text for display, pausing on the display at least one frame of the digital video clip for a pause period.
US07881578B2
Techniques for ultra-high density connection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultra-high density connector includes a bundle of substantially parallel elongate cylindrical elements, where each cylindrical element is substantially in contact with at least one adjacent cylindrical element. Ends of the elongate cylindrical elements are disposed differentially with respect to each other to define a three-dimensional interdigitating mating surface. At least one of the elongate cylindrical elements has an electrically conductive contact positioned to tangentially engage a corresponding electrical contact of a mating connector.
US07881575B2
A low-loss optical interconnect is disclosed and may include an optical interconnect system with narrow and wide waveguides joining optical devices. The system may also comprise mode converters and waveguide bends. The waveguides may be made of silicon. Other exemplary aspects of the invention may comprise a continuous optical bend, whose radius of curvature at its endpoints is infinity and at its internal points is finite. The bend may be made of silicon. The width of the bend may vary along the bend. The system may comprise narrow and wide waveguides and a continuous bend.
US07881563B2
The specification and drawings present a new method system, apparatus and software product for correcting a geometrical distortion of an image using a hybrid interpolation technique by a digital image processor. After calculating corrected coordinates of the pixels in the image, the interpolation of color components of the pixels can be performed by using the corrected coordinates, wherein at least one color component is interpolated using a quality which is different from quality interpolators used for other color components.
US07881556B2
A method of image processing and a device thereof are provided in the present invention. First, an image having a plurality of regions is received, wherein each region comprises a plurality of pixels. A contrast process is performed on each region and a respective local curve of each region is analyzed, wherein the local curve is a corresponding relation between the gray-level values of the pixels in each region before and after the contrast process. Next, the gray-level value of one of the pixels in a boundary between one of the regions and the neighboring region is adjusted according to the respective local curves of the one of the regions and the neighboring region. The local contrast process towards to each region is performed for enhancing the image. Therefore, not only can the features be obvious, but the non-uniform area in the boundary between the regions also can be smoothed.
US07881552B1
An anti-flicker filter is described, including determining a video sequence based on designated portion of a video, selecting a plurality of video elements from the video sequence, calculating an individualized filter for each video element of the plurality of video elements based on motion in each video element, and applying the individualized filter to each video element of the plurality of video elements.
US07881544B2
Prediction-based compression engines are spoon-fed with sequentially efficiently compressible (SEC) streams of input data that make it possible for the compression engines to more efficiently compress or otherwise compact the incoming data than would be possible with streams of input data accepted on a TV-raster scan basis. Various techniques are disclosed for intentionally forming SEC input data streams. Among these are the tight packing of alike files or fragments into concatenation suitcases and the decomposition of files into substantially predictably consistent (SPC) fragments or segments that are routed to different suitcases according to their type. In a graphics-directed embodiment, image frames are partitioned into segment areas that are internally SPC and multidirectional walks (i.e., U-turning walks) are defined in the segment areas where these defined walks are traced during compression and also during decompression. A variety of pre-compression data transformation methods are disclosed for causing apparently random data sequences to appear more compressibly alike to each other. The methods are usable in systems that permit substantially longer times for data compaction operations than for data decompaction operations.
US07881543B2
A high-frequency integrating circuit 32 detects characteristics of horizontal high-frequency components and vertical high-frequency components of the image formed by a processing-target image signal. Based on the detection result, a CPU 61 obtains the number of bits of the after-compression-coding data of the image signal, and calculates the compression rate dependent upon the number of bits. The CPU 61 controls an image codec 36 so that the processing-target image signal is compression-coded through only one time of compression coding processing by use of the calculated compression rate. This configuration allows the image compression processing (compression coding) to be rapidly executed with high accuracy.
US07881542B2
A coding apparatus that can have a plurality of macro blocks processed concurrently. The apparatus includes a plurality of macro block processing sections for coding moving picture data concurrently on a macro block by macro block basis, and a state management section for managing the state of processing of each macro block in a single picture. The state management section being adapted to manage each macro block in a single picture in terms of being in a process completed state.
US07881541B2
A coding apparatus that can have a plurality of macro blocks processed concurrently macro blocks. The apparatus includes a plurality of macro block processing sections for coding moving picture data concurrently on a macro block by macro block basis, each macro block processing section being adapted to select a position or a region out of a plurality of regions produced by dividing a picture by a predetermined number of rows, detect a processable macro block by sequentially retrieving the macro blocks of the selected region according to a predetermined scanning sequence and code the detected processable macro block.
US07881531B2
The present invention comprises using error propagation for building feature spaces with variable uncertainty and using variable-bandwidth mean shift for the analysis of such spaces, to provide peak detection and space partitioning. The invention applies these techniques to construct and analyze Hough spaces for line and geometrical shape detection, as well as to detect objects that are represented by peaks in the Hough space. This invention can be further used for background modeling by taking into account the uncertainty of the transformed image color and uncertainty of the motion flow. Furthermore, the invention can be used to segment video data in invariant spaces, by propagating the uncertainty from the original space and using the variable-bandwidth mean shift to detect peaks. The invention can be used in a variety of applications such as medical, surveillance, monitoring, automotive, augmented reality, and inspection.
US07881528B2
Faces are detected efficiently, while preventing deterioration of face detection accuracy due to brightness during photography or the type of illumination which is employed during photography. When an image is obtained by an imaging means, an illumination judging means judges whether the illumination employed during photography is provided tungsten light source. In the case that the illumination is provided by a tungsten light source, face detection is performed based on a red signal image. In the case that the illumination is not provided by a tungsten light source, face detection is performed based on a green signal image.
US07881527B2
Pixel data is stored in a data field corresponding to a pixel of an image. The data field includes an opacity bit, a first set of bits, and a second set of bits. If the opacity bit is set to an opaque-indicating state, then a color level value of a first component color of the pixel is stored in the first set of bits and a color level value of a second component color of the pixel is stored in the second set of bits. However, if the opacity bit is set to a transparency-indicating state, then a transparency level value is stored in at least one bit of each set, of the first and second sets, of bits and the respective color level value is stored in other bits of each set, of the first and second sets, of bits.
US07881524B2
A plurality of kinds of feature amounts are collected from image information and voice information on a person existing in a space, valid values of the collected feature amounts are calculated, feature amounts to be used for personal recognition are determined in the collected feature amounts on the basis of the calculated valid values, and personal recognition is performed by using the determined feature amounts.
US07881523B2
A mobile communication terminal including a memory unit configured to store images and control information indicating whether the images are to be displayed as two-dimensional images or three-dimensional images, a display unit configured to display the images, a barrier panel configured to generate a difference between a focus of first image incident on a user's right eye and a focus of a second image incident on the user's left eye, and a control unit configured to selectively activated or deactivated the barrier panel in accordance with the control information.
US07881520B2
The present invention relates to a defect inspection system which can perform inspection condition setting easily in a relatively short period of time, can examine the inspection condition setting even when there is no sample, and further can provide an inspection condition and a defect signal intensity to a person, who sets the inspection condition, to assist the inspection condition setting. In the defect inspection system, a defective image, which is an inspection image, and a reference image corresponding thereto and a mismatched portion of the defective image and the reference image are digitalized as a defect signal intensity and accumulated in association with the inspection condition, and the inspection conditions are changed to repeat evaluations while repeating accumulating works until the evaluation of all the inspection conditions in a set range is completed. After all the evaluations are completed, if there are a plurality of defects to be inspected, the work is repeated by times corresponding to the number of kinds of the defects and a recipe file including the accumulated conditions having the high defect signal intensity and an inspection condition item distribution as a inspection condition recipe is automatically outputted and is provided to the person who sets the inspection condition. And, appearance inspection for detecting a pattern defect or a foreign material defect on a substrate is performed.
US07881498B2
A system in a moving surveillance vehicle operates in background mode to capture images of license plates of neighboring moving vehicles, which may occupy lanes other than the lane in which the surveillance vehicle is moving. The images are used to determine the license plate numbers of the moving vehicles, which are then checked against a database to determine whether there are any potential law enforcement-related problems that require the attention of the operator. If so, the system alerts the operator using an audible tone, visual prompt, vibration, or in some other suitable manner. The entire process, including generation of the alert can occur autonomously of the operator.
US07881497B2
A method of controlling an autonomous vehicle with a vision-based navigation and guidance system. The method includes capturing image frames at a predetermined frame rate. Detecting image points that define an edge in each image frame. Using image points in each image frame to locate a determined edge. Dynamically predicting the location of image points that define an edge in a subsequent image frame. Using the prediction of the location of image points that define an edge to narrow the search area for the edge in the subsequent image frame. Determining offset distances between determined edges in sequential image frames and controlling the vehicle based at least in part on determined offset distances between determined edges in sequential image frames.
US07881494B2
A characteristic point detection method, including the steps of: detecting a candidate of each of a plurality of characteristic points of a predetermined object from a detection target image; obtaining an existence probability distribution for a target characteristic point with respect to each of the detected candidates of the other characteristic points, which is an existence probability distribution of the target characteristic point when the position of the detected candidate of another characteristic point is taken as a reference, using an existence probability distribution statistically obtained for each combination of two different characteristic points of the plurality of characteristic points; integrating the obtained existence probability distributions by weighting according to the positional relationship between the reference characteristic point and target characteristic point; and estimating the true point of the target characteristic point based on the magnitude of the existence probabilities in the integrated existence probability distribution thereof.
US07881481B2
Disclosed herein are an audio processing apparatus and method. In an embodiment, if a playing mode that abruptly changes the level of audio being played has been input, the data of the audio is processed to mitigate the abrupt change in the level of the audio and converted into analog signals, and the analog signals are output. In an embodiment, if a playing mode that causes a jump from the current track of the audio being played to another track is input, the audio data is divided by an exponential function of 2 before the jump to the another track is completed. In another embodiment, if a playing mode that rapidly moves a playing position to another location on the same track has been input, the audio data is divided by a specific exponential function, and is then multiplied by the exponential function after the playing mode has been completed.
US07881478B2
An access control method is described for an encrypted program transmitted by an operator to a plurality of groups of subscribers, where each group of subscribers has a group key KG, and each subscriber is able to receive from the operator an operating key KT, enciphered by the group key KG for decryption of the transmitted program. The method further involves linking the enciphered operating key KT to a random value R to generate a secret code, transmitting the secret code to subscribers prior to transmission of the encrypted program, and transmitting the random value R to subscribers for calculation of the operating key KT.
US07881472B2
In a quantum key distributing method of the present invention, a communication apparatus on a reception side performs error correction using parity check matrixes for an LDPC code that have an extremely high error correction ability. In the quantum key distributing method of the present invention, a cyclic code syndrome generated by a communication apparatus on a transmission side and an estimated cyclic code syndrome generated based on an estimated word after error correction are compared to perform error detection for the estimated word.
US07881471B2
Systems and methods for recording an encrypted contact center interaction.
US07881465B2
Circuit for calculating a logic combination of two encrypted input operands recieves first and second dual-rail signals comprising data values in a calculation cycle and precharge values in a precharge cycle, and receives a dual-rail encryption signal comprising encryption values in the calculation cycle and precharge values in the precharge cycle, and outputs a dual-rail result signal comprising encrypted result values in the calculation cycle and precharge values in the precharge cycle. The data and encrypted result values are encrypted with the encryption values of the dual-rail encryption signal according to an encryption rule. A logic circuit determines the encrypted result values according to the logic combination from the data and encryption values, and outputs the encrypted result values in the calculation cycle. A precharge circuit impresses precharge values when precharge values are sensed at a single input, or stops impressing the precharge values only when the first and second dual-rail signals comprise data values and the dual-rail encryption signal comprises encryption values.
US07881461B2
Transformer driven by data modulated signal provides isolated power. Outbound data is extracted from the data modulated signal received from the transformer. Inbound data received in isolated circuitry modulates the load presented to transformer. Inbound data perceived in non-isolated circuitry by sensing load experienced by the transformer.
US07881458B2
An xDSL modem having an adaptive hybrid termination impedance. The modem has a transformer with two cores, one connected to the modem's receiver and the other connected to the modem's transmitter. The two cores share an adjustable termination impedance. The modem determines which impedance setting to use, based on one or more measurements of channel loss, local echo power and received power from the far end transmitter, and the like.
US07881457B1
The invention is a compact embedded modem that meets global telephone standards with its interface constructed in a single-in-line form factor. The modem in single-in-line form factor, namely SIP modem, can be integrated into a host system through a single-in-line header socket. The SIP interface includes TIP and RING signals for connecting to a phone line, isolation spacers, ground pin, power pin, and digital signals for transferring data to and from the host. The digital interface can be configured to operate in serial connection or in parallel connection to the host, selectable by user.
US07881453B2
A call-handling system and its method of operation are disclosed. The call-handling system comprises a communication system and a call center. The communication system receives a call, and in response, transfers a query. The call center receives and processes the query to select a packet address of a call center resource at the call center. The call center transfers a response indicating the selected packet address of the call center resource. The communication system receives the response indicating the selected packet address of the call center resource and transfers the call to the call center in voice packets having the selected packet address of the call center resource. The call center receives the voice packets having the selected packet address of the call center resource and routes the voice packets to the call center resource based on the selected packet address.
US07881450B1
An answer on hold notification feature is provided. The answer on hold notification feature is activated when a call is waiting for servicing by a human agent. For example the feature may be activated when the call is placed on hold by the user of the first communication endpoint. By providing an answer on hold notification signal feature, a user can engage in a second call, or perform other tasks, without the risk of losing an opportunity to speak with a human agent as a result of attending to such other call or task.
US07881426B2
A method for generating an image of an object using a scanning system includes performing a first portion of a scan in a first scanning mode to acquire a first dataset, receiving a halt command for a conveyor within the scanning system, decelerating the conveyor to a halt based on the halt command using a conveyor controller, and, when the object is present within an examination region after the conveyor has halted, performing a second portion of the scan in a second scanning mode to acquire a second dataset. The second scanning mode is different than the first scanning mode. The method also includes reconstructing the first dataset using a first reconstruction algorithm and reconstructing the second dataset using a second reconstruction algorithm. The second reconstruction algorithm is different than the first reconstruction algorithm. The image is generated using the first reconstructed dataset and the second reconstructed dataset.
US07881423B2
An X-ray CT apparatus is adapted for switchover between a CT mode to obtain a tomographic image of a subject and a transmission mode to obtain a transmission image of the subject, depending upon projection data acquired in an imager system thereof. The apparatus includes an image-data storage device that stores image data of the subject in a three-dimensional region, a three-dimensional image processor that performs a three-dimensional image processing on the image data and generates three-dimensional image data, for display, corresponding to a line-of-sight direction inputted from an input device, and a transmission-image generator that generates the transmission image as to the image-taking direction, from data acquired in the imager system aligned by the CPU.
US07881415B2
The present invention is a noise tolerant communication protocol device and method where a clock signal input triggers an internal delay clock in an integrated circuit. Data is presented to an input pin and sampled prior to the next external clock pulse based on the internal delay clock. A data pulse value is distinguished by input signal voltage level and not by pulse length. Sampling of data bits is deferred until a signal level is most likely stable, thereby avoiding sampling during periods around edges of changing data values. Therefore, error detection and correction circuitry is not required. A time reference pulse, produced by a bus master, is measured by the protocol device to determine a data transmission rate by the master. The timing of sampling of input signaling from the master is determined by the protocol device from measurement of the time reference pulse magnitude.
US07881413B2
Phase locked loops (PLL) providing for conditional holdover are especially suited for use in communications networks. During a holdover condition, the timing signal is generated without use of an input reference clock signal. The PLLs may either enter or remain in a holdover condition if the demonstrated or expected quality level of the output of the PLL equals or exceeds the indicated quality level of the input reference clock signal. In this manner, the timing signal has an expected quality level equal to or greater than the quality level of the reference clock signal. Accordingly, network timing errors may be reduced to levels below those associated with using the reference clock signal.
US07881411B2
Automatic gain control (AGC) methods and apparatus that implement a dynamically variable AGC setpoint. The variable AGC setpoint can be determined based in part on the type of modulation used to convey information to the receiver. The AGC setpoint can be set higher than a nominal setpoint for higher order modulation types and can be lower than the nominal setpoint for low order modulation types. The manner in which gain is adjusted can also depend on the modulation type. The gains can be increased according to a front to back priority. The gains can be decreased in a priority that is based on the modulation type. For lower order modulation types, the gain controller can decrease gain according to a back to front priority. For higher order modulation types, the gain controller can maintain linearity of front end amplifiers prior to decreasing gain according to a back to front priority.
US07881404B2
A distortion correction control apparatus is for compensating for a burst distortion of a transmission amplifier caused by a burst of an input signal of a transmission target. The apparatus includes a generation unit that generates a distortion correction coefficient having reverse characteristics to the foregoing burst distortion; a unit that multiplies the distortion correction coefficient output from the generation unit by the input signal or adds the distortion correction coefficient output from the generation unit to the input signal, upon reception of burst information notifying of switching between presence and absence of the input signal; and an update unit that updates, based on the input signal and a branch signal fed back as an output signal of the transmission amplifier, parameters of functions used for adaptively generating the distortion correction coefficient, and that inputs the updated parameters to the generation unit.
US07881397B2
Methods and systems for modulating a signal are described. A phase-modulated signal that includes a sequence of contiguous one-cycle sinusoidal waveforms having a frequency above 50 MHz is generated. The phases of the one-cycle sinusoidal waveforms correspond to symbols of a message signal. A bandwidth of the phase-modulated signal is reduced using a bandpass filter centered at the frequency of the contiguous one-cycle sinusoidal waveforms. The phase-modulated signal is wirelessly transmitted.
US07881396B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting a preamble for frame synchronization and channel estimation in a MIMO-OFDM communication system are provided. An OFDM communication system using Q transmit antennas generates a base preamble sequence including a CP and an orthogonal sequence. If Q≦a predetermined number M, a preamble sequence for a kth antenna is S(t−(k−1)T/M). If Q>M and k≦M, the preamble sequence transmitted for the kth antenna is S(t−(k−1)T/M). If Q>M and k>M, the preamble sequence for the kth antenna is (−1)(PS-1)S(t−(k−M−1)T/M). Here, S(t) is the orthogonal sequence, T is the period of the orthogonal sequence, and PS is an index indicating a transmission period of the preamble sequence. The preamble sequences are at least twice transmitted from the Q transmit antennas.
US07881395B2
A method of transmitting data using a plurality of subcarriers in a multi-antenna wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes receiving feedback information from a mobile station (MS), performing channel encoding and modulation independently on user data to be transmitted by each antenna using the received feedback information, determining a phase shift-based precoding matrix for increasing a phase angle of the user data by a fixed amount, and performing precoding using the determined phase shift-based precoding matrix on the user data.
US07881391B2
Embodiments of an OFDM receiver and methods for decoding OFDM symbols of two or more data streams with reduced multiplication operations are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, one or more terms of a modified L2-squared-norm cost function are precomputed and stored for predetermined complex symbol values of one or more tones of OFDM symbols prior to performing a searching process. During the searching process, the cost function is computed using the precomputed terms and received data symbols using shifting and adding operations, rather than multiplication operations. In other embodiments, non-L2-squared-norm cost functions are used.
US07881381B2
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included.
US07881376B2
A motion compensation apparatus reduces the number of pixels for reading out pixel data from the multi-frame memory, and realizes the reduction of transmission and motion compensation in sub-pixel precision pixel generation, for efficient motion compensation pixel generation. The motion compensation apparatus includes a frame memory transmission control unit which, with regard to a plurality of motion compensation blocks, transmits reference pixels required in motion compensation collectively or on a per motion compensation block basis, from a multi-frame memory which stores a reference picture used in inter-picture motion compensation prediction, to a local reference memory.
US07881371B2
An improved method and block transform for image or video encoding and decoding, wherein transformation and inverse transformation matrixes are defined such that computational complexity is significantly reduced when encoding and decoding. For example, in the two-dimensional inverse transformation of de-quantized transform coefficients into output pixel information during decoding, only four additions plus one shift operation are needed, per co-efficient transformation, all in sixteen-bit arithmetic. Transformations provide correct results because quantization during encoding and de-quantization (sixteen bit) during decoding, via the use of one of three tables selected based on each coefficient's position, have parameter values that already compensate for factors of other transformation multiplications, except for those of a power of two, (e.g., two or one-half), which are performed by a shift operation during the transformation and inverse transformation processes. Computational complexity is significantly reduced with respect to other known transforms without adversely impacting compression or quality.
US07881366B2
In encoding of moving pictures, I-frame is inserted when a scene change occurs. If scene changes frequently occur in the range of a predetermined amount-of-information allocation, the amount of information allocated to an encoding process on I-frame becomes enlarged. Therefore, the amount of information cannot be sufficiently reserved for another coding, thereby considerably degrading the quality of an image. Thus, a scene change detection threshold is obtained depending on the remainder in the VBV buffer, the scene change detection threshold is compared with a scene change detection value for determination of the occurrence of a scene change, and it is determined whether or not a scene change has occurred based on the comparison result.
US07881355B2
Laser modules using two-dimensional laser diode arrays are combined to provide an intense laser beam. The laser diodes in a two-dimensional array are formed into rows and columns, and an optical assembly images light generated by laser diodes in a column into an optical fiber. The laser light outputs of the laser modules are combined by a spectral combiner into an optical fiber to form an intense laser beam.
US07881350B2
It is an object to provide a laser apparatus, a laser irradiating method and a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device that can perform uniform a process with a laser beam to an object uniformly. The present invention provides a laser apparatus comprising an optical system for sampling a part of a laser beam emitted from an oscillator, a sensor for generating an electric signal including fluctuation in energy of the laser beam as a data from the part of the laser beam, a means for performing signal processing to the electrical signal to grasp a state of the fluctuation in energy of the laser beam, and controlling a relative speed of an beam spot of the laser beam to an object in order to change in phase with the fluctuation in energy of the laser beam.
US07881341B2
A media controller is reconfigurable to handle different formats and types of data. In one embodiment, the invention includes a media access controller coupled to a higher layer to exchange data with the higher layer, a physical layer connector coupled to the media access controller to exchange data with the media access controller and having an external physical interface to exchange data with an external device, and a configuration block to reconfigure the media access controller based on the format of the data of the external device.
US07881339B2
Methods and apparatuses to selectively assign interlace preference factors to a plurality of user terminals to use a plurality of interlaces. These methods and apparatuses may improve capacity compared to a system that allows each user terminal to transmit data in every interlace.
US07881333B2
Systems and methods for selecting data rates at which to transmit data over a primary uplink in the presence of one or more secondary uplink channels. One embodiment comprises a method including determining probabilities associated with numbers of attempted transmissions of data, determining the number of times pending data transmissions have been attempted, determining probabilities associated with the data transmissions, and allocating power for transmission of the data in a succeeding frame based upon the associated probabilities. In one embodiment, a highest supportable data rate for a primary uplink is initially selected. Then, power is allocated for a minimum set of channels on the primary uplink. Then, power is allocated for pending data transmissions on the secondary uplink. A maximum power level for the transceiver is then adjusted to account for the allocated power, and the highest supportable data rate for the primary uplink is recomputed.
US07881327B2
Systems and techniques are disclosed relating to communications. The systems and techniques involve dividing a plurality of subscriber stations into a plurality of groups, assigning a different plurality of orthogonal codes to each of the groups, the number of the orthogonal codes assigned to one of the groups being less than the number of subscriber stations in said one of the groups, encoding communications to one of the subscriber stations in said one of the groups at a data rate, and determining whether to spread at least a portion of communications to said to one of the subscriber stations with one of the orthogonal codes assigned to said one of the groups as a function of the data rate.
US07881321B2
A multiprocessor computer system includes a first and second node controller, a number of processors being connected to each node controller, a memory connected to each node controller, a first input/output system connected to the first node controller, and a communications network connected between the node controllers. The first node controller includes: a crossbar unit to which are connected a memory port, an input/output port, a network port, and a plurality of independent processor ports. A first and a second processor port is connected between the crossbar unit and a first subset and a second subset, respectively, of the processors. The memory port includes a memory data port including a memory data bus and a memory address bus coupled to the first subset of memory chips, and a directory data port including a directory data bus and a directory address bus coupled to the second subset of memory chips.
US07881318B2
Architecture for maintaining connection state of network address translation (NAT) devices by employing an out-of-band (OOB) technique externally to application connections without imposing additional requirements on the underlying native application(s). The OOB solution can be applied to arbitrary connections without requiring modification to an application protocol and works with TCP and UDP. A keep-alive (KA) application is employed as an OOB mechanism that injects KA packets that appear to the NAT device to be coming from the native connection. These injected packets fool the NAT device into resetting the inactivity timer for that connection, but do not fool or confuse the native application, which is oblivious to the spoofing. Accordingly, the connection will not terminate due to NAT timeouts, and therefore, a client/server protocol, for example, will not need to generate fake activity packets to keep the connection alive.
US07881312B2
A network device includes a media gateway to receive and process a voice over digital subscriber line (VoDSL) communication to generate voice data in a predetermined format; a terminating unit to receive another type of voice communication and output voice data in the predetermined format; and a control unit to receive the generated voice data from the media gateway and the outputted voice data from the terminating unit, where the network device exchanges at least one of the VoDSL communication to the other type of voice communication or the other type of voice communication to the VoDSL communication.
US07881309B2
When a service is provided in a service stream between end devices controlling the service stream by using first protocol, there is also a need to control the service stream in the network via which the service stream is or is to be transmitted. The service stream is controlled in the network by utilizing first protocol messages which are separated (204) from other traffic transmitted in the network.
US07881303B2
In an embodiment, a node comprises a packet scheduler configured to schedule packets to be transmitted on a link and an interface circuit coupled to the packet scheduler and configured to transmit the packets on the link. The interface circuit is configured to generate error detection data covering the packets, wherein the error detection data is transmitted between packets on the link. The interface circuit is configured to cover up to N packets with one transmission of error detection data, where N is an integer >=2. The number of packets covered with one transmission of error detection data is determined by the interface circuit dependent on an availability of packets to transmit. In another embodiment, the interface circuit is configured to dynamically vary a frequency of transmission of the error detection data on the link based on an amount of bandwidth being consumed on the link.
US07881302B2
An apparatus and method for managing a Connection IDentifier (CID) in a communication system are provided. The method includes mapping a different index to at least one CID allocated by a base station (BS) and, if simultaneously transmitting packets for at least two CIDs, indexing a CID for packet transport by an index mapped to each CID and simultaneously transmitting packets for at least two CIDs.
US07881289B1
The present invention enables a capability for automatically porting the telephone number of the original VoIP endpoint device to the user's new VoIP endpoint device by re-associating the original telephone number with the MAC address of the new IP endpoint device.
US07881282B2
A method is provided managing a call using a digital communication device, where the device provides an interface between a public broadband network and a public circuit switched network. In one example, the method includes receiving a request at the device from either the broadband or circuit switched network to establish the call and identifying a destination for the call. A path from the requesting network to the destination is determined, where the determination identifies whether the path will use one or both of the broadband and circuit switched networks. The call is routed via the path, and the device identifies the destination, determines the path, and routes the call without using any resources associated with the circuit switched network if the path does not include the circuit switched network.
US07881275B1
A medium access control device includes a memory configured to store a plurality of sets of transmission parameters and a plurality of count values. A queue module is configured to store a plurality of frames. A control module is configured to receive a first frame of the plurality of frames from the queue module. A control module is configured to transmit the first frame using a first transmission parameter set of the plurality of sets of transmission parameters until at least one of successful transmission occurs, a number of unsuccessful transmissions is equal to one of the plurality of count values associated with the first transmission parameter set, and a predetermined period expires. The control module is configured to transmit the first frame using a second transmission parameter set in response to the first frame not being transmitted based on the first transmission parameter set.
US07881273B2
Disclosed is radar wave detection and DFS (dynamic frequency selection) with high efficiency while considering, for instance, the power consumption of each communication station within an autonomous distributed network. At least one communication station runs in an interference avoidance operation mode, operates a radar wave detection section, and fulfills the obligation to issue instructions for radar wave detection and DFS for an approximately predetermined period of time. After the lapse of the approximately predetermined period of time, another communication station switches to the interference avoidance operation mode and assumes the obligation to issue instructions for radar wave detection and DFS. In other words, two or more communication stations sequentially run in the interference avoidance operation mode in a time sharing manner. Therefore, the average power consumption of the communication stations decreases.
US07881270B2
In a method and apparatus for providing a flexible network architecture, an apparatus operable in a communication system comprises one or more logical entities adapted to provide a set of functions related to a connection through the communication system, wherein said logical entities are connected in series, and a subset of said functions are provided by each occurrence of said logical entities.
US07881266B2
A wireless transmit receive unit and methods for code division multiple access telecommunications are disclosed that process data in a physical layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer. The physical and MAC layers communicate data between each other via transport channels. The transport channels are associated with logical channels. Logical-channel data for the transport channels is provided in data units having a bit size evenly divisible by an integer N. The respective logical channels associated with a transport channel utilize MAC headers that have a selected modulo N bit size such that there is bit alignment of the MAC headers of all the logical channels associated with a particular transport channel.
US07881260B2
A method for use in a cellular, FFT based multi-carrier communications system comprising N subcarriers, for allocating a set P of sub-carriers to be reserved for potential use as carriers of specific information. A number M indicating the number of sub-carriers to be allocated to a set P of sub-carriers, such that L=N/M is an integer. At least two subcarriers of the set P={(n0+m*L) mod N : 0≦m
US07881256B2
A method and apparatus for supervising a dedicated control channel when in the discontinuous transmission mode. The mobile station monitors the frames it receives from a base station and maintains a counter of bad, good, and empty frames, referred to as CNT1, CNT2, CNT3, respectively. If a received frame is a good frame, CNT1 is reset to zero and CNT2 is incremented. If the received frame is a bad frame, CNT1 is incremented and CNT2 is reset to zero. If the received frame is an empty frame, CNT1 and CNT2 are unchanged but CNT3 is incremented. A transmitter coupled to the mobile station is enabled or disabled depending upon which, if any, of the CNTs reaches or exceeds a designated threshold value. In another embodiment, an average aggregated value reflecting the strength of the pilot signals in an active set, measured at the mobile station, is used for comparison to a threshold.
US07881249B2
A method and apparatus for determining whether a received signal is transmitted via a repeater is described. A source signal to be conveyed via a particular repeater may include, or be modified to include, a variety of signal characteristics having a predictable relationship that remains relatively constant, which may be taken together as a signature of the repeater. The signature may reflect a composite of distinct signals. A database of repeater signature references may be developed, and an adequate match between characteristics of an unknown received signal and such signature references indicates that at least part of the unknown signal is transmitted via a repeater. Useful signal characteristics for repeater signatures may include some representative of signal strength, and time of arrival information, among many other possibilities.
US07881248B2
To allocate frequency bands to respective radio communication systems, allocation of a frequency band to each radio communication system is modeled by at least one three-dimensional block as a function of a frequency bandwidth and a coverage area of the radio communication system so as to determine at least one block distribution of the modeled blocks. A score is assigned to each block distribution as a function of a minimum frequency band including all the frequency bands of the blocks of the block distribution. Frequency bands are allocated to the radio communication systems in accordance with an adopted block distribution having a score more than a predetermined threshold. The assigned score can be depend on a number of collisions between blocks of said each block distribution and protection bubbles around modeled blocks. The radio communication systems in the protection bubbles do not suffer mutual interference above respective tolerance thresholds.
US07881245B2
To broadcast different types of transmission having different tiers of coverage in a wireless broadcast network, each base station processes data for a wide-area transmission in accordance with a first mode (or coding and modulation scheme) to generate data symbols for the wide-area transmission and processes data for a local transmission in accordance with a second mode to generate data symbols for the local transmission. The first and second modes are selected based on the desired coverage for wide-area and local transmissions, respectively. The base station also generates pilots and overhead information for local and wide-area transmissions. The data, pilots, and overhead information for local and wide-area transmissions are multiplexed onto their transmission spans, which may be different sets of frequency subbands, different time segments, or different groups of subbands in different time segments. More than two different types of transmission may also be multiplexed and broadcast.
US07881243B2
Upon obtaining a message object that specifies a plurality of destination addresses, a multi-transport client selects a candidate destination address from among the plurality of destination addresses, determines the transport associated with the candidate destination address and arranges for transmission of a portion of the message over the determined transport toward the candidate destination address.
US07881234B2
An implementation for detecting interruptions in audio conversations between a plurality of participants comprising continuously recording the most recent predetermined time segment of the conversation stream of one participant in the conversation, monitoring the conversation stream of the participant for interruptions in said conversation stream and storing the most recent segment prior to the interruption in response to a detection of an interruption. The segment is represented by a conversation marker. The user may then select the conversation marker to playback this most recent segment, so that he may then decide whether he wishes to resume or pursue the interrupted conversation fragment.
US07881231B2
A diagnostic tool for identifying a configuration of a private network that may disrupt operations involving communication between two devices on the network. The tool, when run on a device in the network, can identify a “double NAT” configuration in which the device may be separated from other devices on the private network by a NAT device. The tool, when run on a computing device, identifies a NAT device, such as a router, to which the device is connected. The tool then identifies a list containing one or more other devices that may be connected to the NAT device. The tool tests whether these other devices also perform NAT functions and are on the private network. Both the NAT device and the devices that may be connected to the NAT device are identified and a determination is made of whether those devices are on the private network by sending requests using one or more protocols that devices on a private network conventionally use but are not conventionally used by devices on other networks.
US07881224B2
The present invention relates to an access unit for coupling a plurality of subscribers to a data communication network, and comprising an auto-configuration control unit adapted to learn, from first auto-configuration data issued by an auto-configuration server and transiting through said access unit towards a particular subscriber coupled to said access unit, a particular network address as being dynamically assigned to said particular subscriber.An access unit according to the invention is characterized in that said auto-configuration control unit is further adapted to learn, from second auto-configuration data transiting through said data communication network, said particular network address as being newly assigned to another subscriber, and in that said access unit further comprises an auto-configuration preemption unit coupled to said auto-configuration control unit, and adapted thereupon to issue an auto-configuration control signal towards said particular subscriber, whereby a new auto-configuration session is initiated between said particular subscriber and said auto-configuration server, and further whereby a new network address is dynamically assigned to said particular subscriber.
US07881223B2
A method for managing communication in a peer-to-peer network in which overlay information is updated on-demand such that neighboring node information is updated at least periodically and other overlay information is updated on-demand (from standard communications). For example, in one aspect, the network includes a plurality of nodes, and the method includes looking up at least one neighboring node, sending a joining message from a joining node to the neighboring node, the joining message including information relating to the joining node, joining the joining node to the network by updating each neighboring node exclusive of any other nodes of the plurality of nodes, sending reply messages from each neighboring node to the joining node, and updating the joining node with information from each neighboring node, exclusive of any other nodes of the plurality of nodes.
US07881219B2
An arrangement, method, and node for configuring subscriber lines in a digital access network. A configuration tool downloads configuration parameters from the network into the access nodes, which configure the subscriber lines according to the configuration parameters. An automated monitoring tool monitors performance parameters for the subscriber lines. The monitoring tool compares a value of a first monitored performance parameter on each subscriber line with a predefined threshold value, and based on a result of the comparison, either changes a value of a first configuration parameter or repeats the monitoring of the first performance parameter.
US07881217B2
A method of selecting a gateway node in a remote network and for handing over to the selected gateway node. Nodes in a remote energy aware network connect through a gateway node to a backbone network in an interplanetary communications network. Each node optimizes a stability function describing communications to neighboring nodes and to the backbone. Optimization is for maximum network stability and for efficient node energy consumption. Optimization identifies a handover time and nodes initiate handover sufficiently in advance of the identified handover time to complete at that time. Nodes continually monitor and update network characterization parameters to identify a next optimal handover time.
US07881212B2
A method determines a route in distance value for use in routing protocols. An optimum route is determined for time-critical transmissions such as videotelephony or VoIP. For this purpose, the route distance value is calculated as the product of the link metrics for the links of a route, said link metrics being the product of data packet arrival rates. This value is the optimum value for the route which requires the lowest number of repeated packet transmissions (retransmissions). Optionally, an additional factor can be inserted in the link metrics, which factor ensures that the length of a route is also taken into consideration.
US07881210B2
A method and apparatus for identifying a Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) flapping event in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method counts a total number of LDP session up events, a total number of LDP session down events, a total number of link up events, and a total number of link down events within a predetermined time interval. The method then determines an occurrence of a LDP flapping event using the plurality of total numbers.
US07881207B2
According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transferring data in a packet-based network. The method includes a step for receiving at least a first data frame. The first data frame is associated with a first origination node and a first destination node. The method includes a step for processing information associated with the first data frame. The method includes a step for determining whether the first data frame satisfies at least one predetermined condition based on at least information associated with the first data frame. If the first data frame is determined to satisfy the at least one predetermined condition, the method includes a step for providing a second data frame based on at least information associated with the first data frame, where the second data frame is associated with a second origination node and a second destination node.
US07881198B2
The present invention relates to a method and nodes for managing service bindings over an access domain. For doing so, an access edge node is introduced in the access domain between a plurality of service providers and user domains, and an access node is introduced between the user domains and the access domain. The access edge node creates, modifies and removes service bindings and informs the access node of those creations, modifications and removals. Each service binding binds one of the user domain, the access node and the access edge node on data traffic handling over the access domain between the user domain and the service provider domain. More particularly, the service binding associates the user domain to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) for the service provider domain on the access domain, controlled by the access edge node.
US07881182B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling ranging in a wireless communication system. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a Radio Frequency (RF) module converting RF band signals received via antenna to low-frequency band signal; a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module converting the low-frequency band signal of time-domain to frequency-domain signal; a derandomizer performing derandomizing the frequency-domain signals by using a random sequence being transmitted by the terminals; a depermutation module combining the frequency-domain signals output from the derandomizer by unit of burst and outputting the combined signal; and a ranging controller controlling periodic ranging of the terminal corresponding to the respective bursts by estimating phase change in the frequency-domain signals of burst unit.
US07881176B2
To provide a floating lock device which can smoothly and continuously perform an operation of swinging-in and swinging-out a drive unit and switching between a floating state and lock state with a reduced space and simple configuration. The floating lock device comprises: a pick arm 130 which can be swung into and swung out of a space created by splitting trays 250 capable of housing a plurality of disks D; a drive chassis 120 which is mounted on the pick arm 130 and which has a drive unit playing the disk D; a drive mechanism which drives the pick arm 130; a floating lock mechanism of the drive chassis 120; a turning table 123 on which the disk D is mounted; and a control plate 136 which transmits drive power of the drive mechanism to the floating lock mechanism.
US07881175B2
A recording/reproducing apparatus (100) is provided with comprising: recording devices (131a-131e) for recording record signals (WS1-WS5) in parallel and in synchronization with a record clock; a signal generating device (143) for generating record signals such that a reproduction clock synchronized with the record clock can be generated on the basis of the reproduced record signals, if the plurality of record signals are reproduced in parallel; reproducing devices (131a-131e) for reproducing the record signals in parallel; and a clock generating device (154) for generating a reproduction clock.
US07881167B1
Data recovery methods for use with a writable disc system having a writable media are presented including: detecting a write disruption in response to a shock event, the write disruption being defined by a disruption start point, a portion of off-track writing which may include a set of disruption cross-track points that contains at least one disruption cross-track point, and a disruption stop point; stopping a first write operation pertaining to a stream of data in response to a detected shock event, the shock event occurring while the writable disc system is performing the first write operation along a write track; determining whether a first data of the stream of data written in the first write operation located in the region of write disruption is readable; and if the first data is readable, resuming the first write operation.
US07881162B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus, has a reading unit which, if a transfer delay address is found, stores data in the transfer delay address, in a memory, and stores data in a range from the transfer delay address to an additional address located at an outer periphery in a certain distance and which, if the address to be read on the optical disc is present in the transfer delay address, reads data corresponding to the address to be read as stored in the memory, and a control unit which, if the address to be read on the optical disc is present in the additional address, reads the data corresponding to the address to be read as stored in the memory, by the reading unit, and increases a rotation rate of the optical disc up to a predetermined number of revolutions.
US07881156B2
A towed array is provided with hot-film sensors and anemometer circuitry to calculate the angle of inclination of the towed array in real time during deployment of the towed array in a sea water environment. The hot-film sensors are arranged in pairs along the length of the towed array to increase the sensitivity of the inclination angle determinations and are located flush with an exterior surface of the towed array to minimize interference with the operation of the towed array. The pairs of hot-film sensors determine the local shear stresses on the towed array, and these measurements are converted to inclination angles using an empirically derived look-up table.
US07881155B2
A pressure release encoding system for communicating downhole information through a wellbore to a surface location include a downhole tool with a valve for providing a fluid restriction to fluid passing in the wellbore, a sensor positioned in the wellbore for sensing a downhole condition in the wellbore, a brake cooperative with the valve for moving the valve between at least two positions in timed relation to the downhole condition sensed by the sensor, and a detector positioned at the surface location for providing a measurement value at the surface location correlative to the time between the changes of the pressure of the fluid in the wellbore. The system associates position of the valve with pressure transduction. The sensor is an inclination sensor for sensing an angle of inclination of the wellbore.
US07881150B2
A circuit is configured to be mounted on a memory module so as to be electrically coupled to a plurality of double-data-rate (DDR) memory devices arranged in one or more ranks on the memory module. The circuit includes a logic element, a register, and a phase-lock loop device. The circuit is configurable to respond to a set of input signals from a computer system to selectively isolate one or more loads of the plurality of DDR memory devices from the computer system and to translate between a system memory domain of the computer system and a physical memory domain of the plurality of DDR memory devices.
US07881148B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a clock supply portion for providing an external clock to the interior of the memory device, a clock transfer portion for transferring the clock from the clock supply portion to each of elements in the memory device and data output portions for outputting data in synchronism the clock from the clock transfer portion, wherein the clock from the clock supply portion to the clock transfer portion swings at a current mode logic (CML) level.
US07881145B2
A semiconductor device according to example embodiments may be configured so that, when a read command for performing a read operation is input while a write operation is performed, and when a memory bank accessed by a write address during the write operation is the same as a memory bank accessed by a read address during the read operation, the semiconductor device may suspend the write operation automatically or in response to an internal signal until the read operation is finished and performs the write operation after the read operation is finished.
US07881141B2
In order to successively perform refresh operations, a semiconductor device has a plurality of regions performing a repair independently from each other, even when the repair is carried out in the region by a replacement with a repair memory block included in a plate included in each region. Specifically, the successive refresh operations are performed by alternately activating word lines in the respective regions so as to ensure a sufficiently long precharge period.
US07881140B2
A refresh control apparatus is provided which is capable of dispersing a peak current at an all-bank refresh mode and reducing the characteristic difference between the banks. The refresh control apparatus includes an internal refresh counter for outputting row address signals to select word lines when a refresh command is inputted from an external circuit, a row decoder for outputting row decoding signals to select all banks in response bank active signals and the row address signals, an enable signal control unit for sequentially outputting at a time interval sense amplifier enable signals in response to the bank active signals and the refresh command, and a sense amplifier for sequentially refreshing all of the banks at a time interval in response to the sense amplifier enable signals.
US07881132B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a delay locked loop to generate a delay control signal corresponding to a detected phase difference between reference and feedback clock signals, a delay locked loop (DLL) clock signal, and the feedback clock signal. The memory device further includes a delay time measurement device to measure a first degree of delay between the reference and feedback clock signals and output a delay measurement value, and an output enable signal generation device to delay read command information synchronized with an external clock signal by a second degree of delay between the reference and DLL clock signals. The output enable signal generation device generates the read command information as final output enable signal by synchronizing the read command information with the DLL clock signal according to the delay measurement value and column address strobe (CAS) latency information.
US07881126B2
A memory comprises a plurality of memory cells. A row decoder module selectively drives word lines using a voltage level to access selected ones of the memory cells. A first regeneration module selectively pulls the voltage level on one of the word lines to one of first and second predetermined voltage levels. At least one of the memory cells of the one of the word lines is located between the first regeneration module and the row decoder module.
US07881125B2
A content addressable memory (CAM) device includes a CAM array, a programmable interconnect structure, and a priority encoder. The CAM array includes a plurality of CAM rows, each row including a number of CAM cells for storing a data word and coupled to a match line that indicates a match result for the CAM row. The programmable interconnect structure is coupled to each CAM row and a plurality of CAM rows, each row including a number of CAM cells for storing a data word and coupled to a match line that indicates match results for the row. The programmable interconnect structure coupled to each CAM row, and is configured to logically connect any number N of selected CAM rows together to form a data word chain spanning N rows, regardless of whether the selected CAM rows are contiguous.
US07881122B2
Provided is a discharge circuit. The discharge circuit for discharging two positive and negative high voltages after an erase operation of a non-volatile memory includes: a negative high voltage side discharge unit flowing constant current from a supply voltage to a negative high voltage node of the non-volatile memory to discharge the negative high voltage node; and a positive high voltage side discharge unit flowing constant current from a positive high voltage node of the non-volatile memory to a ground voltage to discharge the positive high voltage node, the positive high voltage side discharge unit simultaneously operating with the negative high voltage side discharge unit, wherein values of the constant currents flowing from the positive and negative high voltage side discharge units are approximately equal.
US07881121B2
A read operation method is provided for a flash memory array having a plurality of memory cells, wordlines, even bitlines, odd bitlines and a plurality of bitline transistors. The method includes pre-charging the plurality of even bitlines to about Vcc/n and pre-charging the plurality of odd bitlines to ground. The current flowing to/from a first bit location in each of the memory cells is selectively sensed. A logical state is determined from the sensed current for the first bit location in each of the memory cells. The method also includes pre-charging the plurality of odd bitlines to about Vcc/n and pre-charging the plurality of even bitlines to ground. The current flowing to/from a second bit location in each of the memory cells is selectively sensed. A logical state is determined from the sensed current for the second bit location in each of the memory cells.
US07881117B2
A high voltage generator circuit includes a high voltage generator configured to generate a high voltage; and a control circuit configured to control the high voltage generator so as to vary the high voltage in response to variations of a peripheral temperature.
US07881116B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory of the present invention includes a plurality of bit lines and word lines which are arranged to intersect each other; a memory cell array having a plurality of electrically-programmable memory cells arranged in a region in which the bit lines and the word lines intersect; a trimming circuit configured to obtain a parameter of an initial program voltage for each word line of the plurality of word lines; an initial Vpgm parameter register configured to receive the parameter of the initial program voltage from the trimming circuit and to store the parameter; and a control circuit configured to perform programming of data to the memory cell array based on the parameter of the initial program voltage stored in the initial Vpgm parameter register, the trimming circuit being arranged in a part of the control circuit.
US07881112B2
The present invention describes a uniform program method and a uniform erase method of a charge trapping memory by employing a substrate transient hot electron technique for programming, and a substrate transient hot hole technique for erasing, which emulate an FN tunneling method for NAND memory operation. The methods of the present invention are applicable to a wide variety of charge trapping memories including n-channel or p-channel SONOS types of memories and floating gate (FG) type memories. the programming of the charge trapping memory is conducted using a substrate transient hot electron injection in which a body bias voltage Vb has a short pulse width and a gate bias voltage Vg has a pulse width that is sufficient to move electrons from a channel region to a charge trapping structure.
US07881109B2
A refresh circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a bank active signal generator configured to selectively enable a plurality of bank active signals in response to a piled signal and disable the plurality of bank active signals in response to a plurality of precharge pulses when a refresh signal is enabled; a precharge pulse generator configured to generate a plurality of preliminary precharge pulses in response to the plurality of bank active signals; a delaying unit configured to generate a plurality of preliminary delay precharge pulses by delaying the plurality of preliminary precharge pulses; and a selecting unit configured to selectively output the plurality of preliminary precharge pulses or the plurality of preliminary delay precharge pulses as the plurality of precharge pulses in response to the piled signal.
US07881107B2
A method for data storage in a memory that includes a plurality of analog memory cells includes storing data in the memory by writing first storage values to the cells. One or more read reference levels are defined for reading the cells, such that at least one of the read reference levels is negative. After storing the data, second storage values are read from the cells using the read reference levels, so as to reconstruct the stored data. In another disclosed method, data is stored in the memory by mapping the data to first storage values selected from a set of the nominal storage values, and writing the first storage values to the cells. The set of nominal storage values is defined such that at least one of the nominal storage values is negative.
US07881099B2
A multi-bit magnetic random access memory device and a method for writing to and sensing the multi-bit magnetic random access memory device. The magnetic memory includes a memory cell with a multilayer structure having a plurality of data layers which can each store one bit. The structure includes a plurality of magnetically changeable ferromagnetic layers, a ferromagnetic reference layer having a fixed magnetization state, a first spacer layer separating the magnetically changeable ferromagnetic layers, and a second spacer layer separating the ferromagnetic reference layer from the magnetically changeable ferromagnetic layers. This structure allows for more than one-bit to be stored as well as for efficient writing and reduced power consumption.
US07881093B2
A link portion between a first electrode and a second electrode includes a semiconductor link portion and a metal semiconductor alloy link portion comprising a first metal semiconductor alloy. An electrical pulse converts the entirety of the link portion into a second metal semiconductor alloy having a lower concentration of metal than the first metal semiconductor alloy. Due to the stoichiometric differences between the first and second metal semiconductor alloys, the link portion has a higher resistance after programming than prior to programming. The shift in electrical resistance well controlled, which is advantageously employed to as a programmable precision resistor.
US07881091B2
Optical and optoelectronic devices and methods of making same. Under one aspect, an optical device includes an integrated circuit an array of conductive regions; and an optically sensitive material over at least a portion of the integrated circuit and in electrical communication with at least one conductive region of the array of conductive regions. Under another aspect, a method of forming a nanocrystalline film includes fabricating a plurality of nanocrystals having a plurality of first ligands attached to their outer surfaces; exchanging the first ligands for second ligands of different chemical composition than the first ligands; forming a film of the ligand-exchanged nanocrystals; removing the second ligands; and fusing the cores of adjacent nanocrystals in the film to form an electrical network of fused nanocrystals. Under another aspect, a film includes a network of fused nanocrystals, the nanocrystals having a core and an outer surface, wherein the core of at least a portion of the fused nanocrystals is in direct physical contact and electrical communication with the core of at least one adjacent fused nanocrystal, and wherein the film has substantially no defect states in the regions where the cores of the nanocrystals are fused.
US07881088B2
The range-specified IP addresses are effectively stored to reduce the number of necessary entries thereby the memory capacity of TCAM is improved. The representative means of the present invention is that: the storage information (entry) and the input information (comparison information or search key) are the common block code such that any bit must be the logical value ‘1’; Match-lines are hierarchically structured and memory cells are arranged at the intersecting points of a plurality of sub-match lines and a plurality of search lines; Further the sub-match lines are connected to main-match lines through the sub-match detectors, respectively and main-match detectors are arranged on the main-match lines.
US07881081B1
Control systems, methods and power conversion systems are presented for controlling common mode currents in power converters, in which feedback signals used in pulse width modulated inverter switching control are selectively adjusted to ensure minimum differences between the resulting common mode compensated feedback signals according to a common mode dwell time in each pulse width modulation period, with the common mode dwell time being adjusted according to modulation index.
US07881073B2
An electronic apparatus includes: a display panel that has a display screen displaying an image on a front surface thereof; a supporting board that has a first surface extending facing a rear surface of the display panel; a first circuit substrate that is fixed to a second surface of the supporting board; and a unit that includes a base board, a plate-like electronic part supported by the base board, and a second circuit substrate fixed to the base board. The unit is supported on the second surface of the supporting board. The first circuit substrate and the second circuit substrate include a first connector and a second connector, respectively. The first connector and the second connector link with each other when the base board is slid in a direction, and go away from each other when the base board is slid in the opposite direction.
US07881070B2
A circuit board having a power source is provided, including: a carrier board having a first dielectric layer disposed on at least a surface thereof and a first circuit layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, wherein the first circuit layer has at least an electrode pad; a first electrode plate disposed on the electrode pad; an insulating frame member disposed on the first electrode plate, with a portion of the first electrode plate being exposed from the insulating frame member, wherein electrolyte is received in the insulating frame member and in contact with the first electrode plate; and a porous second electrode plate disposed on the insulating frame member and the electrolyte, the second electrode plate being in contact with the electrolyte, so as to provide the power source for the circuit board.
US07881049B2
The invention discloses a transmission apparatus set in a data processing system. The data processing system includes a display device and an input device. The display device is connected to the input device through a connecting member. The transmission apparatus includes a pivot, a fixed plate, a movable plate, a sliding member, a pulley, and a cable. When the pivot revolves along with the connecting member, the pivot drives the cable to slide the sliding member, and then moves the movable plate along with a predetermined direction.
US07881048B2
Disclosed is a system comprised of a bag and computer combination which allows the bag wearer to quickly access and use a computer while mobile. The system can be in three forms and all three are used in the same way: a pivoting cover is moved out of the way to expose a display which pivots into the line of sight of the wearer/operator. When assembled, all the components are physically connected and electrical components are electrically connected. Additional components include a keyboard or write pad mounted on the pivoting cover or on a separate pivoting mount near the center bag front, a display prop which braces the display in various angular positions and side pockets fitted for peripherals. An example is cited using a bag with flap mounts and equipment which mounts to the flaps using clamps.
US07881047B2
An electronic apparatus includes an electronic apparatus main body; and a movable body which is mounted in the electronic apparatus main body, with its predetermined direction-wise one end supported thereon, so as to be displaceable between an encased condition where its one surface faces the main body and an unfolded condition where the one surface is exposed. The electronic apparatus main body and the movable body are so arranged that, in the movable-body encased condition, orthographical projections in the predetermined direction, respectively, of at least a part of the other end portion of the movable body in the predetermined direction and at least a part of that area of the electronic apparatus main body which is opposed to the other end portion of the movable body are kept in superposed relation with each other.
US07881045B2
An enclosure arrangement, with protection against touch, of a power electronics appliance, more particularly of a frequency converter (31, 51) and its additional devices (12, 13), which solution contains an enclosed power electronics appliance and one or more enclosed additional devices installed in connection with it, which enclosed power electronics appliance and additional devices are modules, which can be fitted to be installed in combination one above the other such that the protection against touch of the appliance entity formed is as great as or higher than the protection against touch of the separate appliances.
US07881044B2
A dampening mechanism for an electrical for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a draw-out circuit breaker, includes a mounting bracket coupled to the circuit breaker, a pivot member, at least one biasing element, and a damper. The circuit breaker is movable into and out of an installed position within a switchgear enclosure. The pivot member pivots between first and second positions corresponding to the circuit breaker not being fully installed and being disposed in the installed position, respectively. The biasing element biases the pivot member toward the first position. When the circuit breaker is moved toward the installed position, the second end of the pivot member engages at least one of a back panel and a ledge of the enclosure, thereby pivoting the pivot member toward the second position. When the pivot member is disposed in the second position, the damper is biased against the ledge of the enclosure to dampen undesired vertical motion of the circuit breaker.
US07881039B2
A multi-layer ceramic capacitor comprises dielectric sheets including a first external electrode, a first internal electrode joined to the first external electrode via an interposed dielectric portion, a second external electrode joined to the first internal electrode, and a second internal electrode joined to the first internal electrode. A method of producing a multi-layer ceramic capacitor comprises forming dielectric sheets including a first internal electrode having protrusions and joined to the first external electrode, a second external electrode joined to the first internal electrode, and a second internal electrode joined to the first internal electrode with dielectrics are printed on a cross section of the dielectric sheet, stacking the dielectric sheets to be symmetrical, so that the first external electrodes and the second external electrodes are connected and the protrusions of the first internal electrodes and the second internal electrodes are connected, and compressing, cutting the dielectric sheets, and sintering the cut dielectric sheets.
US07881035B2
There is provided a high-pressure fuel pump drive circuit for manipulating the electric current to be passed to a solenoid coil for controlling a high-pressure pump. This circuit is characterized in that a first switching element, the solenoid coil and a second switching element are connected in series with each other in a rout from a source voltage side to the ground side, that a flywheel diode for passing electric current to a power source is disposed parallel with the solenoid and with the first switching element, and that a Zener diode connected with the power source is disposed parallel with the second switching element, wherein a counter electromotive force to be developed at the opposite ends of solenoid coil on the occasion when the second switching element is changed from ON to OFF is consumed by the flywheel diode provided that the first switching element is in a state of ON, and the counter electromotive force is more rapidly consumed by the Zener diode provided that the first switching element is turned OFF.
US07881034B2
A surge protector with spatial variation includes a housing, a body, a lifting means, and an operating means. The housing has an opening and an accommodating space. The opening and the accommodating space are in communication with each other. The body is accommodated in the accommodating space. The wall surface of the body is provided with a plurality of outlet units. The lifting means is connected between the housing and the body, thereby driving the body to move in the accommodating space. The operating means is used to abut and fix the body. In operation, a user controls the operating means to release the body, so that the body is driven by the lifting means to move upwardly. In this way, the plurality of outlet units will be exposed to the outside of the opening, so that the user can have more outlet unit choices at various spatial elevations.
US07881027B2
A regulator for a switched mode power supply includes switching regulator logic, a counter and a logic gate. The switching regulator logic is coupled to receive a feedback signal and to generate a switching signal in response. The feedback signal periodically cycles between a first state and a second state when the power supply operates normally. The counter is coupled to receive the feedback signal and an output of the counter indicates an auto-restart mode of the regulator in response to the feedback signal remaining in the first state for a predetermined count. An output of the logic gate enables the power switch to turn on and off in response to the switching signal when the output of the counter does not indicate the auto-restart mode and the output of the logic gate disables the power switch in response to the output of the counter indicating the auto-restart mode.
US07881023B2
The invention provides a magnetoresistive device with the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magnetoresistive unit, and a first shield layer and a second shield layer located and formed such that the magnetoresistive unit is sandwiched between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, wherein the magnetoresistive unit comprises a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed such that the nonmagnetic intermediate layer is interposed between them, wherein the first shield layer, and the second shield layer is controlled by magnetization direction control means in terms of magnetization direction, and the first ferromagnetic layer, and the second ferromagnetic layer receives action such that there is an antiparallel magnetization state created, in which mutual magnetizations are in opposite directions, under the influences of magnetic actions of the first shield layer and the second shield layer.
US07881020B2
An extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor (EMR sensor) having reduced size and increased resolution is described. The sensor includes a plurality of electrically conductive leads contacting a magnetically active layer and also includes an electrically conductive shunt structure. The electrically conductive leads of the sensor and the shunt structure can be formed in a common photolithographic masking and etching process so that they are self aligned with one another. This avoids the need to align multiple photolithographic processing steps, thereby allowing greatly increased resolution and reduced lead spacing. The EMR sensor can be formed with a magnetically active layer that can be close to or at the air bearing surface (ABS) for improved magnetic spacing with an adjacent magnetic medium of a data recording system.
US07881019B2
A magnetic structure for use in a magnetic head for avoiding stray field writing. The magnetic structure can be for example a magnetic shield or could be a magnetic pole of a write head and is particularly advantageous for use in a perpendicular recording system, because such perpendicular recording systems are especially susceptible to stray field writing. The magnetic structure includes a forward protruding portion that extends toward the air bearing surface (ABS) of the head also includes first and second wing portions that extend laterally from the forward protruding portion. The wing portions each have includes an inner constant recess portion, and an outer tapered portion. The inner constant recess portion of each wing prevents stray field writing while also preventing magnetic saturation, the outer tapered portions, which taper away from the ABS as they extend laterally outward, further prevent stray field writing by removing the outer corners of the shield away from the ABS.
US07881014B2
A patterned magnetic recording medium including a plurality of magnetic recording domains arranged at predetermined regular intervals on a substrate, wherein the magnetic recording domains are multi-layered and comprise a soft magnetic layer interposed between a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer. The soft magnetic layer suppresses magnetic interaction between a respective one of the magnetic recording domains and neighboring ones of the magnetic recording domains.
US07881007B2
Unequal zoning for track following on a hard disk drive comprising at least one magnetic disk, a read/write head connected to at least one actuator arm and capable of reading and writing data on said at least one magnetic disk, a controller capable of moving said at least one actuator arm. A track is followed using the read/write head on the surface of the at least one magnetic disk. Information is stored at the controller regarding off-track displacement of the read/write head. A plurality of unequal zone partitions is created, wherein an unequal zone partition of the plurality of unequal zone partitions represents a physical region of the at least one magnetic disk and wherein the plurality of unequal zone partitions are based on the information regarding the off-track displacement of the track and are used by the controller to compensate for the off-track displacement of the track.
US07881002B2
Provided is a method of increasing recording density and a control apparatus for increasing the recording density. The method includes applying a recording current corresponding to a recording signal to a magnetic head of a hard disc drive (HDD), and limiting a current value being applied to the magnetic head to a critical value when the recording current reaches the critical value. In the method, a rising time is reduced by using an overshoot recording current and the recording current is limited to a critical value when an actual recording current reaches the critical value. Thus, write track widths (WTWs) can be reduced at a low recording frequency, thereby increasing tracks per inch (TPI).
US07881000B2
A method of setting up a pre-amplifier for a hard disk drive and a hard disk drive incorporating the method. A serial interfacing mode of the pre-amplifier is checked by writing and reading data to/from the pre-amplifier. A chip ID of the pre-amplifier is checked and a vendor of the pre-amplifier is identified using the chip ID. Default values of the pre-amplifier stored in a ROM and adaptive codes of the pre-amplifier are automatically downloaded to a register of a hard-disk controller, simplifying the pre-amplifier installation and reducing errors which may occur during manual installation of the pre-amplifier.
US07880995B2
A method according to one embodiment comprises using a heating device, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation; detecting a temperature in a vicinity of the heating device; detecting a current of the heating device; and performing an action if a function of at least one of the temperature and the current is outside an acceptable operation zone. A method according to another embodiment comprises selecting an initial current of a heating device for inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during recording operations; initiating the heating device; performing recording operations; monitoring a temperature in a vicinity of the heating device during the recording operations; and if a function of the temperature and the current is outside an acceptable operation zone, changing an operating parameter such that the function of the temperature and the current is in the acceptable operation zone.
US07880980B2
A first lens (L1), a second lens (L2), a third lens (L3), and a fourth lens (L4) are arranged in this order from an object side. The first lens (L1) has a biconvex shape and a positive refracting power. The second lens (L2) has a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object side, and has a negative refracting power. The third lens (L3) has a meniscus shape that is convex toward an image side, and has a positive refracting power. The fourth lens (L4) has a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object side, and has a negative refracting power. A chromatic aberration generated by the first lens (L1) is corrected by the second lens (L2). A chromatic aberration generated by the third lens (L3) is corrected by the fourth lens (L4).
US07880977B2
A rod lens is used for fitting in an endoscopes. The rod lens has a rod-shaped body which is made at least in a section of a flexible, transparent solid piece of plastic material.
US07880975B2
A zoom lens includes a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power or a negative refractive power. The lens groups are arranged in order from the object side toward the image side. The focal lengths of the system at a wide angle end and a telephoto end, the focal lengths of the first and second lens groups, the distance between the position of the first lens group, the position being closest to the object side upon zooming, and the position of the first lens group at the wide angle end, and the difference between the largest distance between the first and second lens groups upon zooming and the distance between the first and second lens groups at the wide angle end are determined.
US07880973B2
Disclosed are a projection lens that is faster than F1.95 and has a simple inner focus structure, a high optical performance, and a small size, and a projection display device.A projection lens includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a second lens group having a positive refractive power, and a third lens group having a positive refractive power arranged in this order from a magnification side. A fifth lens arranged closest to a reduction side in the first lens group is moved along an optical axis to adjust focus. The projection lens satisfies the following conditional expression: 0.2
US07880970B2
An optical packaged body capable of preventing generation of a wrinkle, deflection, and warpage, and capable of being thinned is provided. The optical packaged body includes a support medium and a packaging film that covers the support medium in a state of being applied with shrinkage force. The packaging film has an optical function section that acts on light from a light source in at least one of a first region into which the light from the light source enters and a second region from which the light from the light source is emitted after passing through the optical packaged body when the light source is arranged on one face side of the optical packaged body.
US07880969B2
The disclosure relates to an optical integrator configured to produce a plurality of secondary light sources in an illumination system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. The disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing an array of elongated microlenses for use in such an illumination system. Arrays of elongated microlenses are often contained in optical integrators or scattering plates of such illumination systems.
US07880967B2
An optical element includes an optical film; a substrate; and an adhesive layer disposed between the optical film and the substrate, wherein the adhesive layer is made of NbOx, where 0
US07880958B2
The invention is directed to compositions of display cell structure and electrode protecting layers for improving the performance of display devices. The composition comprises a polar oligomeric or polymeric material having a glass transition temperature below about 100° C., and the resulting display cells or electrode protecting layer have an average crosslinking density of below about 1 crosslink point per 80 Dalton molecular weight.
US07880949B1
A display device includes a number of sub-pixels. A main region and a sub region are defined in each sub-pixel, and correspond to a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode respectively. The first and the second pixel electrodes are separated from each other and thereby forming a gap between the first and the second pixel electrodes substantially perpendicular to the gate lines. Each sub-pixel includes a coupling electrode, a first switching transistor, a second switching transistor and a sharing transistor. The coupling electrode is capacitively coupled with the first pixel electrode. The first switching transistor and the second switching transistor are electrically connected to a gate line, a data line, and respectively connected to the first and the second pixel electrodes. The sharing transistor is electrically connected to another gate line, the coupling electrode and the second pixel electrode.
US07880947B2
An illuminated position adjusting method used in optical scanning apparatus, suppressing deterioration of imaging spot shape on scanning surface, and preventing undesirable light from arriving at the scanning surface, to form high-quality image. The optical scanning apparatus includes: a common deflector for deflecting beams emitted from light source units; and imaging optical units each including at least one imaging optical element and at least one reflector which are disposed in optical path of beam deflected by the common deflector, and image the beam on scanning surface. In an optical path in which the largest number of the reflectors are disposed among the optical paths guided to the scanning surfaces, the reflector which is disposed optically closest to the scanning surface is rotated in sub-scanning direction, to adjust the illuminated position of the beam, which illuminates the scanning surface, on the scanning surface in sub-scanning direction.
US07880939B2
A film holder is adapted to be placed on a manuscript table of a flatbed type image scanner. The film holder includes: a main body, adapted to hold a film on the manuscript table; and a spacer, configured for changing a distance between the film and the manuscript table, and removably attached to the main body by a snap fit.
US07880937B2
An electronic endoscope apparatus includes an imaging element and a signal processing unit. The imaging element obtains an image of an observation object, and outputs an image signal of the observation object. The signal processing unit alternately repeats obtainment of a partial image signal using a part of a light receiving area of the imaging element and obtainment of a partial image signal using the remaining part of the light receiving area. The signal processing unit also obtains a whole image signal corresponding to an image of the observation object using a partial image signal obtained in the n-th (n is a natural number) obtainment and a partial image signal obtained in the (n+1)th obtainment. Further, a partial component of the n-th partial image signal is extracted by an extraction unit, and the extracted partial component is added to the (n+1)th partial image signal.
US07880936B2
An image processing section 10 calculates degree of similarity among a plurality of image frames of dynamic image data, determines scene-change frames based on the calculated degree of similarity, and performs automatic editing and preparation of a digest dynamic image of the dynamic image data by merging a specified duration of frames, giving priority to scenes whose scene-change frame has a low degree of similarity to an immediately preceding frame or some preceding frames, or by merging, from scenes delimited by a scene change, a specified duration of frames having a degree of similarity in keeping with the user's indication of whether or not a “little change digest” or a “much change digest” is to be prepared.
US07880924B2
Methods of detecting and compensating for colored media when utilizing the facsimile send function of an All-in-One printing system are disclosed. Embodiments include obtaining a color scan of the document page, determining an approximate value for the background color of the document page, and adjusting the scanned image of the document page to substantially eliminate the background color.
US07880922B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first toner image forming section that forms a visible toner image, a second toner image forming section that forms an invisible toner image, in which a resolution of the invisible toner image is lower than a resolution of the visible toner image, and a transfer section that transfers to a medium the visible toner image and the invisible toner image.
US07880918B2
A system and related techniques generate a unified representation of graphical representations, such as documents, graphic images or others, for displaying on a display screen, printing on a printer, faxing via a facsimile machine or outputting in other ways. In embodiments a media integration layer, which may reside in the operating system level, may generate renderings from graphics primitives, and send that rendering via a mediation engine to a device driver, for instance a print engine located in a printer. The device engine may return a preview of the output representation to the media integration layer for adjustments or to accept and print the output, all without a necessity for or reliance upon a device-specific driver in the operating system. Since both the display screen and the output device operate off of the same base representation, neither the display nor output device needs to attempt to emulate the output characteristics of the other, and screen-to-print uniformity may be enhanced.
US07880916B2
An image recording apparatus records image files on a recording medium. The image recording apparatus automatically selects disused files and automatically deletes them at the appropriate timing. A storage device acquires an image file from, e.g., an imaging component or an external terminal and records the image file together with time information on a recording medium. A controller monitors the recording area of the recording medium and automatically deletes image files for which the time information is old in accordance with the monitored usage status of the recording area.
US07880915B2
A communication apparatus having a document data storing function for storing received document data and a Web service function for displaying the received document data to an external apparatus via a network is disclosed. The communication apparatus includes a document data sending part for sending the received document data displayed by the Web service function in accordance with a sending request from the external apparatus. When the sending request is made by the external apparatus, the external apparatus can designate sender data indicative of the sender of the received document data.
US07880909B2
A method of parsing print stream data including the steps of intercepting a data file from at least a portion of the print stream data, reading at least a portion of the data file and determining if said data file is of a format having subset formats.
US07880897B2
The light wave interferometer apparatus is provided and includes: a luminous flux, which is sent from the light source and divided into two portions by the luminous flux separation and composition unit, are combined with each other again under the condition that the divided luminous fluxes hold wavefront information corresponding to the surface shapes of the aspherical lens to be inspected and the reference aspherical lens by the respectively corresponding basis spherical lenses. Therefore, a wavefront difference of the aspherical lens to be inspected with respect to the reference aspherical lens is made to be interference fringe information and formed on an image pickup plane of the interferometer CCD camera. The basis spherical lenses have the basis spherical surfaces, the curvatures of which are equal to each other.
US07880896B2
An interferometer which incorporates a single mode VCSEL to facilitate miniaturization through integration of parts. The interferometer includes a beam splitter for partially reflecting and transmitting light; a single mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser for generating a beam of light perpendicular to a wafer; a first mirror fixedly perpendicular to the first path to reflect the portion of light reflected from the beam splitter; a second mirror movably arranged along the second path to reflect the beam portion transmitted through the beam splitter. A photodetector arranged along the second path detects the beam portion reflected from the first mirror and transmitted again through the beam splitter and the beam portion reflected from the second mirror and reflected again from the beam splitter to locate the second mirror based on an interference fringe created by a difference in the paths between the two beam portions.
US07880893B2
A sensor apparatus and method includes a sensor head with at least two surfaces separated by a gap. One surface is mechanically fixed, a second surface is free to move and deflections of the second surface relative to the first surface are monitored by optical interferometry. In one embodiment, an optical fiber is used to direct light from a light source to the sensor and collect light reflected by the sensor. In alternate embodiments the sensor apparatus includes integrated optical elements, free-space optics, and direct laser-diode sensing. In operation, interaction of molecules or other objects in the sample with the second surface is detected as a change in amplitude and/or phase of deflection the second surface in response to an applied driving signal. A layer of binding molecules may be immobilized on the second surface and this surface exposed to a sample. The invention includes a method for detecting an analyte in a sample, including detecting the presence of analyte, the amount of analyte or the rate of association and/or dissociation of the analyte with a binding partner.
US07880892B2
In an optical tomographic imaging apparatus, a wavelength of a light beam emitted from the light source is selected by a light source section filter, and the light beam emitted from the light source is split into a measurement light beam and a reference light beam. The measurement light beam is reflected from a measurement subject when the measurement light beam is irradiated, is amplified. A specific wavelength from the amplified reflected light beam is selected by an amplifying section filtering mechanism having a filter characteristic identical to a time variation characteristic of the light source section filter, and then the reflected light beam is multiplexed with the reference light beam. A tomographic image of the measurement subject is acquired from detection result of an interference light beam between the reflected light beam and the reference light beam which have been multiplexed.
US07880887B2
Accurate measurements of the concentration of a sterilant in a sterilization chamber are provided through the use of a light source, a first detector that receives light from the light source that has not passed through the sterilization chamber and a detector that receives light from the light source that has passed through the sterilization chamber. The light contains wavelengths known to be absorbed by the sterilant. A controller receives and processes signals received from the two detectors to cancel changes in the output of the light source and then apply a modified Beer-Lambert law to determine the concentration of the sterilant gas.
US07880863B2
A lithographic system including a light source configured to provide a light beam, a mask stage configured to hold a mask having a mask pattern, a wafer stage having a surface configured to hold a wafer having a plurality of dies, and an illumination monitor having a receiver disposed at the surface of the wafer stage and a polarimeter. A projection system is configured to shape and direct the light beam via the mask pattern to form an exposure beam and to individually expose each die with the exposure beam, and is configured to shape and direct the light beam to form a monitor beam and to expose the receiver with the monitor beam. The receiver is configured to communicate the monitor beam to the polarimeter which, based on the monitor beam, is configured to provide an illumination signal representative of properties of the light beam as it passes through the lithographic system.
US07880860B2
A method and apparatus for cleaning the inside of an immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed. In particular, a liquid supply system of the lithographic apparatus may be used to introduce a cleaning fluid into a space between the projection system and the substrate table of the lithographic apparatus. Additionally or alternatively, a cleaning device may be provided on the substrate table and an ultrasonic emitter may be provided to create an ultrasonic cleaning liquid.
US07880855B2
A liquid crystal display device, and a method for fabricating the same is described, in which an alignment film is formed divided into a plurality of sub-alignment films spaced from each other, and a column spacer is formed in the space between the sub-alignment films. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, and a second substrate opposite to each other, a first alignment film on the second substrate, the first alignment film having a first alignment film groove in a predetermined portion, a first spacer in the first alignment film groove, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US07880840B2
The method to produce the vertical alignment type liquid crystal display employs treating an optical film comprising of cellulous ester with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide to prepare an alkali-treated optical film; immersing a polyvinyl alcohol film in an aqueous solution containing iodine and boric acid; stretching the polyvinyl alcohol film to prepare a polarizing film; adhering the alkali-treated optical film onto both surfaces of the polarizing film to prepare a polarizing plate; and providing the polarizing plate on both surfaces of a vertical alignment type liquid crystal cell to providing the vertical alignment type liquid crystal display. At least one of the optical film has a retardation value (Rt value) in the thickness direction of from 60 to 300 nm, Rt=[(nx+ny)/2−nz]×d.
US07880838B2
A projection display includes a light source, a liquid crystal panel encapsulating a vertical alignment mode liquid crystal between a first substrate and a second substrate which are opposite to each other, the liquid crystal panel modulating light emitted from the light source, a longer axis of a molecule of the vertical alignment mode liquid crystal tilted from the normal direction of the first substrate, a projection lens projecting light modulated by the liquid crystal panel, a first polarization plate placed on an optical path from the light source to the liquid crystal panel, a second polarization plate placed on an optical path from the liquid crystal panel to the projection lens, an optical-compensation plate placed between the liquid crystal panel and the second polarization plate, and the optical-compensation plate including a plate-like base and a retardation plate formed on a surface of the plate-like base.
US07880832B2
A polarizing plate includes a base layer, a buffer layer and a plurality of conductive lattice lines. The buffer is formed on the base layer. The conductive lattice lines are formed on the buffer layer in a stripe shape to reflect and polarize incident light. The buffer layer protects the conductive lattice lines. The conductive lattice lines include a silver (Ag) layer or an aluminum (Al) layer. Therefore, the buffer layer protects the conductive lattice lines, so that the lifetime of the polarizing plate may be increased. Furthermore, the display quality of a display panel and a display device having the polarizing plate may be enhanced.
US07880831B2
An exemplary backlight module (20) includes a back frame (25) including a bottom plate (251) and light sources (24) each including a base (241). The bottom plate includes fixing structures (254) that are configured for fixing the light sources to the bottom plate such that the bases of the light sources contact the bottom plate. A liquid crystal display device (2) using the backlight module is also provided.
US07880830B2
An exemplary double-sided liquid crystal display includes a light guide plate, illuminators, a first liquid crystal panel, and a second liquid crystal panel. The light guide plate includes a first light emitting surface and a second light emitting surface. The first and second light emitting surfaces are configured for light emission. The illuminators are configured for providing light beams for the light guide plate. The first liquid crystal panel is configured for receiving the light beams from the first light emitting surface. The second liquid crystal panel is configured for receiving the light beams from the second light emitting surface. When the first liquid crystal panel is configured to display, the first liquid crystal panel is illuminated by only part of the illuminators. When the second liquid crystal panel is configured to display, the second liquid crystal panel is illuminated by all the illuminators.
US07880817B2
A receiver apparatus 3 has a digital circuit portion 13 that converts a compressed digital signal outputted from a digital demodulating portion 12 into digital video and audio signals and a video/audio output circuit 14 that converts the digital video and audio signals outputted from the digital circuit portion 13 into analog video and audio signals. With this configuration, a video/audio processing IC for digital signal processing no longer needs to be mounted on the circuit board of a video display apparatus 4, and thus a receiver system can be realized with a video display apparatus having a simple configuration.
US07880813B2
A control device includes a control section standing by to receive a control signal transmitted from a transmission section. The control section assigns, respectively to N or less control signals, instructions to be executed when the control signals are received, and generates a signal for drawing on a display device an operation menu which includes N image regions placed in an arrangement corresponding to the N sensing portions of the transmission section. Each image region represents an instruction assigned to a control signal which is transmitted when the corresponding sensing portion is pressed, such that the N instructions to be respectively assigned to the control signals are determined based on an operation state of an apparatus to be controlled in the standby state and the operation menu generated in an immediately previous standby state.
US07880805B2
An image pickup apparatus in which color signals are generated and extracted from a picked-up image signal for a plurality of regions in a screen, a wavelength component ratio is detected and calculated based on the extracted color signals for each of the plurality of regions, one or more regions in which the visible light component ratio calculated is large are selected, and the visible light component ratio of the photographing screen is determined based on the visible light component ratios of the selected regions.
US07880802B2
In response to the user's short press of one preset button, a video camera according to one aspect of the invention reads out preset values stored in an EEPROM and adjusts the pan position, the tilt position, the position of a zoom lens, the position of a focus lens based on the read-out preset values. A movable range of the focus lens is restricted to a specific limited range between a closer direction end and a background position as a previously focused position. Hill-climbing control is then performed in this restricted movable range. This arrangement effectively ensures quick adjustment of the focus position of the video camera.
US07880797B2
A tilt lens system includes a focus lens unit movable during focusing; a diaphragm sharing a primary optical axis with the focus lens unit; and a tilt lens unit, arranged on an image side of the focus lens unit and the diaphragm, having a negative refractive power and an optical axis tiltable with respect to the primary optical axis. Conditional Expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied as follows, 1.3<βt<1.7 (1) 0
US07880790B2
An image-signal processing apparatus (1) designed to process the signals output from a CCD image sensor (10) that reads pixel data for one screen, line by line, divides the pixel data into a plurality of channels and outputs the pixel data thus divided. The image-signal processing apparatus (1) detects and corrects the black level of each pixel data item that the image sensor (10) has output for one channel. The image-signal processing apparatus (1) detects and corrects the gain difference between channels, which pertain to the pixel data items output from the image sensor (10). Hence, the apparatus (1) can correct the black level of each pixel data item and the gain difference between channels with high accuracy, when used in combination with an image sensor that divides pixel data into a plurality of channels.
US07880778B2
An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device structured by a plurality of pixels having different photoelectric conversion characteristics different from each other on each side of an inflection point, correcting an error of the photoelectric conversion characteristics, thereby contributing to realization of high image quality will be provided. In the image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device structured by a plurality of pixels having different photoelectric conversion characteristics different from each other on each side of the inflection point, on the basis of the inflection point of the standard photoelectric conversion characteristic and correction data, whether or not to execute a correction using the correction data to the imaged data of the pixels and whether or not to execute characteristic transformation using the characteristic transformation section to the imaged data of the pixels are decided.
US07880774B2
An image recording apparatus and method that can store image information by thinning out latest image information at a low thinning-out ratio and thinning out old image information at a high thinning-out ratio. The image recording apparatus includes a recording unit that records plural pieces of image information received from the image pickup unit in a storage area together with recording date and time information of the respective pieces of image information; and a deleting unit that compares the present date and time and the recording date and time information recorded by the recording unit to calculate elapsed time of the respective pieces of image information and deletes the image information with the longer elapsed time at a thinning-out ratio higher than that of the image information with the shorter elapsed time.
US07880769B2
A method and apparatus for image stabilization takes an input image sequence including a plurality of frames, estimates frame-level motion vectors for each frame, and adaptively integrates the motion vectors to produce, for each frame, a motion vector to be used for image stabilization. A copy of the reference image of a frame is displaced by the corresponding adaptively integrated motion vector. In one embodiment, the perimeter of the image sensor is padded with a margin to be used for image compensation. In another embodiment, vertical and horizontal components are treated independently. In still another embodiment, the motion estimation circuitry associated with an MPEG-4 encoder is used to calculate macroblock level vectors, and a histogram is used to compute a corresponding frame-level vector for that frame.
US07880756B2
An image forming apparatus includes a photoreceptor member; a LED head that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arrayed in a line along a rotating axial direction of said photoreceptor member and that is modulated in response to image signals, so as to expose said photoreceptor member while said photoreceptor member is rotating; a deviation detecting sensor to detect deviations on a circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member; a filter to extract low frequency components including a rotational frequency component of said photoreceptor member from deviation signals detected by said deviation detecting sensor, so as to acquire deviation information with respect to said circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member; a driving section to move said LED head back and forth against said circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member; and a position controlling section to control said driving section, based on said deviation information acquired by said filter, so as to keep a distance between said LED head and said circumferential surface of said photoreceptor member constant.
US07880752B2
A plurality of image data attached to electronic mail data is stored in a memory. A control unit identifies an image having the largest width, from among images drawn by each image data. The control unit then computes a contraction scale to be used for fitting the largest image to a display area of its own display unit, and applies the contraction process to data of each of image stored in memory using the computed contraction scale. Thus contracted image data are then displayed on the display unit.
US07880743B2
An improved attribute determination process allows the sharpness of a surface attribute function to be adjusted on a per-object, per-surface, per-texture, per-function, or other appropriate basis. A computer-based animator then can selectively adjust the sharpness or other attribute(s) of portions of a to-be-rendered image without significantly increasing the rendering time. For a selected texture, corresponding sampling regions will be shifted about the respective surface points projected in texture space. A multi-dimensional set of sub-regions can be generated for the shifted sampling region. Bounding boxes can be determined for each sub-region, the boxes occupying less area, such as in texture space, than a single bounding box for the original sampling region. The bounding boxes can be used for local attribute determinations (such as texture lookups) for each sub-region, with the local attributes being processed to determine an attribute for the respective surface point.
US07880741B2
A user interface allows a user to freehand draw a probability density curve, or to select from predetermined probability densities, such as a normal distribution. The probability density represents the user's opinion regarding the probability of occurrence for different outcomes of a future event. The user can easily manipulate the shape of the probability density by dragging portions of the curve using an input device, such as to change the mean or standard deviation. Further, a scoring rule is applied to the probability density so that an updated score is displayed as the probability density is manipulated. The probability density can be input to an estimate contest or a prediction market, for instance. The user interface can also allow the user to freehand draw a scoring curve from which a probability density can be computed based on a scoring rule.
US07880738B2
A structured document file which includes graphical and non graphical information. The graphical information includes the vector and coordinate description of a representation of at least one three dimensional object and at least one of the following group of view attributes or features: rotation, translation, view angle, lighting, colors, specific graphical representations, labels and parameters. The vector and coordinate description are stored with or independently from the one or more view attributes or features and the vector and coordinate description and the one or more view attributes are stored in a single file which can be accessed and viewed by a structured document viewer. Related authoring tools and viewers are also disclosed.
US07880737B2
A method and system for making computer-aided drawings of an object directly in 3D. The object or its parts are bounded by m-dimensional enclosing subspaces whose boundaries are shrunk to intersect the topographical features of the enclosed object or its parts. The resulting boundary-boundary intersections define a set of key bounding dots which can be connected with mathematical entities such as lines, surfaces or solids to complete the drawing of the object or its parts. The entire drawing process is conducted directly in 3D on the display device with the user in control to view, freely rotate, move, pan, zoom, create, change or review the object anytime, akin to holding the object in hands in front, and looking over it while creating it. Drawings created by the invention can be grouped to represent assembled components, sub-assemblies, or entire systems. All or part of a drawing, if applicable, can also be grouped for structural modeling and analysis.
US07880729B2
Selection button isolation arrangements for use with electronic devices are presented including: a selection pad forming a substantially planar surface disposed about a first axis, the selection pad having a pad top surface, the pad top surface configured to receive a user input, the selection pad configured to actuate a number of switches; a selection button substantially co-located with and disposed about the first axis for actuating a selection button switch, the selection button configured to receive a user input; and an annular isolation ring disposed about the first axis having a standoff for mechanically isolating the selection button such that the selection button switch is not actuated by the first user input. In some embodiments, the user input indicators are selected from the group consisting of: a menu selection, a play selection, a pause selection, a forward search selection, a backward search selection, and a stop selection.
US07880727B2
User interfaces or input devices are provided with both touch-sensitive (e.g., capacitive) and mechanical hardware input portions. Mechanical switches are overlaid with a touch sensitive pad, providing improved versatility of input. An application programming interface (API) enables different modes of input operation for the mechanical and touch sensitive input portions, whereby various combinations and/or permutations of touch sensitive input portions and/or mechanical input portions are enabled or disabled to provide optimal input characteristics for a set of tasks at hand. Visual or audio indicators may be utilized to reveal the mode of operation to the user. The touch sensitive pad may be a capacitive touchpad, a touch sensitive display screen, a conveyor belt or a push pad. Up to 9 mechanical switches may be placed underneath the touch sensitive input portions.
US07880724B2
A handheld data processing device having three functional components assembled in a sliding configuration. A processor module is mechanically coupled to two sliding covers. The processor module houses circuits for performing the functions of data processing and may also include a display and input/output functionality. The two sliding covers provide protection for the processor module and may include input/output transducers such as a keypad, speaker or microphone. Embodiments of the handheld data processing device include a handheld computer, wireless telephone and handheld video display. Used as a telephone, the sliders may house a speaker and a microphone.
US07880714B2
A shift register and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The shift register includes a plurality of stages serially connected to each other. Each of the stages independently generates first and second scan pulses. The first scan pulse is simultaneously applied to a previous stage and to a corresponding gate line of a liquid crystal panel. The second scan pulse is applied to a next stage. The shift register prevents scan pulses applied to each stage from being distorted, and prevents a multi-output signal from being generated.
US07880704B2
Method of driving a liquid crystal display by supplying selectable column voltages Gj(t) from a predetermined number of column voltages levels, selection signals to groups of mutually orthogonal p rows (p≧1) for the duration of a row selection time p×nfrc during a supcrframe nfrc to generate grey scales. The column voltage is calculated depending on the grey scales of the p pixels in a column and on the mutually orthogonal selection signals Fi for the corresponding group of rows. The row selection time is subdivided in npwm sub selection time. The grey scales are coded in grey scale tables having nfrc phases with npwm. The superframes grey scales are generated using phase mixing. The change in the column voltage level defines a transition. The column voltage has always less transitions per row selection time than the number npwm of sub selection time of the row selection time.
US07880693B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display that includes a plurality of pixel circuits, a scanner, and a drive interconnect. The plurality of pixel circuits are arranged in a matrix and each includes at least one transistor of which the conduction state is controlled through the reception of a drive signal to a control terminal. The scanner outputs a drive signal to the control terminals of the transistors included in the pixel circuits. The drive interconnect is connected to the control terminals of the transistors in the pixel circuits in common and allows transmission of a drive signal output by the scanner. The drive interconnect includes a configuration that averages signal delay due to interconnect resistance differences dependent upon the distance from a drive signal output terminal of the scanner.
US07880692B2
A driver circuit of an AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diode) with gamma correction includes a voltage selector, an operational amplifier, a MOS transistor, and a resistive element. The voltage selector selects one of a plurality of gamma voltages. The operational amplifier receives the selected gamma voltage and a feedback signal to generate a control signal. The MOS transistor provides the feedback signal and conducts a current associated with a current type pixel circuit in response to the control signal. The resistive element is coupled to a first voltage end and an inverted input end of the operational amplifier for determining the current with the selected gamma voltage.
US07880690B2
To provide an electronic circuit, a method of driving the electronic circuit, an electro-optical device, a method of driving the electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus, capable of reducing deviations in threshold voltages of transistors. A pixel circuit 20 is constructed with three transistors of a driving transistor Trd, an adjusting transistor Trc and a switching transistor Trs, and two capacitors of a first capacitor C1 and a second capacitor C2. Further, a source of the adjusting transistor Trc is connected to a voltage supply line VL for supplying a driving voltage Vdd through a control transistor Q in common with the sources of the adjusting transistors Trc of other pixel circuits, the voltage supply line VL being provided at the right end side of an active matrix part.
US07880687B2
A display device for a composite image display apparatus includes: a self-state acquiring unit configured to acquire information indicating a mounting position of a self device in the composite image display apparatus and a mounting state of the self device; an other-device's-state acquiring unit configured to acquire information indicating a mounting position of each of other display devices in the composite image display apparatus and a state of each of the other display devices; and a display controlling unit configured to control display of an image to be displayed on a display section of the self device, on the basis of the information acquired by each of the self-state acquiring unit and the other-device's-state acquiring unit.
US07880667B2
Methods and apparatus for preventing spoofing of targets, such as aircraft, in an air traffic control system. In one embodiment, first and second antennas at respective ground stations can be used to receive a signal transmitted by an aircraft from which a phase signal can be generated. A position of the aircraft generate can be generated from peaks and troughs in the phase signal due to movement of the aircraft. The determined position can be compared to a position reported by the aircraft to identify spoofing of the target.
US07880664B2
The invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for correcting the weather data of radial speed, spectral width and/or differential reflectivity which have been acquired from radar echo data recorded by a ground-based, radar-based remote-sensing appliance (1) for measuring atmospheric conditions and including evaluable weather echoes and interfering ground echoes, corrected weather data being obtained by calculating out the interfering ground echoes from the acquired weather data by using a previously stored clutter map with an intensity distribution of radar echo data which include the ground echoes substantially without weather echoes.
US07880661B2
An on-die thermal sensor includes an integrating analog-digital converter not requiring a negative reference voltage input. The on die thermal sensor includes a band gap unit, an integrating unit and a counting unit. The band gap unit senses a temperature to output a first voltage corresponding to the sensed temperature. The integrating unit integrates a difference between a reference voltage and a comparing voltage to output a second voltage wherein the comparing voltage has a voltage level higher than that of the reference voltage. The counting unit counts clocks of a clock signal input thereto until the second voltage reaches the first voltage, thereby outputting a thermal code corresponding to the voltage level of the first voltage.
US07880639B2
The method of the present invention allows a first wireless control device that is operable to communicate on a predetermined one of a plurality of channels to establish communication with a second wireless control device that may be communicating on any of the plurality of channels. A beacon message is first transmitted repeatedly by the wireless control device on the predetermined channel. The second wireless control device listens for the beacon message for a predetermined amount of time on each of the plurality of channels. When the second control device receives the beacon message on the predetermined channel, the second control device begins communicating on the predetermined channel. The second wireless device may begin listening for the beacon message in response to powering up.
US07880638B2
A ballast for use in a multi-ballast lighting system wherein the ballasts are coupled together by a digital communication network. The ballast comprises a power circuit portion for providing an electrical current to power a lamp. The ballast further includes a sensor input circuit for receiving at least one sensor input from a sensor device, a processor receiving an input from the sensor input circuit and providing control signals to control the operation of the ballast, and a communication port coupled to the processor and to the communication network for exchanging data. The ballast processor is operative to receive a serial data that has a portion defining whether the message is in a first or a second format, the first format comprising a DALI standard format and the second format comprising a format providing extended functionality. The ballast processor is capable of processing messages in either the first or second formats.
US07880633B2
A cable position monitoring device is provided, for monitoring the position of a cable guided in the rollers of a roller assembly of a cable operated transportation system comprising at least one first and at least one second cable roller defining a reference roller, the cable position monitoring device comprising a movement-magnitude detecting device for determining a first movement-magnitude of the at least one first cable roller and a second movement-magnitude of the reference roller, and an evaluating device for comparing the first and second movement-magnitudes and for determining a mutual movement-magnitude deviation between the first and second movement-magnitudes which corresponds to a safe-to-operate status of the transportation system. An improved cable operated transportation system as well as a method for monitoring the position of a cable of a cable operated transportation system are also provided.
US07880629B2
A power supply device for supplying power to a communication device includes a power source, a first fuse, a second fuse, a voltage converter, a photo coupler, and a central processing unit (CPU). The voltage converter is configured for receiving first power signals from the power source via the first fuse and the second fuse, and converting the first power signals to second power signals. The photo coupler connected in parallel to the third resistor, configured for outputting a first electrical signal upon the condition that the first fuse and the second fuse are operational, and outputting a second electrical signal upon the condition that at least one of the first fuse and the second fuse is blown. The CPU is connected to the photo coupler, configured for generating an alarm message upon receiving the second electrical signal from the photo coupler.
US07880623B2
A multiple-link leak detector apparatus to be used on a floor or other substantially flat surface and in conjunction with an appliance, plumbing fixture or other potential water leak source. The leak detector apparatus includes a multiple-link sensor having two or more bodies linked together, each link body having at least two spaced apart sensor elements, and an electronics module associated with the sensor elements. The multiple-link sensor is shaped and dimensioned to rest atop the floor and can be positioned beside or around an appliance, plumbing fixture or other potential water leak source. The sensor elements extend longitudinally along the link body, wherein the sensor elements are operative to sense the presence of water on the floor. Finally, the electronics module is coupled to the sensor elements to trigger an alert in response to the presence of water on the floor.
US07880618B2
Methods and systems of determining physical characteristics associated with objects tagged with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising receiving an electromagnetic signal transmitted by a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to an object (the receiving the electromagnetic signal in response to an interrogating signal), and determining orientation of the object based, at least in part, on the electromagnetic signal.
US07880615B2
A tag manufacturing system includes an antenna forming apparatus which forms multiple antennas in such a way that the antennas are formed in a point-symmetrical arrangement including antenna orientations, on a long base sheet large enough to place multiple bases, and winds the base sheet into a roll body; an IC chip mounting apparatus which pulls the base sheet out of the roll body, mounts an IC chip on each of the antennas formed on the pulled base sheet in an orientation corresponding to an orientation of each antenna, and electrically connects the IC chip with the antenna; and a post-processing apparatus which performs post-processing of the base sheet with the IC chips mounted on the antennas to work up the base sheet into finished RFID tags.
US07880598B2
An apparatus and a computer implemented method for monitoring and recording the orientation data for an object. The orientation apparatus comprises an outer casing. Inside the outer casing is an orientation device that comprises six chambers, with a ball sensor in each chamber, and a ball. The orientation apparatus also comprises a data recorder for recording an event history of the orientation device, and a communicator for conveying the event history.
US07880593B2
The invention is an improved audible signaling device with a speaker, a sound chamber, and associated circuitry. The device creates a loud, audible fundamental frequency, and harmonic frequencies that are relatively equal in amplitude to the amplitude of the fundamental frequency.
US07880589B2
Communications device identification methods, communications methods, wireless communications readers, wireless communications systems, and articles of manufacture are described. In one aspect, a communications device identification method includes providing identification information regarding a group of wireless identification devices within a wireless communications range of a reader, using the provided identification information, selecting one of a plurality of different search procedures for identifying unidentified ones of the wireless identification devices within the wireless communications range, and identifying at least some of the unidentified ones of the wireless identification devices using the selected one of the search procedures.
US07880587B2
In a receiving method for the contactless reception of identification information (I1,12), which is stored in a data carrier (3, 3′) and which can be received from the data carrier (3, 3) in a contactless manner in the form of information units (IU, IU′) with a communication device (2), it is envisaged that firstly an information unit (R.IU) is received and that secondly it is detected that the received information unit (R.IU) represents a collision of two different information units (IU, IU′) occurring essentially simultaneously, of which two different information units (IU, IU′) the one information unit (IU) originates from a first data carrier (3) and the other information unit (IU′) originates from a second data carrier (3′), and that thirdly a received information unit (R.IU) that represents a collision is replaced with a first replacement information unit (R.IU1) established by the communication device (2), which is used instead of the information unit (R.IU) representing the collision, as the information unit (IU) that originates from the first data carrier (3), and that fourthly, the first replacement information unit (R.IU1) is delivered in a contactless manner.
US07880582B2
An electrical resistor has an electrically conductive stack, which includes a plurality of metal first layers and second layers. The stack allows to produce a highly anisotropic resistor, in which the resistance in the direction perpendicular to the layers is much higher than in the plane of the layers. The anisotropy allows the current flowing through the stack to be made homogenous, e.g., to be distributed over the entire stack surface, even if the current is input into the stack in an inhomogenous manner.
US07880579B2
Carrier device for a toroidal-core choke, holder for an inductive component, and inductive component
A carrier device for a toroidal-core choke includes a base plate, which has projecting wire-guiding devices. A holder for an inductive component includes the carrier device and an electrical isolation device. The holder can be part of an inductive component.
US07880577B1
A ripple reduction circuit for use in a current doubler rectifier has first and second inductors coupled via a first coupling coefficient. The first and second inductors generate a first and a second ripple current, respectively. A third inductor is coupled to the first and second inductors; and an impedance is connected in series with the third inductor, wherein the circuit generates a third ripple current opposing the combination of the first and second ripple currents generated by the first and second inductors.
US07880574B2
A superconducting magnet includes: first and second torus coolant containers substantially symmetrically, vertically arranged to have a space and a symmetrical plane therebetween for storing a coolant. Each of the first and second torus coolant containers includes therein a main coil bobbin with a main coil for generating a measurement magnetic field, a shield coil bobbin with a shield coil for generating a shielding magnetic field for suppressing outside leak of the measurement magnetic field, a plate member vertically reinforced at a plane thereof opposite to a plane thereof facing the symmetrical plane for supporting the shield coil bobbin and the main coil bobbin. The main coil bobbin is further supported by the shield coil bobbin, to cause the main coil to generate the measurement magnetic field having a substantially uniform magnetic field intensity at a middle region of the space. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus using the superconducting magnet is also disclosed.
US07880572B2
First rotator (25) and second rotator (29) rotating according to a rocking operation of outer lever (23) are provided. Magnetism of magnets (26) and (30) mounted on these rotators are detected by magnetic detecting elements (32) and (33) and output as a detected signal. Control portion (34) detects a rotation angle of each rotator from this detected signal and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the detected rotation angle.
US07880568B2
An linear equalizer system for a transmission channel includes an active inductor with a tunable inductance and quality factor. The active inductor includes a transconducting element. A current steering digital to analog converter controls the flow of a bias current through the transconducting element to tune the active inductor.
US07880564B2
A noise filter array includes filter elements including an LC parallel resonant circuit and an LC series resonant circuit each of which includes a coil and a capacitor provided in proximity in an array and integrally provided with one another. The LC series resonant circuits include ground capacitors having signal-side electrodes. Inductance adjustment conductors are connected to signal-side electrodes of the capacitors defining the respective filter elements, and a ground electrode of the capacitors is commonly arranged so as to oppose the signal-side electrodes.
US07880562B2
A balanced-output triplexer includes: a first filter provided between an input terminal and a pair of first balanced output terminals; a second filter provided between the input terminal and a pair of second balanced output terminals; and a third filter provided between the input terminal and a pair of third balanced output terminals. Each of the first to third filters has a pair of output resonators that are interdigital-coupled to each other and connected to the corresponding pair of balanced output terminals.
US07880560B2
A directional coupler and a receiving or transmitting device. The directional coupler includes: a primary signal line composed of a metal rod; and a coupled signal line composed of a microstrip line in a curved shape on a printed circuit board; wherein the medium between the metal rod and the microstrip line is air. Compared with existing directional coupler, the directional coupler of the embodiments of the disclosure has a lower transmitting loss, a large power capacity, and a high directional qualification. The directional coupler is capable of ensuring a higher passive intermodulation qualification. The advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure are easier assembly, good uniformity of the qualifications, and adaptability for various application environments. The directional coupler of the disclosure ensures different parameter qualifications, and is simple to assemble, so that the low cost is achieved.
US07880558B2
The application discloses a method and apparatus for adjusting internal load impedances, by section, at feed points present on a distributed amplifier's output transmission line. The method includes determining a summing-point load impedance (Zx) at an off-chip output transmission line of the distributed amplifier. The method further includes determining a driving-point load impedance (Zd) at an output of an on-chip power transistor. The driving-point load impedance diverges and disperses over frequency from that summing-point load impedance due to reactance of at least one on-chip component coupled to the output of the on-chip power transistor. The method then includes determining and providing an offset to summing-point load impedance (Zx) based on the driving-point load impedance (Zd) such that the driving-point load impedance (Zd) converges to the summing-point load impedance (Zx) of that distributed amplifier section.
US07880557B2
A hybrid Marchand/back-wave balun includes a first pair of coupled sections having a first primary section and first secondary section; a second pair of coupled sections having a second primary section and second secondary section; a first reactance interconnecting the first and second primary sections and a second reactance interconnecting the first and second secondary sections; one of the reactances being open at high frequency and shorted at low frequency, the other reactance being shorted at high frequency and open at low frequency for selectively providing low frequency Marchand/high frequency back-wave function and high frequency Marchand/low frequency back-wave function; and a double balanced mixer using same.
US07880553B2
An oscillation section for which an output frequency is controlled based on a control signal depending on an ambient temperature; a temperature compensation circuit for supplying the control signal to this oscillation section; and a switching switch circuit consisting of an output buffer and a temperature sensor output switch for which ON and OFF are controlled so that any one of an oscillation output from the oscillation section and a temperature sensor output from the temperature compensation circuit is outputted. The temperature sensor output switch is structured so that transfer gate switches are connected in a two-stage serial manner and a third switch connected to a fixed potential is sandwiched between these connection points. When an oscillation output is outputted, the transfer gate switches are OFF and the third switch is ON and, when a temperature sensor output is outputted, the transfer gate switches are ON and the third switch is OFF.
US07880552B2
A system capable of controlling an autonomous walking assist rhythm, while following changes in a walking rhythm of a walker at the same time. A control system 100 in accordance with the present invention generates a first oscillator x that tugs and is tugged by a walking oscillator (hip joint angular velocity) φH′ such that an intrinsic angular velocity is reflected. Then, a new intrinsic angular velocity ωm is determined on the basis of the difference between a first phase difference θHM between the first oscillator x and the walking oscillator φH′ and a desired phase difference θd. Furthermore, a second oscillator y is generated that tugs and is tugged by the walking oscillator φH′ such that the intrinsic angular velocity ωm is reflected, and has a second phase difference θhm, which is closer to the desired phase difference θd than the first phase difference θHM is, with respect to the walking oscillator φH′. Then, based on the second oscillator y and the walking oscillator (hip joint angle) φH, a walking assist oscillator (torque imparted to the walker by a walking assist unit 200) T is generated.
US07880551B2
Systems and methods for distributing a clock signal are disclosed. In some embodiments, systems for distributing a clock signal include a plurality of resonant oscillators, each comprising an inductor; and a differential clock grid that distributes the clock signal. The differential clock grid is coupled to the plurality of resonant oscillators and the clock signal, and the inductances of the inductors are configured such that a resonant frequency of the plurality of resonant oscillators is substantially equal to the frequency of the clock signal.
US07880546B2
An amplifier amplifying an input signal and the method thereof. The amplifier comprises first and second transconductor circuits. The first transconductor circuit, coupled to the first transistor, receives the first noise voltage to generate a first noise current. The second transconductor circuit, coupled in parallel to the first transconductor circuit, receives the second noise voltage to generate a second noise current such that the first and second noise currents cancel each other out to reduce a noise component in the output current when summing up together, and the first and second transconductor circuits are operated in a current mode.
US07880544B2
A differential amplifier includes a first pair of differential amplifiers and a second pair of differential amplifiers. These first and second pairs of differential amplifiers are connected between first power rails and are arranged to receive a differential input signal. Third and fourth pairs of differential amplifiers are connected between second rails and also connected to the differential input signal. A current summer sums a first output current of the first pair of differential amplifiers, a second output current of the second pair of differential amplifiers, a third output current of the third pair of differential amplifiers and a fourth output current of a fourth pair of differential amplifiers to produce an output signal.
US07880539B2
A power amplifier includes: a modulator pulse-modulating a drive waveform signal serving as a reference of a drive signal applied to actuators and outputting a modulated signal; a digital power amplifier amplifying the power of the modulated signal and outputting an amplified digital signal; a low pass filter smoothing the amplified digital signal and outputting the drive signal; and an inverse filter circuit being disposed at a front stage of the modulator and capable of obtaining a desired waveform precision of the drive signal even when a frequency characteristic of a filter including the low pass filter and an electrostatic capacitor of the actuators varies depending on the number of driven actuators, wherein the inverse filter circuits include a plurality of inverse filters connected in series.
US07880534B2
A reference circuit for providing a precision voltage and a precision current includes a bandgap voltage reference circuit, a positive temperature coefficient calibrating circuit, a threshold voltage superposing circuit and precision current generator interconnected in cascade. From the bandgap voltage reference circuit, a bandgap voltage is outputted as the precision voltage, and a PTAT current is outputted to the positive temperature coefficient calibrating circuit along with the bandgap voltage for generating a PTAT voltage. In response to the PTAT voltage from the positive temperature coefficient calibrating circuit, the threshold voltage superposing circuit generates a first voltage which is equal to the PTAT voltage plus a threshold voltage. Then the precision current generator outputs a reference current as the precision current in response to the first voltage.
US07880533B2
A bandgap voltage reference circuit which provides a bandgap reference voltage without requiring a resistor. The circuit comprises an amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input and an output. First and second bipolar transistors are provided which operate at different current densities each coupled to a corresponding one of the inverting and non-inverting inputs of the amplifier. A load MOS transistor of a first aspect ratio is driven by the amplifier to operate in the triode region with a corresponding drain-source resistance ron. The load MOS device is operably coupled to the second bipolar transistor such that a base-emitter difference (ΔVbe) resulting from the collector current density difference between the first and second bipolar transistors is developed across the drain-source resistance ron, of the load MOS device. A cascoded MOS device of a second aspect ratio is operably coupled to the load MOS device and is driven by the amplifier to operate in the triode region. The first and second aspect ratios are such that that the drain-source voltage of the second MOS transistor (Vds2) is a scaled representation of the base-emitter voltage difference (ΔVbe).
US07880527B2
A level converter for providing an output signal at a circuit output based on an input signal includes an output coupling circuit formed to provide an output signal based on a first partial output signal and a second partial output signal, a driver circuit formed to provide the second partial output signal such that the second partial output signal is switchable between two different signal levels depending on the state of the input signal, wherein an input of the driver circuit is capacitively coupled to the input of the level converter in order to allow for switching between the signal levels of the second partial output signal by the capacitive coupling in response to a change in the state of the input signal, and a holding circuit formed to keep the state of the second partial output signal constant in case of a constant state of the input signal.
US07880524B2
A DLL circuit includes a delay unit configured to generate a DLL clock signal by delaying a reference clock signal while adjusting a delay amount in response of a level of a control voltage. An initial operation control unit is configured to control an initial level of the control voltage and generate a detection enable signal. A delay control unit is configured to generate the control voltage by comparing a phase of the reference clock signal and a phase of the DLL clock signal in response to the detection enable signal.
US07880516B2
A method for reducing noise in a device that includes at least one phase locked loop (PLL), the method includes: adjusting at least one adjustable component of a PLL such as to determine a time shift; modulating a frequency divider such as to generate a modulation noise within a modulation noise period and to provide a frequency divided signal; introducing the time shift between the modulation noise period and a measurement period; and measuring during a measurement period a difference between a reference signal and the frequency divided signal. A device that includes a phased locked loop. The phase locked loop (PLL) includes: a frequency divider, adapted to receive an output signal from a controlled oscillator and to provide a divided frequency signal; a modulator, adapted to affect at least one frequency division characteristic and to introduce a modulation noise during a modulation noise period, a phase detector, adapted to measure, during a measurement period, a difference between a reference signal and the frequency divided signal; and an adjustable delay unit adapted to affect an adjustable time shift between the modulation period and the measurement period.
US07880515B2
A driving circuit that drives a capacitive load includes a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal driving the capacitive load via a transistor pair in response to an analog signal, and a power-source voltage generator that generates a high-voltage power-source voltage and a low-voltage power-source voltage and that supplies the high-voltage power-source voltage and the low-voltage power-source voltage respectively to collectors of the transistors of the transistor pair via a high-voltage output terminal and a low-voltage output terminal. The power-source voltage generator includes multiple power sources connected in parallel, a backcurrent prevention diode connected between the adjacent power sources, and a switch unit that connects the adjacent power sources in series under the on-off control of a controller each time the drive signal rises above a predetermined threshold value or falls below a predetermined threshold value.
US07880506B2
A logic circuit latch including an input stage for receiving a logical input signal and a pair of differential amplifiers, each having an input operatively coupled to the input stage, and at least one of them having an output arranged to supply the logical output of the latch. Each of the differential amplifiers includes a transistor connected as a load, and an output of each of the differential amplifiers is coupled to bias the load transistor of the other differential amplifier. If the latch switches from the transparent state to the closed state while the logical input signal is transitioning between logical levels, the differential amplifiers drive up the logical output of the latch if the logical input signal transitions from a first to a second logical level, and drive down the logical output of the latch if the input signal transitions from the second to the first logical level.
US07880504B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes logic circuits connected in a plurality of stages, a voltage-level inverting unit that is inserted in a signal transmission path of the logic circuits and inverts a voltage level input to the logic circuits, and an inversion-timing control unit that controls inversion timing for the voltage level inverted by the voltage-level inverting unit.
US07880490B2
A wireless interface probe card includes a substrate member and a transmission member. The substrate member has a plurality of probe terminals arranged at a constant pitch. The probe terminals may directly contact a plurality of pads arranged at a constant pitch on each of a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged on a wafer to perform a test of the semiconductor chips arranged on the wafer. The transmission member is arranged on the substrate member, wirelessly receives a test signal and provides the received test signal to the pads of the wafer through the probe terminals, and wirelessly and externally transmits an electrical characteristic signal provided from the pads of the wafer through the probe terminals.
US07880488B2
In one embodiment, a universal current leakage measurement device is disclosed. A universal current leakage testing adapter has the ability to couple with at least two differently sized or shaped probe connectors. The universal current leakage testing adapter is configured to couple with differently sized or shaped probe connectors by conductive planes either functioning independently or in concert to contact the pins of a probe connector.
US07880485B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a high-sensitive resistance measuring device of solder bumps comprises a resistance variation detection unit which detects a differential voltage (ΔV=V1−V2), which is obtained by subtracting a second voltage (V2) generated in a reference bump connection unit by a constant current (I) from a second constant current source from a first voltage (V1) generated in a monitored bump connection unit by the constant current I from a first constant current source, as a resistance variation voltage representing a resistance variation (ΔR) of the monitored bump connection unit.
US07880482B2
A sensor device and a method of making a sensor device. The sensor device includes a coil arrangement including a primary coil and a secondary coil. A conduit that is traversable by a flow in a figure-8 pattern is disposed as a yoke about the coil arrangement such that the coil arrangement is disposed in a vicinity of an intersection of the figure-8 pattern. The conduit includes at least two parts. A parting plane of the two parts is configured so as to enable the coil arrangement to be slip-fit mounted on the conduit before the two parts are joined together.
US07880462B2
A pulsed coil drive for a sampled inductive transducer has at least one drive coil connected in a series circuit with a capacitor having a first terminal connected to the negative terminal of a voltage source. The series circuit is normally open during the intervals between pulses. Sampling occurs once per pulse. Each pulse's sampling interval is preceded by a pre-sampling interval and followed by a post-sampling interval. The supply voltage that is applied across the series circuit during both the pre- and post-sampling intervals is applied by switching a first terminal of the coil's free terminal to the voltage source's positive terminal through a p-channel MOSFET. During the sampling interval, the series circuit is shorted by switching the coil's free terminal to the voltage source's negative terminal through an n-channel MOSFET.
US07880450B2
A switching power supply includes: a first switch provided between one end of a DC power supply and one end of a load; a second switch provided between a node of the first switch located on a load side and another end of the DC power supply; a capacitor provided between the second switch and the another end of the DC power supply; a third switch provided between a node of the first switch located on a DC power supply side and a node between the second switch and the capacitor; and a delay circuit that is provided between the third switch and the node between the second switch and the capacitor and delays a current for charging the capacitor, wherein the second switch is turned on in a period during which the first switch is kept on.
US07880444B2
The invention relates to a method for the balanced charging of n cells which form a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery and which are connected in series. The invention is characterised in that the method consists in monitoring the charge levels of the different cells (1) from the moment (t1) following the beginning of the battery (2) charging operation until said operation ends normally or is interrupted; and, as a function of the pre-evaluation of said charge levels, either powering of all the cells (1) uniformly or balancing the cell (1) charge levels by powering same in a differentiated manner as a function of the current charge levels thereof.
US07880442B2
One of first through fourth target state of charge levels, which are set at values that increase gradually over time, is selected on the basis of an ON/OFF state of a specific current consumer installed in the vehicle and a state of charge immediately preceding an engine stoppage. A target state of charge is set on the basis of the selected target state of charge level and an elapsed time after the lead storage battery is installed in the vehicle, whereupon the target state of charge is compared with the actual state of charge of the lead storage battery. The lead storage battery is charged in accordance with the comparative result.
US07880437B2
A quick conditioning cycle system to avoid performance degradation at the end of calibrating cycle. The quick conditioning cycle system discharges a battery to a level where battery remaining capacity is still high enough to backup memory at a guaranteed period of time. During the quick learning cycle, the battery pack is discharged from a full charge. If measured capacity exceeds a predetermined threshold (Cpc), calibration stops. Otherwise, the quick conditioning cycle system reports a defected battery when measured capacity is less than Cpc and continues discharging to a full conditioning cycle, if desired.
US07880427B2
A two-stranded electronically commutated DC motor has a permanent-magnet rotor (36), power supply terminals (28, 30) for connecting the motor to a current source (22) and a stator (102) having a winding arrangement which includes first and second winding strands (52, 54). The latter are controlled by respective first and second semiconductor switches (70, 80). The motor also has a third controllable semiconductor switch (50), arranged in a supply lead from one of the terminals (28, 30) to the winding strands (52, 54), which third switch is alternately switched on and off by applying to it a PWM (Pulse Width Modulated) signal 24. During switch-off intervals, magnetic flux energy stored in the motor causes a decaying loop current (i2) to run through the windings, continuing to drive the rotor. This facilitates conformal mapping of temperature information in the PWM signal onto a target motor rotation speed.
US07880413B1
Control over velocity of a model train may be determined based upon the speed of rotation of a control knob. A processor receives electronic pulses indicating rotation of the knob beyond a predetermined increment of angular distance. The processor calculates the amount of power ultimately conveyed to the model train based not only upon the number of pulses received, but also upon the elapsed time between these pulses. The shorter the elapsed time between pulses, the greater the change in power communicated to the train. Initially, a user can rapidly rotate the knob to attain coarse control over a wide range of velocities, and then rotate the knob more slowly to achieve fine-grained control over the coarse velocity. Utilizing the control scheme in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, in a compact and uninterrupted physical motion, a user can rapidly exercise both coarse and fine control over velocity of a model train.
US07880408B2
The invention relates to a method for designing a radio-frequency cavity, in particular to be used in a cyclotron, radio-frequency cavity (2) comprising a conductive enclosure or “liner” (3) connected by at least two essentially inductive elements or “stems” (4) to a capacitive electrode (2′), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following subsequent steps: A. subdividing the volume of said radio-frequency cavity (2) in a number of sub-cavities (10,20,30) corresponding to at least two stems (4), each sub-cavity comprising a respective (stem4); B. imposing a condition of magnetic orthonormality on the separation surfaces between said at least two sub-cavities (10,20,30); C. independently for each of said at least two sub-cavities (10,20,30), calculating the size and/or the position of the respective stem (4) with respect to the physical conditions at the boundaries. The invention further relates to a radio-frequency cavity realized using the method according to the invention, and a cyclotron using such a cavity.
US07880407B2
System and method for driving a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps. The system includes a subsystem configured to receive at least a DC voltage and generate a first AC voltage in response to at least the DC voltage, a power converter configured to receive the first AC voltage and convert the first AC voltage to at least a second AC voltage, and a plurality of current balancing devices. Each of the plurality of current balancing devices is configured to receive two currents and balance the two currents. The power converter and the plurality of current balancing devices are capable of being directly or indirectly coupled to a plurality of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps.
US07880405B2
The invention includes an electronic ballast that is operable to receive a ballast factor setting that enables the ballast to provide a desired ballast factor when the ballast drives a lamp. The electronic ballast includes an input that is adapted to receive a ballast factor setting that represents a desired ballast factor for the ballast and a respective lamp. The ballast further includes a memory that is adapted to store the ballast factor setting, and the ballast includes a processor that uses the ballast factor setting stored in the memory to cause the ballast to provide the desired ballast factor as the ballast drives the lamp. The ballast includes means for substantially preventing subsequently changing the ballast factor setting stored in the memory. Various business methods are further provided as a function of the electronic ballast.
US07880404B2
Various circuits are described herein where a series transistor used to control current through a string of LEDs, driven by a high voltage, is not subjected to the high voltage when the transistor is turned off pursuant to a PWM signal. To avoid the transistor experiencing the high voltage, the HV regulator is disabled shortly before the transistor is turned off and is enabled shortly after the transistor has turned back on. Control circuits for controlling the regulator and transistor include delay circuits and/or voltage sensing circuits to ensure that the transistor is always on prior to the voltage regulator being enabled pursuant to the incoming PWM signal, and the voltage regulator is always disabled when the first transistor is off pursuant to the incoming PWM signal.
US07880402B2
An electrodeless plasma lamp is described comprising a lamp body including a solid dielectric material. The lamp includes a bulb received at least partially within an opening in the solid dielectric material and a radio frequency (RF) feed configured to provide power to the solid dielectric material. A conductive material is provided adjacent to the bulb to concentrate the power proximate the bulb. The conductive material may be located below an upper surface of the solid dielectric material. The conductive material may modify at least a portion of an electric field proximate the bulb so that the portion of the electric field is oriented substantially parallel to an upper surface of the lamp body.
US07880400B2
An apparatus, method and system are provided for controlling the solid state lighting, such as LEDs. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a switch for switching electrical current through the LEDs, a current sensor; a first comparator adapted to determine when a switch electrical current has reached a first predetermined threshold; a second comparator adapted to determine when the switch electrical current has reached a predetermined average current level; and a controller. The controller is adapted to turn the switch into an on state and an off state, to determine a first on time period as a duration between either a detection of a second predetermined current threshold or the turning the switch into the on state, and the detection of the predetermined average current level; to determine a second on time period as a duration between the detection of the predetermined average current level and the detection of the first predetermined current threshold; and to determine an on time period of the switch as substantially proportional to a sum of the first on time period and the second on time period. Additional exemplary embodiments utilize a difference between the first and second on time periods to generate an error signal to adjust the on time period of the switch.
US07880396B2
A projector device employing ballast with a flyback converter is disclosed. For example, one embodiment comprises a lamp driver circuit including a power stage circuit including a flyback converter to output a direct current signal to a bridge circuit, the bridge circuit to reconstruct the direct current signal to an alternating current signal, a control circuit coupled with the power stage circuit and the bridge circuit, the control circuit to receive the direct current signal from the power stage circuit and to provide a frequency control signal to the bridge circuit, and a lamp igniter circuit comprising at least one charge pump and being coupled with the bridge circuit, wherein in response to the frequency control signal being provided to the bridge circuit, the bridge circuit is configured to increase the voltage of the alternating current signal provided to the lamp igniter circuit to power the lamp igniter circuit.
US07880394B2
A lighting system comprises a light fixture (100) and a corresponding remote control transmitter (200). The light fixture can comprise at least one electrically energizable light source (102), at least one local condition sensor (103), a receiver (105), a memory (104), and a controller (101). The controller automatically controls energization of the light source as a function of input from the location condition sensor(s) and at least one stored modifiable operating parameter. The controller also automatically modifies the modifiable operating parameter(s) in response to instructions (106) as are received via the receiver. The wireless remote control transmitter (200) comprises a transmitter (202), an end user interface (203), and a controller (201). The controller processes inputs from an end user (as entered via the end user interface) regarding at least one of the aforementioned manipulable operating parameters and transmits this information to the aforementioned light fixture.
US07880387B2
A PDP is equipped with a front glass substrate and a back glass substrate which face each other on either side of a discharge space, row electrode pairs formed on the front glass substrate, a dielectric layer covering the row electrode pairs, a protective layer covering the dielectric layer, and a partition wall unit partitioning the discharge space into discharge cells. The partition wall unit has an approximate grid shape. The protective layer has a crystalline MgO layer essentially containing an MgO crystal causing a cathode-luminescence emission having a peak within a wavelength range of 200 nm to 300 nm upon excitation by an electron beam.
US07880386B2
A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel includes a front substrate, a rear substrate facing the front substrate, barrier ribs positioned in an active area, and a sealant disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate in a dummy area. The rear substrate includes a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer in the dummy area includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness. The first thickness is different from the second thickness.
US07880378B2
Provided is a means for improving the capability of injecting electrons from a cathode in a luminous element and solving problems about the production process thereof. In the present invention, a material having a smaller work function than a cathode material is used to form an inorganic conductive layer between the cathode and an organic compound layer. In this way, the capability of injecting electrons from the cathode can be improved. Furthermore, the film thereof can be thicker than that of a conventional cathode buffer layer formed by using an insulating material. Therefore, the film thickness can easily be controlled, and a decrease in production costs and an improvement in yield can be achieved.
US07880374B2
A display device (10) includes a plurality of gas discharge tubes (11R, 11G, 11B, . . . ) sandwiched between a front support plate (31) and a plurality of rear support plates (321, 322, . . . 328). The display device further includes: a plurality of display electrodes (2) formed on a surface of the front support plate facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes to extend across tube axes of the plurality of gas discharge tubes; a plurality of signal electrodes (3) formed on surfaces of the plurality of rear support plates facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes to extend along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of gas discharge tubes. Another rear support plate (330) for supporting the plurality of rear support plates is disposed on surfaces of the plurality of rear support plates opposite to the surfaces facing the plurality of gas discharge tubes.
US07880373B2
A field emission electron source includes at least one electron emission member. Each electron emission member includes a conductive body and an electron emission layer formed on the conductive body. The conductive body has an upper portion. The electron emission layer is formed on, at least, the upper portion of the conductive body. The electron emission layer includes a glass matrix; and at least one carbon nanotube, and a plurality of metallic conductive particles and getter powders dispersed in the glass matrix. A method for making such field emission electron source is also provided.
US07880371B2
A composite for a transducer facilitates an increased actuation force as compared to similar prior art composites for transducers. The composite facilitates increased compliance of the transducer in one direction, an improved reaction time as compared to similar prior art composites for transducers, and provides an increased lifetime of the transducer in which it is applied.
US07880370B2
An energy harvesting system includes a composite structure that includes a base spring and a first piezoelectric element. The first piezoelectric element is mounted on the base spring. The base spring has a base spring thickness, a base spring length, and a base spring width. The base spring is for vibrating around an axis parallel to the base spring width. The base spring thickness varies from position to position along a direction parallel to the base spring length. The base spring thickness varies to provide the first piezoelectric element with constant strain when the base spring vibrates around the axis parallel to the base spring width.
US07880366B2
A three-dimensional stack-type piezo element has at least one surface that is shaped perpendicular to layer planes of the stack, so that, at least in sections, it is not parallel to a stacking direction of the piezo element.
US07880360B2
A stator assembly is provided and includes a laminated core and a one-part insulator having cover walls for covering edges of the laminated core, wherein first projections and a second projection both having a height smaller than the difference between the height of the cover walls and the thickness of the laminated core are formed on one side surface of the insulator in such a manner as to make contact with a part of one axial end side surface of the laminated core, whereby a gap which corresponds to the projection distance of the first and second projections and which serves as a clearance space for chips scraped by the edges of the laminated core from the surfaces of the cover walls is provided between the insulator and the laminated core, resulting in ensuring that the insulator is snap-fitted on the laminated core in good shape.
US07880352B2
A spring-sheet-type vibration motor comprises a motor body with an output shaft on a front end and an end cap coupled between a supporting bracket and the motor body on the rear end. The end cap supports one or more electric brushes against the motor body. The supporting bracket includes an end face and a prolonged portion extending therefrom toward the front end of the motor body. One or more connecting terminals are coupled to the supporting bracket, with a first portion coupled to the end face and a front end of a second portion coupled to the prolonged portion. Each terminal further includes a third portion extending obliquely away from the front end of the second portion, a fourth portion bending upward from an end of the third portion, and a contact disposed on a lower surface of a connecting area of the third portion and the fourth portion.
US07880337B2
A high power wireless resonant energy transfer system transfers energy across an airgap.
US07880333B1
A method for low voltage flow control, which includes creating an enclosure with a body and a movable door. The enclosure can include a bulkhead forming a top compartment and a bottom compartment, a back plane for supporting electronic equipment, and lifting eyes secured to the enclosure. The method can include disposing batteries in the bottom compartment. A wireless communication unit and a remote terminal unit can be installed on the back plane and can be connected to the batteries. An uninterruptable power supply, an A/C terminal low voltage distribution, and a DC-DC converter can be installed on the back plane. A flow controller can also be installed on the back plane and can be in communication with the A/C terminal, the remote terminal unit, and the wireless communication unit for monitoring and regulating flow control through the enclosure.
US07880323B2
A new and novel wind generator system particularly suitable for small wind applications that harnesses low velocity wind effectively. In a preferred embodiment, the wind generator system has a drive shaft; a plurality of blades attached to the drive shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom; a generator assembly coupled to the drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and a housing having an inner chamber for receiving the plurality of blades and a wind directional apparatus that operates to adjust the speed of the wind and to channel wind along a desired flow pathway towards the plurality of blades.
US07880322B2
Fluid turbine devices and methods related to fluid turbine devices are disclosed herein. One example method includes deflecting a first portion of a fluid flow from a return path of at least a portion of a vertical blade assembly, while permitting a second portion of the fluid flow to enter a drive path of the vertical blade assembly. One example fluid turbine device includes a vertical blade assembly having multiple blades and a shroud rotatable relative to the vertical blade assembly. The shroud includes a leading edge portion for deflecting a first portion of a fluid flow from entering a return path of at least a portion of the vertical blade assembly and a portion defining multiple openings configured to permit fluid from within a compartment defined by the vertical blade assembly to exhaust out of the return path.
US07880318B1
A sensing system includes a nanowire, a passivation layer established on at least a portion of the nanowire, and a barrier layer established on the passivation layer.
US07880308B2
There is disclosed a semiconductor device comprising at least two substrates, at least one wiring being provided in each of the substrates, the substrates being stacked such that major surfaces on one side of each thereof oppose each other and the wirings being connected between the major surfaces, and a plurality of connecting portions being provided adjacent to each other while connected to each wiring on the major surfaces opposing each other, at least one of the connecting portions provided on the same major surface being formed smaller than the adjacent other connecting portion, the connecting portions being provided at positions opposing each other one to one on the major surface, the connecting portions being connected so that the wirings are connected between the major surfaces, one connecting portion of a pair of the connecting portions connected one to one being formed smaller than the other connecting portion.
US07880306B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface; an element separation film formed on the main surface in an element separation area and extending in a first direction; and a semiconductor element formed on the main surface in an active area and arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The semiconductor element includes a metal silicide film. The metal silicide film includes a first portion adjacent to the element separation film. The semiconductor device further includes an interlayer insulation film formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a wiring portion formed on the interlayer insulation film; and a conductive plug formed in the interlayer insulation film for electrically connecting the semiconductor elements and the wiring portion. The conductive plug is situated on the element separation film and the metal silicide film.
US07880301B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element including a semiconductor substrate having an element region, a laminated film formed on the semiconductor substrate and including a low dielectric constant insulating film, and a laser-machined groove provided to cut at least the low dielectric constant insulating film. The semiconductor element is connected to a wiring substrate via a bump electrode. An underfill material is filled between the semiconductor element and the wiring substrate. The fillet length Y (mm) of the underfill material satisfies a condition of Y>−0.233X+3.5 (where X>0, and Y>0) with respect to the width X (μm) of the laser-machined groove.
US07880289B2
Provided are a semiconductor package having connection terminals whose side surfaces are exposed and a semiconductor module including such a semiconductor package. Also provided are methods of fabricating the semiconductor package and semiconductor module. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip including a semiconductor wafer having first and second opposite surfaces and a plurality of conductive pads arranged in a row on the first surface along the edges of the semiconductor wafer such that a side surface of each conductive pad is exposed. An insulating layer is formed on the first surface of the semiconductor wafer and includes openings for exposing parts of the conductive pads. A plurality of connection terminals are respectively arranged on the conductive pads exposed through the openings and a reinforcing member is arranged on the insulating layer to cover a portion of each connection terminal.
US07880281B2
A switching assembly is disclosed for a high voltage aircraft ignition system. The switching assembly includes a ceramic substrate and switch die that includes an anode bonded to an electrical pad on the ceramic substrate. The switch die includes a semiconductor device having a plurality of interleaved gates and cathodes, and includes a ceramic cap having at least one gate pad connected to the gates and at least one cathode pad connected to the cathodes. The switching assembly includes leads connected to the gate pad, the cathode pad, and the electrical pad on the substrate. The switch die and a portion of the leads are potted to form the completed assembly.
US07880272B2
Aspects of the present invention include a semiconductor device and method. In a transition region of a semiconductor material region, a near-surface compensation doping area with a conductivity type, which is different than the conductivity type of a transition doping area of the semiconductor material region, is provided in the surface region of the semiconductor material region. The doping of the near-surface compensation doping area of the semiconductor device at least partially compensates for the doping in the transition doping area.
US07880263B2
A shallow trench isolation structure for integrated circuits. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a buffered oxide layer overlying the semiconductor substrate. A pad nitride layer is overlying the buffered oxide layer. An implanted region is formed around a perimeter of the trench region. A trench region is formed within the semiconductor substrate. The trench region has a bottom width of less than 0.13 microns and an upper width of less than 0.13 microns. A rounded edge region is within a portion of the semiconductor substrate surrounding a periphery of the trench region. The rounded edges have a radius of curvature greater than about 0.02 um. A planarized high density plasma fill material is formed within the trench region. The structure has a P-well region within the semiconductor substrate and bordering a vicinity of the trench region. A channel region is within the P-well region within the semiconductor substrate. The implanted region has a concentration of more than double an amount of impurities as impurities in the channel region.
US07880259B2
A solid-state image sensor capable of improving detection sensitivity for an output signal is provided. This solid-state image sensor comprises a first gate electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate, a first impurity region formed on the semiconductor substrate at a first distance from the first gate electrode for receiving the signal charges and a second gate electrode formed at a second distance from the first impurity region for discharging unnecessary signal charges after extraction of a voltage signal from the first impurity region. The first distance between the first impurity region and the first gate electrode is larger than the second distance between the first impurity region and the second gate electrode.
US07880256B2
The invention provides a semiconductor device with a bonding pad made of a wiring layer including aluminum and its manufacturing method that enhance the yield of the semiconductor device. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device of the invention includes removing a portion of an antireflection layer (e.g. made of a titanium alloy) formed on an uppermost second wiring layer (e.g. made of aluminum) on a semiconductor substrate by etching, forming a passivation layer covering the antireflection layer and a portion of the second wiring layer where the antireflection layer is not formed and having an opening exposing the other portion of the second wiring layer, and dividing the semiconductor substrate into a plurality of semiconductor dice by dicing. These processes can prevent the antireflection layer from being exposed in the opening, and this can prevent a component of the second wiring layer from being eluted due to cell reaction between the second wiring layer and the antireflection layer as has been seen in the conventional art.
US07880251B2
A structure includes a film having a plurality of nanoapertures. The nanoapertures are configured to allow the transmission of a predetermined subwavelength of light through the film via the plurality of nanoapertures. The structure also includes a semiconductor layer in connection with the film to facilitate the detection of the predetermined subwavelength of light transmitted through the film.
US07880248B1
A semiconductor device. The device includes a substrate and an integrated circuit chip. The device also includes an electrically or thermally reactive layer located between a top surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the integrated circuit chip, wherein the reactive layer is positioned such that detection of tampering causes the reactive layer to be electrically or thermally energized such that the semiconductor device is at least partially destroyed.
US07880245B2
An electronic device, including a substrate, a functional structure constituting a functional element formed on the substrate, and a cover structure forming a cavity portion in which the functional structure is disposed, is disclosed. In the electronic device, the cover structure includes a laminated structure of an interlayer insulating film and a wiring layer, the laminated structure being formed on the substrate in such a way that it surrounds the cavity portion, and the cover structure has an upside cover portion covering the cavity portion from above, the upside cover portion being formed with part of the wiring layer that is disposed above the functional structure.
US07880227B2
A trench IGBT is disclosed which includes a semiconductor substrate having formed therein a set of cell trenches formed centrally and a set of annular guard trenches concentrically surrounding the cell trenches. The cell trenches receive cell trench conductors via cell trench insulators for providing IGBT cells. The guard trenches receive guard trench conductors via guard trench insulators for enabling the IGBT to withstand higher voltages through mitigation of field concentrations. Capacitive coupling conductors overlie the guard trench conductors via a dielectric layer, each for capacitively coupling together two neighboring ones of the guard trench conductors. The capacitive coupling conductors are easily adjustably variable in shape, size and placement relative to the guard trench conductors for causing the individual guard trench conductors to possess potentials for an optimal contour of the depletion layer.
US07880219B2
A nonvolatile charge trap memory device and a method to form the same are described. The device includes a channel region having a channel length with <100> crystal plane orientation. The channel region is between a pair of source and drain regions and a gate stack is disposed above the channel region.
US07880212B2
Method for producing a dielectric interlayer and storage capacitor with such a dielectric interlayer
A dielectric interlayer, especially for a storage capacitor, is formed from a layer sequence subjected to a temperature process, wherein the layer sequence has at least a first metal oxide layer and a second metal oxide layer formed by completely oxidizing a metal nitride layer to higher valency.
US07880211B2
An anti-fuse includes a gate dielectric layer formed over a substrate, a gate electrode including a body portion and a plurality of protruding portions extending from the body portion, wherein the body portion and the protruding portions are formed to contact on the gate dielectric layer, and a junction region formed in a portion of the substrate exposed by sidewalls of the protruding portions.
US07880210B2
An integrated circuit including an insulating structure below a source/drain region and a method. One embodiment includes a memory cell with an access transistor and a storage element. A first source/drain region of the access transistor is electrically coupled to the storage element. A first insulating structure is disposed between the first source/drain region and a first portion of a semiconductor substrate, the first portion being arranged below the first source/drain region. A channel region of the access transistor is formed between the first and a second source/drain region of the access transistor in an active area being electrically coupled to the first portion of the semiconductor substrate.
US07880204B2
A Silicon photodetector contains an insulating substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. A Silicon layer is located on the top surface of the insulating substrate, where the Silicon layer contains a center region, the center region being larger in thickness than the rest of the Silicon layer. A top Silicon dioxide layer is located on a top surface of the center region. A left wing of the center region and a right wing of the center region are doped. The Silicon photodetector also has an active region located within the center region, where the active region contains a tailored crystal defect-impurity combination and Oxygen atoms.
US07880200B2
A semiconductor device and production method is disclosed. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device includes a first electrode and a second electrode, located on surfaces of a semiconductor body, and an insulated gate electrode. The semiconductor body has a contact groove for the first electrode in an intermediate oxide layer. Highly doped zones of a first conduction type are located in edge regions of the source connection zone. Below the highly doped zones of the first conduction type, there are highly doped zones of a body zone with a complementary conduction type. In a central region of the source connection zone, the body zone has a net charge carrier concentration with a complementary conduction type which is lower than the charge carrier concentration in the edge regions of the source connection zone.
US07880199B2
A semiconductor device is provided with: a semiconductor substrate of a predetermined electroconduction type; a hetero semiconductor region contacted with a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate and comprising a semiconductor material having a bandgap different from that of the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode formed through a gate insulator layer at a position adjacent to a junction region between the hetero semiconductor region and the semiconductor substrate; a source electrode connected to the hetero semiconductor region; and a drain electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate; wherein the hetero semiconductor region includes a contact portion contacted with the source electrode, at least a partial region of the contact portion is of the same electroconduction type as the electroconduction type of the semiconductor substrate, and the partial region has an impurity concentration higher than an impurity concentration of at least that partial region of a gate-electrode facing portion in the hetero semiconductor region which is positioned to face toward the gate electrode through the gate insulator layer.
US07880193B2
A method and system for fabricating an integral electromagnetic radiation shield for an electronic package is disclosed. Various embodiments include exposing a portion of at least one ground contact feature in an electronic package by removing a portion of the electronic package above the at least one ground contact feature to form at least one trench above the at least one ground contact feature; depositing electromagnetic radiation shield material in the at least one trench to substantially fill the at least one trench with a trench deposit; and depositing additional electromagnetic radiation shield material over a substantial portion of the electronic package, wherein the electromagnetic radiation shield material in the trench and over the substantial portion of the electronic package form an integral electromagnetic radiation shield which is electrically connected to the at least one ground contact feature.
US07880190B2
A combined semiconductor apparatus has a substrate, a thin semiconductor film attached directly or indirectly to one major surface of the substrate, and a lens attached to the opposite surface of the substrate. The thin semiconductor film includes a light-emitting element that emits light through the substrate. After passing through the substrate, the emitted light is focused by the lens. The substrate functions as a spacing element, assuring that the lens is positioned at the correct distance from the light-emitting element without the need for separate alignment. The substrate also holds the lens without the need for a separate lens holder. Driving circuitry may also be formed on the substrate.
US07880185B2
In an LED array chip (2), LEDs (6) are connected together in series by a bridging wire (30). The LEDs (6) each have a semiconductor multilayer structure (8-18) including a light emitting layer (14). Here, the semiconductor multilayer structure (8-18) is epitaxially grown on a front surface of an SiC substrate (4). A phosphor film (48) covers the LEDs (6). Two power supply terminals (36 and 38), which are electrically independent from each other, are formed on a back surface of the SiC substrate (4). The power supply terminal (36) is connected to a cathode electrode (32) of an LED (6a) at a lower potential end by a bridging wire (40) and a plated-through hole (42). The power supply terminal (38) is connected to an anode electrode (34) of an LED (6d) at a higher potential end by a bridging wire (44) and a plated-through hole (46).
US07880182B2
A light-emitting element array includes a conductive substrate; an adhesive layer disposed on the conductive substrate; a first epitaxial light-emitting stack layers disposed on the adhesive layer, the first epitaxial light-emitting stack layers including a first p-contact and an first n-contact, wherein the first p-contact and the first n-contact are disposed on the same side of the first epitaxial light-emitting stack layer; and a second epitaxial light-emitting stack layers disposed on the adhesive layer including a second p-contact and an second n-contact, wherein the second p-contact and the second n-contact are disposed on the opposite side of the epitaxial light-emitting stack layer; wherein the first epitaxial light-emitting stack layers and the second epitaxial light-emitting stack layers are electrically connected in anti-parallel.
US07880170B2
Thin film transistor array panel using organic semiconductor and a method for manufacturing the same
The present invention disclosed an organic thin film transistor, an organic thin film transistor array substrate and an organic thin film transistor display. The present invention disclosed organic materials which is proper for the application to a large screen display. The presentation also disclosed structures and a method for manufacturing such an organic thin film transistor, the organic thin film transistor array substrate and the organic thin film transistor display.
US07880163B2
A novel nanostructure device operating in Junction Field Effect Transistor (JFET) mode is provided that avoids the majority of the carriers that interact with the interface (e.g. surface roughness, high-k scattering).
US07880160B2
A memory includes a first tunneling field effect transistor including a first drain and a first source, the first drain coupled to a first resistive memory element. The memory includes a second tunneling field effect transistor including a second drain and sharing the first source, the second drain coupled to a second resistive memory element. The memory includes a first region coupled to the first source for providing a source node.
US07880158B2
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile memory such as, for example a ROM or an EPROM, in which the information density of the memory is increased relative to a conventional nonvolatile memory that includes two logic state devices. Specifically, the nonvolatile memory of the present invention includes a SiN/TaN/SiN thin film resistor embedded within a material having a thermal conductivity of about 1 W/m-K or less; and a non-linear Si-containing device coupled to the resistor. Read and write circuits and operations are also provided in the present application.
US07880156B2
A method includes simultaneously illuminating a material using multiple first radiances and measuring multiple second radiances from the material. Each second radiance includes at least a portion of two or more first radiances that have interacted with the material. The method also includes determining a structure of the material based on the measurements. The first radiances may be directed at the material from different directions, and the second radiances may be measured at different positions around the material. The structure of the material could be determined by determining at least one of a scattering profile and an absorption profile. If the material includes a sheet of paper, a boundary between two layers in the sheet of paper could be identified by a discontinuity in the scattering profile, and a non-uniform distribution of a filler in the sheet of paper could be identified by a smooth variation in the scattering profile.
US07880155B2
A substrate processing apparatus has a substrate transport apparatus for transporting substrates, a sensor, and a control system. The processing apparatus is adapted to effect relative movement between the substrate and the sensor. The processing apparatus is further adapted to determine a position of the substrate by sensing the substrate with the sensor.
US07880144B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a medium; a specimen; a method for preparing the specimen; a method for observing the specimen; a sample cell; and an electron microscope capable of easily solving the problem of charge-up and further capable of observing a real shape or the like of a sample with a SEM, a TEM or the like. For the purpose of achieving the above-described object, the present invention uses an electrical conductivity-imparting liquid medium, for use in a microscope, which includes an ionic liquid as an essential component thereof and is impregnated into the entirety of a SEM or TEM sample or applied to the observation surface of a SEM or TEM sample to impart electrical conductivity at least to the observation surface of the sample. According to the present invention, the charge built up on the sample surface can be released simply by impregnating or coating the sample with the ionic liquid, and hence the problem of charge-up can be easily solved. Further, even when a sample impregnated or coated with the ionic liquid is placed under vacuum, the ionic liquid is not evaporated from the sample, and hence a biological sample can be observed as it is in an original shape.
US07880133B2
Method and apparatus enable direct measurement of at least one flow velocity for one or more phases within a multiphase fluid mixture flowing in a conduit. Some embodiments provide determination of actual individual phase flow rates for three phases (e.g., oil, water and gas) that are distinct from one another within the fluid mixture. A multiphase flowmeter according to embodiments of the invention includes at least two optical sensors spatially distributed along a length of the conduit and designed to detect light interactions with the fluid mixture unique to the phases such that detected time-varying signals can be processed via cross-correlation or an array processing algorithm to provide desired individual phase flow velocity for oil, water and/or gas phases. This flow velocity can be applied to phase fraction measurements, which can be obtained utilizing the same flowmeter or another separate device, to calculate the flow rates for the phases.
US07880124B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to package a device. Heat is localized on a die having bumps on a package substrate using a first induction heater operating at a first frequency. Heat is localized on at least an integrated heat spreader (IHS), a thermal interface material (TIM), an underfill, and a sealant on the die using a second induction heater operating at a second frequency.
US07880118B2
A method for cutting a nonmetal material is provided. The method includes steps of (a) generating a tension stress on a surface of the nonmetal material by exerting a bending stress thereon; (b) providing a thermal effect along a path direction on the surface, wherein the thermal effect grows along a direction opposite to the path direction; (c) providing a first cryogenic effect in a first incident direction along the path direction; and (d) providing a second cryogenic effect in a second incident direction along the path direction, wherein a crack along the path direction on the surface is formed as a result of the tension stress, the thermal effect, and the cryogenic effects therealong for cutting the nonmetal material.
US07880103B2
A microswitch with push-in wire connectors is provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the microswitch may include a plunger for activating the switch, a first stationary contact, a second stationary contact, a movable contact, and a snap-spring assembly reactive to the plunger for switching the movable contact between making electrical contact with the first stationary contact and making electrical contact with the second stationary contact. The microswitch may include a first push-in wire connector for electrically connecting an end of a first wire to the first stationary contact, a second push-in wire connector for electrically connecting an end of a second wire to the second stationary contact, and a third push-in wire connector for electrically connecting an end of a third wire to the movable contact. Alternatively, or in addition, the microswitch may include a housing that, when viewed from the first surface, may have a footprint that is generally rectangular in shape except for a first housing projection and a second housing projection that extend out from different sides of the housing. The first housing projection and the second housing projection may house first and second push-in wire connectors, as desired.
US07880091B2
An electronic device substrate having: a base material formed of a thin board; an electrical insulation layer formed on the base material and having plural openings in a thickness direction thereof; and a metal plating layer filled in the plural openings. The base material has a metal layer, a release layer formed contacting the metal layer, and a metal film formed contacting the release layer.
US07880090B2
A guide element for passing one or more pipes, cables or the like through a wall includes an interposition element between the one or more pipes and the edge of the passage aperture, and an annular clamping flange on one or both sides of the wall. The flange is substantially concentric with the aperture and it is coupled to the wall along an annular perimetric strip surrounding the aperture. The interposition element is an elastic wedging and/or urging element between one or more pipes and the edge of the aperture, and the ring or flange clamps the interposition element in a wedged and/or urged condition.
US07880088B2
A bus system is disclosed for use with switching devices, such as power electronic devices. The system includes generally parallel bus elements that define electrical reference planes, such as for a dc bus. The bus elements are separated from one another by insulative layers, with additional insulative layers being available for separating the system from other circuit components. Portions of the bus elements are extended or exposed to permit connection to the circuit elements, including packaged switching circuits and energy storage or filtering circuits. The bus system may be conformed to a variety of geometric configurations, and substantially reduces parasitic inductance and total loop inductance in the resulting circuitry.
US07880086B1
A convertible electrical device cover including a base and an adapter coupled as an assembly and configured to accommodate an electrical device. When the convertible electrical device cover is placed in an operative position over the electrical device the adapter may be located between the electrical device and a rear of the base. In particular implementations, a portion of the adapter may be located behind the yoke of the electrical device. The adapter may be movably coupled to the base. A method for installing a convertible electrical device cover is also disclosed including placing the convertible electrical device cover in an operative position over an electrical device so that an adapter may be located between the electrical device and a rear of a base.
US07880084B2
A network cabinet is provided comprising a base member, two pairs of vertical frame rail members connected to the base member, and a top cover supported by at least one of the vertical frame rail members. The base member defines an opening and another opening is defined in the top cover. The vertical frame rail members are positioned spaced apart from four sidewalls from four corners of the cabinet formed by the four sidewalls, where each sidewall comprises a panel or a door. The two pairs of vertical frame rail members and the four sidewalls define at least one cable management pathway and at least a portion of the cable management pathway is vertically aligned with at least a portion of the opening of the base member and the opening of the top cover.
US07880076B2
The present disclosure relates to child musical education devices and methods. Various toy instruments are provided which incorporate simplified forms of tonal and rhythmic music visualization. A child of very young age is able to select a certain ‘mood’ or feeling and hear music which corresponds to that mood. In addition, visual representations of the selected music can be displayed on the instrument. Recording and playback functionality is optionally provided, along with rhythm accompaniments and other adjustable audio features. Certain embodiments allow the various components to be interconnected to allow maximum flexibility and upgradeability.
US07880073B2
A Pentas variety designated 99/280-6 is disclosed. The invention relates to the tissue of Pentas clone 99/280-6, to the plants of Pentas 99/280-6, to plant parts of Pentas clone 99/280-6 and to methods for producing a Pentas plant produced by crossing Pentas clone 99/280-6 with itself or with another Pentas variety. The invention also related to the vegetative propagation of Pentas clone 99/280-6. The invention also relates to methods for producing a Pentas plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic Pentas plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to Pentas varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from Pentas clone 99/280-6, to methods for producing other Pentas varieties, lines or plant parts derived from Pentas clone 99/280-6 and to the Pentas plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid Pentas seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the clone 99/280-6 with another Pentas variety.
US07880071B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV182838. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV182838, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV182838 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV182838.
US07880069B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV729740. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV729740, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV729740 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV729740.
US07880061B2
A soybean variety designated SN97-6946, the plants and seeds of soybean variety SN97-6946, methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the variety SN97-6946 with itself or with another soybean plant, and hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety SN97-6946 with another soybean line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or by transformation of variety SN97-6946. This invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean varieties or breeding lines derived from soybean variety SN97-6946 and to soybean varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods.
US07880060B2
A family of insecticidal polypeptides expressed in the venom gland of spiders of the genera Atrax and Hadronyche have been described. Also included are polynucleotides and expression vectors encoding the polypeptides and insect viruses and cells expressing the polypeptides. Transgenic plants and insects expressing the insecticidal polypeptides are also described. The insecticidal polypeptides may be employed in methods and compositions for treating insects, insect larvae, and plants.
US07880051B2
A dressing product comprises a dressing sheet (102), such as a thin film, one first surface of which is coated with an adhesive (106), such as a pressure sensitive hydrocolloid adhesive, which is applicable to an anatomical surface of a living being, such as a skin portion of a human. A carrier system, which provides a support for the dressing sheet, defines a gripping section for handling of the carrier system by human fingers. The carrier system may include one or more foil members (216;218;220;222) and supporting sheets (212) for facilitating application and for providing a non-touch application system, i.e. a system which may be handled by an operator without the operator touching the dressing sheet (102) or at least the adhesive surface (106) thereof. A protective sheet having an opening for application of a pharmaceutical product to the adhesive prior to application of the dressing sheet is disclosed.
US07880050B2
A breathable interface system including an applicator having an aperture therethrough; a drape substantially covering the applicator; a first pad section located between the drape and the applicator; a second pad section substantially covering the aperture and located between the drape and the applicator, the second pad section substantially adjacent to the first pad section; and a fabric layer located at least partially between the second pad section and the drape; and a reduced pressure conduit in communication with one of the first pad section and the fabric layer for providing reduced pressure to the aperture; wherein the drape is secured to the applicator, covering the first pad section, the second pad section, and the fabric layer in a substantially sealed environment.
US07880046B2
Water reacts on molecular sieve catalysts used in oligomerization reactions and forms oxygenated compounds, in particular organic acids that may cause corrosion problems downstream of the reactor, in particular in distillation tower overhead systems and downstream thereof. A lowering of the presence of water in the feed prior to contacting thereof with the molecular sieve brings a significant reduction in corrosion downstream. At the same time, it has a significant beneficial effect on catalyst activity and brings a significant extension of catalyst life. Lowering water in the feed is particularly effective when organic nitrogen-containing Lewis bases are present in the feed, even at low levels.
US07880038B2
A metal catalyst obtained by contacting (A) at least one metal or metal compound selected from i) tungsten compounds composed of tungsten and an element of group IIIb, IVb, Vb, or VIb, ii) molybdenum compounds composed of molybdenum and an element of group IIIb, IVb, Vb, or VIb, and iii) tungsten metal and molybdenum metal; (B) at least one compound selected from tertiary amine compounds, tertiary amine oxide compounds, nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds and nitrogen-containing aromatic N-oxide compounds; (C) hydrogen peroxide; and (D) a phosphate compound, is provided.
US07880028B2
The invention provides a continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile, comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a 1,3-butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst precursor composition, wherein the catalyst precursor composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one multidentate phosphorus-containing ligand selected from the group consisting of a phosphite, a phosphonite, a phosphinite, a phosphine, and a mixed phosphorus-containing ligand or a combination of such members; and (b) maintaining a residence time sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintained below about 15 weight percent of the total mass of the reaction mixture.
US07880026B2
A rapid, simple and versatile metal organic framework molecule (MOF) synthesis method particularly adapted to make non-linear MOFs includes heating MOF precursors, such as a metal or metal oxide and an organic ligand, in a microwave oven for a period sufficient to achieve crystallization. Microwave-assisted MOF synthesis yields high quality MOF crystals in a reaction time ranging from about 5 seconds to about 2.5 minutes, compared to hours and days required in conventional solvothermal and hydrothermal methods. In addition, microwave assisted methods provide MOF materials with uniform crystal size and well-defined shape. Further, microwave synthesis of MOFs allows the size and shape of MOF crystals to be tailored for use in a wide range applications by manipulating reaction conditions. Secondary growth processes may also be employed to grow larger crystals using seeds obtained from microwave-assisted synthesis methods.
US07880019B2
It is an object to provide a noble anthracene derivative, a light emitting element with a high luminous efficiency, and further a light emitting element with a long lifetime. It is another object to provide a light emitting device and electronic device with a long lifetime by using the light emitting element. An anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided. Since the anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) has a high luminous efficiency, when the anthracene derivative is used for a light emitting element, the light emitting element can have a high luminous efficiency. Further, when the anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is used for a light emitting element, the light emitting element can have a long lifetime.
US07880018B2
A novel epoxy compound represented by the following general formula (I), and a production process thereof, is provided: Y—(CH2)3—Si(OR1)nR23-n (I) (wherein, Y is represented by any of the following formulas: wherein, R1 and R2 represent alkyl groups having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, n represents an integer of 1 to 3, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or trialkylsilyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R5 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a trialkylsilyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R6 to R12 represent hydrogen atoms, alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or trialkylsilyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R13 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a trialkylsilyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group).
US07880004B2
The invention is directed to compounds that are useful for the treatment of cancer having the following Formula:
