US07917958B2
A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or read-only recording medium, such as BD-ROM, which includes copy protection indicating information, which can identify whether copy protection information is needed or not for the playback of contents stored on the recording medium, and to methods and apparatuses for forming, recording, and reproducing data on the recording medium.
US07917925B2
Broadcast receiving devices usually have access to an electronic program schedule or EPG. Since often the same audio/video program is broadcasted more than once within a short time range on the same channel, or simultaneously on another channel, a method is provided for notifying this fact to the user. According to the invention, a method for automatically extracting data identifying a broadcast A/V program from received broadcast data includes the steps of receiving user input defining a first program, analyzing an EPG, determining broadcast data of the first program, automatically detecting that an identical second program is scheduled for broadcast, and displaying an indication to the user indicating that the second program was detected. If e.g. the same program is broadcasted at different times or channels with different amount of commercial interruptions, the user may select the instance with less commercials for viewing or recording.
US07917920B1
The present invention provides a system for providing alternative services in a television system. In one implementation, a subscriber is provided an alternative service upon attempting to access an unauthorized service, thereby providing a framework for efficient control of conditional access and enhanced services. In addition, in one implementation, user device limitations or variations are handled conveniently through the same multi-purpose system for providing alternative services.
US07917918B2
A space for accommodating therein a portion of an optical pickup mechanism is arranged below a disk loading portion of a turn table member of a chucking mechanism of the present invention. The space is arranged axially below a disk mounting surface. Since such space is provided, a recording/reproducing portion will be allowed to move closer to a brushless motor, and therefore a second lens arranged further away from the brushless motor will be allowed to move radially inward of a recording/reproducing area of an optical disk.
US07917916B2
The present invention relates to a method for removing the driver map component from being stored on the service partition and placing it on a server for retrieval at a later time. Only the actual device drivers that are required for that system will be provided. A central repository will be provided for applications and device drivers that would leverage the AMT area. The AMT IDE-R would be used to store the hook to network install, for example an IT administrator initiated network install to an unpowered system. Two situations exist in which this method will be used. The first situation involves supplying ImageUltra content to a system that is connected to the Local Area Network while ImageUltra is running. The second situation involves supplying ImageUltra content to a system that is not connected to the Local Area Network while ImageUltra is running.
US07917914B2
A system comprising a memory heap generated dynamically by useful software and a data acquisition engine. The memory heap comprises a plurality of event structures, each including at least one each of pointers into memory external to the event structure, event operators, and arguments. The data acquisition engine is configured to look into the memory heap, evaluate event conditions as true or false based on the at least one each of the pointers, operators, and arguments, and generate a notification message when a true condition is found.
US07917912B2
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for filtering application messages in a high speed, low latency data communications environment that include: receiving an application message in a transport engine of a message receiving device from a message transmitting device, the application message having a message contents label and a collision indicator, the message contents label representing contents of the application message, the collision indicator specifying whether the message contents label represents different contents in at least one other application message; determining, by the transport engine, whether contents of the application message satisfy a transport layer constraint in dependence upon the message contents label; providing, by the transport engine, the application message and the collision indicator to messaging middleware of the message receiving device if the contents of the application message satisfy the transport layer constraint; and administering the application message, by the messaging middleware, in dependence upon the collision indicator.
US07917910B2
Briefly, techniques to manage interrupts and swaps of threads operating in critical region. In an embodiment, a thread is to be interrupted during a first critical region with an interrupt routine. The thread may be set to restart at a beginning of the first critical region in response to an indication that the thread is working in a critical region. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.
US07917907B2
Techniques for processing transmissions in a communications (e.g., CDMA) system. An aspect of the disclosed subject matter includes a method for processing instructions on a multithreaded processor. The multithreaded processor processes a plurality of threads via a plurality of processor pipelines. The method includes the step determining the operating frequency, F, at which the multithreaded processor operates. Then, the method determines a variable thread switch timeout state for triggering the switching of the processing among the plurality of active threads. The variable thread switch timeout state varies so that each of the plurality of active threads operates at a frequency of an allocated portion of the frequency, F. The allocated portion at which the active threads operate is determined at least in part in order to optimize the operation of the multithreaded processor. The method further switches the processing from a first one of the active threads to a next one of the active threads upon the occurrence of the variable thread switch timeout state.
US07917896B2
A system and method for automated software testing includes defining a data model of an automated software test for an application being tested and then identifying an address for a function library at a remote location for executing the data model of the automated software test based upon the platform of the application. This identified function library is accessed at the address at the remote location so that an execution of a function within the function library may be invoked to obtain results therefrom.
US07917890B2
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for managing and automating the development of large-scale software systems are disclosed. A preferred embodiment allows for the creation of a metamodel defining the functionality and structure of a software system. The metamodel may be defined according to input from developers or analysts. Additionally, database schemata, web services definitions, and other pertinent legacy metadata may be automatically imported into the metamodel to facilitate compatibility and/or functional comparability with legacy software systems. Specifications contained within the metamodel are then mapped to one or more code generation strategies. The code generation strategies identify and/or define patterns for the generation of source code that implements the specifications and behavior in the metamodel. Source code is generated according to the code generation strategies, which may then be modified as needed by a human programmer, and compiled into one or more executable applications.
US07917882B2
The present invention provides an automated digital circuit design tool that reduces or eliminates adverse timing constraints due to an inherent clock signal skew, and applications thereof. In an embodiment, an automated design tool according to the invention generates a clocking system that includes a clock signal generator, control logic, enable logic, and at least one clock gater. The clock signal generator generates a clock signal that is distributed to various logic blocks of the digital circuit using a buffered clock tree. The enable logic receives input values from the control logic and provides a control signal to the clock gater. When enabled, the clock gater allows a clock signal to pass through to multiple registers. An early clock signal is provided to register(s) in the control logic, which allows for an increased clock frequency while still meeting timing constraints.
US07917880B2
A method for reducing power consumption for an integrated circuit comprises the steps of (1) providing (i) a clock tree wherein the clock tree comprises a clock source, a plurality of clock sinks, and a plurality of internal nodes, (ii) the physical locations of the clock source, the clock sinks, and physical location of a gating-signal control logic circuit, (iii) the activity information of the sinks; (2) recursively determining a merging segment set containing merging segments for each internal node and computing switched capacitance of a subtree rooted at each internal node in a bottom up manner, wherein the merging segments have the same signal delay for the clock sinks in a subtree rooted at each internal node; and (3) recursively determining a location for each internal node selected from the merging segment set in a top down manner on a basis that the switched capacitance of a subtree rooted at each internal node is minimum.
US07917876B1
Method and apparatus for designing an embedded system for a programmable logic device (PLD) is described. Parameters specific to the embedded system are obtained. Source code files that use the parameters to define configurable attributes of the base platform are generated. A software definition and a hardware definition are obtained. The software and hardware definitions each use an application programming interface (API) of the base platform to define communication between software and hardware of the embedded system. An implementation of the embedded system is automatically built for the PLD using the source code files, the software definition, and the hardware definition.
US07917871B2
A pattern data generation method of an aspect of the present invention, the method includes creating at least one modification guide to modify a modification target point contained in pattern data, evaluating the modification guides on the basis of an evaluation item, the evaluation item being a change in the shape of the pattern data for the modification target point caused by the modification based on the modification guides or a change in electric characteristics of a pattern formed in accordance with the pattern data, selecting a predetermined modification guide from among the modification guides on the basis of the evaluation result of the modification guides, and modifying the modification target point in accordance with the selected modification guide.
US07917863B2
A system and method for developing a sequence of motion control operations. Various embodiments of a motion control prototyping environment application are described. The motion control prototyping environment may be designed to enable a user to easily and efficiently develop/prototype a motion control sequence without requiring the user to perform programming, e.g., without needing to write or construct code in any programming language. For example, the environment may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to develop/prototype the motion control sequence at a high level, by selecting from and configuring a sequence of motion control operations using the GUI.
US07917855B1
A method and apparatus for configuring a user interface is disclosed. The method and apparatus allow for the determination of a function provided by the user interface using a skin. Such a skin includes information regarding an object, where the object represents an entity managed using the user interface.
US07917849B2
Data input processing is initiated when an ADD-IN button is pressed in a condition where a data cell of a spreadsheet application is selected. Whether an editor is already activated is determined and, if such is the case, a current mode of the currently activated editor is detected and, if it is activated in an edit mode and an activation mode set in activation setting processing is the edit mode, acquired data is added to the currently activated editor and put in a selected state and displayed on an edit screen.
US07917839B2
A system and a method for the creation and customization of interactivity are described. An interactivity builder is provided that includes a Interaction Model Selector Module, an interactivity editor, and an Interaction Model Library comprising Interaction Models. An interaction model selector is also provided that accesses to the available Interaction Models. A user is allowed to select an Interaction Model from the Interaction Model Library through the Interaction Model Selector and the Interaction Model Selector accepts the user-selected interaction model and copies it to create an interactivity that can be any time modified by the interactivity editor according to input received from the user. Interactivity thus created can be used in training modules. The invention could also be used equally well in other applications, such as, for instance, websites, presentations, electronic documents, online advertising, e-commerce and more such applications.
US07917835B2
Systems and modules for use in trellis-based decoding of encoded sets of data bits. A memory system has multiple arrays for storing an index for each one of multiple states. With each array element being associated with a state through which a decoding path may pass through, the contents of each array element is an index which points to an immediately preceding state. This immediately preceding state is represented by another array element in another array. Each array is populated with array element entries as encoded data set are received by a separate decoder which generates the indices. For every given number of arrays in a group, a trace-back process traces back the path followed by an encoding procedure for encoding the encoded set. By tracing back this path through the various arrays, the original unencoded set of data bits can be found.
US07917833B2
A communication apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver, wherein the transmitter further includes: an interleaver that rearranges positions of bits of an information frame; an FEC encoder that performs an error correction encoding to the information frame whose bit positions have been rearranged; and a selector that inserts FEC parity into predetermined positions of the information frame, to thereby generate a transmission signal, whereas the receiver includes: a selector that extracts an information frame part and an FEC parity part from a reception signal; an interleaver that rearranges positions of the bits of the information frame part using the same rule as that used at that transmitter side; an FEC decoder that corrects an error of bits rearranged based on the error correction parity part; and a de-interleaver that reproduces an information frame by returning positions of error-corrected bits to original bit positions.
US07917831B2
A result value, such as a parity value, for a set of corresponding data elements from a plurality of storage devices is determined using a commutative operation. When accessing the set of corresponding data elements from a plurality of storage devices, a dual access can be performed for the storage device accessed last for the set of corresponding data elements so as to also obtain a data element from the last-accessed storage device for the next parity calculation. As a result, the number of storage device accesses can be reduced compared to conventional systems whereby a single access is performed for each storage device to obtain a single data element from the storage device.
US07917828B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving an error correction code for information from a first port of a first agent and receiving the information from a second port of the first agent by probing a first link under test that couples the first agent and a second agent. The code may be used to validate the information, e.g., in a probe receiver during test or debug operations. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07917827B2
A method of encoding/decoding using an LDPC code and apparatus thereof are disclosed, by which a memory for storing a parity check matrix can be saved. The present invention includes generating a parity check matrix by expanding a base matrix including a permutation type defining a permutation matrix as at least one element, wherein the permutation matrix is generated from permutating a sequence of at least one of rows and columns of at least one base permutation matrix or rotating the at least one base permutation matrix and encoding or decoding the input data using the parity check matrix.
US07917820B1
A method of testing of an embedded core of an integrated circuit (“IC”) is described. An IC has a hardwired embedded core and memory coupled to each other in the IC. The method includes writing a test vector to the memory while the embedded core is operative. The test vector is input from the memory to the embedded core to mimic scan chain input to the embedded core. A test result is obtained from the embedded core responsive in part to the test vector input.
US07917819B2
A test-communication path is provided between chips in a multi-chip package. Externally-accessible JTAG input and output pins are provided to a first chip in the multi-chip package, and this first chip is configured to allow signals received on these JTAG pins to be routed to other chips in the multi-chip package. Control signals provided to the first chip control the routing of the JTAG signals to each chip.
US07917813B2
A computer program product, apparatus, and method for providing exception condition feedback at a control unit to a channel subsystem in an I/O processing system are provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes receiving a command message at the control unit from the channel subsystem, and detecting an exception condition in response to unsuccessful execution of at least one command in the command message. The method further includes identifying a termination reason code associated with the exception condition, writing the termination reason code to a response message, and sending the response message to the channel subsystem.
US07917812B2
Automatic resetting of a group of multiple processors in an electronic device wherein the processors are arranged in either a cascade chain or master-slave configuration. Upon the receipt of an originating reset signal by any one of the multiple processors the remaining processors are reset upon receipt of a forced reset signal generated by one of the processors in the group. The system states prior to the originating reset of each processor is refreshed to ensure compatible synchronization of system states and thus proper communication among the processors.
US07917810B2
In order to detect problematic drives in random arrays of independent disks, the system measures the latency of executing command sets which are broadcast to all disks in the data storage system and the results are compared to identify which disks take substantially longer to complete the requests. Disks that take longer to complete requests are likely to be problematic and are candidates for further examination and replacement. The disks in each tier group are compared to determine if any disk in that group exhibits problems. Also, counters for each tier group are compared to determine if the problem is with the disk or with the channel of the tier group. The latency of each disk in the tier group is saved in a table to provide a histogram of the latency of the disks in the tier group. Histograms of the disks in a single tier group are compared to determine if a specific disk is problematic. Histograms of each tier group are compared to determine if a specific disk is problematic or all the disks on the same channel exhibit problems.
US07917803B2
In a particular embodiment, a controller is disclosed that is adapted to control read/write access to a storage media. The controller includes data corruption detection logic to reconstruct a logical block address (LBA) lookup table from metadata stored at the storage media upon restart and re-initialization after a power loss event. The controller further includes duplicate conflict resolution logic to identify a valid data block from multiple data blocks that refer to a single LBA. The duplicate conflict resolution logic counts a first number of valid physical pages and a second number of different sectors in each of the multiple data blocks. The duplicate conflict resolution logic selects the valid data block from the multiple data blocks based on at least one of the first and second numbers.
US07917800B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for using device status information to takeover control of devices assigned to a node. A first processing unit communicates with a second processing unit. The first processing unit uses a first device accessible to both the first and second processing units and the second processing unit uses a second device accessible to both the first and second processing units. The first processing unit receives status on the second device from the first device indicating whether the second device is available or unavailable. The first processing unit detects a failure of the second processing unit and determines from the received status on the second device whether the first device is available in response to detecting the failure of the second processing unit. The first processing unit configures the second device for use by the first processing unit in response to determining that the received status on the second device indicates that the second device is available and in response to detecting the failure.
US07917790B2
Separate power island for high performance processor. A multi-processor design is presented in which each of the processors is implemented in separately powered portions of a circuitry (e.g., an integrated circuit). One of the processors can be a main application processor, and another of the processors can be a baseband processor. In addition, the each of the processors can be implemented using different types of circuitry (e.g., one of the processors [such as the main application processor] is implemented using higher performance/higher leakage circuitry that another of the processors [such as the baseband processor]). One of the processors (e.g., main application processor) can be powered down when not needed thereby providing energy/power conservation which can be vital is handheld communication device applications such as wireless handheld communication devices.
US07917789B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a system and method relating to adaptive power management using hardware feedback to select optimal processor frequencies and reduce power/watt. In at least one embodiment, the present invention is intended to optimize processor frequency and power/watt usage based on the hardware feedback and processor stall behavior.
US07917785B2
A method of optimizing performance of a multi-core chip having a plurality of cores includes the steps of determining a Vdd-frequency SCHMOO characteristic for each of the plurality of cores individually; saving data indicative of the Vdd-frequency SCHMOO characteristics for each of the plurality of cores; configuring the cores to obtain a configuration providing at least one of optimum power consumption and optimum performance, for a given workload, based on the saved data; and saving the configuration such that it may be updated and used on at least one of a periodic and a continual basis.
US07917780B2
A motherboard power on circuit includes a switch connector, an impedance circuit, and a super I/O chip. The impedance circuit includes a first resistor, a second resistor, and a capacitor. A terminal of the first resistor is connected to the power on terminal of the switch connector. The other terminal of the first resistor is connected to the power on terminal of the super I/O chip, a terminal of the second resistor, and a terminal of the capacitor. The other terminals of the second resistor and the capacitor are connected to a power source and ground respectively.
US07917778B2
Herein disclosed is a method for controlling a semiconductor integrated circuit having plural domains, the method including controlling plural power supplies which supply power to the plural domains, controlling an asynchronous bridge section being provided between each of the domains, receiving and transmitting data for dynamically changing a power supply voltage of at least one of the domains, wherein, when a power supply voltage of one of the domains is substantially equal to a power supply voltage of the other domains, switching the power supply paths so as to supply the power supply voltage from one power supply to at least two of the domains, and switching the data paths so as to receive and transmit data between the at least two of the domains by bypassing the asynchronous bridge section.
US07917775B2
A power supply system suitable for being located in a computer is provided. The system includes a first voltage regulator module (VRM), a second VRM, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. The first VRM is used to supply a first power. The second VRM is used to supply a second power. The first switch unit is used for controlling the first power to be transmitted to a first central processing unit (CPU) socket by a first power supply path or to a second CPU socket by a second power supply path. The second switch unit is used for controlling the second power to be transmitted to the first CPU socket by the third power supply path or to the second CPU socket by the fourth power supply path.
US07917756B2
Effective aspects of stamping outbound e-mail are combined with a registration system for e-mail senders. A mail sender participates by registering From: line information with a trusted third-party repository known as a stamp authority. When the sender sends an e-mail message, a hash of the From: line is compared against the From: line information for the sender stored in the repository. If the result is a match, the e-mail is allowed to be sent, subject to any other restrictions imposed by the stamping process. If there is not a match, then the e-mail is prevented from being stamped.
US07917749B2
The present invention provides systems and methods for secure transaction management and electronic rights protection. Electronic appliances such as computers equipped in accordance with the present invention help to ensure that information is accessed and used only in authorized ways, and maintain the integrity, availability, and/or confidentiality of the information. Such electronic appliances provide a distributed virtual distribution environment (VDE) that may enforce a secure chain of handling and control, for example, to control and/or meter or otherwise monitor use of electronically stored or disseminated information. Such a virtual distribution environment may be used to protect rights of various participants in electronic commerce and other electronic or electronic-facilitated transactions. Distributed and other operating systems, environments and architectures, such as, for example, those using tamper-resistant hardware-based processors, may establish security at each node. These techniques may be used to support an all-electronic information distribution, for example, utilizing the “electronic highway.”
US07917748B2
A method for distributing group secrets (e.g., group ID and password combinations) for use in communication systems such as trunked radio communication systems. A user group record containing one or more group secrets is encrypted at an administrator using a user secret (e.g., a user ID and password combination) known to the administrator and to a communication device. The encrypted user group record is then distributed to the communication device where it is decrypted using the user secret.
US07917743B2
In an information handling system (IHS), providing an IHS boot includes forcing the IHS to power on or reboot, retrieving a virtual serial peripheral interface (SPI) boot image using a virtual SPI bus, booting the IHS to the virtual SPI boot image, turning off the virtual SPI boot image, and updating a real SPI boot image.
US07917731B2
A processor performs a prefetch operation on non-sequential instruction addresses. If a first instruction address misses in an instruction cache and accesses a higher-order memory as part of a fetch operation, and a branch instruction associated with the first instruction address or an address following the first instruction address is detected and predicted taken, a prefetch operation is performed using a predicted branch target address, during the higher-order memory access. If the predicted branch target address hits in the instruction cache during the prefetch operation, associated instructions are not retrieved, to conserve power. If the predicted branch target address misses in the instruction cache during the prefetch operation, a higher-order memory access may be launched, using the predicted branch instruction address. In either case, the first instruction address is re-loaded into the fetch stage pipeline to await the return of instructions from its higher-order memory access.
US07917730B2
A multi-chip processor apparatus includes multiple processor chips on a substrate. At least one of the multiple processor chips includes a die with a primary interconnect trunk that communicates information between multiple compute elements situated along the primary interconnect trunk. That multiple processor chip includes a secondary interconnected trunk that may be oriented perpendicular with respect to the primary interconnect trunk. The secondary interconnect trunk communicates information off-chip via a number of I/O interfaces at the perimeter of that multiple processor chip. The secondary interconnect trunk intersects the primary interconnect trunk at an intersection at which a bus control element is located. The bus control element includes a primary trunk interface that couples to the primary interconnect trunk at the intersection to enable the bus control element to control on-chip communication among the compute elements via coherency signals on the primary interconnect trunk. The bus control element includes a secondary trunk interface coupled to the secondary interconnect trunk.
US07917720B2
A method for rearranging a logical volume including arranging a logical volume rearranging program on a particular server and using the logical volume rearranging program to acquire server/storage mapping information from each server and performance information from each storage subsystem. Moreover, the logical volume rearranging program acquires request I/O performance and a rearranging rule for each application set by a user. Furthermore, the logical volume rearranging program determines a destination by using the logical volume rearranging destination parity group specified by the user according to the aforementioned information, and rearranges the logical volume according to the storage subsystem performance and the request I/O performance of each application.
US07917715B2
The present invention eliminates the possibility of problems with viruses, worms, identity theft, and other hazards that may result from the connection of a computer to the Internet. It does so by creating a new configuration of components within the computer. In addition to commonly used components, two new components are added. These are a secondary hard drive and a secondary random access memory. When the computer is connected to the Internet these secondary components are used in place of their primary counterparts. The primary hard drive is electronically isolated from the Internet, thus preventing Internet contamination of the primary hard drive.
US07917708B2
Techniques to assure genuineness of data stored on a storage device are provided. The storage device includes a storage controller that conducts I/O operations and management operations. A description of management operations and corresponding timestamps are recorded to an operation log stored in a memory. The memory additionally stores an attribute for each storage volume of the storage device. Write access to each of the storage volumes is dependent on the attribute.
US07917699B2
A method of controlling the exclusivity mode of a level-two cache includes generating level-two cache exclusivity control information at a processor in response to an exclusivity mode indicator, and utilizing the level-two cache exclusivity control information to configure the exclusivity mode of the level-two cache.
US07917696B2
Multiple applications request data from multiple storage units over a computer network. The data is divided into segments and each segment is distributed randomly on one of several storage units, independent of the storage units on which other segments of the media data are stored. At least one additional copy of each segment also is distributed randomly over the storage units, such that each segment is stored on at least two storage units. This random distribution of multiple copies of segments of data improves both scalability and reliability. When an application requests a selected segment of data, the request is processed by the storage unit with the shortest queue of requests. Random fluctuations in the load applied by multiple applications on multiple storage units are balanced nearly equally over all of the storage units. This combination of techniques results in a system which can transfer multiple, independent high-bandwidth streams of data in a scalable manner in both directions between multiple applications and multiple storage units.
US07917693B2
A system for responding to file system requests including a plurality of network elements with at least a network element of the plurality of network elements receiving the requests. The system includes a plurality of switching elements in communication with the network elements which route the requests. The system includes a plurality of disk elements in which files are stored and which respond to the requests in communication with the switching elements, the network element insures each request from the network element is only executed once, the network element retransmits each request for which the network element does not receive an acknowledgment from the switching elements. A method for responding to file system requests.
US07917692B2
A cache memory system and method includes a DRAM having a plurality of banks, and it also includes 2 SRAMs each having a capacity that is equal to the capacity of each bank of the DRAM. In operation, data read from a bank of the DRAM are stored in one of the SRAMs so that repeated hits to that bank are cached by reading from the SRAM. In the event of a write to a bank that is being refreshed, the write data are stored in one of the SRAMs. After the refresh of the bank has been completed, the data stored in the SRAM are transferred to the DRAM bank. A subsequent read or write to a second DRAM bank undergoing refresh and occurring during the transfer of data from an SRAM to the DRAM is stored in either the second bank or the other SRAM.
US07917691B2
A system and a method for emulating a NAND memory system are disclosed. In the method, a command associated with a NAND memory is received. After receipt of the command, a vertically configured non-volatile memory array is accessed based on the command. In the system, a vertically configured non-volatile memory array is connected with an input/output controller and a memory controller. The memory controller is also connected with the input/output controller. The memory controller is operative to interface with a command associated with a NAND memory and based on the command, to access the vertically configured non-volatile memory array for a data operation, such as a read operation or write operation. An erase operation on the vertically configured non-volatile memory array is not required prior to the write operation. The vertically configured non-volatile memory array can be partitioned into planes, blocks, and sub-planes, for example.
US07917689B2
Apparatuses, systems, and computer program products that enable wear leveling of nonvolatile memory devices, such as flash memory devices, are disclosed. One or more embodiments an apparatus that has a receiver and a wear leveling module. The receiver may receive low-level write requests to update direct-mapped values of nonvolatile memory. The wear leveling module may determine physical locations of the nonvolatile memory that correspond to logical locations of the write requests. Alternative embodiments may comprise systems or apparatuses that include one or more various types of additional modules, such as low-level driver modules, error correction code modules, queue modules, bad block management modules, and flash translation layer modules. Other embodiments comprise computer program products that receive a direct-mapped low-level write request, determine a physical write location of nonvolatile memory that corresponds to a logical write location of the low-level write request.
US07917683B1
Systems, devices and methods for interfacing a single bus with multiple buses invisibly to devices using the single bus are presented. More specifically, in one embodiment an I/O bus may be interfaced with multiple other I/O buses of the same or different formats. Commands may be received on one I/O bus and invisibly to a computing device or processor which issues the commands, translated into a set of commands configured to effectuate a received command in conjunction with storage media coupled to the other I/O buses. These storage media may comprise different types of storage media such that data designated as critical may be stored on an appropriate storage media.
US07917677B2
A method, system, and computer usable program product for a smart profiler are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An allowable number of interrupts for use by a profiler application is determined. A count number for a counter is determined. The counter is configured to count occurrences of an event in a data processing system up to the count number. An interrupt is raised when the counter has counted the occurrences of the event up to the count number. The interrupt is processed. The counting of occurrences of the event, raising the interrupt, and processing the interrupt are repeated for a predetermined time. A decision is made whether a total number of interrupts raised in the predetermined period differs from the allowable number. The count number of the counter is adjusted to cause the difference between the total number of interrupts in the predetermined period and the allowable number to decrease.
US07917675B2
An industrial process control apparatus and method that includes a number of processors and a number of input/output modules. Each processor is connected to a plurality of the input/output modules by a unidirectional command line. Each input/output module is connected to a plurality of the processors by a unidirectional response line. The processors are arranged to issue an identifier request to all of the connected input/output modules and each input/output module is arranged to respond to the identifier request via the respective response line with a response that includes a unique identifier. Such a configuration allows each processor to identify the physical location of each respective input/output module.
US07917666B2
A computer system and a method indicate the presence of a display output device. The method includes detecting whether the computer system has a display output or not. If detected, the display output device is selected according to the setting of a BIOS, and an indicator signals an indication to notify a user.
US07917662B2
The subject invention relates to a Universal Graphics Adapter (UGA) that is a hardware-independent design that encapsulates and abstracts low-level graphics hardware in a standard manner through firmware. UGA is a firmware standard, intended to wrap existing or planned hardware, including VGA. UGA does not require the use of real-mode assembly language, direct hardware register, or frame buffer access to program, thus providing advantages over conventional systems. UGA supports basic drawing operations, continuous display modes, and power management. As a firmware-based standard, UGA facilitates updating a system to support both evolving and new hardware features. UGA includes the capability to determine ranges of output display capabilities for multiple devices and determine an overlap in capabilities of the multiple devices.
US07917660B2
Consistency for replicating data storage subsystem configurations in accordance with a “golden” configuration file. A data storage subsystem comprises a blade system configured to support a plurality of blades and a storage system, each arranged in a predetermined slot of the blade system, and at least one zoneable switch whose zoning is disabled at power on. A management module operates the blade system to power on all slots. The storage system, in accordance with a “golden” configuration file, transfers port enablement sequencing to the switch, and the switch enables and zones ports in sequence to allow the server blades to see the storage system in accordance with the port enablement sequence. The storage system is configured with the “golden” configuration file to log on the server blades in accordance with the port enablement sequence to logically configure the server blades in accordance with the “golden” configuration file.
US07917659B2
The invention relates to a method for computer signal processing data and command transfer over an interface and more particularly to a communication between peripheral firmware and a host processor or Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) on a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. In one embodiment, a device and method for reducing the load on the PCI Bus is described. In yet another embodiment, a device and method is described for constructing a variable length command block comprising message frames and aligning all message frames for a particular command block that are contiguous in memory.
US07917656B2
A messaging service is described that incorporates messages into cached link lists. The messages are not yet acknowledged as having been received by one or more consumers to whom the messages were sent. A separate link list exists for each of a plurality of different message priority levels. Messages within a same link list are ordered in their link list in the same order in which they where received by the messaging service. At least one of the link lists contains an element that represents one or more messages that are persisted but are not cached in any of the cached link lists.
US07917637B2
A method and system for establishing an interactive media session based on an IP Multimedia Subsystem, including: a terminal adapted to initiate an interactive media session request and receive a media session response; a serving-CSCF adapted to trigger the request to the application server according to a triggering rule and route the message; a proxy-CSCF adapted to forward the request and the response between the terminal and the serving-CSCF; an application server adapted to process the service request; a media control entity adapted to control resource allocation of the media carrier entity; and a media carrier entity adapted to allocate address ports for RTSP connection and RTP connection with the terminal. The present invention can be applied to a NGN network where the carrier and control are separated to improve the media delivery efficiency.
US07917636B2
A distributed information processing system in an enterprise computer network comprising a collection of servers providing a directory service and a directory-enabled access control system is augmented with the ability to detect user accounts in the directory service for users who have not recently authenticated to an application that uses the directory-enabled access control system.
US07917635B2
A first and second environment define parameters communicated between a first computer remotely controlling a second computer (a first remote session) and between the second computer remotely controlling the first computer (a second remote session), with each parameter defining an action associated with the first or second remote session. A first application, via a unidirectional communication with the first environment, modifies a first parameter, wherein the first parameter is extracted by a first interceptor (associated with the second computer) that, based on a look-up, executes a pre-defined action (different than the first parameter's associated action) affecting the first remote session. A second application, via a unidirectional communication with the second environment, modifies a second parameter, wherein the second parameter is extracted by a second interceptor (associated with the first computer) that, based on a look-up, executes a pre-defined action (different than the second parameter's associated action) affecting the second remote session.
US07917634B2
A system for configuring configurable products includes a stateless configuration engine. A user and a server are coupled to a network for transmitting and receiving information. The user includes a web browser, memory and a display. The user receives web pages from the server and enters information into the fields on the page. The user sends the web page and the entered information to the server. The server decodes the information on the web page and sends a next page to the user including hidden form fields that include the decoded information. The information is stored in the source code of the page displayed by the web browser located at the user.
US07917632B2
A peer-to-peer (P2P proxy server and a communication method thereof are provided. In order to participate electronic apparatuses having no built-in P2P middleware in a P2P infrastructure, the P2P proxy server includes: a proxy data communication unit acquiring a reception message transmitted through the P2P infrastructure or transmitting a transmission message to the P24P infrastructure; a legacy apparatus state management unit generating a message for advertising contents stored in the legacy apparatuses and, if the reception message is a message for requesting for sharing specific contents, generating a message for sharing the specific contents; a message management unit parsing the reception message acquired through the proxy data communication unit to transmit the reception message to the legacy apparatus state management unit or inversely parsing the message generated by the legacy apparatus state management unit to generate the transmission message and transmitting the transmission message to the proxy data communication unit; and a legacy apparatus driver connecting to the legacy apparatuses and supporting data communication between the legacy apparatuses and the legacy apparatus state management unit. Accordingly, a legacy apparatus having no built-in P2P middleware can be used as a contents source providing apparatus in the P2P infrastructure.
US07917624B2
A wireless network having control plane segregation is described herein. In one embodiment, an exemplary network architecture includes, but is not limited to, multiple access points coupled to a wired network, where each of the access points is capable of communicating with one or more mobile nodes over a wireless network. The exemplary network architecture further includes a controller coupled to the access points over the wired network, where the controller maintains network traffic information of the wireless network and communicates the network traffic information with the access points to enable the access points to cooperate with each other to provide network services to the one or more mobile nodes over the wireless network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US07917619B2
Techniques for supporting multiple service discovery protocols (SDPs) on a network-enabled device (NED) are provided. The NED includes a plurality of SDP services, a plurality of SDP adapters, and a device service management system (DSMS). Each SDP service interfaces with one SDP adapter. Each SDP adapter interfaces with the DSMS. Each SDP adapter translates messages from its corresponding SDP service into a format the DSMS understands, and vice versa. The DSMS manages service metadata information about one or more services hosted (or provided) by the NED. In response to a request, from a client, for metadata of one or more services hosted by the NED, a SDP service requests the metadata from its corresponding SDP adapter. The SDP adapter requests the metadata from the DSMS, which responds to the SDP adapter with the metadata. The SDP adapter sends the metadata to the SDP service, which sends the metadata to the client.
US07917618B1
Systems and methods for monitoring Web page content associated with processing a resource request are provided. A client computing device generates a sample image corresponding to a set of resources rendered in response to a resource request. A processing component, such as an image analysis component, then compares the sample image with an averaged reference image to identify a compared image. The averaged reference image is determined from averaging a pixel intensity value for each pixel in a first reference image with a pixel intensity value for each pixel in a second reference image. These first and second reference images both correspond to the same set of requested resources. The processing component then weights the compared image to produce a weighted compared image and determines whether a sum of the intensity values for each pixel in the weighted compared image exceeds a threshold. Aspects of systems and methods for generating an alert message if the threshold is exceeded are also provided.
US07917606B2
Methods and systems for message format distribution. A sending server is connected to a plurality of receiving servers. The sending server comprises a master database containing information which is periodically provided to the receiving servers. The sending server and the receiving servers communicate using messaging facilities. Changes in the message format are distributed by the sending server to the receiving servers via the messaging facilities. The message format changes are implemented by receiving clients executing on each of the receiving servers. Standard configurable receiving clients are used by all receiving servers, thereby reducing or eliminating development work by the receiving parties.
US07917598B1
A method and apparatus for operating a computer data storage system is disclosed. A computer data storage system is administered by a physical server administrator. The physical server administrator administers the computer data storage system with a full administrative capability. The physical server administrator creates one or more virtual servers, each virtual server administrated by a virtual server administrator. Each virtual server administrator has a designated subset of the full administrative capability for administrating the virtual server.
US07917584B2
Generally described, the present invention is directed to a network operating system that provides more effective ways of leveraging the connectivity of computer networks. In one embodiment, an XML virtual machine is implemented that accepts high-level application code written in an XML programming language as input. Functionality is provided to interpret or translate the application code written in an XML programming language into code that is suitable for execution across computer platforms. Moreover, the XML virtual machine supports the Model View Controller (MVC) design paradigm that facilitates true data abstraction from applications to a common data model. Multi-instance applications, with each instance potentially supporting multiple views, may be created and executed.
US07917582B2
A text chat messaging system in which messages are displayed in chronological order on a message-by-message basis according to chat participants includes a messaging server (102); and a plurality of network clients (104) defining said chat participants and configured to identify messages (204) in a chat session according to chat participants and arrange said chat session for display according to a conversation order of participation in said chat session.
US07917577B2
On-line health education includes displaying composites of personalized health content and patient-selected entertainment. Suitable sources of entertainment include generally available web pages and television programs. Composites are spatial (for page displays) or temporal (for image sequence displays). Health content is customized to health and personal situations of individual patients, and replaces advertisements. Composites are generated on a central server in communication with an entertainment server and a health server. Amenable diseases or behaviors include diabetes, asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, HIV, mental health disorders, smoking, and alcohol and drug abuse.
US07917576B1
A method and system for sending electronic mail from clients of a client-server architecture using broadcast/multicast messaging software. In a representative embodiment, the system includes a plurality of clients each containing broadcast/multicast messaging software, data processing software, and a client application program interface (API); a messaging server containing broadcast/multicast messaging software and an email API; and an email server containing email software. In a representative embodiment of the method, the data processing software composes an email and forwards the email to the client API, the client API instructs the broadcast/multicast messaging software to send a message containing the email to the messaging server, the broadcast/multicast messaging software broadcasts or multicasts the message, and the messaging server receives the message, reformats the message, and forwards the reformatted message to the email server, which then forwards the email to a destination address.
US07917568B2
An x87 fused multiply-add (FMA) instruction in the instruction set of an x86 architecture microprocessor is disclosed. The FMA instruction implicitly specifies the two factor operands as the top two operands of the x87 FPU register stack and explicitly specifies the third addend operand as a third x87 FPU register stack register. The microprocessor multiplies the first two operands and adds the product to the third operand to generate a result. The result is stored into the third register and the first two operands are popped off the stack. In an alternate embodiment, the third operand is also implicitly specified as being stored in the register that is two registers below the top of stack register; the result is also stored therein. The instruction opcode value is in the x87 opcode range.
US07917563B1
Adapting a read channel processor is disclosed. Adapting includes determining a target output for input data from a variable target function, determining a filter output corresponding to the input data from a programmable filter having programmable filter coefficients, comparing the target output and the filter output, and recursively updating both the variable target function and the programmable filter coefficients to improve the comparison between the target output and the filter output.
US07917562B2
Disclosed is an improved method and apparatus for estimating and applying a step size value for a least mean squares echo canceller. A power estimate of an excitation signal is compared to a reference power level to determine a shift adjustment. The shift adjustment is added to a reference shift amount to determine a shift amount. The product of an excitation signal and an error signal is then calculated and the product is stored in a memory register comprising a plurality of bits. The bits stored in the memory register are shifted either left or right based upon the shift amount. The shift adjustment may be based in part upon the ratio of the excitation signal power estimate and the reference power level.
US07917556B2
A system is provided for tracking employee disclosure information and includes an employee database for storing employee status information. Also included is a previous disclosure database for storing any previous disclosures provided by the employee. Finally, a disclosure engine is included for determining disclosure requirements for the employee based on the employee status information. The disclosure engine also receives from the previous disclosure database the any previous disclosures provided by the employee for determining any additional disclosure required by the employee to satisfy the disclosure requirements. The disclosure engine also forwards to the employee a disclosure form for providing the additional disclosure.
US07917554B2
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes a method, system, and computer program product for transforming characters corresponding to a hotspot in a document. An electronic document to be printed is parsed for a mark indicating a beginning point for a hotspot, a transformation rule is a applied to a portion of the electronic document between the mark indicating the beginning point for the hotspot and a mark indicating an ending point for the hotspot, and the transformed electronic document is rendered.
US07917553B2
A system and methods for facilitation of enhanced user interactions with metadata corresponding to one or more media files. A number of user interface methods are described and may be used alone or in combination with one another to present an enhanced metadata entry and modification interface to a user. A method of providing for automated step through of media files for metadata entry is described, as well as a method for quickly presenting the user with the most appropriate media sample from which an appropriate metadata entry or modification can be made by the user.
US07917545B2
A web-based data form enables modifications made to values in the data form to be dynamically implemented in a data source. Form fields of the data form are associated with items in the data source using data binding information. Data from the data source is transformed into intermediate code using Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformation (XSLT) code. Form controls of the data form are instantiated using the intermediate code. Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is generated from the intermediate code including the form controls.
US07917540B2
Variations in the states of patterns can be exploited for their discriminatory information and should not be discarded as noise. A pattern recognition system compares a data set of unlabeled patterns having variations of state in a set-by-set comparison with labeled arrays of individual data sets of multiple patterns also having variations of state. The individual data sets are each mapped to a point on a parameter space, and the points of each labeled array define a subset of the parameter space. If the point associated with the data set of unlabeled patterns satisfies a similarity criterion on the parameter space subset of a labeled array, the data set of unlabeled patterns is assigned to the class attributed to that labeled array.
US07917532B1
System and method for keeping inventories of sensitive data that has been shared with external entities. The system and method may be used particularly for identifying a source of an unauthorized release of sensitive data.
US07917516B2
Systems and methods for processing an index are described. To insure that the most updated index is available without having to update the index after every change (which can consume enormous resources), a specially marked postings list is generated for a changed item. During retrieval, the specially marked postings list supplements the existing content of an inverted index referencing the changed item. In this manner, the retrieval result for items containing the term under which the changed item was originally indexed is updated in accordance with the specially marked postings list to insure the most accurate retrieval result.
US07917507B2
An application programming interface (API) layer is implemented on a computing device. The API layer allows a local application(s) executing on the computing device to access web data in a data store layer, and further allows a remote application(s) that is executing on some other computing device to access the web data in the data store layer. Additionally, this web data can include web pages, some of which may include structured data and some of which may not include structured data. A web browser is permitted to access the web data store via the object model, and generate a user interface based at least in part on these web pages.
US07917506B2
A method of storing data related to a first entity in a relationship and a second entity in the relationship in a database is disclosed. The method may include entering a name description of the second entity in the relationship into a second converse relationship field of a relationship entity, storing the name description of the second entity entered in the second converse relationship field of the relationship entity, storing a name description of the first entity in the relationship into a first converse relationship field of a relationship entity, allowing access to the stored name description of the second entity stored in the second converse relationship field of the relationship entity by accessing the first entity in the relationship and allowing access to the stored name description of the first entity stored in the first converse relationship field of the relationship entity by accessing the second entity in the relationship.
US07917497B2
An enhanced natural language information retrieval technique tokenizes an incoming query, comparing the tokenized representation against a collection of query templates. Query templates include a first portion having one or more query patterns representative of a query and in a form suitable for matching the tokenized representation of an incoming query. Query templates also include one or more information retrieval commands that are designed to return information relevant to those query patterns in its first portion. The enhanced natural language information retrieval technique selects those query templates that are determined to be most relevant to the incoming query (via its tokenized representation) and initiates one or more information retrieval commands associated with the selected query templates.
US07917493B2
A method for indexing a product identifier and logical parts thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a product identifier; splitting the product identifier into logical parts; indexing the product identifier and the individual logical parts in association with a particular document or portion thereof in an index; and storing the index. A method for processing a search query according to another embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a search query containing one or more terms; searching a search index containing complete product identifiers and variations thereof for attempting to match the one or more terms to the product identifiers or the variations thereof; and if one or more of the terms matches a complete product identifier or variation thereof, selecting and outputting an indicator of a document, or portion thereof, associated with the matching product identifier.
US07917483B2
A search engine and a method achieve timeliness of documents returned in a search result by a relevancy feedback mechanism driven by the frequency in which a URL is returned in recent searches. The relevancy feedback mechanism includes one or more random processes which determine whether or not a cached or indexed web page associated with a URL in the search result should be refreshed. In addition, the random processes also determine whether or not hyperlinks in the cached or indexed web page should be followed to access related web pages. Accesses of web pages resulting from the operations of the random processes are used to update any document index maintained by the search engine. Relevancy scoring functions implemented in look-up tables are also disclosed. A more accurate relevancy scoring function is achieved using a lexicon based on anchortexts of extracted hyperlinks of web documents.
US07917477B2
A method of removing stored media content from a media player (MP) is disclosed. The method includes allowing a first set of media content to be downloaded to the MP for playing, and identifying a second set of media content from all media content stored on the MP. In response to the identifying the second set of media content, automatically copying the second set of media content from the MP to a processing unit in signal connection with the MP for archival storage, and, automatically removing the second set of media content from the MP. The identifying the second set of media content occurs in response to at least one of: the current time matching a date and time combination specified by a user to remove the media content; and, playing the first set of media content.
US07917476B2
A device management (DM) system using a log management object and a method for effectively generating and controlling logging data in the system are disclosed. A DM server includes only information that a client can transfer processing of a corresponding command to a logging sub-tree manager in the logging data storage command and transmits it, and an accurate location at which the logging data is to be stored is determined by the logging sub-tree manager by itself by using control information of the logging sub-tree upon receiving the logging data storage command. Each node storing the logging data has a source attribute value and a reason attribute value. Accordingly, the DM server or a scheduling context does not involve in a complicate logging data storage procedure, and when logged node is checked, the particulars of the logged data can be easily recognized.
US07917471B2
The invention relates to a method for obtaining content objects in a communication system. In the method is obtained at least one search criterion at a first node. At least one entity entry is determined from an entity contact information list. An identity of a second network node is determined from the entity entry. An address is determined for the second network node using the identity. A search is submitted to the second network node. The search criteria are matched to a number of metadata objects to obtain result metadata objects, from which is provided at least a content object identifier to the first network node. The first network node obtaining a content object using said content object identifier from a third network node to the first network node.
US07917462B1
A multi-dimensional table having plural dimensions is stored in a database system, where plural grouping combinations of the plural dimensions define corresponding subsets of the multi-dimensional table. An aggregate measure for each of at least some of the plural subsets is computed, where the aggregate measure for a particular subset represents a relationship of the particular subset to one or more parents of the particular subset. Less than all of the at least some subsets are selected to materialize based on the aggregate measures.
US07917459B2
Complex nested if-then statement on data objects in a digital computer are organized as a plurality of logical case statements; for each case statement, a set of binary condition arrays is provided and for each data object a condition set. Case statements are executed on the data objects for which a condition array from the set of binary condition arrays matches the condition set for the data object.
US07917457B2
The present disclosure includes a system and method for learning (or discovering and extracting) business knowledge from a collection of source code. The collection of source code is abstracted to generate an abstracted data stream, which is then transformed to an Extensible Markup Language (XML) format. The transformed data in XML format can be further converted to target formats or processed to satisfy different needs such as software system documentation, migration, impact analysis and security analysis. The disclosure also includes an implementation and operation for a pattern abstraction engine configured to receive an input data stream and format it for abstraction into a standard format using a pattern matching mechanism. The disclosure also includes an implementation and operation for a contextual pattern decoder engine configured to extract knowledge attributes and contextual taxonomy from classified blocks of an input data stream.
US07917456B2
Data processing apparatus is disclosed comprising: a sensor module configured to sense a first profile comprised of one or more attributes of an environment of said data processing apparatus; and a classification module configured to assign a prediction factor to each of said one or more attributes of said first profile and to store each said attribute and assigned prediction factor as a stored profile.
US07917453B2
To print a postal imprint by an external imprint label dispenser connected via a communications link to a postage meter, during an initialization step for initializing the communications link, the postage meter authenticates the imprint label dispenser by exchanging an authentication code and the postage meter securely transmits to the dispenser a predetermined image data set that is signed with a secret key generated during the initialization step on the basis of the authentication code. Then, for each printing cycle, the postage meter computes postal data relating to the mail item that is to be franked, securely transmits the resulting computed data as signed with the secret key to the dispenser, converts the postal data into additional image data, and prints a postal imprint incorporating the additional image data and the predetermined image data on a continuous label tape delivered by the dispenser.
US07917450B1
A method is provided for estimating information technology integration costs. Capital data, staffing data, and integration goal data associated with a target enterprise are recorded. Capital data includes at least one of infrastructure data, computer data, network element data, and retail store data. Staffing data includes information technology staff data, employee data, and contractor data. Recorded data includes the capital data, the staffing data, and the integration goal data. A back office cost, a retail cost, an infrastructure cost, and a computer cost are estimated based on the recorded data associated with the target enterprise. The back office cost, the retail cost, the infrastructure cost and the computer cost are combined to produce an information technology integration cost. The information technology integration cost is output by an output device.
US07917443B2
A subset of unique codes are generated from a set of codes. The subset of codes are stored in a database on a secure server and each of the codes is marked on a corresponding instantiation of the product. The marked instantiations are distributed. During their distribution, the marked instantiations are verified for authenticity and for routing. This verification is performed by reading or scanning the codes on the instantiations, and transmitting that information to the secure server for comparison against the codes and other information located in the database contained therein.
US07917437B1
A computer-implemented method, in different embodiments, is provided to construct on-line payments without resorting to aggregation. The embodiments permit smaller total fees, permit the intermediary payment system to intermediate payments without holding third-party funds, and permit eliminating or reducing chargeback liability. In one embodiment, an intermediary payment system maintains records of unpaid amounts for potential receivers, and determines one or more potential receivers, but not all of them, to become effective receivers of a nominal amount. The primary payment system transfers amounts from the user and to receivers. The intermediary payment system reduces records of unpaid amounts for effective receiver, and raises records of unpaid amounts for potential receivers.
US07917421B2
A financial activity network includes a central managing system connected to a plurality of participant terminals. Rules governing operation of the financial activity are stored for future reference. A participant provides investment information using a map with user selectable portions, for identifying the predicted qualifying strike.
US07917420B2
A graphical user interface for a financial activity network that includes a central managing system connected to a plurality of participant terminals. Rules governing operation of the financial activity are stored for future reference. A participant provides investment information such as a map location for the predicted strike by the natural event and, optionally, one or more secondary parameters relating to the natural event, such as the time interval between the time of investment and the time of all event strike and/or the severity of the event strike according to an established scale. The graphical user interface provides the user with the ability to select options and view data from a screen display, with recalculations of data being displayed on an ongoing basis, reflecting the user's current selections.
US07917414B2
The present invention provides a system and method to process items for sale or bid, to transmit electronic negotiations between prospective buyer and seller, and to verify the condition of the item before delivery to the buyer. The invention facilitates autonomous and remote negotiation between sellers and prospective buyers while protecting buyers from fraud and item misrepresentation. With the present invention, items can be sold individually and are not treated as standardized items that are interchangeable with similar commodity goods. The present invention also provides a waitlisting function. In addition, the functionality of traditional auction systems may be integrated with the novel features of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention provides a system and method for conducting a reverse auction by allowing prospective buyers to list desired items.
US07917403B2
A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle or at a public transit terminal. A system and method for ordering the seating pad assembly for a transportation seat includes at least one terminal configured for entering an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat purchased, e.g., a class of service; a server configured for receiving the identifier, determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the identifier, and generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly; and a communications network for coupling the at least one terminal and the server. The terminal may be configured in the form of a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal. The system will allow a purchaser of a transportation seat to either purchase or rent the seating pad assembly.
US07917399B2
A musical contents system comprises a contents providing server comprising a connecting unit that connects to a communication network, and a contents storage unit that stores musical contents in a storage area corresponding to a user of an electronic musical device; and an electronic musical device comprising a connecting unit that connects to the contents providing server via the communication network, an accessing unit that accesses to the contents storage unit via the communication network, and a contents operating unit that performs an operation to the musical contents stored in the contents storage area corresponding to the user. The musical contents purchased or created by the user can be stored in a data center; therefore, convenience of using the musical contents is improved and the cost is decreased or cut off.
US07917390B2
In response to a request for audio-visual content from a user, a method and system is provided which sends the content and additional information related to the location of the user.
US07917386B2
A method and apparatus for distributing, generating, and redeeming discount Virtual Coupons™, rebate or gift certificates or the like which may be used in conjunction with a frequency card program. Virtual Coupons™ may be distributed electronically, for example, in the form of a diskette or CD-ROM software. Once the software is validated, a consumer may print out a list of selected Virtual Coupons™ displayed on a Graphical User Interface (GUI). When a product is purchased, the UPC code of the product may be compared electronically with a list of Virtual Coupons™ authorized for a particular consumer. An appropriate coupon discount may then be applied and the Virtual Coupon™ may be considered “redeemed”. Once redeemed, consumer ID information and Virtual Coupon™ information may be retrieved electronically and used to update a central database. Accurate data may then be produced illustrating which consumers or groups of consumers are redeeming which Virtual Coupons™.
US07917373B2
The present invention is an interactive process and system for formulating a unique digestible physical enhancer for an individual by way of a computer system by displaying one or more statements to an individual using a client's computer, wherein the statements comprise potential formula ingredients. A server device then receives one or more responses from the client computer indicating proposed formula ingredients chosen by the individual and amounts of formula ingredients chosen by the individual. An absorption ability is determined for the proposed formula based upon proposed formula ingredients chosen by individual and amounts of formula ingredients chosen by individual. The individual has the ability to tailor the enhancer by performing the following as many times as needed. Upon receiving approval of proposed unique formula by the individual, the approved unique formula is processed by server device and the approved unique formula is produced for the individual.
US07917360B2
A transient echo can be avoided during time stretching of a digital audio signal by detecting a transient in a frame of a digital audio signal, identifying another occurrence of the transient in a subsequent frame of the digital audio signal, rotating the transient occurring in the subsequent frame to align the transient occurring in the subsequent frame with the transient detected in the frame, and aggregating the frame with the subsequent frame. Further, another occurrence of the transient can be identified in another subsequent frame of the digital audio signal and it can be determined that the transient occurring in that subsequent frame cannot be aligned with the transient detected in the frame. The copy of the transient occurring in the another subsequent frame can then be blended across that frame, such as by performing phase accumulation on one or more frequency components.
US07917351B2
A weighted search program is disclosed. The weighted search program may be integrated into a translation program, or the weighted search program may be used independently with an available search engine. When integrated with the translation program, setting and weighting may be combined in a single search. In one embodiment, the weighting would be used in conjunction with a Pin Yin translation program so that a user could set some terms, and allocate a search weight to the remaining terms. The invention may be applied independently in Internet searching so that a user can apply weights to multiple elements of a search term.
US07917349B2
An improved simulator for an analytical instrument that provides the student with an experience similar to that of operating the actual instrument. In one preferred embodiment, the invention combines real functionality and simulated functionality where at least one function of the analytical instrument is real. In another preferred embodiment, the invention combines a functional first instrument along with a simulation of a second instrument, the simulation including both hardware with limited functionality and software that simulates the output of a functional instrument to create a teaching aid for use in classrooms and teaching laboratories.
US07917347B2
Mechanisms for generating a worst case current waveform for testing of integrated circuit devices are provided. Architectural analysis of an integrated circuit device is first performed to determine an initial worst case power workload to be applied to the integrated circuit device. Thereafter, the derived worst case power workload is applied to a model and is simulated to generate a worst case current waveform that is input to an electrical model of the integrated circuit device to generate a worst case noise budget value. The worst case noise budget value is then compared to measured noise from application of the worst case power workload to a hardware implemented integrated circuit device. The worst case current waveform may be selected for future testing of integrated circuit devices or modifications to the simulation models may be performed and the process repeated based on the results of the comparison.
US07917343B2
A ripple and foam creation apparatus and method using water particle data is provided to create ripples and foam, and detect positions of the created ripples and foam for a water simulation used to create visual special effects in animations or movies. The apparatus includes a water particle grouping module checking grouping types of water particles from received water particle data to selects small water masses, a ripple creation module determining a position for ripple creation by using the checked grouping types, a foam creation module detecting flow of the water particles and calculating a position for foam creation, and a ripple-foam moving/removing module detecting changes of the created foam and ripples over time and removing the created foam and ripples.
US07917335B2
A neural network learns the operating modes of a system being monitored under normal operating conditions. Anomalies can be automatically detected and learned. A control command can be issued or an alert can be issued in response thereto.
US07917334B2
A computer program and system for calculating the performance of a compressor includes selecting a compressor from a database, inputting application conditions, comparing data for the selected compressor to the inputted application conditions, defining an operating envelope for the selected compressor by defining a series of points representing lower and upper limits of evaporating and condensing temperatures for the selected compressor, determining whether the selected compressor operates within its operating envelope, and calculating the performance of the selected compressor.
US07917330B2
A data accumulating section accumulates the data acquired from the monitored object. A reference space forming section forms a reference space based on the data accumulated in the data accumulating section. A data acquiring section acquires the data from the monitored object. A distance calculating section calculates a Mahalanobis' distance by inputting the data acquired by the data acquiring section into the reference space formed by the reference space forming section. An instruction accepting section accepts an instruction from a user, and decides procedures of operations of the reference space forming section, the data acquiring section, and the distance calculating section in response to the instruction.
US07917328B2
Monitoring temperature excursions an assembly experiences over a life of the assembly is provided. A determination is made as to whether the assembly has been in service beyond a predetermined end of life objective. Responsive to the assembly failing to be in service beyond the predetermined end of life objective, a new temperature value associated with the assembly is read. A modifier value for a figure of merit (FOM) value is computed and added to a cumulative figure of merit value. The cumulative figure of merit value is compared to a cumulative stress figure of merit budget. Responsive to the cumulative figure of merit value exceeding the cumulative stress figure of merit budget, an identified stress management solution is implemented.
US07917321B2
Determining a pattern of arrival time cycle skip in an acoustic flow meter. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising transceiving acoustic signals through a fluid flowing in a meter (the transceiving between respective pairs of a plurality of transducer pairs), measuring transit time of acoustic signals between the respective pairs of the plurality of transducers pairs, calculating a plurality of error values (each error value indicative of a cycle skip mode in measuring of the transit time of the acoustic signals), and determining the cycle skip mode using, at least in part, the plurality of error values.
US07917315B1
A method for counting electrons from a power supply, comprising the following steps: measuring a current of a power supply forming a measured current; converting the measured current to a voltage; then into a monotonic uni-polar representation of an aggregate number of electrons having an amplitude; actuating a microprocessor in communication with a data storage just before an integrator in communication with the power supply reaches a preset limit of aggregate electrons; reading the amplitude forming a reading; transmitting the reading to an accumulator forming an accumulator value; resetting the integrator after the transmitting the reading, repeating the actuation, reading and transmission; comparing the summation of accumulator values to a calibration value; and recording the capacity when the summation of accumulator values meets or exceeds the calibration value.
US07917307B2
In an oil sample analysis calculator (100) for analyzing results of oil samples from an engine, the oil sample analysis calculator (100) includes an input module (110) which receives an input data set (140), a processing module (130) which receives the input data set (140) from the input module (110) and corrects the input data set (140) based on at least one of an amount of oil added to the engine and an amount of oil removed from the engine, and an output module (120) which receives the input data set (140) corrected by the processing module (130) and outputs an output data set (150).
US07917303B2
Methods for identifying a motif or a combination of motifs having a Boolean state of predetermined mutations in a set of sequences including a) aligning a set of sequences of ordered motifs represented by a single-character code, b) comparing a reference sequence with the set of sequences aligned in step (a), c) identifying motifs not having mutated simultaneously and/or motifs having mutated simultaneously at least once on at least one sequence of the set and not having mutated on another sequence of the set.
US07917302B2
Sequence alignment and sequence database similarity searching are among the most important and challenging task in bio informatics, and are used for several purposes, including protein function prediction. An efficient parallelisation of the Smith-Waterman sequence alignment algorithm using parallel processing in the form of SIMD (Single-Instruction, Multiple-Data) technology is presented. The method has been implementation using the MMX (MultiMedia eXtensions) and SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) technology that is embedded in Intel's latest microprocessors, but the method can also be implemented using similar technology existing in other modern microprocessors. Near eight-fold speed-up relative to the fastest previously an optimised eight-way parallel processing approach achieved know non-parallel Smith-Waterman implementation on the same hardware. A speed of about 200 million cell updates per second has been obtained on a single Intel Pentium III 500 MHz microprocessor.
US07917300B2
A gene network is predicted which can prevent a decrease in the amount of basic data. A gene network is predicted by retrieving indirect causal relationships the presence of which cannot be explained on the basis of direct causal relationships and/or indirect causal relationships the presence of which can be explained on the basis of the direct causal relationships and supplementing a network comprising the direct causal relationships with the retrieved indirect causal relationships.
US07917299B2
An apparatus and method for performing similarity searching on a data stream with respect to a query string are disclosed, where the data stream comprises a plurality of data substrings, and where the query string comprises a plurality of query substrings. A programmable logic device is used to filter the data stream to find a plurality of possible matches between the data substrings and a plurality of the query substrings, wherein the data substrings and the query substrings comprise a plurality of characters. From these possible matches, a determination can be made as to a similarity between the query string and at least a portion of the data stream.
US07917296B1
A biomolecular electronic switch includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, a programmable monolayer of either cytochrome c or cytochrome c3 or bovine serum hormone sandwiched between the first and second electrical contacts and a substrate. These switches have high current-carrying capacities and are very fast. It appears that these protein materials can be either metals or semiconductors. Because of the high conductivity and tiny size, these globular proteins can be used to develop cost-effective, miniaturized FEDs, molecular diodes and rectifiers for nanocomputer chips.
US07917290B1
A GPS unit receives a list of contacts from an external source and automatically processes the list of contacts, creating a point of interest for each contact in the list of contacts and saving the created points of interest in a point of interest database.
US07917267B2
Method to determine an optimized shift point, in particular upshift point, for a manual transmission
In order to determine an optimized upshift point, it is proposed that a control circuit, on the basis of a current engine operating point (TQCUR;N) calculates a new engine operating point (TQNEW; NNEW) produced when shifting up at approximately the same vehicle speed, wherein the current engine operating point is determined as the optimized upshift point if the calculated new engine operating point is below a preset upper torque limit (TQ_MAX_LIM) and is at the same time above a preset lower engine speed limit (N_MIN_x+1) for the higher gear.
US07917248B2
A method for configuring a marking device includes, at a control system, establishing communication with the marking device; receiving, from the marking device, information about capabilities of the marking device; presenting the received information about capabilities of the marking device to a user; receiving, from the user, instructions to set machine settings for the marking device; and causing the marking device to be configured according to the instructions received from the user.
US07917247B2
An auxiliary communication system and method, wherein system components can be electrically isolated, wherein a machine controller and a robot can communicate according to standard protocols, and wherein auxiliary equipment can be incorporated into the communication system, thereby alleviating the need for and the voltage limitations of auxiliary I/O boards.
US07917244B2
A method for reducing a critical dimension error of a substrate is provided. A first function is identified for correlating a critical dimension error with a first effect. A second function is identified for correlating a critical dimension error with a scan speed. An optimal scan speed for minimizing the critical dimension error is identified by substantially equating the first function and the second function. The substrate may be a mask or a wafer.
US07917242B2
Illustrative computer-executable methods, systems, and computer software program products compute assembly jack locations to align parts for assembly. Initial locations of at least one component to be moved and a desired final location for the at least one component to be moved are determined from initial position measurement data for the at least one component to be moved and the final location. Motion to align the at least one component to be moved with the final location is automatically determined. Optimal displacements of assembly jacks to produce the determined motion are automatically determined. After movement, location of the at least one moved part at a final assembled position is automatically determined. If applicable, data regarding additional assembly jack displacement can be inputted, the determined optimal location for the at least one part to be moved can be adjusted, and additional motion due to additional assembly jack displacement can be determined.
US07917241B2
A method and system of location specific processing on a plurality of substrates is described. The method comprises measuring metrology data for the plurality of substrates. Thereafter, the method comprises computing correction data for a first substrate using the metrology data, followed by computing correction data for a second substrate using the metrology data. While computing the correction data for a second substrate, the method comprises applying the correction data for a first substrate to the first substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB).
US07917239B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an amplifier provided in a body and amplifying a sound signal to output sound from a speaker, a first system including a storage storing a first sound data and a sound device which generates an analog sound signal from the first sound data and supplies the generated sound signal to the amplifier, and further, outputting sound using the first sound data when the body is in a power-on state, and the second system configured to operate independently from the first system, and including a semiconductor memory storing a non-compression format second sound data and a digital-to-analog converter, which converts the second sound data into an analog sound signal and supplies the converted analog sound signal into the amplifier, and further, outputting sound using the second sound data when the body is in a power-off state.
US07917224B2
A stimulation system including a stimulator having a multi-channel electrode array utilizing a monopolar electrode configuration. A processor is operatively coupled to the stimulator. The processor is configured to determine a channel interaction (CI) sequence using simultaneous, sign-correlated pulses and channel interaction compensation. The CI sequence has a CI pulse rate and a CI mean pulse amplitude, and produces resulting potentials that are substantially equal to desired potentials at given positions relative to the multi-channel array. The CI sequence may include temporal gaps between pulses, wherein the processor may be configured to increase the CI pulse rate, such that the temporal gap between pulses is decreased. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to reduce the pulse amplitude of the CI sequence while increasing pulse phase duration, such that charge per pulse remains substantially unchanged and the temporal gap between pulses is decreased.
US07917221B2
The invention relates to a device for desynchronizing neuronal brain activity. According to the invention, the activity in at least two partial zones of a brain area or at least two functionally related brain areas is reset by means of two electrodes, surprisingly resulting in desynchronization in the targeted population of neurons of the patient and the symptoms being repressed. The inventive device comprises at least two stimulation electrodes (2) which are triggered by a control mechanism so as to cause synchronization in the local environment thereof. Preferably, the stimuli of the N electrodes are essentially out of phase by 1/N.
US07917217B2
A method of reforming a wet-tantalum capacitor is disclosed. The method comprises charging the capacitor to a voltage that is substantially less than one of a maximum and rated voltage for the capacitor. The method also comprises providing an open circuit condition and allowing the capacitor to at least partially discharge through leakage current.
US07917216B1
Tachyarrhythmia is treated by applying anti-tachycardia pacing through at least one multi-site electrode set located on, in or around the heart. The electrode set is arranged and located such that an electrical activation pattern having a wave-front between substantially flat and concave is generated through a reentrant circuit associated with the tachyarrhythmia. The electrode set may be one of a plurality of predefined, multi-site electrode sets located on, in or around the atria. Alternatively, the electrode set may be formed using at least two selectable electrodes located on, in or around the atria.
US07917211B2
Programmable and implantable automatic heart stimulation device (OIST) for controlling the heart, accompanied by a marked increase in the contractility of the myocardial cells on each beat produced by an optimized post-extrasystolic potentiation effect. The OIST does not cause lasting fatigue of the myocardium, markedly increases the coronary rate instantaneously and durably, causes dilatation of the walls to regress and opposes thromboses and arrhythmia. The OIST creates a genetic involution of the pathological process either by the mere effect of the mechanosensitivity of specific genetic expressions or by the addition of partial autologous cell dedifferentiation, obtained by original genetic manipulation which induces physiological an anatomical regeneration. This method also allows physiological auto-contractile living arterial stents, in particular coronary stents to be created, as well as the grafting of dedifferentiated myocardial cells.
US07917207B2
The present subject matter includes one embodiment of an apparatus, comprising: a battery including a plurality of flat battery layers disposed in a battery case, the battery case having a planar battery surface which has a battery perimeter; and a capacitor including a plurality of flat capacitor layers disposed in a capacitor case, the capacitor case having a planar capacitor surface which has a capacitor perimeter, the capacitor stacked with the battery such that the planar battery surface and the planar capacitor surface are adjacent, with the capacitor perimeter and the battery perimeter substantially coextensive; a hermetically sealed implantable housing having a first shell and a lid mated to the first shell at a first opening, the first opening sized for passage of the battery, the capacitor, and the programmable electronics, wherein the battery and the capacitor are disposed in the hermetically sealed implantable housing.
US07917201B2
This invention relates to the detection of bioelectric signals indicative of neuromuscular function. A mapping biosensor array is first used to identify, relative to reliable anatomical landmarks, the optimal myoelectrical detection site for the majority of the population. Then a diagnostic biosensor array is fabricated using this information so that when the diagnostic biosensor array is positioned on an individual using the reliable anatomical landmarks, the detection electrode is automatically positioned over the optimal detection site.
US07917196B2
Cardiac monitoring and/or stimulation methods and systems provide for monitoring, diagnosing, defibrillation and pacing therapies, or a combination of these capabilities, including cardiac systems incorporating or cooperating with neuro-stimulating devices, drug pumps, or other therapies. Embodiments relate generally to implantable medical devices employing automated cardiac activation sequence monitoring and/or tracking for arrhythmia discrimination. Embodiments are directed to devices and methods involving sensing a plurality of composite cardiac signals using a plurality of implantable electrodes. A source separation is performed using the sensed plurality of composite cardiac signals and the separation produces one or more cardiac signal vectors associated with one or more cardiac activation sequences that is indicative of ischemia. A change of the one or more cardiac signal vectors is detected using the one or more cardiac signal vectors. Cardiac arrhythmias are discriminated using the one or more cardiac signal vectors.
US07917192B2
Tomography by emission of positrons (pet) system dedicated to examinations of human body parts such as the breast, axilla, head, neck, liver, heart, lungs, prostate region and other body extremities which is composed of at least two detecting plates (detector heads) with dimensions that are optimized for the breast, axilla region, brain and prostrate region or other extremities; motorized mechanical means to allow the movement of the plates under manual or computer control, making it possible to collect data in several orientations as needed for tomographic image reconstruction; an electronics system composed by a front-end electronics system, located physically on the detector heads, and a trigger and data acquisition system located off-detector in an electronic crate; a data acquisition and control software; and an image reconstruction and analysis software that allows reconstructing, visualizing and analyzing the data produced during the examination.
US07917189B2
Two-dimensional or three-dimensional, time-resolved MR frame images are acquired during a dynamic study of a subject. A composite MR image is produced and this is used to reconstruct each image frame by weighting the backprojection of each projection view acquired for that image frame. The composite image may be reconstructed from views acquired separately, or it may be produced by combining views acquired during the course of the dynamic study. A number of different clinical applications of the method are described.
US07917181B2
The invention relates to a method for transmitting symbols and/or information from a transmitter to a receiver. The method further relates to devices for coding, transmitting, and receiving symbols and/or information.It is specified that the symbols and/or information is converted into speech expressions and is transmitted as such.
US07917178B2
A wireless communications device includes a receiver that transmits and receives speech signals to and from a remote party via a wireless communications network. The received speech signals include information representative of one or more audible sounds associated with the remote party. The audible sounds may be, for example, words uttered by the remote party, or a predetermined audio message associated with the remote party. A speech processing unit in the user's device converts the received speech signals into corresponding text based on an operating mode of the wireless communications device. The converted text is then displayed to the user on a display. Alternatively, the remote party's wireless communication device or a network entity may convert speech to text for transmission to the user based on an indicated operating mode of the wireless communications device associated with the user.
US07917176B2
A quantized multi-rank beamforming scheme for multiple-antenna systems such as a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless downlink. User equipment (UE) estimates downlink channel and transmit power and determines rank and power allocations. A quantized beamforming matrix is then determined by the UE using successive beamforming. The UE also determines channel quality indices (CQI) which it feeds-back to the wireless downlink base station along with the index of the quantized beamforming matrix. The base station uses the CQI information to select a UE for scheduling of downlink transmission and the quantized beamforming matrix index received from the selected UE to beamform the downlink transmission to the UE. Base station overhead and is minimized while providing near-optimal performance given the constraints of a limited feed-back channel and computational complexity of the UE.
US07917175B2
An antenna system measurer for a repeater and a base station measures powers of a progressive wave and a reflected wave of a transmit/receive antenna, and transmits measured results to a monitoring server in a radio data format such as an SMS message. The monitoring server receives the radio data, identifies a repeater and a base station from sender information of the radio data, and calculates a VSWR based on the measured values. The VSWR is modified based on characteristics of the base station such as length and substance of feeders from a base station identifier corresponding to the sender information. According to the present invention, the remote antenna system is monitored in real-time without visits or installation fees, and a plurality of repeaters and base stations is managed in a combined manner.
US07917171B2
A system for printing a receipt on a print medium, the system comprising: a mobile telecommunications device which comprises: a printer module to print the receipt on the print medium; and, a sensor module to sense a print media identifier of the print medium.
US07917164B2
In one embodiment, a reverse link transmission power for a user equipment is determined based on a first path loss and a second path loss. The first path loss is path loss between a serving station and the user equipment, and the serving station serves the communication needs of the user equipment. The second path loss is path loss between a neighboring station and the user equipment, and the neighboring station neighbors the serving station.
US07917161B2
A method for delivering multimedia messages includes: submitting a multimedia message containing address information of a receiving party to an MMSC by an initiating party; sending a PUSH notification by the MMSC to a short message system with an interface protocol supported by the short message system; obtaining routing information of the receiving party from HLR of the receiving party by the short message system, and sending the PUSH notification to the receiving party according to the routing information; and retrieving the multimedia message from the MMSC according to addressing information of the multimedia message containing in the PUSH notification by the receiving party. The method improves the efficiency and success rate of multimedia message delivery and lowers the cost of multimedia message delivery.
US07917154B2
A device, system, and method are directed towards updating location information for a social network. A request for the location information associated with a GPS coordinate is received from a client device associated with a member of the social network. In response to the request, a location name associated with another member of the social network is provided to the client device based on the GPS coordinate. Another location name may be received from the client device. The other location name may be associated with the GPS coordinate and with the member in the social network. Thus, the GPS coordinate and/or member may be associated with a plurality of location names. A location description may also be received and associated with the location name and with the member in the social network.
US07917139B2
A system for implementing call control services for an inbound roamer is provided. The system includes a control node to implement the call control services in response to an initiation request. The system further includes a service node to send a terminating customized applications for mobile network enhanced logic subscription information (T-CSI) for a called number in response to a routing request for the called number. The T-CSI contains an address pointing to the control node. The system further includes a switching center to send the routing request for the called number. The called number is present in a call received from the inbound roamer.
US07917136B2
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating call connection with a selected service center from a mobile node. A mobile node is provided with short dialing codes used in a network with which the mobile node is registered by SMS messages sent thereto, such as pursuant to registration procedures. Values of the short dialing codes downloaded to the mobile node are stored at a storage location, such as at a SIM card, indexed together with corresponding codes normally used by a user of the mobile nodes, such as the codes used in the home network of the mobile node. When a user places a call to a service center, the stored values are retrieved, and transposed, if needed, to ensure better that the call to the selected service center is successfully completed.
US07917133B2
After market vending of feature-provisioning software to qualified third party mobile wireless communication devices is facilitated by providing a joint software vending machine website capable of authenticating the device and wireless service provider and downloading and activating only software appropriate to that particular user device and wireless network service provider. The exemplary system provides device/user qualification and/or authentication as well as device provisioning for mobile wireless communication devices that may be manufactured by different vendors for different purposes and serviced by different wireless network service providers via a wireless infrastructure which includes a communication data relay service provider.
US07917123B2
The object of the invention is a method and arrangement including equipment, with which it is possible to add right of use into a SIM card located in a cellular terminal of a cellular network. According to the invention the addition is made with the aid of a prepayment terminal according to the invention, and the possessor of the terminal pays in a desired manner the provided addition of right of use to the legal person, who acts as the intermediary. The cellular network operator bills the legal person, who provided the addition, by an amount corresponding to the added right of use.
US07917111B2
A method and system for monitoring broadcast programs from the beginning of the programs is provided. The system includes a tuner configured to receive and decode broadcast signals and provide programming as an output. The system also includes a buffer coupled to the tuner that stores programming from the tuner and provides buffered programming as an output delayed in time from the programming provided by the tuner. The system further includes processing circuitry coupled to the tuner and buffer that determines if the tuner is selected as a source for programming, and if a program is in progress when the tuner is selected. The processing circuitry provides the tuner programming as an output of the system if a program is not in progress when the tuner is selected, and provides the buffered programming as an output of the system if a program is in progress when the tuner is selected.
US07917100B2
Certain aspects of a method and system for processing signals in a communication system may include maximizing system capacity for a time division duplex (TDD) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system, based on reducing a search range within which to find a group of signals having maximum channel gain. At least one of: a first signal for a first user and a second signal for a second user may be selected, which are both within the reduced search range, and which provides a maximum system capacity. The first signal for the first user may be selected from the reduced search range corresponding to a channel gain that is greater than a channel gain corresponding to a remaining portion of the reduced search range. The reduced search range may be generated by sorting a plurality of signals based on a channel gain corresponding to each of the plurality of signals.
US07917099B2
A wireless network arrangement includes an enclosure having a hindrance to wireless communication. The hindrance includes a fixed barrier and/or a space for accommodating a moveable barrier. At least three wireless electronic nodes are wirelessly and communicatively coupled to each other. A broadcast range of the nodes is greater than a largest dimension of the enclosure. The hindrance is disposed between a first one of the nodes and a second one of the nodes. The at least three nodes are positioned within the enclosure such that a wireless signal communication path wirelessly and communicatively couples the first one of the nodes to the second one of the nodes. The communication path is non-intersecting with the hindrance. The communication path passes through at least a third one of the nodes. The communication path is formed exclusively of a plurality of joined linear segments. Opposite ends of each linear segment are disposed at corresponding ones of the nodes.
US07917084B2
A method and system for providing a watermark by amplitude modulating data onto signals being repeated from and/or to a cellular telephone handset without degrading the performance of the cellular telephone system. An exemplary cellular repeater system may include a first communication device configured to receive a cellular telephone signal from a handset. The cellular telephone signal is amplified by a variable gain amplifier configured to create an adjusted signal. The amplification factor applied by the variable gain amplifier is controlled by a message encoder configured in accordance with a predetermined encoding scheme. The adjusted signal is then transmitted to a base station by a second communication device.
US07917083B2
A system and method for identifying a piece of content is disclosed. In one embodiment, an identifier for a piece of digital content can be generated using the title of the piece of digital content, the size of the piece of digital content, and a hash of other attributes of the piece of digital content such as title, album, and artist names.
US07917081B2
A vehicle system interface, comprising: an antenna for receiving satellite or terrestrial broadcast of digital radio signals; a radio receiver circuit for demodulating and decoding the digital radio signals; a FM audio modulator and transmitter circuit, the FM audio modulator and transmitter circuit being configured to condition and re-transmit audio content of the digital radio signals as a first re-transmitted FM signal containing audio data capable of being transmitted wirelessly; a vehicle bus interface circuit configured to receive and transmit a plurality of operational signals; a housing for the FM audio modulator and transmitter circuit, the radio receiver circuit and the vehicle bus interface; a connector configured to interface with a diagnostic link connector of the vehicle, the connector being in operable communication with the vehicle bus interface circuit; and wherein the vehicle system interface receives and transmits the plurality of operational signals through the diagnostic link connector of the vehicle.
US07917079B2
A recording material charging apparatus comprises: a pre-transcription charging section arranged between a transcribing section that transcribes a toner image retained by a toner image retaining body on a recording material having concavity and convexity and a conveying section that conveys the recording material to the transcribing section and is arranged closest to the transcribing section, the pre-transcription charging section charging the recording material that is to be conveyed to the transcribing section; and a voltage supplying section that supplies voltage of a polarity opposite to a charging polarity of the toner image retained in the toner image retaining body to the pre-transcription charging section.
US07917078B2
A waste collecting device includes a first box including a top surface having a first opening, a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, and side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface and having a second opening, wherein the top surface, the bottom surface, and the side surfaces define a space allowing waste to be accommodated therein; a second box including a top surface, a bottom surface opposed to the top surface, and side surfaces connecting the top surface and the bottom surface and having a third opening, the third opening being in communication with the second opening; and a sending unit disposed in the first box and configured to send the waste in a direction away from the second box.
US07917069B2
A development apparatus includes a first base member which bears and conveys a developer and which develops an electrostatic image in a first developing region, a restriction member which restricts a layer thickness of the developer borne by the first basemember, and a second base member which bears and conveys the developer received from the first basemember, and which develops the electrostatic image in a second developing region, the first base member is made of pure aluminum or aluminum alloy, and the second base member is made of stainless steel.
US07917067B2
A magnetic field generating member with high stiffness and small size, an image development device, a process cartridge and an image forming apparatus including the magnetic field generating member as well as a manufacturing method of the magnetic field generating member are provided where the magnetic field generating member includes a main body, a groove provided in the main body, an interposition member configured to be fitted in the groove of the main body and including a concave portion and a magnetic member as a long magnetic compact fixed into the concave portion of the interposition member.
US07917065B2
A developing system comprises: a plurality of image carriers; a plurality of developing devices for developing electrostatic latent images, formed on the plurality of image carriers, with respective liquid developers of different colors of which carrier is nonvolatile solvent; and developer collecting means which are disposed at a plurality of locations for collecting excess developers, wherein the developing devices have developer containers, respectively. The developing system further comprises a carrier storing tank for distributing the carrier to the respective developer containers.
US07917063B2
A charging apparatus for charging a member to be charged by contacting magnetic particles to the member to be charged, includes a magnetic particle carrying member for magnetically carrying the magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particle carrying member is provided at a longitudinal end portion of the magnetic particle carrying member with an insulative portion for electrically insulating from the magnetic particles carried by the magnetic particle carrying member; and an electroconductive member disposed for contacting the magnetic particles carried on the insulative portion, wherein an absolute value of a potential of the electroconductive member is lower than an absolute value of a voltage applied to the magnetic particle carrying member.
US07917062B2
An image forming apparatus is provided with an apparatus main body, a cover member openably and closably mounted on the apparatus main body, and an engaging portion. The cover member includes an outer cover and an inner cover which are independently opened and closed, and the inner cover is positioned by being pushed by the outer cover when the cover member is closed. The engaging portion is provided in the apparatus main body for temporarily holding the inner cover in the apparatus main body.
US07917054B2
An image developing apparatus includes an upper case; a lower case disposed on a lower side of the upper case, and internally housing a developing agent, and having an opening. A photoconductive drum is disposed on the upper case for forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof. A charging roller is disposed on one side of an outer circumference of the photoconductive drum for charging the photoconductive drum. A developing roller having one part is exposed through the opening of the lower case to cooperate with the photoconductive drum for developing the electrostatic latent image. A scattering preventing unit disposed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller, to prevent scattering of the developing agent supplied by the developing roller. The scattering preventing unit includes a blocking curtain which covers a part of the opening and having one side in contact with the outer circumference of the photoconductive drum. A fixing bracket is provided for supporting the blocking curtain.
US07917045B2
An image forming apparatus forms high precision full color image by correcting the adhesion quantity of an image visualizing agent and a position shift of a visible image while performing printing process. The image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer unit; plural photoconductors; plural charging units; plural exposure units; plural developing units; plural first transferring units; and plural second transferring units. The intermediate transfer unit has a correction pattern image formed in a region outside a predetermined maximum document region in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction. A detector in the intermediate transfer unit detects the correction pattern image. A correction controller performs correcting, based on detection results of the detector, setting values of one or more of the charging units, the exposure units, and the developing units when a region corresponding to an interval between the visible images passes a position beneath one of the units.
US07917041B2
A small-scale VOA system includes a polarization rotator, a voltage multiplier circuit, and at least one transistor. The polarization rotator can be positioned within a TOSA along the emission axis of a corresponding optical signal source in addition to one or more polarizers. A microcontroller provides a first low voltage control signal to a voltage multiplier to generate a large voltage DC signal which is provided to the transistor. The transistor modulates the large voltage signal with a second control signal from the microcontroller to generate a large voltage AC signal for driving the polarization rotator. The polarization rotation of the polarization rotator can be altered depending on the applied large-voltage AC signal. As a result, the polarization rotator and one or more polarizers can variably attenuate signals emitted by the optical signal source or act as a shutter.
US07917032B2
The present invention relates to a multi-bit-rate optical communication method, optical network units, and an optical line terminal that enable multi-bit-rate transmission of low bit-rate data and high bit-rate data while maintaining compatibility with existing systems and reducing upgrade costs of optical network units and labor required for the upgrade, wherein the optical line terminal transmits a first data area including frame synchronization information in a predetermined frame format at a first bit rate and a second data area at a second bit rate which is the first bit rate×Mdown (Mdown>1), and any of the optical network units performs reception processing at a rate once every Mdown-bit to detect the frame synchronization information in the first data area and, based on detection timing thereof, performs reception processing of the second data area by a bit.
US07917028B2
A portable electronic device includes a camera module and a main body. The camera module includes a housing, a lens received in the housing, an image sensor received in the housing for capturing an image of an object, a first ferromagnetic or magnetic element fixed to the housing, a plurality of metallic connecting pins electrically connected to the image sensor and exposed at an opposite side of the image sensor to the lens. The main body includes a printed circuit board, and a second ferromagnetic or magnetic element. The camera module is detachably coupled to the main body in a manner that the first ferromagnetic or magnetic element is magnetically attached to the second ferromagnetic or magnetic element, and the metallic connecting pins are electrically coupled to the printed circuit board.
US07917019B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a deicer system for heating water within a fluid receptacle to prevent ice from forming including a main body configured to be positioned within the fluid receptacle, a heating element adapted to heat the water, a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature, and a control unit in communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor. The heating element is supported by the main body. The temperature sensor is thermally connected to the heating element. The control unit is adapted to determine a temperature of the water based at least in part on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The control unit is adapted to control the heating element based at least in part on the determined temperature of the water.
US07917018B2
Disclosed herein are wearable devices for dispensing insect repellents, fragrances, and/or other chemicals along the outside of the clothing of a human, to avoid the need to apply such chemicals directly to clothing or to human's skin. The devices have an on/off switch that automatically controls a shutter which enables and restricts air flow, while also controlling fan operation and covering of a use-up cue. The device also is designed to prevent fan operation when an impregnated slab is not present. Also disclosed are preferred refills for use with such devices.
US07917012B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07917008B1
Communication and resolution of potential recording conflicts are disclosed. In one aspect, a request for recording a new program is received, and recording schedules are examined to determine whether another program had been previously scheduled for recording at the same time. If so, a display that illustrates and allows resolution of the conflict is automatically provided. In another aspect, a recording queue and an exception list provide efficient identification of conflicts and management of scheduled recordings. The recording queue lists each program to be recorded, and the exception list identifies conflicting pairs in the recording queue and indicates which item in each pair is respectively retained (preempting) and deferred (preempted). Canceling a preempting recording removes it from the recording queue and the conflict from the exception list to reinstate a preempted program. Channel guides that illustrate recording conflicts are also provided.
US07917005B2
A CDA processing section extracts an unused area of an information recording medium via a disc status management section and a drive control section. The CDA processing section divides the extracted unused areas by a division criteria value MAS, which allows continuous reproduction of a video and audio stream, and reserves areas having the size of the division criteria value MAS as CDAs. This enables continuous reproduction of AV data, and multiple data can be recorded simultaneously.
US07916996B2
There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07916994B2
When a stream encoded with a variable length code is output, a stream containing a syntax error and a format violation is prevented from being output.A checker checks encoding parameter for a stream that is reproduced from a magnetic tape and a stream that is output through an EE path and determines an occurrence of a syntax error or a format violation. When the output stream contains it, a switch circuit stops outputting the stream in the unit of a GOP or a picture and adds a code representing the end to the immediately preceding stream. The checker continuously checks the stream. When the output stream does not contain an error, etc, the output of the stream is resumed from the beginning of a GOP. At that point, flag representing that there is a picture that has not been used due to the stop of the stream is added.
US07916974B2
A processing device has plural processing modules executing a processing; and plural connectors each having a linking section, an associating section, and a controller. The linking section is able to link with at least one other connector at an input side or an output side. The associating section associates the connector with one of the processing modules. In accordance with a linked state, the controller controls the processing module associated by the associating section.
US07916970B2
An image processing apparatus is configured to carry out image processing on image data including pixel values of a plurality of pixels disposed on a plane defined in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The apparatus includes horizontal-direction image-processing means for carrying out image processing in the horizontal direction on a pixel value of a target pixel that is included in the image data; vertical-direction image-processing means for carrying out image processing in the vertical direction on the pixel value of the target pixel; diagonal-direction image-processing means carrying out image processing in a predetermined diagonal direction on the pixel value of the target; correction-value determination means for determining the correction value of the pixel value on the basis of processing results obtained by each means; and correction means correcting the pixel value of the target pixel.
US07916969B2
Methods and apparatus for creating a digital image in which exposure varies by region of the image are described. The image may be created from first and second images. In one embodiment, a method comprises writing pixels of the first image that are within a first region of a space to pixel locations in a memory that correspond with coordinates of the respective first image pixels. A replacement pixel is generated by combining a pixel of the first image that is within the first region with a spatially corresponding pixel of a second image. The replacement pixel is written to a pixel location in the memory that corresponds with the coordinates of the replacement pixel. Pixels of the first image that are within a second region of the space may be written to pixel locations in the memory that correspond with the coordinates of the respective first image pixels.
US07916967B2
The prevent invention can prevent roughness in an image and reduce contouring and coding distortion in the image. The image processing apparatus according to the present invention reduces distortion in an input image, and includes: a masking signal generating unit 101 that generates a masking signal for reducing the distortion; and a masking signal adding unit 102 that adds the masking signal to the input image, wherein the masking signal generating unit 101 includes: a level difference processing unit 105 that smoothes a level difference between pixel values of pixels in the input image; a difference calculating unit 106 that calculates a difference between the input image and an image which has been processed by the level difference processing unit 105; and a random number setting unit 108 that sets an amplitude, creates a is random number having the set amplitude, the amplitude decreasing, as the difference approaches a predetermined value.
US07916962B2
This invention implements a fast lossless transform almost free from a delay with a small calculation amount. The lossless transform can be used to perform lossless coding and lossy coding quickly. A first calculation unit multiplies data D0, D1, D2, and D3 input to the input terminals by respective weighting coefficients {a0, a1, a2, a3} of {½, −½, −½, −½}, and summates the products. A rounding unit in the first calculation unit rounds the sum into an integer and outputs the integer value E. A second calculation unit multiplies the value E by weighting coefficients {b0, b1, b2, b3} of {−1, 1, 1, 1} set for the respective input data, and adds the products to the respective input data. This invention sets, for the relationship between the first and second weighting coefficients, a condition that a0*b0+a1*b1+a2*b2+a3*b3=−2 or 0.
US07916960B2
A rate control unit performs data truncation on a code sequence having been sorted and bit shifted as shown in FIG. 10 so that a desired noise reduction effect is achieved. The data truncation occurs in sequence from the rightmost bit. For example, in FIG. 10, data is truncated from data of bit 0 in a subband VHL4 downwardly in sequence through data of bit 0 in a subband YHH5, and so on. If the desired noise reduction effect can be achieved by truncation of up to bit data in the subband YHH1, data in those subbands in a dotted area in FIG. 10 will be truncated. If the desired noise reduction effect cannot be achieved by truncation of up to bit data in the subband YHH1, data will then be truncated from data of bit 0 in a subband VLL4 downwardly in sequence.
US07916957B2
To provide a line noise eliminating apparatus and the like, with which the picture quality of the area that has no line noise is not deteriorated, and a line noise having no periodicity can be eliminated. The line noise eliminating apparatus includes: an image binarizing device which generates a binary image by an input image; a line noise reliability calculating device which calculates an edge feature quantity for each of black-pixel consecutive areas in the rotated images, and calculates line noise reliability based on the edge feature quantities; a line noise area determining device which determines the line noise areas that correspond to each of the rotation angle candidates based on the line noise reliability; a density converting device which generates a density-converted image by applying local image enhancement on an area that corresponds to the line noise area of the input image so as to generate a density-converted image.
US07916955B2
In a first image processing apparatus, a first image processing unit 104 applies image processing to video content stored in a first storage unit. At this time, the first image processing unit stores information relating to detail and progress of the applied image processing in an image processing information storage unit as image processing information. In a case in which the first image processing unit interrupts the image processing being applied and the interrupted image processing is taken over and executed by a second image processing apparatus, the partially processed video content and the corresponding image processing information are transferred to the second image processing apparatus.
US07916946B2
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus in which a marked image is extracted more accurately and classification based upon the type of mark is made possible. The apparatus includes an extraction unit adapted to extract information representing a region position of an object and information representing a region position of a mark as an object list and mark list, respectively, from the document image that has been scanned by a scanning unit; and a search unit adapted to search for information representing the region position of a mark in the mark list for which the distance is the shortest with respect to information representing a region position of each object in the object list.
US07916939B2
A device to produce a color image, the device including a color filtering arrangement to produce at least four colors, each color produced by a filter on a color filtering mechanism having a relative segment size, wherein the relative segment sizes of at least two of the primary colors differ.
US07916932B2
A 3D depth imaging method and system are disclosed. The 3D depth imaging method involves radiating light at a measurement target object using a projection means and imaging the light using an image receiving means, and includes the steps of assigning a unique transmitting side address to a signal corresponding to each pixel of the projection means to encode the signal; projecting multiple light patterns at the projection means to transmit the signal; receiving the encoded signal at the image receiving means; separating the received signal to restore the address; and determining a pixel position of the object using the transmitting side address and the restored address. With the 3D depth imaging method and system, it is possible to exactly separate signals received by the image receiving means even when the signals are overlap and the geometrical structure of the object varies, and it is also possible to obtain a depth image that is robust against ambient environmental noise.
US07916931B2
An apparatus, method, and medium for dividing regions by using feature points and a mobile robot cleaner using the same are provided. A method includes forming a grid map by using a plurality of grid points that are obtained by detecting distances of a mobile robot from obstacles; extracting feature points from the grid map; extracting candidate pairs of feature points, which are in the range of a region division element, from the feature points; extracting a final pair of feature points, which satisfies the requirements of the region division element, from the candidate pairs of feature points; forming a critical line by connecting the final pair of feature points; and forming a final region in accordance with the size relationship between regions formed of a closed curve which connects the critical line and the grid map.
US07916926B2
An inspected image can be communicated without putting large load on a network. A remote console enables an operation screen and a moving image to be displayed and processed without color shifts. Information on the operation screen is not communicated as bitmap information, but event information such as a formation of a window and the moving of a mouse is communicated as information at a level of I parts of graphical user interface. Moreover, communication of the event information on the operation screen and communication of a moving image are separated. In addition, a method of compressing information on the operation screen and a method of compressing information on the moving image are separated. A necessary part of information on the moving image is selected and communicated depending on the state of the semiconductor inspection apparatus, an operation of an operator, and a pattern to be inspected.
US07916921B2
It can be enabled an accurate diagnosis of osteoporosis by a simple method utilizing panoramic radiographs without requiring special skill or experience of a technician engaged in diagnosis of osteoporosis. It comprises an object region image acquisition means for enhancing the contrast of a mandible bone on digitized panoramic radiographs and extracting a portion of a mandible including a mental foramen and a mandibular base as an object region image; a discrimination and selection means for discriminating between a background portion and the portion of a mandible from the object region image and acquiring, as a judgment region image, a portion from which the background portion is removed; a defined image acquisition means for defining forms of a cortical bone and a cancellous bone constituting the mandible of the judgment region image; a means for specifying the cortical bone portion on the image in which the form is defined; calculation means for determining the thickness of the cortical bone based on the outline constituting the mental foramen and the cortical bone specified by the respective means; and an output means for outputting the determined thickness of the cortical bone.
US07916917B2
For each of a number of landmarks in an image an initial position of the landmark is defined. Next a neighborhood around the initial position, comprising a number of candidate locations of the landmark is sampled and a cost is associated with each of the candidate locations. A cost function expressing a weighted sum of overall gray level cost and overall shape cost for all candidate locations is optimized. A segmented anatomic entity is defined as a path through a selected combination of candidate locations for which combination the cost function is optimized.
US07916900B2
An improved method of collecting identifying information (such as samples and data) from a subject to facilitate later identification of said subject. Identifying information may include biological samples, medical records, photographs and videos, audio recordings, odor characterization (of body or exhalations, for example, characterizing a disease such as diabetes), fingerprints, dental records, and the like. Such a identification kit may be comprised of some combination of the following items: a data recording medium (such as a CD, DVD, flash card, or other memory card, other memory device, or printable data such as a barcode or chart); a first receptacle (such as a plastic bag, vial, or other container) for hair samples; a dentition recorder such as a tooth impression wafer; a second receptacle for a blood sample, which may be part of a blood typing kit or other blood sample collection kit; address information, such as a mailing label which may be supplied already attached to an envelope or other mailing container, or e-mail address, or URL, for sending a copy of collected identifying information to an administrating business; a cheek retractor to facilitate obtaining a dentition record; and a fingerprint kit.
US07916895B2
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for target image acquisition using sensor data. The system includes at least one sensor adapted to detect an event and generate a signal based at least in part on the event. The system also includes an imager obtaining an image of a target and target area based on a target tracking and recognition algorithm. The imager is configured to trigger image acquisition based at least in part on the signal from the sensor. The imager adjusts the target tracking and recognition algorithm based at least in part on sensor data in the signal. In certain embodiments, the imager may also adjust an image acquisition threshold for obtaining an image based on the sensor data.
US07916892B2
A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. the feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is then cut on a side edge and the top edge to cut open each envelope. A transport conveys the cut envelopes to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The operator drops the extracted contents onto a conveyor that conveys the contents to an imaging station. The contents are automatically separated and imaged to obtain image data for the contents. The contents are then sorted into a plurality of output bins.
US07916891B2
Taught herein is an apparatus for measurement of floating body posture of a person wearing a life jacket, comprising a backpack frame having a plurality of reference points, an image collecting system, and an image processing system; wherein the image collecting system collects image sequence information of the person wearing the life jacket via the reference points; the image processing system processes the image sequence information, so as to obtain the dynamics of a movement of the person and the quasi-static parameters of such movement. The system is capable of reflecting the dynamics of a movement of a body in water and the quasi-static parameters thereof.
US07916884B2
A simple hearing enhancement device that takes the normally adequately loud sound levels and optimizes selective frequency gain of the patient's ear passage to improve speech comprehension.
US07916883B2
The invention comprises a hearing aid with a casing and a battery with a battery access door in the casing. According to the invention: the door is hingedly connected to the casing to allow a pivotal motion between the battery door and the casing, a flexible locking latch having a proximal end and a distal end is provided in either casing or battery door, the distal end of the flexible locking latch is arranged to flex along a path in order to release the battery door when an opening force is applied to the door, and an arrest pin is insertable in the moving path of the distal part of the flexible locking latch to block the movement of the latch when a child-resistant battery enclosure is desired.
US07916881B2
A hearing device, in particular of a hearing aid, in addition to a first sound output device for acoustic supply to the ear of the user, has a second sound output device for output of a test sound in a room in which the hearing device is located. The hearing device has an acquisition device for acquisition of a response to the test sound from the room. Room acoustic information that can be used to control the signal processing of the hearing device is acquired from the response. The signal processing in the hearing device can be automatically adapted to the current room acoustic.
US07916880B2
An inertial force transducer having an operative frequency range comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range of the transducer and a coupler for mounting the resonant element to a site to which force is to be applied. The resonant element is a piezoelectric device comprising a layer of piezoelectric material and a substrate layer on the layer of piezoelectric material. The substrate layer has a region extending beyond the piezoelectric layer, with the coupler mounted to the extended region whereby the low frequency performance of the transducer is extended.
US07916879B2
An acoustic transducer is disclosed, which comprises a micro fabricated, sound generating, or receiving, diaphragm, a conductive leaf cantilever actuator, and a counter electrode. In the acoustic transducer, the electrostatic attraction force between the counter electrode and the leaf cantilever due to an imposed electrical potential is utilized to generate a deflection of the diaphragm attached to said cantilever. In operation, the cantilever collapses on to the counter electrode, causing a significant increase in actuator driving force due to the reduction, and partial elimination, of the air gap in the transducer.
US07916874B2
In a gain adjusting method and a gain adjusting device for adjusting gain of a processed voice signal that is obtained by signal processing of an input voice signal, a masking power of the processed voice signal is computed, and gain is adjusted for every frequency if the frequency is masked according to the masking power, such that a difference between the processed voice signal and the input voice signal where the frequency is not masked is canceled.
US07916869B2
A system and method allows a user to automatically configure a new device on a local area network (LAN) by pressing a sequence of buttons on a conventional remote control (RC) while pointing the infrared (IR) transmitter of the RC at the new device. The button-sequence includes an arbitrary button-sequence selected by the user, or a pre-established button-sequence stored in an existing network member device, such as the network controller, and displayed to the user. The button-sequence represents a cipher key for an encryption/decryption algorithm. The network member device uses the cipher key to encrypt a configuration message that includes a shared network security key and transmit it over the network. The encrypted configuration message is received by the new device and decrypted using the same cipher key. The decrypted network configuration parameters, including the shared network security key, enable the new device to automatically associate with the network and communicate in a secure manner using the shared network security key.
US07916866B2
An apparatus for descrambling a data retrieved from an optical storage medium comprises a decoder, a memory and a descramble engine. The decoder decodes the data and generates address information corresponding to an address on the optical storage medium, wherein the address responding to a part of the data having been decoded. The memory stores the address information and the part of the data. The descramble engine continuously descrambles the part of the data by retrieving the address information. A method for descrambling a data retrieved from an optical storage medium comprises the following steps: decoding the data; generating address information corresponding to an address on the optical storage medium; storing the address information and a part of the data having been corrected; and descrambling the part of the data continuously by retrieving the address information after the data decoding is interrupted.
US07916860B2
A scalar multiplication apparatus may include at least two encryptors, each adapted to receive an input point and a changed secret key to generate an encrypted output point; a first logic circuit adapted to receive the encrypted output points to perform a first logic operation; a second logic circuit adapted to receive a first logic operation result and a secret key to perform a second logic operation and generate the changed secret key; and a random number generator adapted to generate random number data. A scalar multiplication method may include receiving an input point and a changed secret key, generating first and second encrypted output points from the input point and changed secret key, performing a first logic operation on the first and second encrypted output points, and performing a second logic operation on a first logic operation result and a secret key and generating the changed secret key.
US07916853B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing calendar based routing of communications. Methods include receiving a communication from a sending party to a receiving party, the communication including a communication type. A current calendar entry type for the receiving party is retrieved in response to receiving the communication. A destination for the communication is determined. The destination is responsive to the communication type and to the current calendar entry type. The communication is transmitted to the destination.
US07916847B2
The present invention provides methods that allow more sophisticated use of custom calling services by consolidating the access to and administration of services for multiple lines and/or telephone devices. Embodiments include a single configuration interface for the calling services on all of an individual's telephone lines or devices, a single system for providing incoming calling services for all of an individual's telephone lines or devices, and a single system for providing outgoing calling services for all of an individual's telephone lines or devices. The present invention also includes features which allow custom calling services for a particular telephone device to be customized so as to interact with the custom calling services on another telephone device belonging to the same user.
US07916840B2
A radiation diaphragm apparatus, which is adapted to form a radiation field, which is an exposed area of an object to be examined by radiation from a radiation source, comprises a plurality of diaphragm elements which are closely arranged in a first direction and movable along a second direction substantially normal to the first direction and each of which has a hole of a given shape formed to penetrate through it in the first direction, a shaft penetrating through the hole of each of the diaphragm elements, and a wear-resistant surface member coating the shaft. The shaft supports each of the diaphragm elements at a point of contact with the periphery of the hole. The diaphragm elements move along the second direction with support by the shaft.
US07916830B2
A compression subsystem for a computed tomography system compresses projection data to for efficient data transfer and storage. The compression includes detecting edges in the projection data corresponding to the object being imaged to set boundaries for compression operations. The edge detection compares difference samples to positive and negative thresholds to determine the boundaries. The projection samples or the difference samples are compressed between the boundaries. The boundaries are encoded and included in the compressed data. The compressed samples are decompressed prior to image reconstruction processing. Decompression includes decoding the compressed samples and the boundary values. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims.
US07916816B2
Hardware allocation techniques are described for use in a multi-channel communication environment. The techniques may be used to reduce the number of gates needed for processing and/or to improve the efficiency and/or speed of a communication system. For example, resources that are under-utilized may be removed or allocated to another operation or user. In an exemplary implementation, a receiver includes a plurality of signal processing modules corresponding to respective channels and a hardware allocation module. The hardware allocation module allocates resources in the signal processing modules based on utilization of at least one of the resources.
US07916811B2
A method for improving burst acquisition in a receiver includes receiving a signal, and performing a sync word search on the signal, wherein the sync word search includes performing a hybrid synchronization technique, the hybrid synchronization technique including both a lower order modulation (e.g., BPSK) detection and correlation process and a higher order modulation (e.g., QPSK) detection and correlation process.
US07916807B2
Aspects of a method and system for choice of a steering matrix (Q) for sounding in antenna selection are presented. Aspects of the system may include a transmitting station that enables determination of values for a plurality of matrix elements, which are represented in a steering matrix (Q). The contents of the steering matrix may be determined based on the contents of a plurality of protocol data units (PDU). Each of the PDUs may comprise a sounding frame. One or more space-time signals may be generated based on the plurality of PDUs. One or more transmit chain signals may be generated by multiplying a vector representation, which comprises the one or more space-time signals, by the steering matrix. One or more transmit chain signals may be transmitted via transmitting antennas selected from a plurality of transmitting antennas.
US07916804B2
Aspects of a method and system for a fast-switching Phase-Locked Loop using a Direct Digital Frequency synthesizer may include generating a second signal from a first signal by: translating an inphase component of said first signal in frequency via a filtered fast-switching oscillating signal generated using at least a direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS), and translating a corresponding quadrature component of said first signal in frequency via a phase-shifted version of said generated filtered fast-switching oscillating signal. The inphase and quadrature components of the first signal may be multiplied with the filtered fast-switching oscillating signal and a phase-shifted version of the filtered fast-switching oscillating signal, respectively. The filtered fast-switching oscillating signal may be obtained by removing at least one frequency-sum term of the fast-switching oscillating signal, where the fast-switching signal oscillating signal may be generated from a signal generated by the DDFS that may be multiplied with an oscillating reference signal.
US07916796B2
An error detection and correction circuit for a video decoder that reconstructs a lost macroblock including a clustering circuit, a classification circuit and an error concealment circuit. The clustering circuit clusters macroblocks adjacent to the lost macroblock into one or more defined clusters. The classification circuit assigns the lost macroblock or each sub-block of the lost macroblock to a defined cluster. The error concealment circuit reconstructs attributes of the lost macroblock or its sub-block based on selected attributes of a defined cluster to which the lost block is assigned. Clustering is based on entire adjacent macroblocks or sub-blocks thereof. The clustering circuit may perform clustering using any one or more of the attributes of the macroblocks including coding parameters, texture statistics, color components, frequency analysis, and image processing operators. The lost macroblock may be assigned as a whole or subdivided into lost sub-blocks that are individually assigned to clusters.
US07916788B2
A motion picture encoding method includes searching for a first motion vector between an object block of an input motion picture and a reference image for a frame-based prediction mode, searching for a second motion vector between the object block and the reference image for a field-based prediction mode, generating a first and second predictive residuals in accordance with the first and second motion vector, extracting a first and second feature quantities indicating a first and second similarity between lines of the first and second predictive residual, selecting the frame-based prediction mode in a case where the first similarity is larger than the second similarity based on the first and the second feature quantity, selecting the field-based prediction mode in a case where the second similarity is larger than the first similarity, and inter-frame-coding the input motion picture in accordance with the selected prediction mode.
US07916782B2
A picture coding method of the present invention codes a picture signal and a ratio of a number of luminance pixels and a number of chrominance pixels for the picture signal, and then one coding method out of at least two coding methods is selected depending on the ratio. Next, data related to a picture size is coded in accordance with the selected coding method. The data related to the picture size indicates a size of the picture corresponding to the picture signal or an output area, which is a pixel area to be outputted in decoding in a whole pixel area coded in the picture signal coding.
US07916781B2
A serial concatenated coder includes an outer coder and an inner coder. The outer coder irregularly repeats bits in a data block according to a degree profile and scrambles the repeated bits. The scrambled and repeated bits are input to an inner coder, which has a rate substantially close to one.
US07916779B1
An adaptive decision feedback equalizer includes a filter module, a compensation module, and a slicer module. The filter module generates a filtered signal by adaptively filtering an input serial data signal to reduce inter-symbol interference in the serial data signal. The compensation module generates a compensated signal by equalizing amplitudes of frequency components of the filtered signal in a compensation frequency range to reduce inter-symbol interference in the filtered signal. The slicer module determines logic states of serial data in the compensated signal and generates an output serial data signal including serial data having the determined logic states.
US07916777B1
An Autointelligent sensing and analysis method that comprises: differentiating between digital and analog communication; controlling access authorities both locally and remotely; and making intelligent analysis on the Static or Dynamic utilization of the electrical utility under management on a parallel computational basis.
US07916774B2
A method of estimating a channel between a desired Mobile Station (MS) and a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) antenna of a one of a plurality of sectors of a BTS. The method includes receiving a composite signal at the BTS antenna. The composite signal comprises a desired MS signal and an interfering MS signal. Thereafter, a known desired random sequence and a known interfering random sequence is applied to pilot symbols of the composite signal, resulting in a first de-randomized signal and a second de-randomized signal. Finally, the channel estimate is obtained by weighting and summing the first de-randomized signal and second de-randomized signal.
US07916773B2
A method and a receiver for receiving coded digital data symbols sent from a transmitter through a transmission channel of a communications network is adapted to calculate first symbol estimates (y) of sent data symbols from the received data symbols, each of the first symbol estimates (y) having a first bitwidth (a+b), provide a scaling factor (s) and using the scaling factor (s) to scale the first symbol estimates, truncate the scaled symbol estimates (ysc) to a second, lower bitwidth (c) and thereby providing second symbol estimates (yt).
US07916767B2
Various methods and apparatuses are described in which an array of optical gain mediums capable of lasing are contained in a single integral unit. The array may contain four or more optical gain mediums capable of lasing. Each optical gain medium capable of lasing supplies a separate optical signal containing a band of wavelengths different than the other optical gain mediums capable of lasing in the array to a first multiplexer/demultiplexer. A connection for an output fiber exists to route an optical signal to and from a passive optical network.
US07916766B2
A first semiconductor laser element is formed on a surface of the first substrate and including a first active layer. A second semiconductor laser element is bonded to the first semiconductor laser element with a first insulating film interposed therebetween. A first electrode is connected to the first semiconductor laser element. A second electrode is arranged on the surface of the first semiconductor laser element with the first insulating film interposed therebetween and connected to the second semiconductor laser element. The first semiconductor laser element has an optical waveguide formed in a region where the second semiconductor laser element is not bonded while the first electrode is arranged on the region, and the second electrode is formed to extend from between the second semiconductor laser element and first insulating film toward the region.
US07916754B2
A method and processor for recovering a plurality of individual data streams from a composite data stream The composite data stream having been formed by first bit reordering the individual data streams with respect to themselves, combining the individual data streams and second bit reordering the combined individual data streams to form the composite data stream. The processor is arranged to for a current bit position in the composite data stream perform the steps of: (a) applying an inverse of the second bit reordering; (b) identifying to which individual data stream the current bit belongs; (c) storing the current bit in a memory space allocated to the identified individual data stream wherein the current bit is positioned within the memory space according to the first bit reordering; and performing steps (a) to (c) for each bit position in the composite data stream.
US07916753B2
A Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) frame reassembling apparatus and method in a cable modem including a plurality of receiving channels is provided. A method of controlling reassembling of a Media Access Control (MAC) frame, the method including: receiving a signal and outputting a packet signal through demodulation and error correction; receiving the outputted signal and controlling a specific compression format standard header and a point field; receiving packet data and a buffer write enable signal, and writing data in a MAC frame reassembling buffer; storing the data written in the MAC frame reassembling buffer; and reading the stored data from the MAC frame reassembling buffer in response to a received buffer read enable signal, and storing the read data in a MAC frame buffer.
US07916752B2
Instead of adding control information that should be passed on to two or more RLC entities or two or more PDCP entities on the counterpart side to data respectively in two or more RLC entities or two or more PDCP entities at the sending end, control information is added in MAC entity and then distributed to two or more RLC entities in MAC entity on the counterpart side.
US07916741B2
A system and method for preventing a count-to-infinity problem in a network using epochs of sequence numbers in protocol messages to eliminate stale protocol information in the network and to allow the forwarding topology to recover in merely one round trip time across the network.
US07916740B2
An access network system, an address resolution protocol proxy method and an IP bridging forwarding method for the access network system are disclosed. The access network system comprises: one or more access network edge nodes that connect to one or more access nodes; one or more access nodes that connect to user terminals to the access network, and a reference point that is introduced between two adjacent access nodes for the access nodes interconnection. With this system, the multi-cast or broadcast flow in the network can be reduced and the communication delay and path can also be decreased. Therefore the communication bottleneck brought by BRAS/BNG can be avoided.
US07916737B2
The first relaying device uses the first port (the second relaying device) for the first priority in the first selecting mode, and uses a port other than the second port (the third relaying device) for the second priority. The first relaying device uses the first port for the first priority and uses the second port for the second priority, in the second selecting mode. In a case where the selecting mode is the first selecting mode, the power mode of the third relaying device is the first power mode wherein the power consumption is relatively small. In a case where the selecting mode is the second selecting mode, the power mode of the third relaying device is the second power mode wherein the power consumption is relatively high.
US07916734B2
Disclosed is a method for determining a transmission path of a router system, in which a forwarding table of the router system is managed with a dualized address system including an absolute address indicating a physical port and a relative address indicating the place of the absolute address. Only the absolute address in a relative forwarding table can be changed without changing the relative address when traffic congestion occurs on a certain port of the router system or when load-balancing is needed, so that the router can actively cope with a real-time change of a destination address.
US07916732B2
Packet data gateway (PDG) in an integrated WLAN-GSM/3G core network, is disclosed comprising a router (R) having a number of gateways (Wi; OP INT 1, OP INT 2, INT DEFAULT) which are associated with various QoS traffic properties (BE, EF), an interface to a WLAN network (Wu) and an interface (Go) to a policy decision function (PDF), a translating unit (TLT). The packet data gateway engages in a service based local procedure (SBLP) whereby a negotiated QoS property is received for a given session identifier as negotiated between a user entity (UE), an Application Function (AF) and a Policy Decision Function (PDF). A WLAN user entity engaging with the PDG is defined. Moreover, a service based local policy procedure (SBLP) for a packet data gateway (PDG) and Service based local policy procedure for a dedicated gateway support node (GGSN) and a tunnel terminal gateway (TTG) is disclosed.
US07916729B2
A virtual private network (VPN) is formed with a pair of autonomous systems (ASes) connected by each having at least two autonomous system border routers (ASBRs) connected to the corresponding ASBRs at the other AS, referred to as an Option B VPN-IPv4 network. Route reflectors (RRs) only reflect the best Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) paths, providing no backup BGP paths for fast convergence. Advantageously, an automatic route distinguisher (RD) rewrite component at the ASBRs creates unique prefixes and advertises the original RD as transitive attribute in an update message to external AS peers. Each RD gets mapped to another unique prefix at the ASBR and also that two ASBRs will create different unique prefixes. Thus, the route reflector sees different prefixes and reflects all of them. The ingress provider edge (PE) router can import the prefixes and correctly obtain the alternate paths for fast convergence.
US07916727B2
Communication protocols, systems, and methods that facilitate communication between disaggregated elements, and also to devices adapted to function as such disaggregated elements, particularly across peer-to-peer (masterless) and include one or more unique features such as packet atomicity, blind ACKs, NAT bridging, locking, multicast spanning and mirroring, and authentication.
US07916726B2
A method for transport control in a packet switched communication system is disclosed. In the method a data packet assigned with a destination address is received at a node. It may then be detected that the destination address does not meet a filtering criteria. It may then be checked if at least one further destination address has been assigned for the data packet. If it is found that at least one further destination address is assigned for the data packet, the filtering criteria is applied to the at least one further destination address. The data packet is forwarded from the node to a next node in response to detection that the data packet is assigned with a further destination address that meets the filtering criteria.
US07916711B2
Systems and methods for conserving power in a receiver device are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a receiver device comprises a tuner configured to receive a transmitted signal, at least one analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital signal processing hardware comprising a control logic. The exemplary control logic is configured to determine if a symbol within the transmitted signal belongs to an erasure interval, and generate a control signal to configure a receiver device component to conserve power based on the determination.
US07916706B2
A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.
US07916700B2
A method and an apparatus for providing an access network element in a communication network system with information are disclosed, the information enabling the access network element to perform service based processing on data belonging to an application session.
US07916697B2
The invention relates to a method for supporting a handover of a mobile station 1 from a first radio access unit 3, 8 of a wireless communication network 2 to a second radio access unit 4, 9 of a wireless communication network 2. In order to improve a context transfer in the case of a handover of the mobile station 1, the mobile station 1 transmits information about its activity state to the second radio access unit 4, 9 when it is to be handed over to the second radio access unit 4, 9. The invention relates equally to such a mobile station, to such a second radio access unit, to a wireless communication system comprising such a mobile station and such a second radio access unit, and to a software code causing the transfer of information at the mobile station.
US07916690B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to, or facilitating, the graphical display of status information in wireless network management systems. In one implementation, the present invention provides a graphical user interface that allows a network administrator to readily ascertain the overall status of a wireless network, and quickly identify the network element(s) within the network that are associated with any potential problem or condition. In another implementation, the present invention provides a graphical user interface that provides status icons that efficiently convey status information for corresponding access points. In another implementation, the present invention provides a hierarchical network model that facilitates network data management, configuration and display tasks associated with wireless network management systems.
US07916688B2
A method is provided for transmitting/receiving data in a communication system. The method includes measuring, by a Mobile Station (MS), states of channels which are allocated in a scheme prearranged with a Base Station (BS), and encoding measured channel state information in a scheme corresponding to an allocation scheme of the allocated channels; and configuring a message including the encoded channel state information, and transmitting the configured message to the BS.
US07916683B2
Provided are a wireless network system and a method of transmitting/receiving data in the wireless network system, which separately set a period where a packet for requesting and approving bandwidth allocation of a network in a super frame period is transmitted/received, and as a result, transmit/receive data through the allocated bandwidth. Also provided is a wireless network coordinator, which includes an MAC unit which generates a beacon frame for organizing a super frame including at least one or more channel time blocks, and bandwidth management unit which sets a specific channel time block among the channel time blocks as a period where a bandwidth allocation packet in the network is transmitted/received, and a physical unit which transmits the beacon frame including information on the setting by the bandwidth management unit through a designated communication channel.
US07916680B2
A system to provide narrowcast communications uses adaptive data rate control to individual subscribers such that the effects of precipitation or other link conditions, which are not common to all subscribers, is mitigated. The invention takes advantage of the fact that the narrowcast data consist of packets which are individually addressed to specific subscribers, or groups of subscribers. The narrowcast data is communicated on a plurality of channels, each of potentially differing data rates. The subscribers are assigned a particular channel, based upon their link quality, to receive packets addressed to them. The lower data rate channel will be less affected by adverse link conditions and are hence assigned to subscribers most likely to incur adverse link conditions.
US07916676B2
Aspects of a method and system for holistic energy management in Ethernet networks are provided. In this regard, based on activity in one or more nodes in a network, power consumption in the network may be controlled via computational capabilities of node(s) in the network and/or via a data communication rate between nodes in the network. Activity in a network node may be determined based on deep packet inspection of traffic transmitted/received by the node, inspection of data exchanged between subsystems in the node, a state of an operating system running in the node, data processed or waiting to be processed in the node, information exchanged between an energy management entity in the node and an energy management entity in one or more other nodes, computing tasks delegated to the node, and/or instructions transmitted along with a computing task delegated to the node.
US07916664B2
A technique for examining the relationships of autonomous systems (ASes) participating in an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) utilizes packet tracing servers proximate the IXPs. Where such packet tracing servers cannot be found in the participating ASes, the methodology identifies additional vantage points by looking at a list of ASes that are one hop away from the ASes at the IXP. The choice of one-hop away ASes is made judiciously by picking ones that have better connectivity, based on past-data. Plural-hop ASes may also be used where necessary.
US07916655B2
A packet-based communications network is dimensioned based on a maximum number of users able to receive a predetermined target throughput of data over a predetermined number of channels. For each of an incremental number of users, at least one blocking probability is calculated, based on a traffic distribution model, and a service delay is calculated, based on the blocking probability. An iterative throughput, corresponding to each of the incremental number of users, is determined based on the corresponding blocking probability and service delay. Each iterative throughput is compared to the target throughput. The maximum number of users is identified as the number of users having a corresponding iterative throughput that is closest to and less than target throughput.
US07916652B1
A service provider network includes an automated support module that receives stream of network packets from subscribers and separates this streams into packet flows for analysis. The automated support module may be an intermediate device that examines each packet flow to detect subscriber characteristics for each subscriber. The automated support module may apply a set of analysis rules to the detected characteristics to aid diagnosis of reported or potential network errors.
US07916651B2
A system and method for heterogeneous network communication including wired, and wireless communication mediums for seamless data, voice, as well as multimedia applications independent of the actual communication medium, type of device, and protocols running over such communication channels. The devices are structured to operate over both wired and wireless communication mediums individually or simultaneously in the intermittent or continuous fashion in secure or non-secure mode, after obtaining explicit, implicit or no permission for usage. The system and method described herein allow the communication channels operate in their native mode of operation independent of converged application perception by user of the application, a user being a person, a machine, or any other such entity that can be identified as user.
US07916642B2
Systems and methods for controlling congestion on a packet data network are provided. The congestion control may be implemented between any two network nodes where a regulation of a data flow is desired to prevent a device overload from occurring. In order to provide regulation of a data flow, congestion control states are used where each state regulates the data flow in a specified manner. State transitions may occur in response to messages that include congestion information detected at a network node.
US07916640B1
An apparatus includes ports to transmit and receive packets, each packet being associated with one of a plurality of sessions, and a packet buffer to store the packets. A classifier identifies packets that include data representing a transmit window size for one of the sessions. A processor determines whether to reduce the transmit window size for the one of the sessions by comparing a size of the packet buffer to a sum of (i) the transmit window size for the one of the sessions and (ii) transmit window sizes for others of the sessions. The processor modifies the data representing the transmit window size for the one of the sessions to reduce the transmit window size for the one of the sessions before one or more of the ports transmits the packets comprising the data representing the transmit window size for the one of the sessions.
US07916636B2
A functionality and method for determining aggregate data transit bandwidth requirements for the nodes of an Ethernet ring network for traffic management and to improve the operation, efficiency, and Quality of Service. An aggregate bandwidth database is produced, based on a priori knowledge of the ring network, including topology, path utilization, bandwidth sharing, and failure protection scenarios. Aggregate bandwidth requirements are determined independent of the actual real-time data traffic rates, and without requiring any actual real-time data traffic rate information. Aggregate bandwidth is automatically determined upon configuration or reconfiguration of the ring network.
US07916634B2
This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for normalizing service level agreements across entire networks. By utilizing a new parameter called the virtual call count, a wholesale network provider can monitor a variety of related network status indications and provide to their customers increased insight into the nature of the service level rejections that they experience. Existing service level agreement processors can be equipped with the additional functionality of calculating the virtual call count to form an apparatus for normalizing service level agreements.
US07916624B2
A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.
US07916606B2
Identification information is recorded by irradiating a laser beam to a predetermined area of an information recording medium by securely changing a land to a pit.A pair of land and pit is formed in the predetermined area of the information recording medium. A laser beam is irradiated to this pair to record the identification information. Accordingly, by applying a laser beam to this area, a land serving as one of the pair is surely changed to a pit so that the identification information can surely be recorded by irradiating a laser beam to the predetermined area. The remaining pit of the pair remains as a pit even when the laser beam is irradiated. Moreover, the laser beam may not be irradiated to the pit.
US07916604B2
An adaptive writing method of a high-density optical recording apparatus and a circuit thereof. The circuit includes a discriminator for discriminating a magnitude of a present mark of input NRZI data and magnitudes of leading and/or trailing spaces of the input NRZI data, a generator for controlling the waveform of a write pulse in accordance with the magnitude of the present mark of the input NRZI data and the magnitudes of the leading and/or trailing spaces of the input NRZI data to generate an adaptive write pulse, and a driver for driving a light source by converting the adaptive write pulse into a current signal in accordance with driving power levels for respective channels of the adaptive write pulse. The widths of the first and/or last pulses of the write pulse waveform are varied in accordance with the magnitude of the present mark of input NRZI data and the magnitude of the leading and/or trailing spaces, thereby minimizing jitter to enhance system reliability and performance.
US07916603B2
Provided by the present invention is a method for recording on a phase-change optical information recording medium including irradiating “m” number of heating pulse with power Pw and “m” number of cooling pulse with power Pc when recording a mark of n˜Tw time length, and changing a preset value of at least any one of “m”th heating pulse THm and “m”th cooling pulse TCm when “n” is voluntary during test recording and information recording when setting an optimum write power, wherein “m” is a natural number, “n” is a natural number, Tw is a channel bit length and Pw is larger than Pc, and n=2m+1 is true when “n” is an odd number and n=2m is true when “n” is an even number.
US07916598B2
A method for determining a type of a disk and an optical storage apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes when the disk placed in the optical storage device is not a blank disk, determining whether the phases between a first signal and a second signal of the disk are the same or not; and determining that the disk is a low to high (LTH) data disk or a high to low data disk (HTL) data disk upon whether the phases of the first signal and the second signal are the same or not. Therefore, the reading parameters are correspondingly loaded in the optical storage device according to the type of the disk.
US07916596B2
Provided is an optical disc device for reading a signal recorded on an optical disc medium, which detects surface reflection at a surface of the optical disc medium, a fake signal generated based on the surface reflection, and light reflected by a data recording layer of the optical disc medium while an objective lens is moved relative to the surface of the optical disc medium, and discriminates a type of the optical disc medium based on a ratio of a first time period between an instant when the surface reflection is detected and an instant when the fake signal is detected, and a second time period between the instant when the surface reflection is detected and an instant when light reflected by the data recording layer is detected.
US07916592B2
Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.
US07916587B2
A method and apparatus recording and/or reproducing data on/from a write-once disc, and a write-once disc therefor, the write-once disc having at least one recording layer including: a plurality of update areas in which predetermined updated information is recorded; and at least one access information area in which access information indicating an update area in which final recorded updated information is recorded. Reducing access time for reading the updated information using a location of predetermined updated information. Also, when a plurality of update areas for writing updated information required to use the write-once disc exist, a recording apparatus or a reproducing apparatus can quickly and easily determine an update area in which final updated information is recorded among the plurality of update areas.
US07916576B2
A technique includes determining at least one parameter that characterizes a seismic survey in which multiple interfering seismic sources are fired and seismic sensors sense energy that is produced by the seismic sources. The determination of the parameter(s) includes optimizing the seismic survey for separation of the sensed energy according to the seismic sources.
US07916560B2
A semiconductor memory device can determine whether control for supplying termination resistances is normally performed or not by applying a test signal. The device includes a termination resistance driving controller configured to receive a plurality of termination resistance setting signals in synchronization with an external clock and a delay locked loop (DLL) clock to output a plurality of pre-driving signals and a plurality of termination resistance driving signals for a predetermined time. A data pre-driver is configured to output data in synchronization with the external clock. A test driving detector is configured to drive output nodes to a predetermined voltage level in response to a test signal and the plurality of pre-driving signals. A data output buffer is configured to apply termination resistances corresponding to the plurality of termination resistance driving signals to input/output pads, and output the data from the output nodes to the input/output pads.
US07916551B2
A method of programming a first cell in a memory, wherein the first cell has a first S/D region and shares a second S/D region with a second cell that has a third S/D region opposite to the second S/D region. The channels of the first and the second cells are turned on, a first voltage is applied to the first S/D region, a second voltage is applied to the second S/D region and a third voltage is applied to the third S/D region. The second voltage is between the first voltage and the third voltage, and the first to third voltages make carriers flow from the third S/D region to the first S/D region and cause hot carriers in the channel of the first cell to be injected into the charge storage layer of the first cell.
US07916548B2
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes: a memory cell array including memory strings, each of the memory strings having: a first end; a second end; and a plurality of memory cells connected in series between the first end and the second end, the memory cells being categorized into memory cell groups; a first end that is one end of the memory string; and a second end that is the other end of the memory string; first selection transistors connected to the respective first ends of the memory strings; a plurality of second selection transistors connected to the respective second ends of the memory strings; bit lines connected to the respective second selection transistors; word lines connected to the memory cells; and a control circuit configured to apply different control voltages to the respective word lines.
US07916546B2
Methods for programming a memory array and memory devices are disclosed. In one such method, inhibited bit lines are charged to an inhibit voltage that is less than a supply voltage. The word lines of memory cells to be programmed are biased at a programming preparation voltage that is less than a nominal programming preparation voltage as used in the conventional art. Programming pulses can be applied to selected word lines of the memory cells to be programmed when the uninhibited bit lines are at 0V.
US07916544B2
Embodiments are provided that include a method including providing a first pulsed gate signal to a selected memory cell, wherein the pulsed gate signal alternates between a first voltage level and a second voltage level during a time period and sensing a data line response to determine data stored on the selected memory of cells. Further embodiments provide a system including a memory device, having a regulator circuit coupled to a plurality of access lines of a NAND memory cell, and a switching circuit configured to sequentially bias at least one of the plurality of the access lines between a first voltage level and a second voltage level based on an input signal.
US07916542B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array having multiple memory cells arranged at intersections of word lines and bit lines, a first page region configured with at least two adjacent memory cells coupled to a word line, and a second page region configured with at least two adjacent memory cells coupled to the word line. The nonvolatile memory devices also includes a first common source line connecting with the memory cells of the first page region, and a second common source line connecting with the memory cells of the second page region. The first and second common source lines are controlled independently.
US07916541B2
A NAND flash memory, in a read operation, a p-type semiconductor substrate is set at a ground potential, a bit line is charged to a first voltage, a source line, a n-type well and a p-type well are charged to a second voltage, which lies between a ground potential and a first voltage, and in a block not selected by said row decoder, said drain-side select gate line and said source-side select gate line are charged to a third voltage, which is higher than said ground potential and is equal to or lower than said second voltage.
US07916533B2
Program disturb is reduced in a non-volatile storage system during a programming operation by determining a susceptibility of a set of storage elements to program disturb and taking a corresponding precautionary measure, if needed, to reduce the likelihood of program disturb occurring. During programming of a lower page of data, a natural threshold voltage distribution of the set of storage elements is determined by tracking storage elements which are programmed to a particular state, and determining how many program pulses are need for a number N1 and a number N2>N1 of the storage elements to reach the particular state. Temperature and word line position can also be used to determine the susceptibility to program disturb. A precautionary measure can involve using a higher pass voltage, or abandoning programming of an upper page of data or an entire block. In some cases, programming continues with no precautionary measure.
US07916529B2
A memory architecture that employs one or more semiconductor PIN diodes is provided. The memory employs a substrate that includes a buried bit/word line and a PIN diode. The PIN diode includes a non-intrinsic semiconductor region, a portion of the bit/word line, and an intrinsic semiconductor region positioned between the non-intrinsic region and the portion of the bit/word line.
US07916516B2
A nonvolatile memory apparatus comprises a memory array (102) including plural first electrode wires (WL) formed to extend in parallel with each other within a first plane; plural second electrode wires (BL) formed to extend in parallel with each other within a second plane parallel to the first plane and to three-dimensionally cross the plural first electrode wires; and nonvolatile memory elements (11) which are respectively provided at three-dimensional cross points between the first electrode wires and the second electrode wires, the elements each having a resistance variable layer whose resistance value changes reversibly in response to a current pulse supplied between an associated first electrode wire and an associated second electrode wire; and a first selecting device (13) for selecting the first electrode wires, and further comprises voltage restricting means (15) provided within or outside the memory array, the voltage restricting means being connected to the first electrode wires, for restricting a voltage applied to the first electrode wires to a predetermined upper limit value or less; wherein plural nonvolatile memory elements of the nonvolatile memory elements are connected to one first electrode wire connecting the first selecting device to the voltage restricting means.
US07916506B2
A control device for controlling a switch unit of a resonant direct current/direct current converter includes a frequency modulation controller and a pulse selector. The frequency modulation controller is adapted to be coupled electrically to the converter for receiving a correcting threshold value and output information of the converter, and for generating a synchronization signal according to the correcting threshold value and the output information received thereby. The pulse selector is adapted to be coupled electrically to the converter and the frequency modulation controller for receiving the correcting threshold value, the output information and the synchronization signal, and for generating a driving signal according to the correcting threshold value, the output information and the synchronization signal received thereby. The driving signal is adapted to drive the switch unit and has a working period. The driving signal switches between high and low signal levels at a frequency that is substantially equal to that of the synchronization signal during the working period.
US07916504B2
A voltage detection device that is connected to a DC circuit to which a DC voltage is applied and that detects the DC voltage applied to the DC circuit includes a voltage conversion unit for outputting a first voltage that increases as the DC voltage increases and a second voltage that decreases as the DC voltage increases, an error detection unit for detecting an error for the first voltage and the second voltage based upon the first voltage and the second voltage when the DC voltage is 0, and a voltage calculation unit for correcting a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage based upon the error detected by the error detection unit and calculating the DC voltage based upon the corrected difference between the first voltage and the second voltage.
US07916501B2
An energy transfer apparatus with a magnetic shield is configured to magnetically couple energy from a fixed location to a mobile or moveable device within a field-activated space of the energy transfer apparatus. Apparatuses include a location sensing surface and a drive coil arranged in relation to a periphery of the location sensing surface. A magnetic shield plate is disposed below the location sensing surface and the drive coil. The shield plate includes a number of radially oriented slots originating at, and distributed about, a periphery of the shield plate.
US07916497B2
Provided is a system adopting a differential signaling system including a low frequency signaling line arranged to be adjacent to a pair of differential signaling lines in parallel to each other, for transmitting a signal having a frequency which is smaller than a frequency of a signal to be transmitted through the pair of differential signaling lines, in which a transmission end of the low frequency signaling line is connected to a ground pattern through a first capacitive element, and a reception end of the low frequency signaling line is connected to the ground pattern through a second capacitive element. Thus, it is possible to provide, easily and at a low cost, a differential signaling system in which a common mode noise is eliminated without increasing the number of pins.
US07916482B2
According to one embodiment, a loop heat pipe including a fluid circulating channel containing fluid, includes: an evaporating portion configured to vaporize the fluid by heat from a heat generating component; a condensing portion configured to liquefy the vaporized fluid; a first fluid channel connecting the evaporating portion and the condensing portion, the vaporized fluid flowing through the first fluid channel; a second fluid channel connecting the evaporating portion and the condensing portion, the fluid liquefied by the condensing portion flowing through the second fluid channel; a liquid accumulating portion formed on an inner wall of the second fluid channel, and provided between the evaporating portion and the condensing portion, the liquid accumulating portion being configured to accumulate the liquid liquefied by the condensing portion; and a wick provided between the evaporating portion and a position where the liquid accumulating portion is formed.
US07916474B2
An electronic device includes a back cover, a mounting frame fixed to inner surface of the back cover, a battery connector, a sliding member and a driving member. The battery connector is fixed to the sliding member and is configured for connecting to a battery of the electronic device. The mounting frame includes a guide portion. The driving member driving member is connected to the back cover 20 and externally accessible and is capable of rotating in response to user operation; and sliding member is configured for moving only along the guide portion; when the driving member is rotated, the driving member drives the sliding member to move and then establish or discontinue the connection between the battery connector and the battery.
US07916469B2
A heat dissipation device adapted for cooling an electronic device mounted on a printed circuited board includes a heat spreader thermally contacting the electronic device, a fin assembly comprising a plurality of fins, a first heat pipe interconnecting the fin assembly and the heat spreader and a plurality of supporting posts inserted in the fin assembly.
US07916468B2
A back support board is pivotable between a flat state and a standing state. A support interposition board lies flat together with the back support board and a base board when the back support board 420 is in the flat state. A front support board is pivotable between a flat state and a standing state.
US07916463B2
According to one embodiment, the information processing apparatus includes a main housing, a display housing containing a display panel, a hinge section provided between an end part of the main housing and an end part of the display housing and rotatably coupling the display housing to the main housing, a first antenna section, and a second antenna section. The first antenna section is provided in the end part of the display housing and electrically connected to the display panel, and at least a part of the first antenna section is located below the display panel in a state where the display housing is in a raised position relative to the main housing. The second antenna section is provided in the main housing, and is configured to perform wireless communication with the first antenna section.
US07916462B2
A portable computer with a rotary positioning structure is disclosed, which includes a first body, a second body, a shaft including a first part disposed on the first body and a second part disposed on the second body, a seat disposed to the first body, and a button. The second body is rotatable with the second part relative to the first part in a rotary path. The button is movable on the seat between a first position where the button is engaged into the rotary path to prohibit the second body from rotation, and a second position where the button is out of the rotary path for allowing rotation of the second body.
US07916460B2
An ergonomic folding remote control with keyboard is disclosed. The folding remote control with keyboard has an ergonomic angled typing surface and thicker forward section along with a lay flat design. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.
US07916454B2
A pressure control valve provided on a terminal plate of a capacitor includes a filter, a valve body and a cap. The filter is provided so as to close a through-hole disposed in a terminal plate and is composed of a gas permeable sheet preventing permeation of the electrolyte solution. The valve body is formed of an elastic material, has a cylindrical part and a bottom part, and is disposed so that the bottom part covers the through-hole of the terminal plate. The cap is fixed to the terminal plate, covers the valve body, and holds the valve body in a composed state with respect to the terminal plate. The cap is provided with a vent hole. The valve body and the filter are spaced apart from each other.
US07916452B2
A coin-type electrochemical element enables the external lead terminal portions to be accurately and reliably attached to a first lid portion and to a second lid portion of the coin-type electrochemical element, and a method of its production. A coin-type electric double layer capacitor includes a first lid portion and a second lid portion. External lead terminal portions, each having a nearly triangular shape, are separately connected to the outer surfaces of the lid portions. Upon providing the external lead terminal portions having the triangular shape, a welded portion is allowed to have an increased area enabling the coin-type electrochemical element of even a small size to be accurately and reliably welded and making it possible to provide the coin-type electrochemical element having excellent reliability.
US07916435B1
A magnetic tunnel transistor (MTT) is formed having an emitter that is configured to provide unpolarized electrons. A composite base is configured to provide polarization of the unpolarized electrons injected into the base by the emitter based upon a magnetic orientation of the free layer and the self-pinned layer of the base.
US07916432B2
The thin-film patterning method for a magnetoresistive device comprises forming a functional layer on a substrate; forming a first mask layer above the functional layer; forming a patterned resist on the first mask layer; etching the first mask layer by using the resist; removing the resist; forming a second mask layer by atomic layer deposition, the second mask layer covering a step defined by an edge of the first mask layer; dry-etching the second mask layer in a thickness direction of the substrate so as to leave the second mask layer on a side face of the step; removing the first mask layer so as to expose the functional layer under the first mask; and dry-etching the functional layer by using the second mask layer.
US07916430B2
A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower magnetic shield layer, an MR multi-layered structure formed on the lower magnetic shield layer so that current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of laminated layers, an upper magnetic shield layer formed on the MR multi-layered structure, and an additional lower magnetic shield layer directly laminated on the lower magnetic shield layer outside both side ends in a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure. The additional lower magnetic shield layer is directly contacted with both side surfaces in a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure. A top surface of the additional lower magnetic shield layer is positioned higher in height than a top surface of the lower magnetic shield layer in a region where the MR multi-layered structure is formed.
US07916424B2
A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; at least one transducer formed above the substrate, the at least one transducer being selected from a group consisting of a reader and a writer; an overcoat portion formed above the at least one transducer; and a wear resistant portion formed between the overcoat portion and a media-proximal surface of the magnetic head, the wear resistant portion being formed of a material having a greater resistance to media wear than a material from which the overcoat portion is formed.
US07916415B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of servo tracks defined by a plurality of servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts, and each servo burst comprises at least one of four phases. A first two of the phases are orthogonal, and a second two of the phases are orthogonal. As a head is actuated over the disk a servo sector is read to generate a read signal. The read signal is processed to demodulate the servo bursts into a position error signal (PES) representing an offset of the head from a target radial location on the disk, and the read signal is also processed to decode at least two of the phases of the servo bursts into a binary sequence.
US07916413B2
An exemplary lens actuator includes a lens barrel, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket, and a first resilient plate. The lens barrel includes a main body and a plurality of first positioning pins protruding out from the main body. The first resilient plate includes an outer frame, an inner frame substantially coaxial with the outer frame, and a plurality of spring portions interconnected between the outer frame and the inner frame. A fixed panel is mounted on the first side of the bracket. The outer frame of the first resilient plate is fixed on one portion of the fixed panel. The inner frame of the first resilient plate is fixed on the lens barrel. The first positioning pins extend through the inner frame of the first resilient plate and resist on another portion of the fixed panel.
US07916411B1
A lens module includes a lens barrel, a number of lenses, a holder and a polygonal filter. The lens barrel includes an annular plate extending inwards from an inner surface thereof. The lenses are received in the lens barrel. The holder holds the barrel and the lenses. The polygonal filter is received in the lens barrel and positioned on the annular plate. The polygonal filter has six or more sides.
US07916410B1
A first sub-lens having two opposite first surfaces is provided. One of the first surfaces has a central bulged first optical surface for refracting light rays passing therethrough and defining a first optical axis. The other first surface defines a recess that defines a flat bottom surface. A second sub-lens having two opposite second surfaces is provided. One of the second surfaces has a central bulged second optical surface for refracting light rays passing therethrough and defining a second optical axis. The other second surface is flat and substantially similar to the bottom surface of the first sub-lens in shape and size and is glued to the bottom surface of the first sub-lens in a manner that the first axis is coaxial with the second axis.
US07916403B2
An exemplary method for manufacturing an infrared (IR) cut-off filter coated lens array includes: providing a light pervious panel having a first surface and a second surface at opposite sides thereof; forming an infrared cut-off filter film on the first surface of the light pervious panel; and forming a plurality of discrete lens structures on the second surface of the light pervious panel through a photolithography process.
US07916402B2
An imaging optical system for a camera and a video telephony camera employing the imaging optical system. The imaging optical system includes a stop and a first lens that are sequentially arranged from an object side. The first lens has a positive refractive power and two convex aspherical surfaces and satisfies LB/f>0.88 and LT/LB<1.71 wherein LT is the distance along the optical axis from the stop to the image plane of the imaging optical system, f is the total focal length of the imaging optical system, and LB is the distance along the optical axis between the surface of the first lens facing the image side and the image plane of the imaging optical system.
US07916397B2
An optical fiber micro array lens is provided along with an associated fabrication method. The micro array lens is fabricated from a mesh of optical fibers. The mesh includes a first plurality of cylindrical optical fibers. Each fiber from the first plurality has a flat bottom surface and a hemicylindrical top surface. The top and bottom surfaces are aligned in parallel with a central fiber axis. The mesh also includes a second plurality of cylindrical optical fibers. Each fiber from the second plurality has a hemicylindrical bottom surface overlying and in contact with the top surfaces of the first plurality of optical fibers, and a flat top surface. The top and bottom surfaces are aligned in parallel with a central fiber axis. Each contact of the first and second plurality of optical fibers forms a lens assembly in a micro array of lenses.
US07916381B2
A spatial light modulator includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel elements arranged in a form of a matrix; a word line extending along and connected to a row of the pixel elements pixel elements; and a drive line for transmitting additional modulating signals to said pixel array extended along each row of the pixel array and connected to the pixel elements in a first row and a second row constituting two different rows.
US07916377B2
An integrated control system for a laser and Mach-Zehnder interferometer are disclosed and may include configuring a bias point for low-speed control of an optical modulator utilizing control circuitry integrated on the same CMOS die. The optical modulator may be differentially monitored. A laser source for the modulator may be controlled utilizing monitor photodiodes via optical taps on outputs of the modulator, or utilizing a monitor photodiode on one output port of the modulator, which may comprise a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. An error signal may be generated by subtracting monitor photodiode signals from optical taps on output ports of the modulator. The bias point of the modulator may be adjusted by minimizing the error signal. Calibration time of the bias point may be reduced utilizing electronic data inversion. An output of the modulator may comprise a Y-junction and a single monitor photodiode may measure both branches of the modulator.
US07916365B2
An image reading apparatus equipped with an illuminating device having little tint variation. A lamp unit illuminates an original with light, and includes a plurality of white LEDs, and a plurality of auxiliary LEDs that emit lights of different colors and arranged in a manner associated with the white LEDs. A CPU causes auxiliary LEDs to be lighted, so as to correct a color of light emitted from each of the white LEDs. An image reading unit reads the original illuminated by the lamp as an image.
US07916363B2
It is desirable to provide a bitstream format for compressed data that would allow multiple processors to access and decompress different parts of the data in parallel. Compressed images are usually defined in terms of macroblocks that have a width less than the image width and a height less than the image height. Thus, an image is divided several bands of multiple lines, and each band of multiple lines is divided into a macroblock. The set of macroblocks that define a band is called herein a macroblock rasterscan. The bit stream format includes, for each image, a picture header followed by image scan data. The image scan data includes data corresponding to a plurality of macroblock rasterscans. The data for each macroblock rasterscan includes data for a plurality of macroblocks for a band of lines in the image followed by padding. The padding ensures that data for each macroblock rasterscan terminates on a data boundary. The picture header references an image scan index that indicates a number of macroblock rasterscans in the image scan data and a number of lines per macroblock rasterscan, followed by entries of the index. Each entry in the index includes an offset of the macroblock rasterscan in image scan. The picture header may contain a reference to a picture header type, that references an I_frame_image_descriptor, which references the image scan index.
US07916357B2
An image reading apparatus for reading the image surface of a sheet material brought into close contact with the image reading surface of an image reading unit while passing the sheet material through an image reading gap formed between the sheet conveying surface of a sheet conveying guide and the image reading surface, including a holding member for holding the image reading unit for movement in a direction to change the width of the image reading gap, an upstream roller pair having a first roller member displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material, and for nipping and conveying the sheet material into the image reading gap, and a downstream roller pair having a second roller member displaceable in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material, and for nipping and conveying the sheet material out of the image reading gap, wherein the image reading unit changes the width of the image reading gap on the basis of the displacement of at least one of the first roller member and the second roller member.
US07916353B2
Print data representing a superimposed image is generated by developing the main image on a first memory area, developing an additional image on the first memory area so as to be overlaid on the main image and on a second memory area having the same size of the first memory area. A first color conversion is applied to the image on the first memory for portions not corresponding to the image on the second memory area. A second color conversion, which is independent of the first color conversion, is applied to other portions of the image on the first memory for portions corresponding to the image on the second memory area. The image developed on the first memory area is output as the print data after the first color conversion and the second color conversion are applied.
US07916352B2
An original image is scanned for respective pixels to determine attributes indicating features for respective pixels of the scanned document. Pixel values included in an M×M area (where M is a natural number) including a pixel of interest are weighted, the pixel value of the pixel of interest is changed based on the weighted pixel values, and smoothing processing is applied to pixels included in that area. Upon applying the smoothing processing, a size of a filtering area used for the smoothing processing is reduced to a size of an N×N area (where N is a natural number, with M>N) including the pixel of interest according to the determined attributes.
US07916347B2
A method of automatic white balance for an image capture system is disclosed. The automatic white balance mechanism ascertains the illuminant source of an image by analyzing the number of white pixels within a predefined white area in a color space diagram. The automatic white balance mechanism also determines gain adjustments based on the evaluating the average RGB values to achieve white balance.
US07916344B2
An image detecting method is provided that permits the specific image information to be present within image data of a document and is capable of detecting the specific image information within a relatively short period of time and accurately, with little effect of interference with the image data of the document and without regard to an angle at which the document is placed. The specific pattern image comprises a plurality of dot images Sa and Sb arranged in a straight line, and by positioning one of the plurality of dot images Sa and Sb at the center O of a plurality of concentric circles of different diameters and detecting that other dot images are on the plurality of concentric circles R1 to R4 and are on a straight line L running through the center O of the concentric circles, the pattern image is detected.
US07916342B2
This invention is targeted to realize preview displaying by using a system spooler. In the print system according to this invention, when an application program designates printing of a document, document data is spooled into EMF spool file 4. At the same time, previewer 3 is started to transmit a printing image generation request to print processor 5. The print processor 5 reads the data subjected to preview displaying out of the EMF spool file 4, have printer graphic driver 6 generate image data that has an appropriate display size, and informs the name of the image data file to the previewer 8, which then displays the image data.
US07916329B2
A print job management device includes: a print job receiver, operable to receive a print job including print setting information on a setting of a printing operation to be executed by a printing device from a print job preparing device for preparing the print job; an acquirer, operable to acquire device status information on a status of the printing device from the printing device; and a print job issuer, operable to determine, based on the print setting information and the device status information, whether the printing operation can be performed by the printing device, the print job issuer issuing the print job to the printing device when the print job issuer determines that the printing operation cannot be performed by the printing device and the device status information indicates a predetermined status regarding a feed path and a printing medium of the printing device.
US07916304B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an optical system with multiple detectors and a processor. The optical system is configured to produce images of an optical source in a first dimension and a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension at each detector at a given time. Each image from the images is based on an interference of an emission from the optical source in a first direction and an emission from the optical source in a second direction different from the first direction. The processor is configured to calculate a position in a third dimension based on the images. The third dimension is substantially orthogonal to the first dimension and the second dimension.
US07916303B2
Methods and apparatus for interrogating optical sensors with high slew rates using non-uniform sampling are provided. The transmission of optical signals in a non-uniform pattern is employed to allow for demodulation of fringe rates exceeding the commonly understood Nyquist frequency limit given as one half of the mean sampling frequency. By monitoring the time dependent fringe frequency and assuming that the fringe frequency has a limited bandwidth, only a limited bandwidth smaller than the Nyquist bandwidth around the instantaneous fringe frequency needs to be reconstructed at any time.
US07916302B2
A method for maintaining measurement accuracy of a ring laser gyroscope is disclosed. The method involves periodically measuring a path length control voltage in the ring laser gyroscope over a prescribed temperature range. When a first path length controlled by the path length control voltage deviates at least one wavelength from a nominal path length, the method detects the change in the path length as a mode shift. For each mode shift, the method applies a path length correction to maintain the first path length at a target path length over the prescribed temperature range. The method can apply a correction to a measurement signal output of the ring laser gyroscope by adjusting a calibrated scale factor depending on an actual integer number of wavelengths achieved during a mode shift.
US07916301B2
A color detector includes a light source configured to generate light with a spectrum of wavelengths; a plurality of filters in optical communication with the light source, wherein each filter is configured to pass a bandwidth of wavelengths around a different peak wavelength; and a plurality of photodetectors, each configured to receive light passed through a respective filter of the plurality of filters. The bandwidth of each filter is configured to Correspond to a bandwidth of a curve from a set of standard color matching functions. A method for improving color detection accuracy in a color detector includes matching a bandwidth passed by each of a plurality of color filters with a bandwidth and peak wavelength of a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) color matching function; and separately detecting an amount of light passed by each the filter.
US07916296B2
Meeting a target color point using more than 3 primary light sources is achieved by calculating permutations of light sources, calculating for each of the permutations the contributions of the light sources to meet the color point, adding up the contributions of the light sources separately into an overall contribution, and operating the light sources according to their overall contributions.
US07916295B2
An alignment mark on a wafer is described, including at least one dense pattern and at least one block-like pattern adjacent thereto and shown as at least one dark image and at least one bright image adjacent thereto. A method of getting a position reference for a wafer is also described. An above alignment mark is formed. The alignment mark, which is shown as at least one dark image and at least one bright image adjacent thereto that are formed by the at least one dense pattern and the at least one block-like pattern, is then detected.
US07916294B2
A system for determining a solubility of a substance comprises a holder to hold a sample comprising an amount of the substance and an amount of the solvent system. The system further comprises a temperature conditioner to alter a temperature of the sample, an optical measurement device to measure an optical parameter of the sample and a control device to control at least the temperature conditioner and the optical measurement device. The control device may be programmed to alter the temperature of the sample by the temperature conditioner, measure the optical parameter of the sample by the optical measurement device, and determine the solubility of the substance from a change of the optical parameter of the sample as a function of the temperature.
US07916287B2
Light from a light source becomes two illumination beams by a beam splitter. The beams are irradiated onto a semiconductor wafer from two mutually substantially orthogonal azimuthal angles having substantially equal elevation angles to form illumination spots. When the sum of scattered, diffracted, and reflected lights due to the illumination beams is detected, influence of the anisotropy which a contaminant particle and a defect existing in the wafer itself or thereon have with respect to an illumination direction, can be eliminated.
US07916286B2
Inspection of objects such as semiconductor wafers can include comparisons of shapes between inspection and reference images. As part of the inspection process, relative values may be assigned to pixels within each image based on comparison of such pixels to neighboring pixels. For instance, the pixels may be ranked by relative brightness in each image. Alternatively, directional vectors may be defined based on slopes between pixels and their neighbors. Various comparison metrics may be utilized to determine the degree of correlation between the relative values for pixels in the inspection image and corresponding pixels in the reference image. Relative values may be combined with conventional techniques as part of an inspection process. The inspection may be performed using an optical inspection tool that uses conventional techniques to identify defect candidates, with relative value analysis performed on areas containing defect candidates to confirm or deny the existence of a defect.
US07916280B2
The present invention provides a blood analyzer. The blood analyzer comprises a flow cell in which a first measurement sample flows, a light source for irradiating the first measurement sample flowing in the flow cell, a PIN photodiode for detecting a side scattered light from the first measurement sample irradiated by the light source, and an avalanche photodiode for detecting a side fluorescence light from the first measurement sample irradiated by the light source. The blood analyzer also comprises a signal processing part which has a low pass filter for reducing high frequency noise included in the side fluorescent light signal. A cut-off frequency of the low pass filter is set so that the blood analyzer can classify white blood cells in the first measurement sample into at least four groups comprising neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils, based solely on the side scattered light signal and the side fluorescent light signal.
US07916274B2
A monitoring system for an lithographic system that may be utilized in an extreme ultraviolet lithographic system is disclosed. In a monitoring system according to the present invention, a plurality of detectors are positioned to receive radiation from a pattern of positions on a mirror that is part of the lithographic system. In some embodiments, the plurality of detectors may be positioned on the mirror. In some embodiments, the plurality of detectors may be positioned behind the mirror and receive radiation through holes formed in the mirror. In some embodiments, radiation from the pattern of positions may be reflected by facets into the detectors.
US07916273B2
An exposure apparatus includes an illumination optical system for illuminating a reticle using a light from a light source, and a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of the reticle onto a substrate, the exposure apparatus exposing the substrate through a liquid that is supplied to a space between the substrate and a lens of the projection optical system closest to the substrate, a surface of the lens on which the light does not pass having a polished surface.
US07916271B2
Apparatus and method for specifying correlation, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
Disclosed is a method and apparatus which are arranged to detect magnitude of correlation between (i) an explanatory variable corresponding to operation data related to an operation made by an exposure apparatus for exposing a substrate, and (ii) a response variable corresponding to inspection data related to a result of inspection made to the substrate after the same is exposed, the magnitude of correlation between the explanatory variable and the response variable being detected with respect to each of different combinations of operation data pieces, and also arranged to specify, on the basis of detected correlation magnitudes and with respect to one of the different combinations of operation data pieces, a category of the operation data and the correlation between the explanatory variable and the response variable.
US07916270B2
An exposure apparatus includes a projection optical system that has a first object field area and a second object field area different from the first object field area and that projects an image of a pattern onto a first image field and a second image field. The image of the pattern is formed in the first image field by exposure light via the first object field area, and the image of the pattern is formed in the second image field by exposure light via the second object field area. A first substrate is exposed with the image of the pattern formed in the first image field, and a second substrate is exposed with the image of the pattern formed in the second image field.
US07916260B2
A display substrate includes a first metal pattern formed on a substrate and includes a data line to which a pixel voltage is applied, an insulating layer formed on the substrate on which the first metal pattern is formed, an active pattern formed on the insulating layer, a second metal pattern formed on the insulating layer and including a gate line and a storage line, the gate line crossing the data line, a scanning signal applied to the gate line, a protective layer formed on the substrate on which the second metal pattern is formed, and a pixel electrode formed on the protective layer. A method for manufacturing the display substrate, and a display apparatus including the display substrate are further provided.
US07916256B2
A liquid crystal display device including a pair of substrates, a first alignment layer formed on one substrate and a second alignment layer formed on the other substrate, and a plurality of pixels, each having four different alignment regions. The first alignment layer is treated to define two different pretilt directions for the liquid crystal molecules within the four alignment regions, wherein the two different pretilt directions are opposite each other and both extend in a generally parallel direction to a first boundary defined between two regions in which the two different pretilt directions are defined, and said second alignment layer defines another two different pretilt directions within the four alignment regions, wherein the two different pretilt directions are opposite each other and both extend in a generally parallel direction to a second boundary defined between two regions in which the another two different pretilt directions are defined.
US07916254B2
A liquid crystal display includes a pair of substrates including at least one transparent substrate, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the substrates, a plurality of electrodes formed on at least one of the substrates to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer, a plurality of active elements connected to the electrodes, an alignment layer formed on the surface of each of the substrates in contact with the liquid crystal layer, and an optical means formed on at least one of the substrates to change the optical characteristics in accordance with the alignment condition of the particles of the liquid crystal layer. The taper angle at the ends of the electrodes is larger than 45 degrees but less than 90 degrees.
US07916253B2
Disclosed is an in-plane switching liquid crystal display. The in-plane switching liquid crystal display uses at least one A-plate and adjusts the optical axis direction and the retardation value of the A-plate, thereby improving the contrast characteristic at a front and at a predetermined inclination angle of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display while minimizing a color shift according to viewing angles in the black state.
US07916252B2
Disclosed is an in-plane switching liquid crystal display. The in-plane switching liquid crystal display uses at least one A-plate and adjusts the optical axis direction and the retardation value of the A-plate, thereby improving the contrast characteristic at a front and at a predetermined inclination angle of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display while minimizing a color shift according to viewing angles in the black state.
US07916247B2
An electro-optic device includes: A frame light-shielding film defined a periphery of a pixel area. A frame light-shielding film having an opening at a predetermined position. An alignment mark formed in the opening. An opening light-shielding film formed so as to shield the opening in plan view.
US07916243B2
A dual liquid crystal display (LCD) device including a first LCD panel displaying an image on a first surface; a second LCD panel formed on the same substrate to display an image on a second surface; a light source disposed at an adjacent side under the first LCD panel; a light guide disposed under the first and second LCD panels and including a first light guide block corresponding to the first LCD panel and having dot patterns formed in a first surface and a second light guide block corresponding to the second LCD panel and having taper-cascade grooves formed on a first surface; and a housing settling the first and second LCD panels, the light source and the light guide and having an opening to correspond to an image display surface of the second LCD panel.
US07916235B2
A pixel structure suitable for being disposed on a substrate includes a thin film transistor (TFT), a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, a scan line and a data line. The TFT disposed on the substrate includes a gate, a source, a first drain and a second drain. A main TFT is formed by the gate, the source and the first drain. A sub-thin film transistor (sub-TFT) is formed by the gate, the first drain and the second drain. The first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first drain, and a portion of the first drain extends between the second pixel electrode and the substrate to form capacitor-coupling electrode. The second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second drain of the sub-TFT. The scan line is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the gate, and the data line is electrically connected to the source.
US07916228B2
A thin film transistor array comprising a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of thin film transistors, a plurality of common lines, a plurality of top electrodes, a plurality of connection lines and a plurality of pixel electrodes is provided. Wherein, each thin film transistor is disposed in one of the pixel areas and driven through the corresponding scan line and data line. Each thin film transistor includes a gate, a source and a drain. The drain of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the corresponding top electrode by the corresponding connection line. Besides, the drain of the thin film transistor is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a portion of the connection line is not covered by the pixel electrode.
US07916226B2
A thin film transistor array panel according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; a plurality of gate line formed on the substrate; a plurality of first capacitor electrodes formed on the substrate and separated from the gate lines; a plurality of data line intersecting the gate lines; a plurality of thin film transistor connected to the gate lines and the data lines; a plurality of second capacitor electrodes disposed on the first electrode; a plurality of interconnections connected to the second capacitor electrodes and the thin film transistor and disposed symmetrical to the data lines; and a plurality of pixel electrode, each pixel electrode including a first subpixel electrode connected to one of the thin film transistors and a second subpixel electrode connected to one of the first capacitor electrodes.
US07916224B2
A pixel array substrate including a substrate, a first patterned conductive layer, a second patterned conductive layer, and pixel electrodes is provided. The first patterned conductive layer has scan lines and gate electrodes. The second patterned conductive layer has data lines, source electrodes, drain electrodes, and capacitor electrodes. The data lines and the scan lines define many pixel areas. Many pixel storage capacitances CST is formed between the capacitor electrodes and the first patterned conductive layer. Many gate/drain capacitances CGD is formed in an overlapping area of the drain electrodes and gate electrodes. A liquid crystal capacitance CLC is formed above each pixel electrode. In at least one pixel area, the capacitance ratio of CST and CGD is α, the capacitance ratio of CLC and CST is β, and the ratio of a first deviation of CST and a second deviation of CGD is within the range of α(1+β)(1±50%).
US07916222B2
The stereoscopic display device includes a display unit including a first pixel group for displaying a first image and a second pixel group for displaying the second image, a barrier having transparent regions and opaque regions such that the first image and the second image are observed through the transparent regions at different points and a light source for supplying light to the display unit. The light source has the different brightness between the first mode and the second mode.
US07916216B2
A video signal converting device is capable of converting an analog composite signal into a proper digital signal with a small delay even if the analog composite signal contains much jitter. The video signal converting device has a sampling clock output unit for outputting a sampling clock signal having a frequency which is 4n times the frequency of a burst signal contained in the analog composite signal (n represents a positive integer of 2 or greater), and an analog-to-digital converting unit for converting the analog composite signal into a digital signal based on the sampling clock signal output from the sampling clock output unit.
US07916212B2
An image sensor package includes an image sensor chip, a sidewall, an encapsulation glass, conductive material, and a plurality of solder balls. The image sensor chip comprises a photosensitive area, a non-photosensitive area surrounding the photosensitive area, and a plurality of bonding pads formed on the non-photosensitive area. The sidewall is located on the non-photosensitive are and defines a plurality of first through holes aligned with and corresponding to the bonding pads. The encapsulation glass is located on the sidewall. A plurality of solder balls are formed on the encapsulation glass aligned with the bonding pads, respectively. The encapsulation glass defines a plurality of second through holes each corresponding to a bonding pad and a corresponding solder ball. The image sensor package further comprises a conductive material through which the first and second through holes penetrate.
US07916203B2
An image capture apparatus is provided. The image capture apparatus includes a prism that separates light incident through a lens into at least two color components of light to be output and an image capture device that converts light separated by and output from the prism into a captured image signal. The image capture apparatus includes a fixing plate attached to the image capture device mounted on a substrate. In addition, the image capture apparatus includes a plurality of fixing members for fixing an unattached surface of the fixing plate, which is unattached to the image capture device, on a side surface of the prism through an adhesive.
US07916198B2
A common mode feedback circuit includes a first capacitor connected between a common mode feedback terminal and a first output terminal, a second capacitor connected between the common mode feedback terminal and a second output terminal, a first cell having a third capacitor sharing charges with the first capacitor and a fourth capacitor sharing charges with the second capacitor in response to a first clock control signal, and a second cell having a fifth capacitor sharing charges with the first capacitor and a sixth capacitor sharing charges with the second capacitor in response to a second clock control signal. The first clock control signal and the second clock control signal have respective logic states that do not overlap in time.
US07916188B2
To make it possible to cope with an error in a hue or the like in the case of using such a CCD of lower quality or an analog circuit of lower quality as might otherwise raise a problem in the hue, a correction approximating straight line group information creating method/apparatus of a multi-divided reading CCD and a correction processing device manufacturing method/apparatus of a multi-divided reading CCD generate correction approximating straight line group information for one real shot optimum for corrections, at an adjusting stage from a plurality of pieces of primary correction approximating straight line group information generated in advance. At the shooting time, therefore, all pixels can be corrected for their individual kinds by making use of the correction approximating straight line group information for one real shot.
US07916169B2
A face image capture apparatus for a vehicle repeatedly performs an output of a difference image to an image ECU. When the number of times of outputs reaches a predetermined number of times, a bright face image from which an influence of disturbance light is not removed is outputted to the image ECU. Thereby, the image ECU can determine an environment (daytime, nighttime, etc.) outside the vehicle based on the bright face image outputted in addition to the difference image.
US07916154B2
The present invention relates to the compression of color image data. A combination of hard decision pixel mapping and soft decision pixel mapping is used to jointly address both quantization distortion and compression rate while maintaining low computational complexity and compatibility with standard decoders, such as, for example, the GIF/PNG decoder.
US07916149B1
A method of organizing memory for storage of texture data, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, includes accessing a size of a mipmap level of a texture map. A block dimension may be determined based on the size of the mipmap level. A memory space (e.g., computer-readable medium) may be logically divided into a plurality of whole number of blocks of variable dimension. The dimension of the blocks is measured in units of gobs and each gob is of a fixed dimension of bytes. A mipmap level of a texture map may be stored in the memory space. A texel coordinate of said mipmap level may be converted into a byte address of the memory space by determining a gob address of a gob in which the texel coordinate resides and determining a byte address within the particular gob.
US07916145B2
The challenge of the present invention is to prevent a crook line part of a dotted line from being displayed in half tone. The present invention is contrived to calculate a center coordinate of a texture pixel in a zone including a reference texture beginning point coordinate S_Begin as reference texture corrected beginning point coordinate S_Begin′. It is followed by calculating a center coordinate of a texture pixel in a zone including a reference texture end coordinate S_End as reference texture corrected end coordinate S_End′. A crook line part of a dotted line is drawn by fixing a reference coordinate to the S_Begin′ or S_End′ if a pixel to be drawn exists within a fixing section.
US07916143B2
Provided are a system and a method that automatically produce natural locomotion animation without an applicable discontinuity portion with respect to various moving distance and timing by using motion capture data. The system includes a motion capture data storage, a simulation calculator, and an animation calculator. The method includes defining a speed calculated in the moving motion capture data as a maximum moving speed of a simulation in order to calculate an entire moving distance, a stopped time when starting and arriving, and a stopped time before starting and after arriving regarding to respective characters; extracting a portion of the arriving motion capture data to be appropriate for the entire moving distance in order to produce the locomotion animation when the entire moving distance is less than a moving distance of the arriving motion capture data; and satisfying an entire time corresponding to an entire motion of animation.
US07916137B2
An image processor is disclosed which is capable of automatically generating a series of test signals, running the test signals through its image processing software and hardware, and capturing the resulting output signals to automatically generate a 3D LUT that represents most or all of the imaging processing steps being performed by the image processor. No external equipment is required to generate the 3D LUT. In other embodiments, the image processor may be connected to an external image processing device, and the image processor can then automatically generate a series of test signals, run those test signals through the external image processing device, and capture the resulting output signals to automatically generate a 3D LUT that represents most of all of the image processing steps being performed by the external image processing device.
US07916135B2
A timer controller and method of generating timing signals uses a synchronization signal and a clock signal to generate a timing signal by counting the clock signal only after the synchronization signal has changed states. In a display requiring a dot or line counter having n digits to meet the requirement of display resolution, it is possible to use a counter with k digits to generate a start signal, with 0≦k
US07916130B2
An electronic device, such as personal computer, incorporating a liquid crystal panel which uses LEDs as an illuminating light source for a liquid crystal panel to reduce power consumption and size of the electronic device. When 3-color LED lamps 13R, 13G, 13B of the LED light source 12 are lit, red, green and blue rays emitted from respective LED lamps enter the scatterplate 11 where they are scattered and mixed to produce white light LW which goes out from the entire surface of the scatterplate 11 to illuminate the entire rear surface of the transmission type liquid crystal panel 10. The white light LW that has entered the liquid crystal panel 10 is modulated according to the alignment of the liquid crystal material and passes through the color filters of the counter substrate. The user can view the transmitted light LT from the liquid crystal panel 10 as a color image.
US07916127B2
A touch screen digitizing system includes a first resistive screen and a touch screen controller including an ADC and self-test circuitry having a driver switch coupled between a reference voltage and a first terminal of the first resistive screen, and a first test switch coupled between ground and a conductor connected to generate a first test voltage on the conductor indicative of connection resistance between the first resistive screen and the touch screen controller. Another test switch couples the test voltage to an input of the ADC. An output of the ADC is compared with a reference to determine whether the connection resistance is excessive. Connection resistance between a second resistive screen and the touch screen controller is measured similarly. Similar self-test circuitry operates to detect a short circuit between the first resistive screen and the second resistive screen.
US07916123B2
A portable electronic device includes a housing, a processor supported by the housing, a memory coupled to the processor, and a communications transceiver coupled to the processor. The transceiver is configured to support voice conference calling between more than two parties. A program stored in the memory and running on the processor is configured to provide a user interface on the display which is configured to display indicators representative of the parties on the conference call. The user interface includes the hold area configured to display indicators representative of the parties on hold and an active area configured to display indicators representative of the parties active on the conference call.
US07916118B2
An exemplary printed circuit board (PCB) module (20) used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a single-layer PCB (31) and a double-layer PCB (32) configured to be electrically connected to the single-layer PCB. The single-layer PCB includes a first part of a signal processing circuit (23). The double-layer PCB includes a second part of the signal processing circuit (23).
US07916115B2
A liquid crystal display including a blink backlight system light source and a liquid crystal panel for adjusting the amount of light transmitted from the light source. The light source is made of a plurality of light emitting tubes each having one or more kinds of phosphors, and having a turned-on state and a turned-off state within one frame. A luminance factor area of light from each of the phosphors is substantially equal to that of light from any other phosphor in at least one of a luminance rise time when the light source changes from the turned-off state to the turned-on state and a luminance fall time when the light source changes from the turned-on state to the turned-off state.
US07916114B2
A shift register comprising at least one shift register unit. The shift register unit comprises an input unit, at least one first TFT, and at least one second TFT. The input unit receives an input signal from the input terminal and outputs a switching control signal in accordance with a first clock signal. The gate of the first TFT is for receiving the switching control signal, the drain of the first TFT is for receiving a second clock signal, and the source of the first TFT is coupled to the output terminal. The gate and drain of the second TFT are coupled to the output terminal, and the source of the second TFT is coupled to the input unit.
US07916111B2
A device and method for driving a liquid crystal display device capable of minimizing a motion blurring phenomenon of a display image and improving the display quality of the display image are disclosed. The apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having liquid crystal cells formed in regions defined by a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines; a timing controller which analyzes a motion speed of an image in input data and converts the input data of one frame into different first and second double frame data or identical first and second double frame data according to the motion speed; a gate driver which sequentially supplies gate on voltages to the gate lines for each of first and second double frames under the control of the timing controller; and a data driver which converts the double frame data supplied from the timing controller into an analog video signal and supplies the analog video signal to the data lines under the control of the timing controller.
US07916106B2
In a driving device for an LCD that enables accurate compensation of sub image data, a memory sequentially stores an image data in a frame unit. A memory controller reads out a previous image data corresponding to a previous frame from the memory, stores a present image data corresponding to a present frame in the memory and outputs the previous image data and the present image data. A first converter converts the present image data into a first sub image data and a second sub image data, and a second converter converts the previous image data output into a third sub image data and a fourth sub image data. A first compensator compensates the first sub image data using the third sub image data, and a second compensator compensates the second sub image data using the fourth sub image data.
US07916092B2
An antenna for an electromagnetic tool having a longitudinal axis and a core. The antenna includes a flexible dielectric substrate flexibly conformed about the core and an electrical conductor disposed on the dielectric substrate. The electrical conductor is disposed on the substrate such that the antenna has a dipole moment having any desired direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool.
US07916090B2
A wireless communication device is configured to provide wireless communication to a host device when disposed in a mated position with the host device such that a housing of the wireless communication device extends a distance Lid from a face of the host device. The wireless communication device includes a transceiver, a controller in communication with the transceiver, and a modem in communication with the controller. The wireless communication device also includes a dipole antenna having a dipole effective current axis Ix for a selected wavelength λ in the mated position that is at a distance from the face of the host device that is in the range of about 0.09λ to about 0.25λ.
US07916084B2
An emergency beacon includes a housing fitted with a connector for connecting the beacon to an antenna that is external to the housing. Inside the housing, the beacon includes an incident sensor, a transmitter, a detection and control member connected to the sensor and transmitter and arranged to trigger operation of the transmitter when an incident is detected. The beacon further includes, inside the housing, an incorporated antenna, a changeover switch interposed between the transmitter and the connector and also interposed between the transmitter and the incorporated antenna, and a sensitive member sensitive to the electromagnetic power conveyed towards the connector and to the electromagnetic power returned by the connector. The sensitive member is connected to the control member which is connected to the changeover switch and is programmed to deliver the signals from the transmitter to the external or incorporated antenna, depending on the state of the sensitive member.
US07916075B2
A satellite signal adaptive time-division multiplexing receiving device is disclosed. The receiving device operates in time-division multiplexing distributed for various domains such as satellite number, Doppler frequency, code phase and accuracy. When some specific time slots of the time-division multiplexing distribution are unnecessary to be searched, the receiving device uses a disable signal to deactivate specific components such as correlator and memory thereof during those time slots to reduce power consumption.
US07916073B2
In a method of improving the integrity communication in a satellite navigation system which comprises a space segment having multiple satellites which emit navigation signals for the reception and evaluation by use systems for position determination, and a ground segment having several observation stations which monitor the satellites, an error budget for different observation stations or groups of observations stations is transmitted with the navigation signal of a satellite. The navigation signal is received and an error budget contained therein is evaluated by computing a scalar value from the error budget. The scalar value indicates the precision of the error estimate for the generation of the navigation signal.
US07916071B2
A system and method for determining a reference location of a wireless device wherein a location request may be received for the wireless device where the location request fails to identify an approximate location for the wireless device. A reference location may be determined for the wireless device, the reference location selected from the group consisting of: an area defined as a function of at least one of a mobile country code, mobile network code, and/or a location area code; an area defined by a mapping of a provided Internet protocol address to a location; an area determined as a function of a position information element in the location request; a default area; and combinations thereof.
US07916068B2
Method and apparatus for improving the detection and discrimination of slow moving or stationary range-Doppler spread objects on or in close proximity to the ground (or sea surface). Invention detects, discriminates and separates radar returns from interference including ground clutter discretes via a coherent process for separating target returns from the myriad of received signals. Thus the method and apparatus improves the probability of detecting and declaring the presence or absence of an object at the same time that the probability of false declaration decreases. The method and apparatus may be applied to the processing of any over resolved object, including airborne radar.
US07916065B1
In one embodiment, a countermeasure system for protecting an asset from a missile attack includes a decoy comprising a plurality of quantum dots selected to emit radiation having a radiation emission profile similar to a profile of a radiation signature of the asset. In another embodiment, a method of simulating a radiation signature of an asset using quantum dots includes dispersing quantum dots to form a cloud of quantum dots; and exciting the quantum dots with a first radiation so that the quantum dots emit a second radiation having a profile similar to the radiation signature profile of the asset.
US07916061B2
A method and apparatus are provided for sigma-delta (ΣΔ) analog to digital conversion, the method including receiving an analog signal, sampling the received signal, comparing the sampled signal with a constant reference voltage, providing at least one high-order bit responsive to the constant reference comparison, comparing the sampled signal with a variable reference voltage, providing at least one low-order bit responsive to the variable reference comparison, and combining the at least one high-order bit with the at least one low-order bit; and the apparatus including a comparator, a first ADC portion supplying the comparator with a constant reference voltage for providing at least one high-order bit, and a second ADC portion supplying the comparator with a variable reference voltage for providing at least one low-order bit.
US07916059B2
A digital-analog conversion circuit, a method for the digital-analog conversion and a source driver are disclosed. A digital-analog conversion circuit may include a latch for storing N bit digital data therein, and a digital-analog converter, for performing a first digital-analog conversion on predetermined bits out of the N bit data stored in the latch by using R-string conversion, and for performing a second digital-analog conversion based on a result of the first digital-analog conversion and all remaining bits of the N bit data, excluding the predetermined bits.
US07916053B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for performing a sampling sequence for a plurality of samples. An analog-to-digital conversion module comprises a sampling module, a register, and a sampling control module coupled to the sampling module and the register. The sampling module is configured to convert analog signals into corresponding digital values in response to sampling trigger signals and the register is configured to maintain scan mode criteria for a plurality of samples. The sampling control module is configured to identify a scan mode criterion for a respective sample of the plurality of samples, automatically generate a sampling trigger signal when the scan mode criterion for the respective sample is equal to a first value, and generate the sampling trigger signal in response to a timing trigger signal when the scan mode criterion for the respective sample is equal to a second value.
US07916036B1
A patient position pad is provided that includes a timer. The patient position pad is configured to detect the position of a patient. The timer is configured to track the useful life of the patient position pad.
US07916030B2
A system and method of use within a rolling facility comprising a plurality of bearing assemblies with each assembly further comprising components including liners and chock sets. An RFID system utilizes RFID tags on each of the plurality of components in order to track and/or monitor characteristics of either the entire bearing assembly or individual components thereof. An RFID tag reader may be incorporated within a mill stand or may include portable devices. In one embodiment, RFID tag interrogation occurs both at the mill stand and at a remote site at which bearing assembly occurs. A unique combination of bearing components can be assembled, identified and monitoring during successive rolling campaigns allowing the mill operator to make adjustments toward improving the quality of rolled product.
US07916029B2
A RFID tag includes: an antenna section having a first base and a loop antenna; a strap section having a second base and a first conductive pattern to which a circuit chip is electrically connected; and a protection section having a protection body having relatively high rigidity and a second conductive pattern in which the protection body has a groove formed therein large enough to house the circuit chip, and the second conductive pattern electrically connects the first conductive pattern to the loop antenna.
US07916027B2
The invention includes apparatus and methods using a means for wirelessly communicating, preferably a radio location-tag unit, for reporting a sensed state of a container handler. The status reporting device may include: a micro-controller module, a means for wirelessly communicating, which may include means for wirelessly determining container handler location, and a means for sensing the state of the container handler.
US07916025B2
An improved system for tracking luggage and other such objects. The system features a transmitter tag for attachment to an object to be tracked and a receiver. When the tag comes within range of the receiver, the receiver provides notification to the user both visually and audibly. Audible notification can occur through the receiver's speaker, a wireless phone, a PDA, or an iPod or other portable music player. GPS capabilities allow the tag to store and transmit its exact coordinates to assist in locating the tag. Airport and airline security personnel can access the tag data with a dedicated interface device.
US07916023B2
A system associates change in the state of an asset to an event trigger within a monitored environment. This environment includes a plurality of assets and a tag transmitter positioned on each asset and operative for transmitting a wireless RE signal based on an event trigger based on one of at least the change in state of an asset and change in location of the asset. A plurality of spaced apart access points receive an RF signal transmitted from a tag transmitter. A processor is operatively connected to the access points and collect possible candidates as assets associated with the event trigger and assigning a numerical score to each candidate to determine which asset is best associated with the event trigger.
US07916017B2
Provided is a wireless sensor network operating method considering energy efficiency. The method for operating a wireless sensor network including clusters of sensor nodes includes: selecting a cluster head based on residual energy amounts of the sensor nodes by increasing a probability that a sensor node with a greater amount of residual energy than the others is selected as a cluster head; transmitting an advertisement message from the selected cluster head to the sensor nodes to form a cluster; and transmitting sensing data acquired in each sensor node to the cluster head. Accordingly, this method can extend lifespan of sensor nodes by not transmitting/receiving data on residual energy amounts and positions between sensor nodes, and increase the entire lifespan of a wireless sensor network by reducing a probability that a sensor node having a relatively small residual energy amount is selected as a cluster head consuming much energy.
US07916014B2
Automated methods and systems are disclosed for persistently facilitating the timely gathering, monitoring, distribution and delivery of information related to medical care where such may include: (1) finding a communications channel for effectively attempting a message delivery to a specific target person at a specified time; (2) adaptively finding a targeted recipient even if the latter is highly mobile and/or has travel patterns or communications-channel preferences that change over time; (3) verifying that a targeted recipient has actually received an attempted delivery within an applicable time limit; (4) automatically recognizing that an urgent message delivery-attempt was not timely completed and adaptively alerting responsible entities of the in completion; and (5) automatically recognizing that an urgent change or non change of condition has occurred by virtue of information gathered during an automated or manually-conducted Interview where physician expected positive progress prior to Interview and adaptively alerting responsible entities of the changed or unchanged condition based on the urgency of the change or non-change.
US07916010B2
A method and system for eliminating cross talk in a tire pressure monitoring system that ranks potential sensor identifications based on the number of times the sensors respond to an initiator. Upon determination of a sufficient separation between second and third ranked sensors, an assignment of the first and second ranked potential sensor identifications is made to the tire locations expected to respond to the initiator signal.
US07916004B2
A security system is disclosed having a base controller, a base transceiver, a remote control, and a passive locking prevention device. The passive locking prevention device includes a detection device preferably located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle for detecting the remote control. The detection device preferably has a detection range extending only to the inside of the vehicle. The passive locking prevention device is configured such that the vehicle will not passively lock when the passive locking prevention device detects the remote control. The passive locking prevention device can be connected to the base controller via a wired or wireless connection. The remote control can contain an emission device that emits a detectable signal by the detection device, and upon such detection, the vehicle is prevented from locking. The system can visibly or audibly alert a vehicle owner if the vehicle is not passively locked.
US07915989B2
A magnetic element includes a magnetic core assembly and multiple winding coils. The magnetic core assembly is used for proving a closed magnetic flux path and includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a first side pillar, a second side pillar and at least two middle pillars. The first and second side pillars are arranged between the first and second side plates and respectively disposed on bilateral edges of the first and second side plates. The at least two middle pillars are arranged between the first and second side pillars and includes a first middle pillar and a second middle pillar. The winding coils are wound around the at least two middle pillars.
US07915984B2
In a solenoid switch according to the invention, a magnetic plate is disposed on one side of a solenoid coil in an axial direction of the solenoid coil. A contact cover is arranged with the magnetic plate interposed between the contact cover and the solenoid coil in the axial direction. First and second fixed contacts are received in the contact cover and respectively electrically connected to first and second terminals that are to be electrically connected to an electric circuit. A resistor is electrically connected between the first and second terminals to limit current flowing through the electric circuit when the first and second fixed contacts are electrically disconnected by a movable contact. The resistor is received in the contact cover and interposed between the magnetic plate and the first and second fixed contacts in the axial direction.
US07915979B2
The present invention discloses a switchable frequency response microwave filter, which uses voltage-controlled varactors to attain the separation or combination of the odd mode and even mode of signals in a dual-mode ring resonator to realize a bandpass or bandstop function and then controls the frequency response of the output filtered signals. Further, the present invention integrates different circuit architectures having bandpass and bandstop functions into a single circuit to reduce the complexity of the circuit.
US07915974B2
A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer.
US07915973B2
A tunable nanoscale resonator has potential applications in precise mass, force, position, and frequency measurement. One embodiment of this device consists of a specially prepared multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) suspended between a metal electrode and a mobile, piezoelectrically controlled contact. By harnessing a unique telescoping ability of MWNTs, one may controllably slide an inner nanotube core from its outer nanotube casing, effectively changing its length and thereby changing the tuning of its resonance frequency. Resonant energy transfer may be used with a nanoresonator to detect molecules at a specific target oscillation frequency, without the use of a chemical label, to provide label-free chemical species detection.
US07915963B2
A current controlled, phase locked loop device includes a phase detector configured to compare a reference frequency to an output frequency of a current controlled oscillator (ICO), a charge pump coupled to the phase detector and a low pass filter coupled to the charge pump. A voltage to current (V to I) converter is coupled to the low pass filter, providing an output current for integral control of the ICO. A control circuit is coupled to the ICO, and receives increment and decrement outputs of the phase detector, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide proportional control of the ICO through an amount of bias current applied thereto.
US07915960B2
An integrated power combiner is disclosed. The power combiner includes a first circular geometry primary winding having one or more inductive elements, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A circular geometry secondary winding is disposed adjacent to the first primary winding, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A second circular geometry primary winding is disposed adjacent to the secondary winding and has one or more inductive elements. One or more connections are provided between one or more of the inductive elements of the first circular geometry primary winding and one or more of the inductive elements of the second circular geometry primary winding.
US07915948B2
A differential amplifier circuit receives a pair of input signals to develop an output signal. First and second MOS transistors have commonly-connected gates and sources. A third MOS transistor has a drain connected to the commonly-connected gates, and a source connected to the first MOS transistor's drain. The third MOS transistor's gate is connected to a constant voltage source. A constant current source is connected to the third MOS transistor's drain. A first terminal, connected to the first MOS transistor's drain and to the third MOS transistor's source, provides an input current. A second terminal, connected to the first and second MOS transistors' commonly-connected sources, provides a common reference. A third terminal, connected to the second MOS transistor's drain, provides an output current.
US07915947B2
A proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) sensor is capable of reducing a sensing error resulted from a mismatch between circuit components. The PTAT sensor includes a control unit, a sensing unit and a calculation unit. The control unit generates a control signal. The sensing unit, comprising at least a pair of circuit components having a matching relationship, senses an absolute temperature under the first connection configuration and the second connection configuration respectively to generate a first voltage value and a second voltage value, wherein the first connection configuration and the second connection configuration are decided by interchanging the circuit connections of the pair of circuit components according to the control signal. And the calculation unit, coupled to the sensing unit, calculates a PTAT voltage value according to the first voltage value and the second voltage values.
US07915946B2
A high-frequency switch circuit includes: a switch section comprised of a field effect transistor having a plurality of bias circuits and a potential generating circuit for generating bias voltages from a control signal and supplying them to the bias circuits. The field effect transistor forms the passage route of a high-frequency signal by turning on and off in accordance with the control signal. The bias circuits are provided to produce a potential difference between the drain terminal and the source terminal of the field effect transistor and to apply bias voltages lower than the voltage of the control signal to the drain terminal, and the source terminal.
US07915943B2
Regarding N-channel first transistor and a P-channel second transistor, their first terminals are connected to each other and their second terminals are connected to each other. Regarding third transistor and a fourth transistor, their first terminals are also connected to each other and their second terminals are also connected to each other. For the first transistor through the fourth transistor, a first capacitor through a fourth capacitor used for coupling are provided. A first impedance element through a fourth impedance element are provided in a path where a bias voltage is applied to the first transistor through the fourth transistor. A fifth capacitor is provided between the first terminals of the first-fourth transistors and a first input terminal. A fifth impedance element and a sixth impedance element are provided as differential pair loads.
US07915942B2
A reference signal is split and input to first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20. The first and second variable phase shifters output to first and second inputs 31, 32 respectively of a phase comparator 30. Initially, the first and second variable phase shifters 10, 20 are preferably set to the same phase. The first and second phase shifters are then aligned, e.g. by adjusting the calibration of one or both of the phase shifters so that the phase comparator 30 indicates that they output the same phase. The phase of the first phase shifter 10 is then adjusted by one step and a phase delay section 60 is placed between the output of the second phase shifter 20 and the second input 32 of the phase comparator 30. The first and second phase shifters 10, 20 are then aligned again.
US07915941B1
A phase interpolator circuit includes first and second low pass filter circuits and a multiplier circuit. The first low pass filter circuit increases a common mode voltage of a clock signal to generate a first varying signal. The second low pass filter circuit increases a common mode voltage of a clock signal to generate a second varying signal. The first low pass filter circuit can include a first variable capacitance, and the second low pass filter circuit can include a second variable capacitance. The multiplier circuit has a first input coupled to the first low pass filter circuit and a second input coupled to the second low pass filter circuit. The multiplier circuit generates a third varying signal in response to the first and the second varying signals. The phase interpolator circuit generates a phase shift in the third varying signal.
US07915937B2
Disclosed herein are circuitry and methods for improving differential signals that cross power domains. In an example embodiment, the power supply domain boundary along the output paths that generate the differential signal is staggered, such that the boundary occurs at an odd numbered stage in one differential output path and at an even numbered stage in the other differential output. Defining the power supply domain boundary in this manner can help ensure that the same logical state is present at the boundary in either of the differential output paths. This same logic signal should affect subsequent stages similarly from a speed perspective, and so should similarly affect the differential signals generated by each of the output paths. This means, among other things, that the differential signal as generated should tend to cross nearer to a midpoint voltage, which increases its compliance with certain integrated circuit specifications such as the Vox specification used for the differential data strobe in an SDRAM.
US07915934B2
A delay locked loop circuit includes a clock buffering block to generate first and second internal clocks corresponding to first and second edges of a source clock in response to a clock buffering control signal, respectively, wherein generation of the second internal clock is controlled by a duty correcting operation terminating signal and a delay locking signal, a delay locking block to compare phases of the first and second internal clocks with those of first and second feedback clocks, respectively, to enable the delay locking signal according to a delay locking and delay the first and second internal clocks as many as times corresponding to the comparison results, respectively, thereby outputting first and second delay locking clocks, a duty correcting block to mix phases of the first and second delay locking clocks, and a first signal generating block to generate the duty correcting operation terminating signal.
US07915930B2
A dual power-up signal generator includes a power-up signal generator which generates a first power-up signal by using a first voltage signal obtained by detecting a level of a power supply voltage, and generates a second power-up signal by using a second voltage signal obtained by detecting the level of the power supply voltage.
US07915929B2
A novel clock splitter that has a local internal clock frequency-divider is presented. The clock splitter comprises an oscillator clock splitter, wherein the oscillator clock splitter splits an oscillator clock signal into a B clock and a C clock; a clock frequency-divider, wherein the clock frequency-divider selectively suppresses clock pulses in the C clock to generate a slower C clock signal that is slower than the oscillator clock; and a B/C clock order logic, wherein the B/C clock order logic phase shifts the C clock relative to a B clock. The clock frequency-divider may selectively suppress pulses in the B clock to generate a slower B clock signal. The slower B and C clock signals may have a same or different frequency. In one embodiment, the clock splitter is located at a terminal leaf of a clock tree.
US07915923B1
Method and apparatus for a communication system (100) using a driver block (200) are described. The driver block includes memory having programmable non-volatile memory cells for storing configuration settings associated with operation of the driver block (200). The driver block (200) is programmable for a selected interface protocol for operation in an adaptive equalization mode to obtain an adaptive equalization value. The adaptive equalization value is stored as a fixed equalization value for operating the driver block in a fixed equalization mode. The driver block may be used as a serial link driver interface.
US07915919B1
A digital interface sensing apparatus includes a sensor, an analog detecting circuit, an analog to digital (A/D) converter, a signal cable, and an interface adjusting circuit. The sensor senses an external analog signal. The analog detecting circuit detects the sensed analog signal from the sensor. The A/D converter converts the sensed analog signal to a digital signal and receives a clock signal and a data demand signal. The A/D converter sends the digital signal in response to the A/D converter receiving the clock signal and the data demand signal. The interface adjusting circuit adjusts digital signals between the A/D converter and the signal cable to match signal transmission.
US07915913B2
A termination resistance adjusting circuit includes a first termination resistor circuit, a second termination resistor circuit connected in parallel with the first termination resistor circuit, a resistor circuit for adjustment that adjusts resistances of the first and second termination resistor circuits, a first amplifier circuit that receives a first voltage determined by the resistor circuit for adjustment and a second voltage determined by a reference resistor connected externally, equalizes the first and second voltages, and outputs a resistance adjusting signal to the first and second termination resistor circuits, first and second terminals connected to the first and second termination resistor circuits respectively, and a second amplifier circuit that receives a voltage based on a common voltage of a differential signal supplied to the first and second terminals, and the first or second voltage, and equalizes the voltage based on the common voltage and the first or second voltage.
US07915904B2
A system resistance simulating apparatus includes a case and a resistance adjusting element arranged in the case. The resistance adjusting element includes a number of blocking strips. The blocking strips can be selectively poisoned in the case for simulating system resistance of an electronic device at different power platforms.
US07915902B2
A burn-in apparatus with a radio frequency signal generator is provided. One embodiment includes a printed circuit board to carry a plurality of semiconductor devices for a burn-in process and a radio frequency signal generator mounted on the printed circuit board to provide a plurality of radio frequency signals to the plurality of semiconductor devices respectively during the burn-in process of the plurality of semiconductor devices.
US07915895B2
A phase error in measurements made by a resistivity logging tool is estimated by positioning the tool above a conducting surface. Deviation of the measured phase difference between the transmitter and the receiver from 90° gives the phase error in the electronics. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07915881B2
A method and apparatus for converting a DC voltage to a lower DC voltage, provides for conducting current from an input terminal, through an inductor to charge a capacitor connected to the inductor at an output terminal and to provide a varying range of load current from the output terminal, alternately switching the input terminal between a supply voltage and a ground potential to produce a desired voltage at the output terminal that is lower than the supply voltage, while providing the varying range of load current, and disconnecting the input terminal from both the supply voltage and the ground potential to reduce an increase in voltage at the output terminal caused by a substantial reduction in the load current, while current through the inductor adjusts in response to the reduced load current.
US07915879B2
A switching converter including a rectifier element with nonlinear capacitance. One embodiment provides a switching element configured to be driven in the on state and in the off state. A first capacitive element is between the load path terminals of the switching element and has a nonlinear capacitance characteristic curve dependent on a voltage between the load path connections. A rectifier element is coupled between the inductive storage element and the capacitive storage element such that it enables a current flow between the inductive storage element and the capacitive storage element when the switching element is driven in the off state. A second capacitive element is between the load path terminals of the rectifier element and has a nonlinear capacitance characteristic curve dependent on a voltage between the load path connections.
US07915871B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a DC to DC converter device which includes an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit comprises a first comparator, a second comparator, a first switch, a first latch, and a current sensor. The inductor current includes a peak current value and a valley current value. The first comparator detects the peak current value and resets the first latch which opens the first switch. The second comparator detects the valley current value and sets the first latch which closes the first switch. The current sensor is coupled to sense an inductor current flowing through an output load, and is coupled to provide a sense voltage to the first and second comparators. In this manner, the electronic circuit provides DC to DC conversion with current control.
US07915861B2
A battery replaceable pack for a portable electronic device is provided. The battery replaceable pack includes a containing casing, at least one battery, a protecting circuit board, and a connector. The protecting circuit board has a charging circuit and a detecting circuit electrically connected with each other. When the portable electronic device is connected to an external power supply, the charging circuit performs a testing charge on the battery and the detecting circuit detects the status of the battery. The detecting circuit detects whether the battery is rechargeable so as to assure the battery safety. An electronic device with the battery replaceable pack is also disclosed.
US07915860B2
The invention relates to the management of large stationary batteries. The invention is a comprehensive system and process for the management of stationary batteries that are used for backup power and are deployed in widely dispersed locations. The system may be comprised of a plurality of batteries and web-based software. The system software can automatically analyze, determine and report the number of batteries and total cost based on required runtime reserve by computing the power of batteries currently in a system and available batteries for installation.
US07915841B2
There is described a method for using a mobile control device, with which a machine can be operated within an assigned effective range. To this end an effective range list is configured, which is checked on the basis of transponder data from RFID transponders.
US07915838B2
A controller for optical transducers uses delta-sigma signal density modulation to reduce electromagnetic interference.
US07915836B2
A light-emitting diode driving circuit includes an AC/DC converting circuit for converting an AC power source into a DC power source; a switching element having an input contact connected to the AC/DC converting circuit; a control unit for outputting a control signal to the switching element at a set frequency to turn on or turn off the switching element, wherein a first resistor is disposed between a power contact thereof and the input contact of the switching element; a second resistor for enabling the control unit to detect a half-cycle voltage of the DC power source; a capacitor having a first end connected to the power contact, and a second end connected to a ground contact of the control unit; and an inductor having a first end connected to the ground contact and the second end of the capacitor, and a second end connected to a light-emitting diode.
US07915830B2
A light emitting device capable of performing signal electric current write-in operations at high speed and without dispersion in the characteristics of TFTs structuring pixels influencing the brightness of light emitting elements is provided. The gate length L of a transistor in which an electric current flows during write-in of a signal electric current is made shorter than the gate length L of a transistor in which electric current supplied to EL elements flows during light emission, and high speed write-in is thus performed by having a larger electric current flow than the electric current flowing in conventional EL elements. A converter and driver transistor (108) is used for signal write-in. By using the converter and driver transistor (108) and a driver transistor (107) when supplying electric current to a light emitting element during light emission, dispersion in the transistor characteristics can be made to have less influence on brightness than when using a structure in which write-in operations and light emission operations are performed using different transistors.
US07915828B2
There is provided a high-voltage pulse generator with a reduced radius of rotation and improved performance, and a lighting apparatus and a vehicle having the high-voltage pulse generator. The high-voltage pulse generator includes a pulse transformer in which a primary winding and a secondary winding are wound on a core, a discharge lamp connector which is formed in a tube shape having an opened front surface and a bottom out of an insulating material and which has an inner-electrode terminal electrically connected to a high voltage part of the secondary winding in the bottom, and a pulse generating capacitor and a discharge switch electrically connected to the primary winding of the pulse transformer. The discharge lamp connector is disposed so that the center thereof is located in a center line passing through a substantial center in an axis direction (a direction parallel to a center line) of the pulse transformer and perpendicular to the axis direction. The capacitor and the discharge switch are disposed to be opposed to the high voltage part of the secondary winding and a high voltage area including the inner-electrode terminal with the discharge lamp connector therebetween.
US07915823B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes an element substrate including a plurality of light-emitting elements, each including a pair of electrodes with an organic luminescent layer therebetween, and a coating layer covering the light-emitting elements. A sealing substrate is opposed to the element substrate. The sealing substrate includes a plurality of color layers and a light-shielding layer separating the color layers from each other. An outer region sealing layer bonds the outer region of the sealing substrate to the outer region of the element substrate. A filling layer is surrounded by the outer region sealing layer, and bonds the sealing substrate and the element substrate together in the region in which the light-emitting elements and the color layers are arranged. The color layers and the light-shielding layer of the sealing substrate are covered with a surface-modifying layer made of a material having a higher surface energy to the material of the filling layer than the surface energy to the surfaces of the color layers and light-shielding layer.
US07915813B2
An organic EL display device includes a first light emission layer which includes a first dopant material having a first absorbance peak in absorbance spectrum characteristics and a first host material having a first absorbance bottom on a shorter wavelength side than the first absorbance peak, the first light emission layer extending over the first to third organic EL elements and being disposed above pixel electrodes of the first to third organic EL elements, and a second light emission layer which includes a second dopant material having a second absorbance peak in absorbance spectrum characteristics and a second host material having a second absorbance bottom on a shorter wavelength side than the first absorbance peak and than the second absorbance peak, the second light emission layer extending over the first to third organic EL elements and being disposed above the first light emission layer.
US07915806B2
An electronic device can include an organic device layer having a first and a second portion. In one embodiment, the first portion can have a higher resistivity than the second portion and lie between a first and a second electrode and include not more than 15 mole percent basic material. In a particular embodiment, the first and the second electrode can be an anode and cathode of a pixel. In another particular embodiment, the first and the second electrode can be either both anodes or both cathodes of different pixels. In another embodiment, the organic device layer can include a large molecule material. In still another embodiment, a process of forming the electronic device can include selectively modifying the first portion of the organic device layer.
US07915804B2
An organic electro-luminescence display comprises a substrate having a first and second surface, a plurality of micro-lens formed on the first surface, and a plurality of pixels with sub-pixels formed on the second surface. Particularly, the distance between the sub-pixels within any two adjacent pixels is substantially greater than that between the sub-pixels within the same pixel.
US07915803B2
A novel and improved composite thick film dielectric structure is provided to improve the operating stability of phosphors used in thick dielectric ac electroluminescent displays. The novel structure comprises one or more aluminum oxide layers disposed between the composite thick dielectric layer and the bottom of the phosphor layer of these displays.
US07915802B2
A surface light emitting device includes a polarized light source that emits polarized light; and a light guide plate including a light incident surface on which the polarized light emitted from the polarized light source is made incident, and a light emitting surface that emits light, the light guide plate being made of light transmissive resin having low birefringence in which retardation is one-fourth or less of a wavelength of the polarized light.
US07915800B2
Field emission devices (FEDs) are provided. In one embodiment, an FED includes an electron emitter, a tube spaced apart from the electron emitter and having a first opening and a second opening, and a gate electrode disposed on an outer surface of the tube. The first opening is disposed at one end of the tube adjacent to the electron emitter, and the second opening is disposed at the other end of the tube. The FED further includes an anode that is spaced apart from the second opening and collects secondary electrons emitted from the second opening.
US07915799B2
A field emission lamp generally includes a bulb having an open end, a lamp head disposed at the open end of the bulb, an anode, and a cathode. The anode includes an anode conductive layer formed on an inner surface of the bulb, a fluorescent layer deposited on the anode conductive layer, and an anode electrode electrically connected with the anode conductive layer and the lamp head. The cathode includes an electron emission element and a cathode electrode electrically connected with the electron emission element and the lamp head. The electron emission element has an electron emission layer. The electron emission layer includes getter powders therein to exhaust unwanted gas in the field emission lamp, thereby ensuring the field emission lamp with a high degree of vacuum during operation thereof. A method for making such field emission lamp is also provided.
US07915798B2
A thermionic emission device includes an insulating substrate, and one or more grids located thereon. Each grid includes a first, second, third and fourth electrode down-leads located on the periphery thereof, and a thermionic electron emission unit therein. The first and second electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The third and fourth electrode down-leads are parallel to each other. The first and second electrode down-leads are insulated from the third and fourth electrode down-leads. The thermionic electron emission unit includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a thermionic electron emitter. The first electrode and the second electrode are separately located and electrically connected to the first electrode down-lead and the third electrode down-lead respectively. The thermionic electron emitter includes at least one carbon nanotube wire.
US07915794B2
A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric film and an electrode film. The piezoelectric film is constituted of lead zirconium titanate represented by Pb1+X(ZrYTi1−Y)O3+X, where X is 0 or more and 0.3 or less and Y is 0 or more and 0.55 or less, the piezoelectric film having a tension stress. The electrode film applies a voltage to the piezoelectric film.
US07915791B2
The quartz crystal device includes a container body having: a recess; a pair of holding terminals formed on an inner bottom surface of the recess; and a crystal blank, both principal surfaces of which are provided with excitation electrodes with lead-out electrodes extending from the pair of excitation electrodes toward both sides of one end of the crystal blank. Both sides of one end of the crystal blank are fixed to the holding terminals using a conductive adhesive. Pillow members are provided on the inner bottom surface of the recess at positions corresponding to corners on both sides of the other end of the crystal blank, and the two pillow members are independent of each other. Alternatively, each holding terminal includes a first region formed near the facing holding terminal and a second region having a greater thickness than the first region formed far from the facing holding terminal.
US07915787B2
A cylindrical piezoelectric element is arranged to share an axis with a cylindrical vibrator having different diameters at central and end portions to fix the vibrator forming a gap at the central portion. Vibration voltages are applied across first electrodes on the piezoelectric element and the vibrator, namely, a second electrode, to vibrate the vibrator and bring a wave front of a traveling wave into contact with a tubular member, i.e., a supporting member fitted to the vibrator. Friction at a contact portion of the vibrator moves a mover including the vibrator and the piezoelectric element in an axial direction of the tubular member. By amplifying the vibration amplitude using the vibrator provided separately from the piezoelectric element, a small actuator capable of performing high-speed driving is realized.
US07915782B2
There is described an electrical machine with a rotor shaft, a slip ring, arranged on the rotor shaft, and at least two sliding contacts arranged along the circumference of the slip ring for producing an electrical connection with the slip ring. The electrical machine has one or more extraction devices arranged between the at least two sliding contacts directly via the slip ring and intended for extracting abraded material produced at the slip ring.
US07915776B2
A permanent magnet type electric rotary machine includes a stator including a stator core having teeth and slots, and a rotor provided with permanent magnets as magnet poles in a rotor core. A pole core portion which between each of the permanent magnets and an outer surface of the rotor core is provided with a plurality of pole slits. A region of the pole core portion is defined by concave portions provided on q-axes to be interpolars on both sides of the pole core portion, and thereby configured that a gap between the outer surface on the q-axis of the rotor core and an inner surface of the stator core is larger than a gap between the outer surface on the d-axis of the pole core portion and the inner surface of the stator, so that magnetic fluxes from the permanent magnet pass through the pole core portion concentrately.
US07915774B2
A spindle motor is provided. The spindle motor includes a base, a bearing housing, a bearing, a rotation shaft, a stator, a bushing, and a rotor. The bearing housing is installed on the base. The bearing is fixed inside the bearing housing. The rotation shaft is installed to be supported by and rotate on the bearing. The stator is disposed around the bearing housing. The bushing is coupled to the rotation shaft. The rotor is coupled to the bushing to rotate through interaction with the stator.
US07915758B2
A print circuit board (PCB) includes a voltage regulator module (VRM), a plurality of loads, and a sense location for augmenting the voltage margin of the loads. The VRM is configured for charging the loads. Each load has a weight. The voltage value of the sense location equals to a summation of a corresponding weight value of a corresponding load multiplied by a corresponding voltage value of the load, for each of the plurality of loads on the PCB. An optimization method for the sense location on the PCB is also provided.
US07915751B2
The invention is related to a wind power generator with controllable power output, which comprises an elastic tail rod and a tail wing. One end of the elastic tail rod connects with the wind power generator; the other end of the elastic tail rod connects with the tail wing. The yaw center for the wind power generator deviates from its center line. With this shifted yaw center and the elastic tail rod, the tail wing and the elastic tail rod do not deform, or deform only a little to keep the power generator in the wind direction to acquire the maximum wind energy before reaching the rated power wind speed. Furthermore, when the wind speed exceeds the rated power wind speed, the tail wing and the elastic tail rod will bend more to force the wind power generator at a certain angle with the wind direction to control the wind power generator in a constant rated power output and to protect the wind power generator as well as the turbine blades.
US07915749B1
An electrical generating assembly 10 which may be selectively used in combination with and/or as part of a municipal wastewater treatment facility 12 and which allows the wastewater treatment facility 12 to generate electrical energy 48,62, 13 as received wastewater 14 is cleaned according to a plurality of diverse energy generating strategies.
US07915748B2
Disclosed herein is an AC electrical generator system for coupling a variable speed rotating power source to an AC electrical generator through a continuously variable transmission having a finite variable transmission ratio. A controller controls the continuously variable transmission to transform rotational energy from the variable speed power source into substantially constant speed rotation of the AC electrical generator to produce AC electricity with frequency variations within an acceptable range.
US07915747B2
A substrate for forming a semiconductor layer includes a plurality of linear convexes or grooves on a surface of the substrate by crystal growth. The plurality of linear convexes or grooves are formed along a direction of a cleavage plane of the semiconductor layer.
US07915740B2
Provided is a semiconductor device that can reduce the resistance in a horizontal direction of a substrate. A current path in a horizontal direction of a substrate is formed in a direction along a short side of the substrate (chip). For example, adopted is a layout in which an element region on an input terminal side and a current extraction region on an output terminal side are aligned along the short side of the chip. Furthermore, a first bump electrode and a second bump electrode, which are respectively connected to the input terminal and the output terminal, are arranged along the short side of the chip. Thus, the current path in the substrate in the horizontal direction in the substrate is formed to have a wide width and a short length. Accordingly, the resistance of the substrate in the horizontal direction is reduced.
US07915737B2
A manufacturing technology is provided capable of improving the reliability of a semiconductor module having a via contact connected to an electrode part of a semiconductor component. The semiconductor module includes: a semiconductor component provided with an electrode part on a mounting surface; an insulating layer provided on the mounting surface of the semiconductor component; a wiring layer formed on the insulating layer; a first conductor part which is embedded in the insulating layer and which is in contact with the electrode part; and a second conductor part which is formed in an aperture provided in the insulating layer above the first conductor part and which electrically connects the first conductor part and the wiring layer.
US07915734B2
A chip structure comprises a substrate, a first built-up layer, a passivation layer and a second built-up layer. The substrate includes many electric devices placed on a surface of the substrate. The first built-up layer is located on the substrate. The first built-up layer is provided with a first dielectric body and a first interconnection scheme, wherein the first interconnection scheme interlaces inside the first dielectric body and is electrically connected to the electric devices. The first interconnection scheme is constructed from first metal layers and plugs, wherein the neighboring first metal layers are electrically connected through the plugs. The passivation layer is disposed on the first built-up layer and is provided with openings exposing the first interconnection scheme. The second built-up layer is formed on the passivation layer. The second built-up layer is provided with a second dielectric body and a second interconnection scheme, wherein the second interconnection scheme interlaces inside the second dielectric body and is electrically connected to the first interconnection scheme. The second interconnection scheme is constructed from at least one second metal layer and at least one via metal filler, wherein the second metal layer is electrically connected to the via metal filler. The thickness, width, and cross-sectional area of the traces of the second metal layer are respectively larger than those of the first metal layers.
US07915732B2
Methods for making, and structures so made for producing integrated circuit (IC) chip packages without forming micro solder balls. In one embodiment, a method may include placing a solid grid made from an organic material between the IC chip and the substrate. The grid provides a physical barrier between each of a plurality of Controlled Collapse Chip Connections, and thereby prevents the formation of micro solder balls between them, thus improving chip performance and reliability.
US07915721B2
A semiconductor die package. Embodiments of the semiconductor die package are usable in backlight circuitry. Systems in packages may include a bridge circuit or a part thereof, and a integrated circuit die, such as a driver die, encapsulated by a molding material or other package. The bridge circuit may be stacked on opposing surfaces of a leadframe.
US07915713B2
An integrated circuit includes a first field effect transistor of a first carrier type and a second field effect transistor of a second, different carrier type. In a conductive state, a first channel of the first field effect transistor is oriented to one of a first set of equivalent crystal planes of a semiconductor substrate and a second channel of the second field effect transistor is oriented to at least one of a second, different set of equivalent crystal planes. The first set of equivalent crystal planes is parallel to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second set of equivalent crystal planes is perpendicular to the main surface.
US07915711B2
Semiconductor devices and assemblies including interconnects and methods for forming such interconnects are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first side trenches to an intermediate depth in a molded portion of a molded wafer having a plurality of dies arranged in rows and columns. The method also includes removing material from a second side of the molded portion at areas aligned with the first side trenches, wherein removing the material forms openings through the molded portion. The method further includes forming a plurality of electrical contacts at the second side of the molded portion at the openings and electrically connecting the second side contacts to corresponding bond-sites on the dies.
US07915709B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor device (10) with a semiconductor body (12) comprising a bipolar transistor with an emitter region, a base region and a collector region (1, 2, 3) of, respectively, a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and the first conductivity type. One of the emitter or collector regions (1, 3) comprises a nanowire (30). The base region (2) has been formed from a layer (20) at the surface of the semiconductor body (12); the other one (3, 1) of the emitter or collector regions (1, 3) has been formed in the semiconductor body (12) below the base region (2). The emitter or collector region (1, 3) comprising the nanowire (30) has been provided on the surface of the semiconductor body (12) such that its longitudinal axis extends perpendicularly to the surface.
US07915708B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a main surface; a plurality of first interconnections formed in a capacitance forming region defined on the main surface and extending in a predetermined direction; a plurality of second interconnections each adjacent to the first interconnection located at an edge of the capacitance forming region, extending in the predetermined direction, and having a fixed potential; and an insulating layer formed on the main surface and filling in between each of the first interconnections and between the first interconnection and the second interconnection adjacent to each other. The first interconnections and the second interconnections are located at substantially equal intervals in a plane parallel to the main surface, and located to align in a direction substantially perpendicular to the predetermined direction.
US07915706B1
The present invention relates to using a potentially trap-rich layer, such as a polycrystalline Silicon layer, over a passivation region of a semiconductor substrate or a Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device layer to substantially immobilize a surface conduction layer at the surface of the semiconductor substrate or SOI device layer at radio frequency (RF) frequencies. The potentially trap-rich layer may have a high density of traps that trap carriers from the surface conduction layer. The average release time from the traps may be longer than the period of any present RF signals, thereby effectively immobilizing the surface conduction layer, which may substantially prevent capacitance and inductance changes due to the RF signals. Therefore, harmonic distortion of the RF signals may be significantly reduced or eliminated. The semiconductor substrate may be a Silicon substrate, a Gallium Arsenide substrate, or another substrate.
US07915703B2
Fabrication of a Schottky diodes may include providing a Schottky contact layer containing a low barrier metal layer with spaced apart high barrier metal islands therein on a first surface of a substrate. A diode contact is formed on a second surface of the substrate that is opposite to the first surface. Formation of the Schottky contact layer may include providing a liquid mixture of a high barrier metal and a low barrier metal on the first surface of the substrate. Temperature and/or relative concentrations of the high and low barrier metals in the liquid mixture may be controlled to cause regions of the high barrier metal to solidify within the liquid mixture and agglomerate to form the spaced apart high barrier metal islands while inhibiting solidification of the low barrier metal. The temperature and relative concentrations may then be controlled to cause the low barrier metal to solidify and form the low barrier metal layer containing the high barrier metal islands.
US07915701B2
A device is provided having a first electrode, a second electrode, a first photoactive region having a characteristic absorption wavelength λ1 and a second photoactive region having a characteristic absorption wavelength λ2. The photoactive regions are disposed between the first and second electrodes, and further positioned on the same side of a reflective layer, such that the first photoactive region is closer to the reflective layer than the second photoactive region. The materials comprising the photoactive regions may be selected such that λ1 is at least about 10% different from λ2. The device may further comprise an exciton blocking layer disposed adjacent to and in direct contact with the organic acceptor material of each photoactive region, wherein the LUMO of each exciton blocking layer other than that closest to the cathode is not more than about 0.3 eV greater than the LUMO of the acceptor material.
US07915695B2
A semiconductor device capable of reducing deterioration of electron mobility while suppressing depletion of gate electrodes is provided. This semiconductor device includes a metal-containing layer so formed that at least either a first gate electrode or a second gate electrode partially covers a corresponding first or second gate insulating film and a semiconductor layer formed on the metal-containing layer to come into contact with a portion of the corresponding first or second gate insulating film not covered with the metal-containing layer. The first and second gate electrodes contain metals different from each other.
US07915690B2
A die rearrangement package structure is provided, which includes a die that having an active surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of pads is disposed on the active surface; a package body is provided to cover a die and the active surface being exposed; a polymer material with at least one slit is provided to cover the active surface and the pads is exposed from said slits; one ends of a plurality of metal traces is electrically connected to each pads; a protective layer is provided to cover the active surface of the dies and each metal traces, and the other ends of the metal traces being exposed; a plurality of connecting elements is electrically connected other ends of the metal traces, the characterized in that: the package body is a B-stage material.
US07915688B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a semiconductor region provided in the substrate, a group of transistors including a plurality of MIS transistors and provided in the semiconductor region, the MIS transistors including a plurality of gate electrodes which extend in a first direction and are provided on the semiconductor region via gate insulation films, an insulation film provided on the group of transistors, and a first contact layer and a second contact layer extending in the first direction and provided on the semiconductor region at opposite sides of the group of transistors.
US07915687B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first gate insulating film on a first region of a semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode on the first gate insulating film; a second gate insulating film on a second region of the semiconductor substrate; and a second gate electrode on the second gate insulating film. The first gate insulating film includes a first insulating film composed of a first material containing a first metal, and the second gate insulating film includes a second insulating film composed of the first material and a second material containing a second metal.
US07915685B2
A semiconductor device (and method for making the same) includes a strained-silicon channel formed adjacent a source and a drain, a first gate formed over a first side of the channel, a second gate formed over a second side of the channel, a first gate dielectric formed between the first gate and the strained-silicon channel, and a second gate dielectric formed between the second gate and the strained-silicon channel. The strained-silicon channel is non-planar.
US07915684B2
To provide a structure and a manufacturing method for efficiently forming a transistor to which tensile strain is preferably applied and a transistor to which compressive strain is preferably applied over the same substrate when stress is applied to a semiconductor layer in order to improve mobility of the transistors in a semiconductor device. Plural kinds of transistors which are separated from a single-crystal semiconductor substrate and include single-crystal semiconductor layers bonded to a substrate having an insulating surface with a bonding layer interposed therebetween are provided over the same substrate. One of the transistors uses a single-crystal semiconductor layer as an active layer, to which tensile strain is applied. The other transistors use single-crystal semiconductor layers as active layers, to which compressive strain using part of heat shrink generated by heat treatment of the base substrate after bonding is applied.
US07915683B2
The present invention is directed to an electrical device that comprises a first and a second fiber having a core of thermoelectric material embedded in an electrically insulating material, and a conductor. The first fiber is doped with a first type of impurity, while the second fiber is doped with a second type of impurity. A conductor is coupled to the first fiber to induce current flow between the first and second fibers.
US07915678B1
In an NLDMOS, DMOS and NMOS device, the ability is provided for withstanding snapback conditions by providing one or more p+ emitter regions interdigitated between drain regions having drain contacts and electrically connecting the drain contacts to contacts of the emitter regions.
US07915676B2
The invention relates to an integrated circuit having a semiconductor component (10) comprising a first p-type region (12) and a first n-type region (11) adjoining the first p-type region (12), which together form a first pn junction having a breakdown voltage. According to the invention, a further n-type region adjoining the first p-type region or a further p-type region (13) adjoining the first n-type region (11) is provided, the first p-type or n-type region (11) and the further n-type or p-type region (13) adjoining the latter together forming a further pn junction having a further breakdown voltage, the first pn junction and the further pn junction being connected or connectable to one another in such a way that, in the case of an overloading of the semiconductor component, on account of a current loading of the first pn junction, first of all the further pn junction breaks down.
US07915674B2
An exemplary lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor device includes a first-type substrate, a gate oxide film disposed on the first-type substrate, a poly gate disposed on the gate oxide film, a first second-type slightly doped region formed in the first-type substrate and acting as a well, a first first-type highly doped region formed in the well and acting as a body, a first second-type highly doped region formed in the body and acting as a source, a second second-type highly doped region formed in the well and acting as a drain, a second first-type highly doped region formed in the body, and a first first-type doped region formed in the body and is beneath the source.
US07915665B2
A two-transistor non-volatile memory cell is formed in a semiconductor body. A memory-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body. A switch-transistor well is disposed within the semiconductor body and is electrically isolated from the memory transistor well. A memory transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the memory-transistor well. A switch transistor including spaced-apart source and drain regions is formed within the switch-transistor well region. A floating gate is insulated from and self aligned with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and switch transistor. A control gate is disposed above and aligned to the floating gate and with the source and drain regions of the memory transistor and the switch transistor.
US07915662B2
A memory device using tunneling field effect transistors (TFET) and buried bit lines is presented. The memory device includes a matrix containing rows and columns of storage cells. Each storage cell contains at least one cell transistor, which in turn contains first doped regions and second doped regions, one of which is a source and the other a drain. The memory device includes word lines, each of which is connected to storage cells of one row and bit lines, each of which is connected to storage cells of one column. The first doped regions are of a different doping type than the second doped regions.
US07915657B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor integrated circuit including: a memory circuit section used for storing data; and a non-memory circuit section which is provided to serve as a section other than the memory circuit section and used for storing no data, wherein the second-conduction-type impurity concentration of a second-conduction-type semiconductor area including a channel created for a first-conduction-type transistor employed in the non-memory circuit section is lower than the second-conduction-type impurity concentration of a second-conduction-type semiconductor area including a channel created for a first-conduction-type transistor employed in the memory circuit section.
US07915650B2
A thin-film transistor includes a semiconductor pattern, source and drain electrodes and a gate electrode, the semiconductor pattern is formed on a base substrate, and the semiconductor pattern includes metal oxide. The source and drain electrodes are formed on the semiconductor pattern such that the source and drain electrodes are spaced apart from each other and an outline of the source and drain electrodes is substantially same as an outline of the semiconductor pattern. The gate electrode is disposed in a region between the source and drain electrodes such that portions of the gate electrode are overlapped with the source and drain electrodes. Therefore, leakage current induced by light is minimized. As a result, characteristics of the thin-film transistor are enhanced, after-image is reduced to enhance display quality, and stability of manufacturing process is enhanced.
US07915646B2
The nitride semiconductor material according to the present invention includes a group III nitride semiconductor and a group IV nitride formed on the group III nitride semiconductor, where an interface between the group III nitride semiconductor and the group IV nitride has a regular atomic arrangement. Moreover, an arrangement of nitrogen atoms of the group IV nitride in the interface and an arrangement of group III atoms of the group III nitride semiconductor in the interface may be substantially identical.
US07915645B2
According to one disclosed embodiment, a monolithic vertically integrated composite device comprises a double sided semiconductor substrate having first and second sides, a group IV semiconductor layer formed over the first side and comprising at least one group IV semiconductor device, and a group III-V semiconductor body formed over the second side and comprising at least one group III-V semiconductor device electrically coupled to the at least one group IV semiconductor device. The composite device may further comprise a substrate via and/or a through-wafer via providing electric coupling. In one embodiment, the group IV semiconductor layer may comprise an epitaxial silicon layer, and the at least one group IV semiconductor device may be a combined FET and Schottky diode (FETKY) fabricated on the epitaxial silicon layer. In one embodiment, the at least one group III-V semiconductor device may be a III-nitride high electron mobility transistor (HEMT).
US07915631B2
A light emitting device containing a semiconductor light emitting component and a phosphor, the phosphor is capable of absorbing a part of light emitted by the light emitting component and emitting light of a wavelength different from that of the absorbed light, is provided. A straight line connecting a point of chromaticity corresponding to a spectrum generated by the light emitting component and a point of chromaticity corresponding to a spectrum generated by the phosphor is substantially along a black body radiation locus in a chromaticity diagram.
US07915630B2
A light-emitting device which includes a semiconductor light-emitting element, and a plurality of plate-like wavelength conversion members which are disposed to face the semiconductor light-emitting element and are inclined with respect to the optical axis of excitation light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element, the plate-like wavelength conversion members containing respectively a fluorescent material which is capable of absorbing the excitation light and outputting light having a different wavelength from that of the excitation light, and the plate-like wavelength conversion members as a whole emitting visible light.
US07915616B2
A display device includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel and the second pixel are defined by a first gate bus line, a second gate bus line, a first power supply line and a second power supply line. A data bus line between the first supply line and the second supply line divides the first pixel from the second pixel line. Accordingly, the pixel shares a data bus line or a power supply line with adjacent pixel. Advantageously, thereby, more space between lines prevents defects caused during fabricating the display device and improve a reliability of the display device.
US07915615B2
The present invention improves the aperture ratio of a pixel of a reflection-type display device or a reflection type display device without increasing the number of masks and without using a blackmask. A pixel electrode (167) is arranged so as to partially overlap a source wiring (137) for shielding the gap between pixels from light, and a thin film transistor is arranged so as to partially overlap a gate wiring (166) for shielding a channel region of the thin film transistor from light, thereby realizing a high pixel aperture ratio.
US07915608B2
A quantum well device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a quantum well region overlying a substrate, a gate region overlying a portion of the quantum well region, a source and drain region adjacent to the gate region. The quantum well region includes a buffer structure overlying the substrate and including semiconductor material having a first band gap, a channel structure overlying the buffer structure including a semiconductor material having a second band gap, and a barrier layer overlying the channel structure and including an un-doped semiconductor material having a third band gap. The first and third band gap are wider than the second band gap. Each of the source and drain region is self-aligned to the gate region and includes a semiconductor material having a doped region and a fourth band gap wider than the second band gap.
US07915605B2
LED packaged structures and applications thereof are disclosed, characterized in that: an active layer in the LED or the LED packaged structure is formed on a first semiconductor conductive layer with multi-quantum wells; and a second semiconductor conductive layer is formed on the active layer; wherein a plurality of particles formed by at least one hetero-material are scattered between the first semiconductor conductive layer and the active layer in order to form an uneven multi-quantum well.
US07915603B2
An apparatus and method for storing information are provided, including using a transistor having a channel, a gate oxide layer, a gate electrode, and a modifiable gate stack layer. The on-resistance of the transistor is changed by causing a non-charge-storage based physical change in the modifiable gate stack layer, to store information.
US07915602B2
A phase change memory device is provided in which the area of contact between phase change material and heater electrode is reduced to suppress current required for heating and a phase change region is formed directly on a contact to raise the degree of integration. The device comprises a heater electrode in which the lower part thereof is surrounded by a side wall of a first insulating material and the upper part thereof protruding from the side wall has a sharp configuration covered by a second insulating material except for a part of the tip end thereof, and the exposed tip end is coupled to the phase change material layer.
US07915601B2
An electronic device includes a portable housing, an optical source carried by the portable housing, and an optical dispersion finger sensor carried by the portable housing. The sensor may include an integrated circuit substrate adjacent the optical source so that light propagates into and is dispersed by the user's finger with at least a portion of the dispersed light exiting the user's finger in a direction toward the integrated circuit substrate. The sensor may also include at least one optical dispersion sensing pixel on the substrate for sensing dispersed light from the user's finger to be used to generate optical dispersion biometric data from the user's finger. A processor may be connected to the one or more sensing pixels to enable at least one device function based upon the optical dispersion biometric data.
US07915598B2
An electromagnetic signal measuring device includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure is capable of producing a sound by absorbing an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal measuring device is able to determine the intensity and polarization of the electromagnetic signal.
US07915592B2
The invention relates to a detector for determining the position and/or energy of photons and/or charged particles. Said detector comprises a plurality of diodes made of a semi-conductor material, n-contacts (1) and p-contacts (4), the n-contacts being provided by dividing an n-layer into individual segments. Said segments of the n-layer are 20-500 μm wide. Said detectors are produced by diffusing ions on the side of the semi-conductor material in order to produce an n-contact. A metallic layer is metallized thereon. Trenches are etched between the segments by means of lithography for the segmentation thereof. The inventive detector is high-powered and inter alia enables a high local resolution and high counting rates.
US07915589B2
An idling time period after applying a bias to a conversion element until a start of an accumulation of the conversion element for deriving an image and an accumulation period from the start of the accumulation to a termination of the accumulation are measured. An offset correction of the image is conducted by using a dark current accumulation charge quantity in the accumulation calculated based on the measured idling time period and accumulation period and stored dark current response characteristics. Thus, even just after applying the bias to the conversion element, the offset correction can be properly conducted. An imaging apparatus which can execute a good radiographing without increasing costs and a size even just after applying the bias to the conversion element is provided.
US07915586B2
A method of determining a film coating thickness on a substrate and/or amount one or more compositional ingredients of said film coating including making mid-IR spectra of a series of coating thickness or coating weight standards (and/or composition standards) on an appropriate substrate material to match sample material in question, pre-processing the data to prepare it for multivariate calibration methods, performing the multivariate calibration, saving the calibration model in the hand-held mid-IR device in an appropriate format, and using the calibration model to predict sample material in question from their mid IR spectra.
US07915581B2
In an SEM observation in a depth direction of a cross section processed by repeated FIB cross-sectioning and SEM observation to correct a deviation in an observation field of view and a deviation in focus, are corrected, the deviations occurring when a processed cross section moves in the depth direction thereof; information on a height and a tilt of a surface of cross section processing area is calculated before the processing, the above information is used, the deviation in a field of view and the deviation in focus in SEM observation, which correspond to an amount of movement of the cross section at a time of the processing, are predicted, and the SEM is controlled based on the predicted values.
US07915576B2
An imaging device includes: a pixel array part in which a plurality of pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity are arranged in an array and which converts light transmitted through the pixel into an electric signal, wherein in the pixel array part, among a first color filter pixel, a second color filter pixel, and a third color filter pixel, each including a color filter, at least a plurality of the first color filter pixels and the second color filter pixels is arranged in an oblique pixel array system, and a clear pixel having a high transmittance is arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column in the oblique pixel array with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel.
US07915575B2
In a laser scanning microscope comprising an infrared pulse laser; an objective lens focusing an infrared light from the infrared pulse laser on a sample; a condenser lens disposed on an opposite side of the objective lens across the sample for collecting an observation light that is generated by a nonlinear optical effect and has a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of the infrared light; a visible light detector detecting the observation light collected by the condenser lens, an IR partial transmission filter having partially-modified transmission characteristics for the infrared light is disposed near a front focal position of the condenser lens, and an infrared light detector detecting, through the IR partial transmission filter, a transmitted light from the sample collected by the condenser lens, is provided.
US07915568B2
The present invention disclosed a multifunction microwave oven with superheated steam and the control method thereof, so as to heat the food uniformly and to provide versatile heating modes including at least superheated steam mode, ordinary steam mode and convective hot flow mode.
US07915561B2
A wear resistant coating is applied on an elbow or S-bend by weld beads applied along a pipe. A rectangular support rod is attached inside the pipe by connectors so that wheels of the carriage are guided on the corners to maintain a fixed orientation relative to the support rod. A three axis robot arm carries an electric welding head so as to be able to dynamically adjust the head both angularly and radially. A welding wire is pulled to the head by a feeding system on the carriage. The weld parameters including a predetermined wire stick out and angle of wire attack are controlled. A drive motor carried by a drive carriage propels the drive carriage longitudinally along the support rod with a series of intermediate carriages.
US07915560B2
The TIG welding methods of the present invention include generating an electric arc between an electrode and an object to weld the object, wherein a first shielding gas including an inert gas flows toward the welded object surrounding the electrode, a second shielding gas containing an oxidative gas flows toward the welded object along a periphery of the first shielding gas, and the concentration of the oxidative gas in the second shielding gas is set such that the oxygen concentration in the welded metal portion of the welded object is within a range of 70 to 220 wt. ppm.
US07915559B2
An electrode for electric discharge surface treatment, in which a pulse-like electric discharge is caused between the electrode and a work in a dielectric fluid or an atmosphere, and in which a coat of an electrode material or a substance that is generated by a reaction of the electrode material due to an electric discharge energy is formed on a surface of the work, is a molded powder that is formed by molding a material powder including a metallic powder, a metallic compound powder, and a conductive ceramic powder. A powder solid that is formed as a result of coagulation of the material powder, and that is included in the molded powder has a diameter shorter than a distance between the electrode and the work.
US07915547B2
A key switch comprises: a plurality of conductive portions which are respectively positioned in dispersed directions from a center of a key top; and contact patterns provided on a print substrate, which respectively face the conductive portions. The contact patterns each have, in a conductive portion facing area thereof, at least four separate lands, and the at least four lands include: a first land and a second land which are separated by a first gap provided on a first reference line which extends from a position facing the center of the key top in the direction of the center of the conductive portion facing area; a third land which is separated from the first land by a second gap provided at a position which is distant from the first reference line in one direction; and a fourth land which is separated from the second land by a third gap provided at a position which is distant from the first reference line in another direction.
US07915524B2
Sealing agent for photoelectric conversion device and photoelectric conversion device using the same
A sealing agent for a photoelectric conversion device which comprises one or more of a compound having a glycidyl structure, a compound having a cyclohexene oxide structure, a compound having an oxetane structure and a compound having a vinyl ether structure, and a cationic polymerization initiator; a photoelectric conversion device using the sealing agent; and a solar cell comprising the photoelectric conversion device. The sealing agent for a photoelectric conversion device can be used for pasting together upper and lower electroconductive glass substrates at an ordinary temperature in the manufacture of a photoelectric conversion device, and is excellent with respect to adhesion strength and the reliability in moisture resistance.
US07915522B2
A novel surface texturing provides improved light-trapping characteristics for photovoltaic cells. The surface is asymmetric and includes shallow slopes at between about 5 and about 30 degrees from horizontal as well as steeper slopes at about 70 degrees or more from horizontal. It is advantageously used as either the front or back surface of a thin semiconductor lamina, for example between about 1 and about 20 microns thick, which comprises at least the base or emitter of a photovoltaic cell. In embodiments of the present invention, the shallow slopes are formed using imprint photolithography.
US07915519B2
A fixing member (3, 40, 43, 50, 53) which fixes a first frame body (1) of a solar battery module main body (9) slides along the first frame body, and the solar battery module main body includes a connecting portion (10) and a to-be connected portion (11) which connects the first frame bodies which are adjacent to each other through the fixing member. With this, a position of the fixing member can freely be moved with respect to the first frame body, the fixing member is slid to a position where there is a structure member (32) which supports a roofboard at predetermined intervals, and the fixing member is mounted at that position. With this, the fixing member can be mounted more strongly, and the adjacent two first frame bodies (31) can be fixed by the fixing member.
US07915516B2
In one embodiment, an operating condition of a thermoelectric module is monitored. It is determined when the monitored operating condition exceeds a desired range. Upon determining the monitored operating condition exceeds the desired range, a thermal adjustment is applied to the thermal condition to direct the operating condition to within the desired range. The monitoring the operating condition may include measuring an operating temperature of an environment adjacent a surface of the thermoelectric module, a surface temperature of a portion of the thermoelectric module, a thermal differential between the first surface and the second surface of the thermoelectric module, and an output voltage of the thermoelectric module. The desired range includes a temperature range below a level at which the thermoelectric module will sustain thermal damage and a thermal differential capable of causing the thermoelectric module to generate a minimum desired output voltage.
US07915508B2
A keyboard assembly for playing music automatically comprises: a plurality of juxtaposed keys including white keys and black keys, each being supported swingable for depression and release thereof; a plurality of juxtaposed swing weights, each for each of the keys and each being supported swingable as interlocked with the corresponding key; and a plurality of actuator devices, each for each of the swing weights to actuate the swing weight, which in turn drives the interlocked key to swing to its depressed position. The actuator devices are arrayed alternately in two rows with the arraying pitch between the actuator devices for the adjacent swing weights made different from the arraying pitch between the swing weights so that the actuator devices for the keys of C through E can be disposed closer to the C end and the actuator devices for the keys of F through B can be disposed closer to the B end, thereby securing a fitting space between the E actuator device and the F actuator device. Alternatively, the actuator devices may be equally spaced within the octave, while the swing weights are spaced unequally.
US07915507B2
A pliable and resilient mounting grommet, forced into deployment in a cymbal aperture, is secured to a cymbal, rather than to the cymbal support rod, and includes a reduced diameter neck residing in the cymbal aperture. The cymbal and grommet may be removed as a unit from a support rod and placed on another support rod. A non-metal rigid washer may be permanently bonded to the bottom surface of the grommet to prevent the grommet from slipping down along the support rod. The grommet may be interiorly reinforced with strengthening material at the neck portion. A thumbscrew having a soft bottom portion may be used to tighten the cymbal in place.
US07915506B2
An electronic guitar harness component connector uses ribbon cables and circuit boards to interconnect electronic components in an electric guitar harness. The use of ribbon cables and circuit boards to interconnect electronic components in the harness solves the problem of hand-soldered joints of discrete wires. It eliminates the need for the hand-soldered joints of discrete wires, and multiple wires. Discrete wires are replaced with a single ribbon cable and/or circuit boards to interconnect electronic components.
US07915504B2
The present invention relates to novel tetraploid Lobularia maritima plants having pigmented flower petals. The present invention also relates to methods for creating novel tetraploid Lobularia maritima plants having pigmented flower petals.
US07915502B1
An inbred sunflower line, designated CN1229R, the plants and seeds of the inbred sunflower line CN1229R, methods for producing a sunflower plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred sunflower line CN1229R with itself or with another sunflower plant, and hybrid sunflower seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line CN1229R with another sunflower line or plant and to methods for producing a sunflower plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic sunflower plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred sunflower lines derived from inbred sunflower line CN1229R, to methods for producing other inbred sunflower lines derived from inbred sunflower line CN1229R and to the inbred sunflower lines derived by the use of those methods.
US07915491B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7537171 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7537171, to the plants of soybean 7537171, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7537171 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7537171 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7537171, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7537171 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7537171 with another soybean cultivar.
US07915488B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pumpkin line designated HWN 130-1018T. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pumpkin line HWN 130-1018T, and to methods for producing a pumpkin plant produced by crossing a plant of pumpkin line HWN 130-1018T with itself or with another pumpkin plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pumpkin line HWN 130-1018T, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US07915487B2
A Δ5 fatty acid desaturase gene, a Δ6 fatty acid desaturase gene, and a Δ6 fatty-acid-chain elongase gene are isolated from a single species of Marchantiales. By introducing these genes into higher plants, transformed plants which can produce arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are obtained.
US07915479B2
Compositions and methods for providing nematode resistance are provided. One aspect provides transgenic plants or cells comprising an inhibitory nucleic acid specific for one or more nematode esophageal polypeptides. Other aspects provide transgenic plants or cells resistant to at least two different root-knot nematode species.
US07915473B2
A radioactive containment composition may be created for containing radionuclides from a radioactive material by mixing a clay mineral with water. This mixture may form an aqueous clay suspension, which in turn can be refined by filtering to remove coarse material. The aqueous clay suspension may be applied to a radioactive material, allowing the radionuclides to be exchanged with cations in the aqueous clay suspension. The resulting aqueous slurry may be collected, heated and analyzed.
US07915472B2
Clay-based compositions capable of absorbing contaminants from surfaces or objects having surface faces may be applied to a surface and later removed, the removed clay-based compositions absorbing at least a portion of the contaminant from the surface or object to which it was applied.
US07915470B2
A coupled electrochemical system and method for its use is disclosed, where a polyol feed, especially a biomass polyol containing feed is reduced in a reducing solution including HI and a metal ion capable of converting I2 to HI during polyol reduction to hydrocarbon or iodohydrocarbon products and where the metal ions are capable of electrochemical reduction so that the system can be run on a batch, semi-continuous or continuous basis. The system is capable of producing hydrocarbon solvent, fuels and lubricating oils.
US07915465B2
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915460B2
A process has been developed for producing diesel boiling range fuel or fuel blending component from renewable feedstocks such as plant oils and greases. The process involves treating a renewable feedstock by hydrogenating and deoxygenating i.e. decarboxylating and/or hydrodeoxygenating to provide a hydrocarbon fraction useful as a diesel fuel. The hydrocarbon fraction is isomerized to improve cold flow properties. At least one interstage stream of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone, and/or the effluent of the hydrogenating and deoxygenating reaction zone is heat exchanged with the feed to the isomerization reaction zone.
US07915459B2
This invention discloses methods and processes for selectively converting hydrocarbons such as methane to materials such as alcohols or other materials containing more reactive functionalities.
US07915455B2
The invention provides a transition metal complex of formula (3) below: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are the same or different and each independently represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atom(s); R5 represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atom(s); X1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atom(s); L represents a balancing counter ion or neutral ligand similar to X1 that is bonding or coordinating to metal M; and q represents an integer of 0 or 1, and G20 represents any one of G21 to G26 below: where A1 represents an element of Group 15 of the periodic table, wherein A1 in G23 represents an anion of an element of Group 15 of the periodic table, and A1 in G21 represents a nitrogen atom; R9, R14, R12, R13, R19, R20, R10, R11, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21 and R22 each independently represents, a hydrogen atom; or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atom(s), and the line linking M and R20 represents that M is coordinated or linked to an element of Group 15 or 16 of the periodic table or to a fluorine atom constituting R20.
US07915440B2
A method for preparing a polyorganosiloxane which is sold at 25° C. and has R13SiO0.5 units wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and SiO2 units, said method comprising the steps of: [1] subjecting at least one selected from an organosilane and an organodisiloxane, and at least one selected from a tetralkoxysilane and a partial condensate of hydrolysates of the tetralkoxysilane to hydrolysis reaction and condensation reaction in the presence of an acidic catalyst; [2] adding a liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon; and subsequently [3] separating a liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase and then removing said aqueous phase; provided that the step [2] may be performed before, during, or after the step [1].
US07915438B1
A new family of silicon-based polymers has been prepared in which organic host components are bound covalently. The polymer is a polysilsesquioxane matrix comprising, for example, hosts such as cyclodextrins (CD) or calixarenes (CX).
US07915435B2
Process of making alkyl-capped alkoxylated esters. More specifically, a process of making alkyl-capped alkoxylated esters that are comprised substantially of triethylene alkoxy ester and substantially free from ethylene glycol monoalkoxy monoester and diethylene glycol monoalkoxy monoester.
