US07925618B2
An information extraction method for extracting dynamic information is provided. The method includes using a plurality of information extractors extracting reference values corresponding to the dynamic information from a plurality of information sources, and determining a most reliable value corresponding to the dynamic information based on the reference values. The method further includes determining whether each of the information extractors is abnormal according to the most reliable value and removing the information extractors determined as abnormal. The method further includes rebuilding new information extractors for replacing the removed information extractors. In such a way, reliable dynamic information can be extracted and the information extractors can be maintained for normal operation.
US07925604B2
The embodiments of the invention provide a method of ordering an intersecting of a group of lists into a left-deep AND-tree. The method begins by performing a first selecting process including selecting a top list, corresponding to a top leaf of the left-deep AND-tree, from the group of lists to leave remaining lists of the group of lists. The top list can be the smallest list of the group of lists. The method can also select a pair of lists from the group of lists, such that the pair of lists has the smallest intersection size relative to other pairs of lists of the group of lists. Next, the method estimates intersections of the remaining lists with the top list by estimating an amount of intersection between the remaining lists and the top list. This involves sampling a portion of the remaining lists. The method also includes identifying larger list pairs having smaller intersections sizes when compared to smaller list pairs having larger intersections sizes.
US07925600B2
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an autonomic entity manages a system by generating one or more stay alive signals based on the functioning status and operating state of the system. In some embodiments, an evolvable synthetic neural system is operably coupled to one or more evolvable synthetic neural systems in a hierarchy. The evolvable neural interface receives and generates heartbeat monitor signals and pulse monitor signals that are used to generate a stay alive signal that is used to manage the operations of the synthetic neural system. In another embodiment an asynchronous Alice signal (Autonomic license) requiring valid credentials of an anonymous autonomous agent is initiated. An unsatisfactory Alice exchange may lead to self-destruction of the anonymous autonomous agent for self-protection.
US07925595B2
A postage funds credit system in which the customer pays for postage funds after they are used in franking mailpieces. A postal device is initialized with postage funds advanced to the customer by a third party. The value of a descending register of the postal device is read a first time and a second subsequent time. The later value is subtracted from the earlier value to obtain an amount of postage funds used by the customer between the two readings. The customer is billed for the amount of postage used after such use. The postal device can be replenished with additional postage funds advanced by the third party.
US07925590B2
Described herein is a search engine that can include a receiver component that receives a query from a user that pertains to a multimedia item and an output component that outputs multiple choices for receiving an instance of the multimedia item to a user. The multiple choices may include a first choice for receiving a first instance of the multimedia item for no charge, wherein the first instance of the multimedia item includes a digital rights management restriction. The multiple choices may also include a second choice for receiving a second instance of the multimedia item for a fee, wherein the second instance of the multimedia item is free of digital rights management restrictions. The search engine can further include a transmitter component that transmits one of the first multimedia item or the second multimedia item to the user.
US07925577B2
A method of providing an account is provided. The method includes receiving identification information associated with a user during a communication session. The method further includes communicating a request for credit information. The request includes at least a portion of the identification information. The method further includes receiving the requested credit information, and for each of a plurality of different types of accounts, determining whether to approve that type of account based at least in part on the received credit information. The method further includes communicating an indication of at least a portion of the approved types of accounts, and receiving a selection of at least one of the approved types of accounts. The method further includes opening at least one of the selected types of accounts and providing access to at least one of the opened accounts during the communication session.
US07925576B2
The present invention includes transaction processing systems that process transactions from merchant systems designed to convert the presentation of a transponder device into electronic debits from a checking account. The transaction processing systems also can provide risk assessment, validation or user data and/or MICR data, and/or transaction guarantee services.
US07925574B2
A system and method are provided for displaying information related to a plurality of tradeable objects using a single graphical interface. One example graphical interface includes at least two screen regions displayed in relation to each other, with each region including a plurality of locations. Each location in the first screen region corresponds to a value along a first value axis, and each location in the second screen region corresponds to a value along a second value axis. The graphical interface also includes a first indicator in the first region and a second indicator in the second region. In response to a repositioning command based on an algorithm, the graphical interface includes a repositioned first value axis and the second value axis, such that the indicators are displayed in new locations determined based on the algorithm.
US07925562B2
An ETF pricing mechanism for use in managed Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) or other collective investment vehicle (CIV) that retains the confidentiality of the vehicle's assets. The method of pricing may comprise: selecting a security price for each portfolio security, wherein each selected security price is associated with a time offset within a pricing interval, and wherein the time offsets are not identical for all of the selected security prices; generating a plurality of partial price components based on the selected security prices; determining a intra-day indicative value (IIV) of a CIV share in response to the plurality of partial price components; and, publishing the determined IIV.
US07925554B1
Techniques are described for facilitating use of invocable services by applications in a configurable manner. In at least some situations, the invocable services are Web services or other network-accessible services that are made available by providers of the services for use by others in exchange for fees defined by the service providers. The described techniques facilitate use of such invocable services by applications in a manner configured by the application providers and the service providers, including to track use of third-party invocable services by applications on behalf of end users and to allocate fees that are charged end users between the applications and the services as configured by the providers of the applications and services. In some situations, the configured pricing terms for a service specify fees for end users that differ in one or more ways from the defined fees charged by the provider of that service.
US07925552B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a renewable energy system monitor. In one embodiment, information is received in a server from solar power stations across a network. The information includes operational data for each solar power station identified by a particular power station identification (ID). The information is stored in a database and grouped data groups corresponding different solar power stations. Data groups are processed using different models associated with different power stations to control the different power stations. Software or parameters may be sent to different devices in the different power stations to control the power stations.
US07925540B1
A method and system to offer a service to a user based on a profile of the user, in response to an identification of an event. In one embodiment, the service includes offering a travel itinerary. In one embodiment, the profile of the user is based on previously obtained data. In one embodiment, the offering is performed automatically in response to the identification of the event and user. In one embodiment, the offering of the itinerary to the user based on the profile of the user comprises accessing data from at least one of a preference database and a contextual content database. The offering of the itinerary may comprise offering at least one of travel times for the user traveling to a selected area, ground transportation for the user arriving at a selected area, and costs for multiple modes of transportation. In one embodiment, the offering of the service is based in part on one of a type of service, a location, and a partner.
US07925537B2
A method that allows taxing jurisdictions to collect sales and/or use taxes from sales that are made via the internet and catalogs. The method also makes it easier for sellers to comply with the taxing jurisdiction's mandated seller administrative functions. The foregoing is accomplished by using an agent to perform the sales tax administration functions of a seller, relieving the seller of as much of the burden of compliance as possible.
US07925534B2
A server apparatus 10 for applying a point by which a service can be received in response to an amount of said point to be used in a Web site, comprises files 23/24 for storing a banner advertisement, and a point producing unit 14 for determining a point number which is displayed on the banner advertisement. This server apparatus 10 is further arranged by a Web control unit 11 for displaying the banner advertisement attached with the point number on a Web page, and also a user data managing unit 12 for managing a point number gained by a user. The server apparatus 10 determines a point number to be displayed on a banner advertisement with reference to personal information of a user, or a point number gained by the user.
US07925532B2
This invention pertains to the field of creating incentives for the completion of the design of integrated electronic circuits (chips). Modern chip design use sophisticated computer aided design software (CAD tools). Typically, CAD tools are sold or rented with pricing schemes that restrict the number of copies and usage of the software and are accompanied by a time-based maintenance charge. These pricing schemes do not encourage cooperation and business efficiency. In one embodiment of the invention, a CAD tool vendor receives two payments, one for access to the technology, providing unlimited usage and copies of the software, and a second payment when the technology produces a useful result. This connects vendor payment to the success of the customer. The vendor finds it advantageous to create tools that are easy to learn, easy to use, and with all the necessary functionality. The CAD tool vendor is more likely to quickly resolve any problem encountered by a customer in order to hasten the completion of the customer's program and hence receive the payment. By sharing the financial risk, the vendor becomes a trusted partner in the customer's program and increases customer productivity. The software vendor becomes a key part of the supply chain and shares in the rewards of opening the customer's productivity bottleneck.
US07925527B1
A process control system that automatically monitors processes and performs activities based on conditions detected during monitoring. The information needed to do the monitoring and perform activities is contained in tables in a database system. The process control system may be configured by configuring entries in the tables. A parallel state machine permits activities to be performed for the process in parallel. The parallel state machine employs a task that is represented in the database tables. The task defines a set of activities that must all be performed in order for a state transition to occur and the parallel state machine causes a process's state to change only when the activities defined in the task have all been performed. In addition, a graphical user interface is disclosed for defining tasks.
US07925524B2
A method and system for obtaining desired times from intended recipients of items is provided. The method provides each recipient with a plurality of time windows that overlap with one another in time from which the recipient may choose a time for delivery of an item and receives choices made by recipients from the plurality of overlapping windows. One aspect of the invention includes applying predetermined parameters to the time windows to determine which time windows to offer to the recipients as available times from which the recipient may choose a time for delivery. Such parameters may include, among others, which time windows have associated with them the least cost of service in making the delivery, whether the cost of delivering within a time window is less than a monetary threshold, and whether a maximum number of orders to be delivered within one time window has been reached.
US07925523B1
A virtual insurance producer Web site is provided at which a prospective insurance customer may request a bindable premium quotation for an insurance policy. If the policy may be underwritten, the Web site calculates a premium for the insurance policy. The premium is displayed to the prospective customer as a bindable quotation that binds the insurance company providing the policy and that may be purchased on-line immediately. The prospective customer may purchase the insurance policy according to the provided bindable premium quotation through the virtual insurance producer Web site. If the prospective customer elects to purchase the policy, the virtual insurance producer Web site may re-intermediate an insurance agent into the sales process and transmit the insurance policy to the customer in electronic form.
US07925518B2
A system allows a health care provider to arrange payment at the time of service for a patient responsibility portion of a health care claim amount, even though the provider may not know what the patient responsibility portion will be until after adjudication. A health care debit card is associated with an account of the patient. At the time of service, the patient presents the card to the provider. The provider uses the card to authorize the system to hold an estimate of the patient responsibility amount in suspense in the patient's account. After adjudication, when the actual patient responsibility amount is known, a transaction set is sent to the system. The system then automatically transfers the actual patient responsibility amount from the patient's account and into the provider's bank account. Any remainder of the suspended funds is left in the patient's account. A trace number is provided so that the provider can reconcile bank statement deposits with transaction set information.
US07925517B2
A method is provided for validating one entity, say a business or job applicant, for another entity (the requesting entity), say another business, that includes the steps of, classifying the entity type to be validated based on one or more predefined classifiers of an entity, applying one or more validation rules based on the classification for the entity type to produce a validation request, providing a validation request to one or more validation entities that perform at least a portion of the validation in accordance with the validation rules, and providing a validation outcome to the requesting entity that allows the requesting entity to assess the business or job applicant based on the validation rules and the source of the validation outcomes. Such a system and framework allows businesses to perform checks in a more structured and efficient way and allows for the sharing of validation outcomes amongst like entities.
US07925516B2
A reputation data store provides reputation information to a user regarding the source of an electronic communication via a client. When the client receives an electronic communication, the client queries a reputation data store for reputation information regarding the source of the electronic communication. The client receives the reputation information from the reputation data store and displays the reputation information to the user. The user then decides whether to interact with the source of the electronic communication based on the displayed reputation information. Alternatively, an administrator may decide whether the user may interact with the source of the electronic communication.
US07925515B2
A real-time directory access system provides the public with information of interest of an organization, and enabling mobile personal communication devices to access the organization's information of interest and to interactively communicate with the organization. This system includes an organization's central data server, a plurality of branch data servers for storing branch information of interest and for interactively communicating with mobile devices, a plurality of in-branch access points for distributing information of interest. The system also includes a plurality of mobile personal communication devices for receiving and displaying information of interest from access points and interactively communicating with branch data servers.
US07925514B2
Systems and methods for creating in a facility on-demand routes for powered industrial vehicles to transport cargo efficiently. In one embodiment, an on-demand route generation module receives receiving a request to move cargo. The module analyzes data about the current location, the current tasking, and the driver availability of PIVs in operation. Based on the information, the module creates an on-demand route through the facility and sends a notification to an assigned PIV to pick up the cargo and carry it on the defined on-demand route.
US07925505B2
Architecture is disclosed herewith for minimizing an empirical error rate by discriminative adaptation of a statistical language model in a dictation and/or dialog application. The architecture allows assignment of an improved weighting value to each term or phrase to reduce empirical error. Empirical errors are minimized whether a user provides correction results or not based on criteria for discriminatively adapting the user language model (LM)/context-free grammar (CFG) to the target. Moreover, algorithms are provided for the training and adaptation processes of LM/CFG parameters for criteria optimization.
US07925504B2
System and device for receiving spatially mixed signals by a plurality of sensors and accurately removing a signal from a particular direction. The system includes a beamformer for removing a signal coming from a particular direction by steering a null to the particular direction, a coefficient calculation unit for calculating a coefficient for correcting the gain of the spectrum of the signal from a sensor according to the directivity characteristic of the beamformer, a gain correction unit for correcting the signal spectrum from the sensor by the calculated correction coefficient, and a spectrum correction unit for correcting the signal spectrum outputted from the beamformer by the corrected sensor signal spectrum. A plurality of sensor signals are received and a signal from a particular direction is removed by the beamformer. The signal which has failed to be removed by the beamformer is removed by the spectrum correction unit at a later stage.
US07925503B2
A method and apparatus for dynamically enabling the activation and deactivation of comfort noise over a VoIP media path or channel are disclosed. The present method detects all sound levels in the media path and only activates the comfort noise in the absence of sound and when the background noise level or the telephone line noise level is low rather than only in the absence of speech.
US07925499B2
A method and apparatus for generating a control signal for processing a speech signal comprising the steps of: adjusting the signal relative to a threshold level; and responsive to detection of a falling edge of the signal, holding the signal level for a holding period. The technique further comprises ‘slowing’ each rising edge of the signal. The technique further comprises attenuating each falling edge of the signal. The steps are carried out on a signal representing the envelope of the speech signal.
US07925496B1
A method includes the steps of comparing a first body of text with a user-created summary of the first body of text, creating rules based on the comparison of the first body of text with the user-created summary of the first body of text, selecting one or more summary rules for generating a computer-created summary of a second body of text, and applying the selected summary rules to the second body of text to generate a computer-created summary of the second body of text. The first body of text may be a user-corrected summary of a computer-created summary of the first body of text. The rules may be selected based on previous use, frequency of use, context of the body of text, or most-specific applicability. The rules may be iteratively applied to generate a summary. A method is also provided for generating a heading for a summary of text.
US07925495B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating and distributing multilingual documents. The multilingual documents are comprised of primary information consisting of human-readable text and secondary information consisting of machine-readable data such that a translation of the text is accomplished by converting the human-readable text into a second language through the use of the decoded machine-readable data. The machine-readable data is comprised of a code that describes a set of editing operations that can be applied to the human-readable text to convert it into at least a second language. In a preferred embodiment, the machine-readable data is embedded in the image using an unobtrusive code on the document such as Xerox DATAGLYPH codes.
US07925494B2
A system and method for translating data from a source language to a target language is provided wherein machine generated target translation of a source sentence is compared to a database of human generated target sentences. If a matching human generated target sentence is found, the human generated target sentence may be used instead of the machine generated sentence, since the human generated target sentence is more likely to be a well-formed sentence than the machine generated sentence. The system and method does not rely on a translation memory containing pairs of sentences in both source and target languages, and minimizes the reliance on a human translator to correct a translation generated by machine translation.
US07925490B2
A method of transactional simulation of a generic communication node model is proposed. The method includes steps, performed at each simulation step corresponding to transaction start events and transaction end events, including: calculating a remaining quantity of data to be transmitted for each transaction not completed in a list of current transactions; if the simulation step corresponds to the start of a new transaction, calculating a quantity of data to be transmitted for the new transaction and adding the new transaction to the list of current transaction; if the simulation step corresponds to the end of the transaction, removing the transaction from the list of current transactions; allocating throughputs to the current transactions, according to a predetermined node sharing policy; calculating a duration up to the closest end time of one of the current transactions; and assigning a wait for the duration before generation of the next transaction end event.
US07925489B2
A design is simulated utilizing a hardware description language (HDL) simulation model by stimulating the HDL simulation model with a testcase. The HDL simulation model includes instrumentation not forming a portion of the design that includes a count event counter for a count event in the design, and the simulation includes counting occurrences of the count event in the count event counter to obtain a count event value. A threshold is also established for an aggregate count event value for the count event counter. After completion of the testcase, a determination is made whether addition of the count event value to the aggregate count event value for the count event counter would cause the aggregate count event value to exceed the threshold. If not, the count event value is recorded in a testcase data storage area, and the count event value is accumulated in the aggregate count event value. If so, the count event value is discarded without recording the count event value in the testcase data storage area.
US07925487B2
Replaying distributed systems involves playing a distributed system in a simulator using data from a real-world operation. In an example embodiment, a simulation process is to simulate a distributed system that has a first instance and a second instance. The simulation process includes a first simulation object corresponding to the first instance and a second simulation object corresponding to the second instance. In another example embodiment, communications between the first instance and the second instance are simulated within the simulation process using function calls between the first simulation object and the second simulation object.
US07925486B2
Computer-implemented methods, carrier media, and systems for creating a metrology target structure design for a reticle layout are provided. One computer-implemented method for creating a metrology target structure design for a reticle layout includes simulating how one or more initial metrology target structures will be formed on a wafer based on one or more fabrication processes that will be used to form a metrology target structure on the wafer and one or more initial metrology target structure designs. The method also includes creating the metrology target structure design based on results of the simulating step.
US07925482B2
A method and system for generating an unstructured automatic mesh and executing computational algorithms using a finite element numerical approach is disclosed. The method is to model a hydrocarbon reservoir, wells, and completions as a single system, accounting for static information and transient behavior of wells, hydraulic fractures and reservoirs in a single model.
US07925465B2
Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used to reduce power consumption during integrated circuit testing. Embodiments of the disclosed technology can be used to provide a low power test scheme and can be integrated with a variety of compression hardware architectures (e.g., an embedded deterministic test (“EDT”) architecture). Among the disclosed embodiments are integrated circuits having programmable test stimuli selectors, programmable scan enable circuits, programmable clock enable circuits, programmable shift enable circuits, and/or programmable reset enable circuits. Exemplary test pattern generation methods that can be used to generate test patterns for use with any of the disclosed embodiments are also disclosed.
US07925462B2
In a position-measuring device and a method for transmitting movement information from a position-measuring device to sequential electronics, the position-measuring device includes a position-measuring unit, a movement-measuring unit, an arithmetic logic unit and an interface unit. Position values of two objects in a measuring direction are measurable by the position-measuring unit. The movement-measuring unit is used to ascertain a movement value of the two objects. The position values and the movement value are supplied to the arithmetic logic unit which ascertains movement information in the form of a correction value that is suitable for calculating the movement value in sequential electronics from an instantaneous position value, at least one previous position value, a controller cycle time that indicates the time interval between the measurements of position values, and the correction value. The data-word length of the correction value is substantially less than the data-word length of the movement value.
US07925453B2
A method of assessing potential conditions affecting aircraft electrical wiring systems. Electrical wiring system components potentially affected by a potential failure condition of the aircraft are identified. Probabilistic and/or statistical methods are used to determine exposure of one or more wire segments of the identified component(s) to hazard and whether the exposure meets a predetermined safety threshold. Effects of potential failure modes of the identified segment(s) on a system safety assessment for the electrical wiring systems are evaluated. This method can be used to facilitate compliance with aircraft safety regulations.
US07925450B2
A process system adapted for processing of or with a material therein. The process system includes: a sampling region for the material; an infrared photometric monitor constructed and arranged to transmit infrared radiation through the sampling region and to responsively generate an output signal correlative of the material in the sampling region, based on its interaction with the infrared radiation; and process control means arranged to receive the output of the infrared photometric monitor and to responsively control one or more process conditions in and/or affecting the process system.
US07925449B2
Products and processes are provided herewith for analyzing octane content in a fuel sample that include the step or steps of receiving an octane measurement of a fuel sample from a octane analyzer, rounding the octane measurement to a nearest recognized octane rating, comparing the rounded octane measurement with a listed octane rating for the fuel sample, and communicating results of the comparison to a user of the octane analyzer. The octane analyzer may be incorporated into a fuel pump or a vehicle. The results of the comparison may also be used to adjust the vehicle operating parameters to account for the actual octane rating of the fuel dispensed into the vehicle.
US07925441B2
A vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus is comprised of a camera installed in the front or rear of a vehicle, for picking up images of side view of the vehicle; a feature point detecting section that detects feature points in the side images and calculates the motion vectors of the detected feature points; a moving object detecting section that detects a set of a plurality of feature points approaching the vehicle in the side images as an approaching object based on the calculated motion vectors of the feature points; a feature point tracking section that tracks the feature points of the detected approaching object; and a passage time calculating section that calculates the time at which the approaching object passes the front or rear of the vehicle from the feature points of the approaching object tracked by the feature point tracking section.
US07925439B2
A method and apparatus for use with a satellite positioning system wherein the receive elements satellite positioning system receive antennas are maintained in an orientation with respect to the positioning system satellites in a way such that the strongest signals can be received from the greatest number of satellites. According to one embodiment, a housing of a positioning antenna is mounted in a gimbaled fashion onto a vehicle, such as an excavator. Such a gimbaled antenna maintains a horizontal orientation relative to a predetermined axis and, as a result, remains in a position to receive signals from positioning system satellites even during instances of high angular deflection of the antenna support, such as may occur during earth-moving operations.
US07925435B2
A pedestrian route navigation system (“PRNS”) in a vehicle capable of determining a route from a final parking position of the vehicle to a predetermined destination, comprising a final parking position unit and a pedestrian route calculation unit. The PRNS may include a display unit capable of outputting data concerning the route to the predetermined destination, and a transmitting/receiving unit capable of transmitting the data to a mobile information unit of the user of the vehicle.
US07925429B2
A navigation device is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the navigation device includes a storage device to store map information; a processor to determine a route of travel based upon a current position of the navigation device and an input or selected destination position; and a display to display the current position on the map information corresponding to the determined route of travel, the display including relatively more detail of the map information being displayed upon the processor determining that a speed of a vehicle, in which the navigation device is located, is below a threshold speed.
US07925427B2
In embodiments herein, a desired destination is received from user input as an end location. The embodiments can determine the current position (the beginning location) based on automated positioning and/or user input. Thus, the embodiments can calculate potential routes from the beginning location to the end location and can select one of the potential routes (e.g., the best route). This selected route is output to the user. The potential routes that are selected from comprise mass transit rides.
US07925417B2
An engine ECU (280) and an HV_ECU (320) control a throttle motor (296) such that the throttle valve opening degree (TH) does not exceed a prescribed limit (THlim) and a rate of increase (Ta/t) in the throttle valve opening degree is equal to or lower than a predetermined opening degree increase rate (Tb/t) for a predetermined time period after start-up of the engine (120) is initiated. Thus, power output from the engine is controlled so as not to increase significantly for the predetermined time period. Accordingly, while the engine starts up, a shock that can be felt by a driver can be suppressed. In addition, variation in the amount of air taken into the engine when the engine is started is also reduced, which reduces variation in the amount of pollutants in the exhaust gas emitted while the engine starts up.
US07925416B2
The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.
US07925408B2
During the standstill state maintenance control executed by an electric parking brake system, the moving force-based target tension Frefb is determined based on the inclination angle of a vehicle and the shift position each time the predetermined program is executed, and the tentative target tension Fref(n) in the current routine is set to a smaller value from among the moving force-based target tension Frefb and the maximum value Fmax. The control target tension Fref(n)* is set to a larger value from among the control target tension (the final target tension) Fref(n−1)* in the immediately preceding routine and the tentative target value Fref(n). Even if the tentative target tension Fref(n) is smaller than the control target tension Fref(n−1)*, the control target value Fref(n)* is not set to a value smaller than the control target tension Fref(n−1)*.
US07925403B2
A method and apparatus for controlling an occupant restraint apparatus are provided which allow the force applied to a nearby occupant to be optimized in response to collision conditions. In one form, a method for controlling an occupant restraint apparatus includes detecting an obstacle in a travelling direction of a vehicle that may potentially collide with the vehicle; predicting a type of collision between the obstacle detected and the vehicle; setting conditions for expanding an airbag of the vehicle based on the collision type predicted; and controlling the expansion of the airbag and/or gas discharge from the airbag according to the conditions set at the setting step. Detecting the obstacle preferably includes detecting the position and relative speed of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle based on images of views in the travelling direction of the vehicle.
US07925402B2
A vehicle air bag control system includes an impact detector for detecting impact on a vehicle and for outputting an impact detection signal, an air bag deployment determination unit for outputting a deployment command when the impact detection signal is more than a predetermined value, a state estimation unit for estimating whether a vehicle engine is stopped during an idling stop, and a power control unit for driving the impact detector, the air bag deployment determination unit and the state estimation unit when the vehicle engine is stopped during an idling stop as indicated by the state estimation unit.
US07925399B2
In a method and apparatus for testing vehicle emissions and engine control components using a self-service on-board diagnostics (OBD) kiosk, a stand-alone kiosk includes a computing device capable of gathering VIN information and OBD information from a vehicle using a VIN reader and OBD reader. The kiosk generates a readable display or printed report for the kiosk operator indicating any detected diagnostic trouble codes found during the OBD test. By networking a plurality of kiosks together in a secure network and accessible to the Internet, an OBD kiosk network maintains a centrally located vehicle interface database for storing and retrieving pertinent vehicle-related information during OBD testing.
US07925396B2
The present invention reduces power consumption as much as possible when an engine is off state. A mobile object monitoring device 40, which is installed in a mobile object 10 with an engine 11 as a drive source, includes a monitoring control unit 41 that collects information about the mobile object 10, and a work control unit 42 that controls work of the monitoring control unit 41. The work control unit 42 activates the monitoring control unit 41 according to an intermittent work schedule S3 in which an operation rate is gradually decreases until a continuous working time of the engine 11 exceeds a predetermined threshold W0 after the engine 11 becomes off state.
US07925395B2
A rollover judging device adjusts the magnitude of an angular velocity component ω of a vehicle in a direction of a rollover, which is measured by an angular velocity sensor 1, by using an ω adjusting unit 3c on the basis of an acceleration component of the vehicle in its rightward or leftward direction or in its upward or downward direction, which is measured by an acceleration sensor 2, calculates an angle component θo by integrating with respect to time this adjusted angular velocity component ωo by using an integrator 3d, carries out predetermined multiplication and addition processes by using a judging means 4 on the basis of this angle component θo and the measured angular velocity component ω, and, when the result of this addition process exceeds a preset threshold Th, outputs a signal indicating judgment of occurrence of a rollover to an air bag control device 5.
US07925389B2
A system and method of detecting recirculation within a rack server system. A heat transfer model is constructed for a rack server system. A recirculation zone is specified, and hypothetical recirculation temperatures are input at the recirculation zone. The heat transfer model predicts temperatures elsewhere in the rack severe system, and a predicted temperature profile is computed. Actual temperatures in the rack server system are sensed, and an actual temperature profile is also generated. The actual temperature profile is compared with the predicted temperature profile to detect potential recirculation.
US07925388B2
A power management system and associated method includes provision of local wireless energy control units at remote sites for controlling power delivery to customer loads, and a central station with a wireless transmitter for broadcasting commands to the wireless energy control units. The wireless energy control units each comprise a bank of switches for controlling power delivery to electrical loads at each local site. The controllable switches preferably have a deformable bimetal member controlled by a heated coil for engaging and disengaging electrical contacts. Each wireless energy control unit is capable of being pre-configured so as to specify the order or priority in which electrical loads are disengaged, in response to commands to reduce power consumption received from the central station. The central station issues power reduction commands according to different priority levels or alert stages, causing the local wireless energy units to disengage local loads accordingly.
US07925385B2
The present invention provides an algorithm that utilizes flow reference data which can be mathematically determined as a function of various pump and motor parameters such as speed, torque or power or from calibrated flow curves stored in an evaluation device, or from an external flow reference such as a flowmeter. Once the PID control valve has reached its steady state condition a calculated flow value is captured and compared to the current flow value obtained after the variable frequency drive has decreased in frequency (speed). The valve position is optimized just prior to the speed threshold where the flow condition of the algorithm is no longer true.
US07925380B2
System and method for implementing integrated transportation control in a wafer fabrication facility are described. One embodiment is a factory automation system for a wafer fabrication facility (“fab”) comprising a plurality of bays, wherein each of the bays comprise a plurality of equipment interconnected by an intrabay overhead transport (“OHT”) system, and first and second interbay OHT systems each for interconnecting the intrabay OHT systems. The factory automation system comprises a manufacturing execution system (“MES”) for providing lot information regarding wafers being processed in the fab, a material control system (“MCS”) for providing traffic information regarding transportation of wafers in the fab, and an integrated transportation control (“ITC”) system for using the lot information from the MES and the traffic information from the MCS for selecting a destination and a route to the selected destination for a wafer carrier containing wafers in response to a transfer request.
US07925374B2
A system for production of a dental crown (23, 24) includes identification equipment (2), modeling equipment (9), ordering equipment (6), and an automated production arrangement (16). The latter, as a function of one or more first information items, is arranged to effect production, by means of pressing or pressure-casting, of an integrated dental crown which is made up of two layers. The first layer comprises or consists of porcelain material, and the second layer consists of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, etc. The second layer forms a cap, via which the dental crown can be applied to a tooth stump (28) of a patient (1). The invention also relates to a dental replacement component consisting of the dental crown. It relates also to an arrangement used for a preliminary stage in production of a dental crown, which arrangement is characterized by a cylinder-shaped unit (puck) which is made of porcelain material and can be pressed against the cap under vacuum and at high pressure in order to form the first layer. The invention permits accelerated and efficient production of individual dental crowns.
US07925373B2
An acceleration/deceleration control method of a CNC machine tool includes receiving an acceleration/deceleration timing signal and a velocity signal. The acceleration/deceleration timing signal is calculated to acquire a plurality of different first weight values and different second weight values by a first formula and a second formula. A velocity variation of the velocity signal is determined to be zero, positive or negative. The velocity signal is acquired, if the velocity variation is zero. A plurality of acceleration signals are acquired by the velocity signal multiplying each of the first weight values, if the velocity variable is positive. A plurality of deceleration signals are acquired by the velocity signal multiplying each of the second weight values, if the velocity variation is negative. The velocity signal, the acceleration signal and the deceleration signal are converted into a first driving signal, a second driving signal and a third driving signal.
US07925369B2
A method includes defining a reference model of a system having a plurality of terms for modeling data associated with the system. A reference fit error metric is generated for the reference model. A set of evaluation models each having one term different than the reference model is generated. An evaluation fit error metric for each of the evaluation models is generated. The reference model is replaced with a selected evaluation model responsive to the selected evaluation model having an evaluation fit error metric less than the reference fit error metric. The model evaluation is repeated until no evaluation model has an evaluation fit error metric less than the reference fit error metric. The reference model is trained using the data associated with the system, and the trained reference model is employed to determine at least one characteristic of the system.
US07925357B2
A holster that may be donned in a first configuration for charging a pectorally implanted medical device on the patient's right side, a second configuration for charging a pectorally implanted medical device on the patient's left side, or a third configuration for use as a waist belt for charging a pectorally implanted medical device on either side of the patient.
US07925355B2
Exemplary cochlear implant systems include an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to be implanted within a patient and generate a stimulation current having an adjustable current level, one or more electrodes communicatively coupled to the stimulator and configured to apply the stimulation current to one or more locations within an ear of the patient, and a sound processor configured to derive an acoustic reflectance of the patient's ear. The implantable cochlear stimulator is configured to adjust the current level of the stimulation current until the sound processor detects a change in the acoustic reflectance above a threshold.
US07925352B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for stimulating contents of the carotid sheath using an intravascular pulse generator and lead. The lead carries an energy delivery device such as an electrode, which is anchor within the portion of the internal jugular vein that is disposed within the carotid sheath. The energy delivery device is energized to transvenously direct energy to target contents of the carotid sheath external to the internal jugular vein. Such target contents may include nervous system elements associated with the carotid sinus baroreceptors, the carotid sinus nerve and associated nerve branches, and or the vagus nerve and associated nerve branches. The system may be used to control blood pressure and/or to lower heart rate and may be suitable for treatment of hypertension, heart failure, or other conditions.
US07925348B1
A medical device is provided that comprises a lead assembly configured to be at least partially located proximate to the heart. The lead assembly includes an extra-cardiac (EC) electrode to be positioned proximate to at least one of a superior vena cava (SVC) and a left ventricle (LV) of a heart. The lead assembly includes a subcutaneous remote-cardiac (RC) electrode configured to be located remote from the heart such that at least a portion of the greater vessels are interposed between the RC electrode and the EC electrode to establish an extra-cardiac impedance (ECI) vector. The processor module measures extra-cardiac impedance along the ECI vector to obtain ECI measurements. The processor module assesses a hemodynamic performance based on the ECI measurements.
US07925347B1
An implantable medical device calculates cardiac output on a repeated basis based on acquired cardiac information that relates to one or more parameters of the Fick equation, including venous oxygen saturation, arterial oxygen saturation, estimated oxygen consumption and hemoglobin information. In some aspects, the estimated oxygen consumption may be based on the activity of a patient. For example, respiratory-related information and/or temperature related information may be used to determine the activity level of the patient. In addition, trends relating to heart function may be identified based on cardiac output calculations that are generated over time.
US07925346B1
An exemplary device includes control logic to determine a paced atrial activation time using a predictive model and an intrinsic atrial activation time and to determine an atrioventricular delay based at least in part on the paced atrial activation time. Such a device may be an implantable device configured to deliver cardiac therapy that uses atrial pacing and ventricular pacing. Such a device may be a programmer configured to program an implantable device configured to deliver cardiac therapy that uses atrial pacing and ventricular pacing. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
US07925345B2
An ADI/R mode is implemented using an intelligent pacing system to continually monitor ventricular response. This ensures AV conduction whenever possible so as to gain all the benefits of cardiac contractile properties resulting from native R-waves. In the event where AV conduction is blocked, the pacing mode is switched to a DDD/R mode to ensure a paced R-wave. Thereafter, subsequent to a completed interval of a p-wave, ADI/R pacing resumes to monitor ventricular response.
US07925336B2
A method of discriminating between ischemic and cardiac memory effects in a heart, comprising receiving electrocardiographic (ECG) data, calculating, from the ECG data, a direction of a T-wave vector, diagnosing ischemia if the T-wave vector is between about 75 degrees and about 200 degrees, and diagnosing cardiac memory if the T-wave vector is between about zero degrees and minus 90 degrees. Also presented is a system for discriminating between ischemic and cardiac memory effects in a heart comprising means for performing an electrocardiogram, means for calculating a direction of a T-wave vector, means for diagnosing ischemia if the T-wave vector is between about 90 degrees and 180 degrees, and means for diagnosing cardiac memory if the T-wave vector is between about zero degrees and minus 90 degrees.
US07925334B2
In an implantable cardiac device data is processed and stored to conserve storage space and computational resources thereby saving energy expended on these operations. The data being processed may be associated with signals with known and/or predictable patterns. A set of key elements are identified for the signal that allow the signal to be reconstructed without saving a complete time series of data for the signal.
US07925326B2
A solid fiduciary marker for registering at least two images when imaging the same subject using distinct imaging devices is disclosed. The solid fiduciary marker is visible in at least two of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Planar gamma camera, X-ray CT, planar X-ray, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and optical imager. The marker includes at least two of various doping compounds to be detected by the various imaging systems. The doping compounds include a positron emitting nuclide, a gamma emitting nuclide, a doping compound, metal, and a silicone-based polymer is used in association with an MRI device.
US07925323B2
A sensor array apparatus for monitoring medical signals includes a first flexible substrate defining a central focal point and a second flexible substrate associated with the central focal point. A plurality of medical electrodes are disposed on the periphery of the first flexible substrate and a reference electrode is disposed on the second flexible substrate. A connector is in electrical communication with the medical electrodes and the reference electrode and adapted to connect to an electronic system. Bio-electric information is monitored between one of the medical electrodes and the reference electrode.
US07925322B2
Apparatus and method according to the disclosure relate to promoting flow of body fluids in and around and between a substantially planar cardiac-sensing electrode and a shroud member utilizing spacing therebetween and/or one or more apertures, notches, slots and the like. For example, a relatively recessed area or aperture formed in an exemplary resin-based shroud member includes apertures that cooperate to promote flow of body fluids therearound.
US07925319B2
An wireless communication device with an antenna (400) for sending and receiving signals in a plurality of frequency bands generates a plurality of resonances in the plurality of frequency bands and includes a first radiating element (402) that generates a first resonance in a first frequency band, a second radiating element (404), coupled to and extending at an angle from the first radiating element (402), that generates a second resonance in the first frequency band, and a third radiating element (406), coupled to and extended at an angle from the first radiating element (402). A capacitive coupling between the second radiating element (404) and the third radiating element (406) generates a loop with a third resonance in the first frequency band, and the third radiating element (406) generates a fourth resonance in a second frequency band independent of the loop at the second frequency band.
US07925318B2
A slide type portable terminal can include a main unit including separated first and second key sections and a first plate coupled to a surface of the main unit and a display unit with a display screen on a front surface and a second plate. The second plate can slide with respect to the first plate and preferably slides along the surface of the main unit to cause the first and second key sections of the main unit to be covered and exposed by the display unit. Further, first and second magnets can be provided on the first and second plates, respectively, so that the same poles of the magnets face each other to provide a repulsive force when they are positioned to face close to each other. According to embodiments of the present invention, there are various advantages in that the portable terminal can be utilized more conveniently and production costs and failure rates thereof can also be reduced.
US07925308B2
A system for powering a mobile device having an energy harvester which receives wireless energy and converts the energy into current includes a first portal in which wireless energy is transmitted for the energy harvester of the mobile device to receive and convert it into current when the device is in the first portal. The system comprises a second portal separate and apart from the first portal with a gap between the first portal and the second portal, the second portal in which wireless energy is transmitted for the energy harvester of the mobile device to receive and convert it into current after the device has passed through the first portal and the gap and is in the second portal. A method for powering a mobile device having an energy harvester which receives wireless energy and converts the energy into current is also disclosed.
US07925306B2
Embodiments of a system and method for providing a preview of the content of messages (e.g. electronic mail messages) to users of mobile devices. A portion of the message body of a message associated with a user-identified list entry of a message list is shown in an area of a display screen (e.g. in a window) that overlaps the area in which one or more list entries of the message list is displayed.
US07925302B2
Receiver diversity in a wireless device is controlled in response to operating conditions, transmission requirements, and control settings. The control of diversity reduces power consumption by enabling receive diversity on given conditions. Operating conditions, transmission requirements, and control settings are used separately or used in conjunction to determine whether benefits of multi-antenna receive diversity, such as higher link capacity, higher data throughput, lower transmit power, and lower error rate, warrant the higher power cost of the diversity.
US07925296B2
An integrated communication apparatus is linked to the PSTN or the Internet for making a PSTN call or a VoIP call. The integrated communication apparatus includes a Bluetooth earphone having a signal transmitting terminal, and a body having an earphone receiving slot and a control circuit board. The earphone receiving slot is used for receiving the earphone and the signal transmitting terminal of the Bluetooth earphone is electrically connected with the control circuit board. The control circuit board includes a control module. The control module is connected with a Bluetooth module, a wireless VoIP module, a PSTN module, a voice-signal encoding/decoding circuit, a judging and charging circuit, and a voice-signal switching module for operating and controlling the modules and the circuits. The voice-signal switching module is connected with a speaker and a microphone via an ECHO eliminating circuit.
US07925294B2
A mobile communication device is provided. The device includes a non-volatile display, a storage unit, a processing unit, and a plurality of keys. The storage unit includes a temporary storage section for storing a communication history list, which records previous communication records and frequencies of communication of each of the previous communication records. The processing unit is configured for displaying a subset the previous communication records of the communication history list obtained from the temporary storage section on the non-volatile display, before the mobile communication device enters a stand-by state from a normal state, wherein the displayed previous communication records are listed in order according to associated frequencies of communication of the previous communication records. Each of the keys corresponds to one of the displayed previous communication records, and when actuated, signals the mobile communication device to contact the one of the previous communication records correspondingly.
US07925293B2
A method (600) of communicating that can include, responsive to receiving an image (125), automatically processing the image to associate the image with a contact, and communicating the image to the contact. Receiving the image can include capturing the image with an image capture device (215). The method also can include associating a message with the image, and automatically communicating the message with the image. At least one image attribute can be associated with the contact. In such an arrangement, processing the image can include identifying at least one feature of the image that corresponds to the image attribute. Responsive to identifying that a feature of the image corresponds to the image attribute, the message can be automatically associated with the image.
US07925283B2
A message distribution center (MDC) and Intelligent Delivery Agent are implemented in a wireless Internet gateway interposed between content providers and a wireless carrier to subjectively examine and direct messages via SMTP based on desired rules (e.g., non-peak hours, paying subscribers only, etc.) using standard SMTP Gateway and other well-known protocols. The MDC includes an individual queue for each subscriber, and the provider is informed through conventional SMTP protocol messages that the short message has been accepted. If the carrier has specifically disallowed service for a particular MIN (e.g., in the case of churning), then the content provider is informed through an SMTP interchange that the recipient is invalid. An MDC provides a single mechanism for interacting with subscribers of multiple carriers, regardless of each carrier's underlying infrastructure. For the carrier, an MDC can protect their SS7 network by intelligently throttling messages and configuring message delivery parameters to be more network friendly. An MDC can receive outside a relevant wireless network recipient handset presence information. In the disclosed embodiment, a content provider communicates with the MDC using SMTP protocol messages, and the MDC communicates with wireless carriers preferably using RMI/SMPP techniques.
US07925276B2
A positioning method in a SUPL based position information (positioning) system, and particularly a positioning method capable of variously efficiently performing an area-based positioning (location tracking) performed by a location server or a mobile communications terminal when the location server and the mobile communications terminal respectively manage triggers generating the area-based positioning.
US07925275B2
A positioning method in a SUPL based position information (positioning) system, and particularly a positioning method capable of variously efficiently performing an area-based positioning (location tracking) performed by a location server or a mobile communications terminal when the location server and the mobile communications terminal respectively manage triggers generating the area-based positioning.
US07925271B2
To prevent oscillation in load levels on radio interfaces between one or more user equipment devices and neighboring base stations after the base stations have reduced the data rates of the one or more user equipment devices connected thereto over said radio interfaces, one or more radio network controllers select appropriate delay periods for each neighboring base station so that each base station waits for a different recovery period after a maximum or target load level has been exceeded before increasing loading.
US07925258B2
A method, system, and terminal for handling or processing roaming errors between networks that can support broadcast services. When a roaming service between networks is requested, if a user authentication request is unsuccessful due to non-matching identification information between the networks, a corresponding error message is delivered to the subscriber terminal and network information that has been recently updated using various methods is provided such that repetitive requests and responses for authentication can be avoided when the subscriber requests a roaming service, and thus a roaming service between networks can be quickly provided without delays.
US07925257B2
A method for operating a database containing personal information includes checking the content of a message sent via a telecommunication network for the presence of personal information. If personal information is found, then the personal information is extracted from the message, the extracted information is associated with at least one person, and the extracted information is stored in a database.
US07925238B2
A disclosed method tunes a signal from a channelized spectrum having a predetermined channel spacing. A signal of interest having a predetermined maximum bandwidth is mixed with a local oscillator signal, which has a frequency that is an integer multiple of the channel spacing or one-half of a channel spacing displaced from an integer multiple of the channel spacing. The local oscillator signal is selected to frequency translate the signal of interest to within a near-baseband passband whose lower edge is spaced from DC by at least about the maximum bandwidth of the signal of interest. Problems associated with 1/f noise, DC offsets, and self-mixing products are avoided or substantially diminished. Other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US07925230B2
A diversity receiver includes a plurality of antennas to receive radio frequency signals. A plurality of receiver circuits are each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas to process the received radio frequency signals, and a channel estimator is coupled to at least one of the receiver circuits to determine at least one of channel estimation values for the received radio frequency signals. A controller is coupled to the channel estimator and to at least one of the receiver circuits and selectively activates or deactivates the at least one receiver circuit based on the determined at least one channel estimation value.
US07925229B2
A self-testing transceiver having an on-chip power detection capability is provided. The self-testing transceiver can include a semiconductor substrate and a transmitter having a high-power amplifier disposed on the substrate. The self-testing transceiver also can include a receiver disposed on the substrate for selectively coupling to an antenna. The self-testing transceiver can further include at least one power detector disposed on the semiconductor substrate for determining a power such as an RMS and/or peak-power of a signal at an internal node of the self-testing transceiver. Additionally, the self-testing transceiver can include a loopback circuit disposed on the substrate.
US07925221B2
An RFIC includes a transmit acoustic transducer, a digital conversion module, a transmit baseband module, an analog conversion module, an up-conversion module, a power amplifier circuit, a low noise amplifier circuit, a down-conversion module, a receive baseband processing module, and a receive acoustic transducer circuit. The transmit acoustic transducer circuit converts transmit sound waves into transmit electrical signals. The digital conversion module converts the transmit electrical signals into digital transmit audio signals and converts down-converted signals into digital receive baseband or low IF signals. The transmit baseband processing module converts the digital transmit audio signals into digital transmit baseband or low IF signals. The analog conversion module converts the digital transmit baseband or low IF signals into analog transmit baseband or low IF signals and converts digital receive audio signals into receive electrical signals. The up-conversion module converts the analog transmit baseband or low IF signals into up-converted signals. The power amplifier circuit amplifies the up-converted signals. The low noise amplifier circuit amplifies receive RF signals. The down-conversion module converts the amplified receive RF signals into the down-converted signals. The receive baseband processing module converts the digital receive baseband or low IF signals into the digital receive audio signals. The receive acoustic transducer circuit converts the receive electrical signals into receive sound waves.
US07925217B2
Embodiments of methods receiving circuits and apparatuses compensate for an IQ mismatch using a test signal positioned in a guard band. One embodiment of a method can include converting a sum of a received signal and a test signal positioned in a guard band to a first signal and a second signal of an intermediate frequency or a base band using an IQ mixer, detecting the IQ mismatch using the test signal respectively included in subsequent signals corresponding to the first signal and the second signal and compensating for the detected IQ mismatch using the IQ mismatch.
US07925216B2
A communication system (10) includes a controller (10, 160) for communicating a selection list to a wireless device (28, 36). The wireless device includes a user interface (280) for selecting a selection from a selection list (452). The wireless device generates a selection signal in response to selecting and wirelessly transmits the selection signal to the controller (100, 160). The controller (100, 160) wirelessly transmits content corresponding to the selection signal to the wireless device. The controller (100, 160) may be a business service controller or a local communications controller.
US07925210B2
Synchronizing a Radio Network with End User Radio Terminals A Mobile Station that is able to receive GPS signals and compare the frequency of the GPS received time signal with a time signal from a network in order to determine the difference between the signals and communicate that difference back to the network.
US07925200B1
A communication system for communicating with students in an education environment includes a plurality of remote units, a base station that receives messages from the remote units, a processor, a memory, and a display simultaneously visible to all users of the remote units. The base station receives a response to a current question from a remote unit. The processor determines whether the current response is a valid response, and uses the display to visually indicate to a user of the remote unit whether the response is valid.
US07925192B2
A developing roller includes a developing sleeve and a magnet roller disposed within the developing sleeve to attract developer to an outer surface of the developing sleeve by magnetic force. The outer surface of the developing sleeve has a plurality of recesses of circular or elliptic shape in plan view regularly or irregularly arranged therein so as not to overlap.
US07925190B2
The invention provides a developer supply device, a developer container, a developer and an image forming apparatus such that the developer is discharged stably from the developer container with a stable toner concentration in the developer, without damaging the developer, and in a relatively simple and small-size device having a relatively high degree of freedom as regards layout. The developer supply device comprises a partially or wholly deformable developer container and a pump for suctioning the developer held in the developer container, together with a gas, and for discharging the developer towards a developing unit. The toner comprises an additive formed so as to have a volume average particle size of 50 to 500 nm. The carrier is formed so as to have a weight average particle size of 20 to 60 μm. The developer is formed so that the carrier concentration thereof is 1 to 30 wt %.
US07925187B2
A development device including a development roller to bear a development agent including toner, a development agent supplying roller which is provided adjacent to the development roller to supply the development agent to the development roller, a regulation applicator to regulate the layer thickness of the development agent on the development roller and a capture device to capture the development agent finely powdered by the regulation applicator.
US07925181B2
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main body; process cartridges, each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller; a body frame including a abutment portions and projecting portions; fixing members configured to rotate to a locked state where the fixing members bring the process cartridges into abutment with the abutment portions and to an unlocked state where the fixing members are spaced apart from the process cartridges; spacing members which move to a spacing position where the developing rollers are spaced apart from the photosensitive rollers and a permissive position where the developing rollers are in contact with the developing rollers; and a translation member reciprocating in a straight line for displacing the fixing members between the locked state and the unlocked state and moving the spacing members between the spacing position and the permissive position.
US07925174B2
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier, a developing unit to develop a latent image on the image carrier with developer including toner and carrier, a developer bearing member, a first detector to detect a toner adhesion amount per unit area of a toner image developed by the developing unit, a second detector to detect humidity, and a controller to calculate an index indicating toner chargeability of the carrier based on detection results of the toner adhesion amount obtained by the first detector and perform a given control process based on calculation results thereof and including a data storage unit to store an algorithm to correct the index to a specific value according to a specific humidity, based on detection results of the humidity obtained by the second detector. The controller corrects the index obtained based on the amount of toner adhesion based on the algorithm.
US07925171B2
An optical transmission apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of optical modulating sections serially connected to each other via optical fibers; driving sections corresponding to the optical modulating sections; delay amount varying sections that provide variable delay amounts for modulating signals to be input to the driving sections, to adjust timing between drive signals to be provided for the optical modulating sections; temperature monitoring sections that monitor the temperature of each of the optical fibers and the like; and a delay amount control section that controls the delay amount in each of the delay amount varying sections based on the monitored temperatures.
US07925167B1
A satellite or spacecraft in low Earth orbit, when in eclipse and not illuminated by sunlight, represents a low-bandwidth datastream through modulation of a source of uncollimated light, such as a set of light emitting diodes. Transmission modes include generating patterns in the color, intensity or polarization of a light source, or precise timing control of a strobe signal. A ground station tracks the satellite in a telescope, stewing the telescope to follow the satellite as it moves across the sky, recording light generated by the satellite with a light sensor such as a video camera. The datastream is regenerated through analysis of recorded video. Satellite downlink is initiated by detection of eclipse, by command via radio uplink, or in response to a periodic automatic timer. In an alternative embodiment, the satellite represents the datastream through modulation of its effective albedo or reflective flux during periods of solar illumination.
US07925163B2
A model is provided for optimizing an optical network wherein single links carry multiple signals by using multiple color channels. The routes in the optimized network minimize mid-route color changeovers, reducing the number of nodes requiring optical-electric-optical signal conversion. In the model, the minimized objective function includes terms representing total color miles, terms penalizing changeovers, and terms representing total nodes passed by routes.
US07925160B2
A method and a device are provided for swapping optical labels in an optical communication network. Optical information, including payload data and label data digitally encoded into the optical information, is received. At least one group of bits within the optical information is selectively inverted to rewrite the label data with new label data without changing the payload data. Each of the at least one group of inverted bits includes at least two bits and all bits of each of the at least one group of inverted bits are contiguous bits.
US07925159B2
A missile or other weapons countermeasure system includes a non-directional, modulated laser energy signal designed to protect an object (such as an aircraft, land vehicle, building, or vessel). Once a potential threat has been detected, a laser energy source generates a laser energy signal of sufficient power to provide the necessary coverage. The laser energy is modulated using an oscillator to create the appropriate countermeasure signal. Next, fiber optics or other coupling device distribute the modulated laser energy signal to one or more apertures, preferably wide angle lenses or the like, disposed about the outer surface of the object to be protected. The number and location of the apertures will depend upon the circumstances of the installation as well as the desired coverage.
US07925158B2
A time division multiplexed measurement technique is used for spectral measurements in active wavelength division multiplexed loaded optical links, and offers instantaneous real-time correlation of performance and spectral parameters of the link, which is important for dynamic characterization of link performance during transient effects or polarization mode dispersion fluctuations.
US07925149B2
A photographing apparatus includes a drive portion driving a focus lens included in a photographing optical system in a focus adjustment direction when a shutter button is pressed, a photographing portion continuously and sequentially outputting images of an object formed on an image forming surface through the photographing optical system as the shutter button is pressed once, as image data corresponding to the number of all pixels, an in-focus position detection portion detecting an in-focus position of the focus lens based on the image data sequentially output from the photographing portion, an in-focus control portion maintaining the focus lens at the in-focus position by controlling the drive portion based on a result of the detection by the in-focus position detecting portion, and a recording portion sequentially recording the image data output from the photographing portion during which the focus lens is maintained at the in-focus position after the shutter button is pressed.
US07925145B2
An image vibration reduction apparatus comprises a correction lens, a first moving member having a lens frame that holds the correction lens, a second moving member having an aperture portion in which the lens frame is slidably fitted, a first actuator that drives the first moving member, a second actuator that drives the second moving member, and a holding member that supports the first moving member and the second moving member. Driving direction of the first actuator and the second actuator is oriented in a first direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the correction lens, and a second direction in which the second actuator displaces the lens frame via the second moving member is perpendicular to the first direction.
US07925144B2
An image stabilizing apparatus is disclosed which is capable of sufficiently correcting shift shakes even with a small and lightweight accelerometer. The apparatus includes an angular velocity detector which detects angular velocity generated by a shake, an angular velocity computing unit which processes an angular velocity signal, the unit processing the angular velocity signal with a first frequency characteristic, an acceleration detector which detects acceleration generated by the shake, an acceleration computing unit which processes an acceleration signal, the unit processing the acceleration signal with a second frequency characteristic having a signal processing band narrower than the first frequency characteristic, an adder which adds an output signal from the angular velocity computing unit to an output signal from the acceleration computing unit, and an image stabilizing mechanism which performs an image stabilizing operation based on an output signal from the adder.
US07925143B1
An apparatus to heat potable water aboard a recreational marine watercraft includes a metal enclosure that sits atop one burner of a conventional galley stove powered separately from the engine and the source of AC power. Potable water is circulated through a tubing unit mounted within the enclosure by a pump operated by a low DC voltage. The heated potable water is then transferred back to the potable water holding tank through a check valve which prevents reversed flow of the heated water. This provides a boater with the ability to maintain a source of hot water while away from shore power or while the engine is turned off. The top of the enclosure is partially open to allow use of the burner for cooking, or boiling water as needed with the cooking vessel being placed atop of the enclosure.
US07925140B2
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.
US07925138B2
An information storage medium of this invention comprises a first representation object, and a first time map wherein playback management information which controls simultaneous reproduction of the first representation object and a second representation object in at least a specific period includes first reference information to refer to the first time map, the first time map includes second reference information to refer to second management information including first management information about the first representation object, the first management information includes third reference information to refer to the first representation object, the playback management information includes fourth reference information to refer to a second time map, and the second time map has a data structure including fifth reference information to refer to the second representation object.
US07925136B2
A technique for recording information in a battery operated device is provided such that quality level of the recorded information may be changed “on the fly.” In one embodiment, while persistently recording information at a first quality level, the battery operated device may, in response to an input a desire or need to change recording quality level, thereafter persistently record the information at a second quality level different from the first quality level, without interrupting the continuity of the recording session. In a presently preferred embodiment, the information being recorded may comprise video information or audio information. Subsequent inputs indicating the need to change recording quality level yet again may also be received thereby causing the battery operated device to persistently record the information at yet another quality level, which quality level may be the same as the first quality level.
US07925134B2
This disclosure presents a version of a coherent laser radar system that is immune to environmental effects on Mach-Zehnder-configured interferometers and reference length standards comprising such systems. The present disclosure also describes methods and materials which alleviate interferometer drift due to vapor absorption using a polyimide coated polarization maintaining fiber to reduce the change in the length of a reference arm.
US07925133B2
A method and apparatus for imaging using a double-clad fiber is described.
US07925131B2
An optical logic gate (10) comprises: first and second optical inputs (11, 12) for receiving respective optical signals (A, B) and an optical output (15) for outputting an optical signal (Pout) which represents the result of applying a required logic function. The logic gate is characterized by optical combining means (13) for combining the optical signals to produce a corresponding combination signal whose power (Pi) is the combination of the powers (PA, PB) of the optical signals and non-linear optical means (14) for receiving the combination signal (Pi) and emitting the optical output signal (Pout) the logic function depending on the characteristic of the non-linear optical means wherein the characteristic is selected such that the power of the output signal is correlated to the power of the combination signal by the selected logic function.
US07925123B2
A light control element is provided with a thin board having electro-optical effects; an optical waveguide formed on the thin board; and a control electrode for controlling light that passes through the optical waveguide. The light control element performs speed matching between a microwave signal applied to the control electrode and the light, impedance matching of the microwaves, reduction of a driving voltage and high speed operation. In the control electrode of the light control element, a signal electrode and a grounding electrode are arranged on an upper side of the thin board, and on a lower side of the thin board, a second electrode including the grounding electrode is arranged, through a low refractive index layer entirely formed in the length direction of the signal electrode, with a width wider than that of the signal electrode.
US07925122B2
A slot waveguide utilized as a color-selecting element. The slot waveguide includes a first layer of plasmon supporting material, the first layer being optically opaque and having an input slit extending through the first layer; a second layer of plasmon supporting material facing the first layer and separated from the first layer by a first distance in a first direction, the second layer being optically opaque and having an output slit extending through the second layer and separated from the input slit by a second distance extending along a second direction differing from first direction; a dielectric layer interposed between the first layer and the second layer, the dielectric layer having a real or complex refractive index; and a power source electrically coupled to the first layer and the second layer to apply an electrical signal for modulation of the real or complex refractive index of the dielectric layer.
US07925120B2
A method of performing image processing includes storing a reference picture into a frame buffer starting at a first starting address; overwriting at least a subset of the reference picture by storing at least a portion of a current picture into the frame buffer starting at a second starting address; protecting a plurality of blocks of the reference picture from being lost while storing each block of the current picture in the frame buffer; and performing a motion compensation procedure for a particular block of the current picture in the plurality of blocks of the reference picture that are being protected.
US07925095B2
A pattern matching method which is capable of selecting a suitable measurement object pattern, even on a sample containing a periodic structure, and a computer program for making a computer execute the pattern matching. In a pattern matching method which executes matching between the design data-based first image of an object sample, and a second image, whether or not a periodic structure is included in a region to execute the matching is determined, so as to select a pattern, based on distance between an original point which is set in said image, and the pattern configuring said periodic structure, in the case where the periodic structure is included in said region, and to select a pattern based on coincidence of the pattern in said image, in the case where the periodic structure is not included in said region, and a computer program product.
US07925093B2
An image recognition apparatus includes an objective image data acquisition unit to acquire objective image data containing a face image portion, a feature area detection unit to detect an eye area corresponding to left and right eyes contained in the objective image data, an inclination estimation unit to estimate inclination of the face image portion in a depth direction thereof based on the relative position of the detected eye area, an area-to-be-extracted determination unit to determine a shape of an area to be extracted in response to the inclination estimated by the inclination estimation unit, and an area-to-be-extracted extraction unit to extract the area to be extracted of the shape determined from the objective image data. Preferably, the area to be extracted is subjected to predetermined processing.
US07925088B2
A technique that provides for real-time segmentation of hand written traces during data entry into a computer. In one example embodiment, this is achieved by computing a current trace bounding contour as a function of a drawn current trace. A current selection bounding contour is then computed as a function of the drawn current trace and the current trace bounding contour. The current selection bounding contour includes one or more previously drawn traces. The computed current trace bounding contour is then compared with the computed current selection bounding contour. The hand written traces including the current trace and the one or more previously drawn traces are then dynamically segmented as a function of the comparison.
US07925085B2
An image data processing device for converting original data containing gradation-value data, into processed data containing multilevel-value data. The processing device includes: (a) a processed-image gradation-value data generator for generating, based on the original data, gradation-value data relating to each pixel of the processed image, by causing a plurality of pixel lines constituting the processed image to be sequentially subjected to a line processing; (b) a processed-image multilevel-value data generator for generating, based on the generated gradation-value data and according to an error diffusion technique, the multilevel value data relating to each pixel of the processed image, by causing the plurality of pixel lines to be sequentially subjected to a line processing; and (c) a line-processing direction controller for causing the line processings to be executed on each pixel line in the same direction, and to invert each of processing directions of the respective line processings each time when the subjected pixel line is shifted from one to another. Also disclosed is an image data processing method.
US07925081B2
Systems and computer-implemented methods for use in body pose estimation are provided. Training data is obtained, where the training data includes observation vector data and corresponding pose vector data for a plurality of images. The observation vector data is representative of the images in observation space. The pose vector data is representative of the same images in pose space. Based on the training data, a model is computed that includes parameters of mapping from the observation space to latent space, parameters of mapping from the latent space to the pose space, and parameters of the latent space. The latent space has a lower dimensionality than the observation space and the pose space.
US07925069B2
Multimodal/multispectral images of a population of cells are simultaneously collected. Photometric and/or morphometric features identifiable in the images are used to separate the population of cells into a plurality of subpopulations. Where the population of cells includes diseased cells and healthy cells, the images can be separated into a healthy subpopulation, and a diseased subpopulation. Where the population of cells does not include diseased cells, one or more ratios of different cell types in patients not having a disease condition can be compared to the corresponding ratios in patients having the disease condition, enabling the disease condition to be detected. For example, blood cells can be separated into different types based on their images, and an increase in the number of lymphocytes, a phenomenon associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, can readily be detected.
US07925050B2
A vehicle environment monitoring apparatus capable of extracting an image of a monitored object in an environment around a vehicle by separating the same from the background image with a simple configuration having a single camera mounted on the vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a first image portion extracting processing unit to extract first image portions (A1, A2) considered to be the head of a pedestrian from a currently picked up image and a previously picked up image by an infrared camera, a mask area setting processing unit to set mask areas (M1(0,0), M1(1,0), . . . , M1(5,8)) around the first image portion (A1) in the currently picked up image, and an object extracting processing unit to carry out pattern matching for the previously picked up image by a comparison pattern obtained through affine transformation of each mask area at a change rate (Rate) between the first image portions (A1, A2), and to set an area (Ar1) including the first image portion (A2) and a second image portion (M2(1,3), M2(2,3), . . . , M2(3,6)) where a displacement amount between the position (black point) corresponding to the centroid of the mask area and the matching position is smaller than a predetermined threshold value to be an image area of the monitored object.
US07925046B2
A method for sorting mail that may include performing an automatic address recognition process on a digitized image of a mail piece and generating a plurality of conditional address recognition results and a plurality of confirmation values each associated with one of the plurality of conditional address recognition results. The method can include sending the digitized image, the plurality of conditional address recognition results and the plurality of confirmation values to a video coding system, and selecting a video coding task corresponding to one or more of the plurality of confirmation values. The method can include comparing a video coding result with each of the plurality of confirmation values and, if one of the plurality of confirmation values matches the video coding result, then selecting a confirmed address recognition result from the plurality of conditional address recognition results, the confirmed address recognition result being associated with the confirmation value matching the video coding result.
US07925042B2
An information processing apparatus includes an additional information conversion means for converting a text of related information into additional information and outputting this additional information, and for outputting an amount of additional information for each point of interest, an embedding region allocating means for outputting region management information including the amount of additional information, for allocating an embedding region for the additional information in an original digital input image on the basis of image size information and the amount of additional information, and for outputting information on the embedding region as region information, and an information embedding means for embedding the region management information in a predetermined region in the original digital input image, and also embedding the additional information in the original digital input image on the basis of the region information to generate and output a watermarked image.
US07925028B2
An electronic device having a first motor which rotates a rotating body (for example, blades) about a rotation axis and a second motor which vibrates a vibrator including the rotating body in the axial direction is provided. A control IC unit has a first circuit which subjects the rotation to control drive by a first waveform, and a second circuit which subjects the vibration to control drive by a second waveform. Rotation and vibration of a rotating and vibrating unit driven by the first and second motors generates an airflow and output sound by a synthesized output of a first output corresponding to the rotation and a second output corresponding to the vibration. The control IC unit generates a second waveform by using a reversed-phase waveform with respect to the first waveform or the like and suppresses the output sound by control of the first and second waveforms.
US07925025B2
A tree is used to partition stateless receivers in a broadcast content encryption system into subsets. Two different methods of partitioning are disclosed. When a set of revoked receivers is identified, the revoked receivers define a relatively small cover of the non-revoked receivers by disjoint subsets. Subset keys associated with the subsets are then used to encrypt a session key that in turn is used to encrypt the broadcast content. Only non-revoked receivers can decrypt the session key and, hence, the content.
US07925019B2
A data converting apparatus includes a segmenting unit for setting a predetermined access unit, as an access unit to be processed, out of input data containing at least one access unit containing a plurality of data components per pixel, and for segmenting the access unit to be processed into at least one block; an analyzing unit for generating a basis for converting an expression format of each of the plurality of data components by respectively setting, as at least one analysis block, at least one segmented block and for performing a main component analysis on the plurality of data components; and a converting unit for converting the expression format of each of the plurality of data components per pixel forming the block to be processed.
US07925016B2
In accordance with one embodiment, a method for securing control words is provided. The method includes receiving scrambled digital content in a descrambler integrated circuit. The method further includes receiving an encrypted control word in the descrambler integrated circuit, decrypting the encrypted control word using a key stored in a register circuit of the descrambler integrated circuit, and descrambling the scrambled digital content in the descrambler integrated circuit using the decrypted control word.
US07924999B1
A communication system is described that comprises a switching system, an SCP, and a customer premises. The customer premises includes a remote processor and a plurality of terminating devices. When in operation, the switching system receives a call. Because of the type of call, the switching system queries the SCP for routing information on where to route the call, and the SCP queries the remote processor in the customer premises. The remote processor processes the query to determine routing information to route the call to a terminating device in the customer premises. The remote processor generates a code that includes the routing information and transmits the code to the SCP. The SCP processes the code to identify the routing information determined by the remote processor. The SCP then transmits the routing information to the switching system to cause the switching system to route the call to the terminating device.
US07924998B2
An apparatus for intelligently responding when a user refuses an incoming message at a telecommunications terminal is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiments, the apparatus comprises a processor that prompts the user to optionally specify (i) one or more acceptable alternative message delivery mechanisms (e.g., email, text chat, etc.), and/or (ii) one or more alternative devices (e.g., pager, PDA, etc.) when a user refuses an incoming message. For example, a user in a noisy environment who refuses a voice telephone call might specify the following as alternative delivery mechanisms and devices: short message service (SMS) on the user's pager, text chat on the same device as the first message, and email on the user's personal digital assistant (PDA).
US07924982B2
A radiographic imaging apparatus includes a radiation generator which irradiates an object with radiation, a detection unit which detects the radiation generated by the radiation generator and transmitted through the object, thereby shooting a radiographic image, and a control unit which controls radiographic imaging by the radiation generator and the detection unit. The detection unit includes a first connection unit to be used to connect the control unit when used portably, and a second connection unit to be used to connect the control unit when stationarily used on a support portion. The detection unit detects which one of the first connection unit and the second connection unit is used to connect the control unit, and determines a shooting operation based on the detection result.
US07924979B2
A system and methods for characterizing an inspected object on the basis of attenuation determined from pair-wise illuminated voxels. A beam of penetrating radiation characterized by a propagation direction and an energy distribution is scanned relative to an object, while scatter detectors with collimated fields-of-view detect radiation scattered by each voxel of the inspected object that is intercepted by the incident beam of penetrating radiation. By calculating the attenuation of penetrating radiation between pairs of voxels illuminated sequentially by the incident beam, a tomographic image is obtained characterizing the three-dimensional distribution of attenuation in the object of one or more energies of penetrating radiation, and thus of various material characteristics.
US07924978B2
System and method for XRD-based threat detection. An object is scanned with a first threat detection system. One or more alarm objects are identified. Data about the one or more alarm objects is passed from the first threat detection system to a second threat detection system and is used to move and/or to rotate the object in a predetermined ray path that decreases attenuation of scattered x-ray radiation. Also disclosed is a secondary collimator for XRD-based false alarm resolution in computed tomography {“CT”) threat detection systems. The secondary collimator comprises one or more slit apertures configured to provide a multi-angle capability that extends a range of momenta for which XRD intensities are measured for a predetermined range of photon intensities.
US07924975B2
In a linear track scanning imaging system and method, the imaging system may include: a ray generating unit having a plurality of ray sources that emit beams alternately, only one ray source at a time; an actuating arrangement causing an object under examination to move with respect to the linear track scanning imaging system along a linear track, leading the object to pass through a scanning area of the linear track scanning imaging system; a data collecting unit that collects projection data of the object for each ray source; an imaging unit that reconstructs an image of the object under examination based on the projection data collected for each ray source; and a display unit for displaying the reconstructed image.
US07924968B2
The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest from energy-dependent projection data, wherein the imaging system comprises a projection data providing unit (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8) for providing energy-dependent first projection data of the region of interest. The imaging system comprises further an attenuation component image generation unit (12) for generating attenuation component images of the region of interest by generating energy-dependent second projection data using a model in which the projection data depend on attenuation component images. The component image generation unit (12) is adapted for generating the attenuation component images such that deviations of the second projection data from the first projection data are reduced.
US07924966B2
A clock frequency divider for odd numbered divide ratios. The divider clocks two counters in parallel from a reference clock to be divided. One counter is loaded with the divide ratio and the other counter is loaded with the divide ratio except for the least significant bit. The second counter will set a latch when its count has elapsed. The first counter will reset the latch when its count has elapsed and will reload the counters. The latch is used for the divided output, but passes through a retiming circuit. The retiming circuit delays the output edge by one reference clock edge when the least significant bit indicates an odd numbered divide ratio.
US07924965B2
A clock generator is illustrated. The clock generator mentioned above includes a multimodulus frequency divider and a delta-sigma modulator. The multimodulus frequency divider is archived by switching the phase thereof. The multimodulus frequency divider increases the operating frequency of the clock generator effectively, and has a characteristic with half period resolution for reducing the jitter of an output clock signal when its spectrum is spread. Besides, the delta-sigma modulator increases the accuracy of the triangle modulation and reduces error of quantization by adding a few components therein. Thus, the clock generator could be expanded to a programmable clock generator.
US07924961B2
A method, implemented in a user equipment (UE), of maintaining base station synchronization, comprises receiving a measurement message from a radio network controller (RNC) directing the UE to measure a time difference of arrival (TDOA) between signals transmitted from a first and second base station. The UE receives a transmission from the first and second base stations and measures the TDOA of the transmission from the first and second base station. The UE transmits the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the first base station to the first base station, and the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the second base station to the second base station.
US07924960B1
A system includes a first buffer configured to receive data at a first rate, and output the data at a second rate. A processing module configured to receive the data from the first buffer at the second rate, convert the data into processed data, and output the processed data at a third rate. A second buffer is configured to receive the processed data from the processing module at the third rate, and output the processed data at a fourth rate. The third rate is faster than the fourth rate to avoid a buffer underflow condition in the second buffer. In response to the second buffer reaching a predetermined capacity, the processing module is further configured to enter into a break state in which the processing module temporarily stops both receiving data from the first buffer and outputting the processed data and adjusts the second rate to avoid a buffer overrun condition in the first buffer.
US07924956B2
A system, apparatus, method and article to provide compensation of non-linear transmitter distortion are described. The apparatus may include a receiver node (130) to receive information from a transmitter node (120). The receiver node (130) may include a clipping ratio estimation module (142) to determine parameters of non-linearity of a transmitter at the receiver node (130), a training signal predistortion block (150) to generate predistorted training symbols at the receiver node (130) using the parameters of non-linearity, and a channel equalization block (146) to performing linear equalization at the receiver node (130) using the predistorted training symbols. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07924944B2
Aspects of a method and system for a multi-band direct conversion complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) mobile television tuner are provided. A single-chip multi-band radio frequency (RF) receiver in a mobile terminal comprising UHF and L-band front-ends receives and amplifies an RF signal utilizing a low noise amplifier (LNA) an LNA integrated into the front-end that corresponds to the type of signal received. A received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value may be determined for the amplified signal within the receiver and may be utilized to adjust a gain of the LNA. The adjustment may be made via on-chip or off-chip processing of the RSSI value. The receiver may directly convert the amplified signal to a baseband frequency signal and generate in-phase and quadrature components. The components of the baseband frequency signal may be filtered and/or amplified via programmable devices within the receiver. Circuitry within the receiver may be controller via an on-chip digital interface.
US07924937B2
A resonant power converter for ultra-efficient radio frequency transmission and associated methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention is digitally actuated and uses a combination of a noise-shaped encoder, a charging switch, and a high-Q resonator coupled to an output load, typically an antenna or transmission line. Energy is built up in the electric and magnetic fields of the resonator, which, in turn, delivers power to the load with very little wasted energy in the process. No active power amplifier is required. The apparatus can be used in literally any RF signal application (wireless or otherwise), including for example cellular handsets, local- or wide-area network transmitters, or even radio base-stations.
US07924931B2
A method for receiving signals in a multi-carrier multiple access system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving signals from at least one base station wherein each signal has a base station identifier, processing the signals to identify each base station by using the base station identifier, performing a channel estimation using the processed signals, combining the processed signals using an information obtained from the channel estimation and decoding the combined signals. Also, an apparatus for receiving signals in a multi-carrier multiple access system comprises a serial-to-parallel converter for converting a serial signal including a base station identifier from at least one base station to parallel signals, a Fast Fourier transformer for transforming the parallel signals, a parallel-to-serial converter for converting the parallel signals to a serial signal, a despreading processor for despreading frequency domain signals using the base station identifier from at least one base station, a channel estimator for compensating a channel variation between the at least one base station and a mobile station, a signal combiner for combining signals from base stations and a decoder for decoding the combined signal.
US07924920B2
In one aspect, an encoder/decoder receives information for four field motion vectors for a macroblock in an interlaced frame-coded, forward-predicted picture and processes the macroblock using the four field motion vectors. In another aspect, an encoder/decoder determines a number of valid candidate motion vectors and calculates a field motion vector predictor. The encoder/decoder does not perform a median operation on the valid candidates if there are less than three of them. In another aspect, an encoder/decoder determines valid candidates, determines field polarities for the valid candidates, and calculates a motion vector predictor based on the field polarities. In another aspect, an encoder/decoder determines one or more valid candidates, determines a field polarity for each individual valid candidate, allocates each individual valid candidate to one of two sets (e.g., opposite polarity and same polarity sets) depending on its field polarity, and calculates a motion vector predictor based on the two sets.
US07924915B2
Described herein is a rate controller in a video system. The rate controller is comprised of a complexity estimator, a quantization level selector, a complexity generator, and a complexity estimate updater. The complexity estimator generates a complexity metric estimate. The quantization level selector sets a quantization level based on the complexity metric estimate. The complexity generator generates an actual complexity metric. The complexity estimate updater generates an updated complexity metric estimate based on a difference between the complexity metric estimate and the actual complexity metric.
US07924914B2
A video decoder cache used for motion compensation data may be dynamically reconfigured. In some embodiments, it may be reconfigured on picture or frame boundaries and in other embodiments it can be reconfigured on sequence boundaries. The cache may be flushed on each boundary to enable such reconfiguration.
US07924908B2
In some embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus to generate interrupts in a transfer of information between a rake receiver and a processor, said interrupts having a rate of generation per unit time independent of a rate of the transfer of information per unit time.
US07924901B2
A surface emitting laser comprises an underlayer, an active layer formed on the underlayer, a slab layer formed on the active layer and having a photonic crystal structure optically combined with the active layer, and a metal thin film formed on the slab layer and having a periodic fine structure; and enabling taking-out of the light beam propagating in a layer-plane direction in the slab layer through the metal thin film.
US07924889B2
Methods for transmitting first packets encapsulated in second packets in a transmission system in which part of the first packets contain a first timing reference for synchronization of a receiver clock and at least part of said second packets contain a second timing reference for reducing transmission jitter of the second packets at the receiver is described. This method provides, at the transmitter, collecting first packets, determining whether a collected first packet contains a first timing reference and triggering transmission of a second packet encapsulating collected first packets including the first packet containing the first timing reference in response to a positive determination.
US07924888B2
The invention relates to a method for exchanging data between stations or nodes (111, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133, 141, 142, 143) from different realtime capable networks (120, 130, 140) and from non-realtime capable networks (110). To this end, data is generated in a realtime capable network (120, 130, 140), a time stamp is added, and at least two of the realtime capable networks (120, 130, 140) are synchronized with one another. The invention also relates to a method for exchanging data between stations or nodes (111, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133, 141, 142, 143) from realtime capable networks (120, 130, 140) and from non-realtime capable networks (110), during which trigger signals of different stations (111, 121, 122, 123, 131, 132, 133, 141, 142, 143), particularly from different networks (110, 120, 130, 140) are combined or linked.
US07924865B2
The present invention relates to communicating program rejection information in a broadcast-multicast mobile communication system. Preferably, present invention comprises receiving information related to at least one broadcast-multicast service from a base station, determining to receive one or more specific broadcast-multicast services based on the received information, requesting the one or more specific broadcast-multicast services determined to be received from the base station, and receiving a broadcast reject message for indicating rejection of at least one of the one or more specific broadcast-multicast services requested, wherein the broadcast reject message comprises a same reject reason indicator field for indicating whether a reason for rejecting the at least one of the one or more specific broadcast-multicast services requested is identical to a reason for rejecting a previous broadcast-multicast service in the broadcast reject message.
US07924854B2
A method for billing end users in a peer-to-peer transaction in a network environment is provided that includes a client services packet gateway operable to communicate with a first end user and a second end user in order to facilitate the peer-to-peer transaction and a flow manager element operable to receive one or more packets of the peer-to-peer transaction from one or more interfaces, such that the interface is a subscriber interface or a network interface. The flow manager is further operable to associate a first session object with the first user and associate a second session object with the second user.
US07924847B1
A system and method for providing identifying numbers for virtual circuits and virtual paths in a network is described. The system and method make use of a predetermined group of identifying numbers such that each number corresponds to a particular communication type and port.
US07924842B2
There is disclosed a technology in which a packet to be sent to a mobile terminal (an MN), distributed from a correspondent node (a CN), can surely reach the MN even in a situation in which the MN is moving. According to the technology, identification information of a plurality of access routers (ARs) 300 potentially currently connected to the MN is added to an IP packet to be transmitted from a CN 500 to an MN 200. When the AR receives this IP packet, the AR judges whether or not the MN is connected thereunder. If the MN exists under the AR, the IP packet is transmitted to the MN. On the other hand, if any MN does not exist under the AR, the IP packet is transferred to another AR based on the identification information added to the IP packet. As a result, the IP packet is successively transferred between the plurality of ARs so that the IP packet can be passed to the MN under the AR currently connected to the MN.
US07924838B1
According to the present invention, a plurality of data packets are received and routed by a router (1) in a data network. The router (1) comprises storing means (11) for storing a pre-defined list of rules for detecting special data packets, detecting means (12) for detecting special data packets in the received plurality of data packets on the basis of the pre-defined list of rules stored in said storing means (11), and routing means (13) for requesting instructions for the special data packets detected by said detecting means (12) and for routing the special data packets in accordance with instructions received on request. According to the present invention, an advanced service architecture for next generation network services is provided. In this service architecture, the functions of the detecting means (12) and the routing means (13) can be achieved by a service trigger and a service logic, respectively.
US07924834B2
A multiplexing apparatus for multiplexing audio data into transport stream (TS) packets includes a first encoding section encoding the audio data by a first encoding method; a second encoding section encoding the audio data by a second encoding method, which is a variable-length encoding method and which differs from the first encoding method, for attaching a timing value indicating a timing used when audio data is decoded in units of predetermined audio data; a packetization section packetizing the audio data encoded by the first encoding section and the audio data encoded by the second encoding section into TS packets and for attaching the same ID to a plurality of packetized TS packets; a determination section determining a TS packet to be multiplexed from among the plurality of TS packets packetized by the packetization section; and a multiplexing section multiplexing the TS packet determined by the determination section.
US07924831B2
Provided are a procedure of setting up a peer link in wireless mesh networks and a wireless station supporting the procedure. In the procedure, a mesh point (MP) transmits first peer link open frame regarding the peer link to a candidate peer MP. The first peer link open frame includes high throughput capabilities information element and high throughput operation information element. And, the mesh point receives first peer link confirmation frame regarding the peer link from the candidate peer MP in response to the first peer link open frame. And, the mesh point transmits second peer link confirmation frame regarding the peer link to the candidate peer MP after receiving second peer link open frame received from the candidate peer MP. In this case, the peer link confirmation frame may also include high throughput capabilities information element and high throughput operation element.
US07924829B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for enabling network statistics to be collected per software partition. When an incoming data packet is received at the Internet Protocol (IP) layer of an operating system, the IP address in the incoming data packet is identified. The IP address in the incoming data packet is then compared against IP addresses stored in a hash table, wherein the hash table maps each IP address in the hash table to a software partition of the operating system. If an IP address in the hash table matches the IP address in the data packet, the software partition mapped to the located IP address in the hash table is identified. Network statistics collected for the incoming data packet are then associated with the software partition.
US07924824B2
A voice packet communications system which objectively evaluates the voice quality in real time. Voice packets received from a network are input into an adjustment circuit. The adjustment circuit evens out the periods of the voice packets, detects the drop-out of voice packets, and inserts substitute packets in the voice packet sequence. Furthermore, the adjustment circuit outputs the number of voice packets that have dropped out, the number of substitute packets that have been inserted, and the number of voice packets that have accumulated inside the circuit, as quality information in each monitoring period. A decoding circuit converts the voice packets adjusted by the adjustment circuit into voice information. A judgement circuit calculates an index that indicates the communications quality of the voice packets from the quality information using a specified calculation formula.
US07924821B2
The invention discloses a method for implementing Calling Tapping at Flash, which includes the steps of: when there is a new voice message for a user, actively initiating an SIP message carrying the description information of the voice message by a Voice Mail Application Server; sending the SIP message to the user terminal or the home network device of the user by the Voice Mail Application Server, and notifying the user by the user terminal or the network device; converting the SIP message into an inter-exchange signaling message in CS domain and transmitting it to the CS domain where the user accesses by a Media Gateway Control Unit (MGCU), and notifying the user by a switching control unit in the CS domain in accordance with the prompt means of Calling Tapping at Flash of the user. The invention also discloses a communication system for implementing Calling Tapping at Flash service.
US07924815B2
In one embodiment, a VoIP device operable to estimate an upstream data rate for a network device is provided. The VoIP device includes a transceiver operable to transmit VoIP packets to and receive VoIP packets from the network device; and a logic engine configured to initiate a series of simulated VoIP streams through the network device to a VoIP call destination, the logic engine being further configured to determine when at least one of the simulated VoIP streams in the series is unsuccessful, the logic engine being further configured to estimate the upstream data rate for the network device based upon a data rate for those simulated VoIP streams preceding the unsuccessful simulated VoIP stream.
US07924808B2
A method of transmitting a synchronization signal includes generating a sequence P(k) for a synchronization signal from a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence having the odd numbered length N, the sequence P(k) having the even numbered length N−I, mapping the sequence P(k) to subcarriers so that the sequence P(k) is halved with respect to a DC subcarrier, and transmitting the a synchronization signal in the subcarriers. Time/frequency ambiguity caused by a synchronization error can be avoided, and sequence detection errors can be decreased.
US07924804B2
A method is described for scheduling a plurality of data flows to a plurality of shared channels in a wireless communication system transmitting data packets in time intervals of frames and applying adaptive modulation and coding. The method comprises the steps of determining virtual link adaptation parameters for at least a part of all combinations of data flow and shared channel, based on state information from the respective shared channel, and based on Quality of Service requirements for the respective data flow; calculating potential data rates for said combinations of data flow and shared channel, based on said virtual link adaptation parameters; calculating priority values for said combinations of data flow and shared channel, based on said potential data rates; and selecting, based on the calculated priority values, for at least a part of the shared channels, a data flow for which data is to be transmitted on each of these shared channel during the time interval of one frame.
US07924803B2
A method and a system for selecting antennas in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) network. The network includes a base station and mobile stations. The mobile station includes multiple antennas. The base station and the mobile stations communicate with each other using frames. The base station transmits a down-link (DL) subframe of the frame to the mobile station. The DL subframe allocates one or more symbols and one or more subcarriers of an up-link (UL) subframe of the frame for antenna selection signals. The mobile station transmits the UL subframe including the antenna selection signals at the allocated subcarriers and symbols to the base station. Then, the base station selects a subset of the antennas based on the antenna selection signals.
US07924798B1
A device can connect to a packet data network through a first data channel, such as a connection with a wireless telecommunications network. The device can additionally connect to the packet data network through a second data channel. The device can simultaneously transmit data over the first and second data channels. Data channels can be added or removed in order to change the bandwidth available to the device.
US07924794B2
A method for centralized radio resource allocation in a communication network including a Network Control and Management System and at least one Base Station Cluster having a set of Base Station Entities to which respective permutation zones and radio resources are to be allocated. The Network Control and Management System controls the allocation of permutation zones and radio resources to the Base Station Entities by aligning the permutation zones of different Base Station Entities and by determining the radio resources to be used within each permutation zone. Preferably, the Network Control and Management System issues towards the Base Station Entities a first message requesting information on the radio resources available including specific information items for each permutation zone. The Base Station Entities return towards the Network Control and Management System a second message including the information requested in said first message, and the Network Control and Management System issues towards the Base Station Entities a third message including commands to align the permutation zones of different Base Station Entities to determine the radio resources to be used within each permutation zone.
US07924792B2
Methods, systems, gateways and user devices for receiving/sending multimedia message. According to the invention, a multimedia messaging service system comprising a wireless LAN, a multimedia messaging service user device and a multimedia messaging service gateway, the user device communicates with the gateway via the wireless LAN so as to send and receive multimedia messages. Furthermore, the gateway of the invention detect whether the user device is located within the wireless LAN. If yes, then multimedia messages are sent and received via the wireless LAN; and if not, then via conventional telecom network. The invention also discloses a corresponding gateway and a corresponding user device.
US07924779B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for effectively allocating frequency resources in a mobile communication system. The method includes: determining a first offset of a preset frequency band from among all frequency bands, determining a second offset corresponding to a symbol unit in the preset frequency band, and allocating frequency resources to data, the frequency resources corresponding to a sum of the first offset and the second offset.
US07924777B2
There is provided a method for deciding a transmission priority of non-realtime data, the method including: receiving a user requested data transfer rate; confirming an average data transfer rate allocated previously to a user terminal; and deciding a transmission priority using the received user requested data transfer rate and the previously allocated average data transfer rate.
US07924776B2
A method for providing an assignment acknowledgement is provided. The method comprises: decoding forward link control channel data blocks according to parameters provided by an overhead channel message; receiving forward link packet data at an access terminal (AT) via a data channel; identifying an offset which defines that a certain number of subpackets of the packet data have been transmitted before the assignment acknowledgement is to be transmitted; and transmitting the assignment acknowledgement according to the offset to indicate successful decoding of one of the control channel data blocks only if the packet data has not been acknowledged.
US07924767B2
A host interface protocol and a control and status protocol for use with host unit and a wireless communication unit are described. The host interface protocol allows for multiplexing between data transfer messages and control and status messages. In a preferred embodiment, the control and status message protocol supports messages that can be a message payload of a host interface protocol payload.
US07924757B2
Disclosed is a method for improving power efficiency of subscriber stations in a communication network. A subscriber station is uniquely identified by a base station using a connection Identifier (CID). The method includes splitting CIDs of subscriber stations to form a plurality of first parts and a plurality of second parts. The method includes generating an index including a plurality of entries and transmitting the index to a plurality of subscriber stations by the base station. One or more subscriber stations switch to a power-saving mode on absence of a match between each entry of the plurality of entries with an equivalent part of CIDs associated with the one or more subscriber stations, thereby conserving power and improving power efficiency of the subscriber station. Further, at least one information element in a sub-MAP message may be compressed to reduce overhead.
US07924752B2
A signal processing system which discriminates between voice signals and data signals modulated by a voiceband carrier. The signal processing system includes a voice exchange, a data exchange and a call discriminator. The voice exchange is capable of exchanging voice signals between a switched circuit network and a packet based network. The signal processing system also includes a data exchange capable of exchanging data signals modulated by a voiceband carrier on the switched circuit network with unmodulated data signal packets on the packet based network. The data exchange is performed by demodulating data signals from the switched circuit network for transmission on the packet based network, and modulating data signal packets from the packet based network for transmission on the switched circuit network. The call discriminator is used to selectively enable the voice exchange and data exchange.
US07924751B2
The invention provides a mechanism for automatically setting reverse link gain or power for a repeater (120) used in a communication system (100) through the use of the reverse link power control of a built-in wireless communications device. By embedding a wireless communication device (430, 630, 700) inside the repeater and injecting reverse link signals of the embedded device into the reverse link of the repeater (124A, 124B), the gain of the repeater is maintained relatively constant. The embedded WCD can also be activated on a periodic basis to make calls and utilize reverse link power-control to calibrate or re-calibrate the gain of the repeater, making it a power-controlled repeater.
US07924749B2
An apparatus and method of identifying long links within a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes identifying long links within a wireless network. The method includes a first node estimating a link quality of a wireless link between the first node and a second node of the wireless network. The first node uni-casts packets to the second node. The first node monitors a packet acknowledgment success rate. The first node identifies the wireless link to be a long link if the link quality is above a link threshold, and the packet acknowledgment success rate is below an acknowledgment threshold.
US07924739B2
A packet loss estimation technique is disclosed that utilizes the sampled flow level statistics that are routinely collected in operational networks, thereby obviating the need for any new router features or measurement infrastructure. The technique is specifically designed to handle the challenges of sampled flow-level aggregation such as information loss resulting from packet sampling, and generally comprises: receiving a first record of sampled packets for a flow from a first network element; receiving a second record of sampled packets for the flow from a second network element communicating with the first network element; correlating sampled packets from the flow at the first network element and the second network element to a measurement interval; and estimating the packet loss using a count of the sampled packets correlated to the measurement interval.
US07924736B2
Estimates of a communication system configuration, such as a DSL system, are based on operational data collected from a network element management system, protocol and users. The operational data collected from the system can include performance-characterizing operational data that typically is available in the OSL system via element-management-system protocols. Generated estimates and/or approximations can be used in evaluating system performance and directly or indirectly dictating/requiring changes or recommending improvements in operation by transmitters and/or other parts of the indication system. Data and/or other information may be collected using internal means or using system elements and components via e-mail and/or other extra means. The likelihood of the models accuracy can be based on various data, information and/or indicators of system performance, such as observed normal operational data, test data and/or prompted operational data that shows operating performance based on stimulation signals.
US07924725B2
Maintenance entities may be defined between customer or provider flow points for performance management on an Ethernet network. The maintenance entities may be defined for access link, intra-domain, and inter-domain, and may be defined on a link or service basis. The maintenance entities may be used to monitor performance within a network or across networks, and may be used to monitor various performance parameters, such as frame loss, frame delay, frame delay variation, availability, errored frame seconds, service status, frame throughput, the number of frames transmitted, received or dropped, the status of a loopback interface and/or the amount of time a service has been unavailable. Several management mechanisms may be used, and the measurements may be collected using a solicited collection method, in which a responses are required and collected, or an unsolicited collection method in which a response is not required.
US07924722B2
Each network node having at least one destination-oriented link toward a directed acyclic graph (DAG) destination can receive a corresponding set of path performance metrics via the destination-oriented link. The set of path performance metrics, initiated by the DAG destination outputting initial link metrics on each of its source-connecting links, identifies aggregate link metrics for a corresponding path to the DAG destination via the corresponding destination-oriented link. The network node outputs a corresponding updated set of path performance metrics on each of its source-connecting links based on the received set of path performance metrics and the corresponding link metric for the corresponding source-connecting link. Hence, each network node in the DAG can assess the performance of each connected path to the DAG destination, and forward a data packet via a selected destination-oriented link based on the corresponding path performance metrics and forwarding policies for the forwarded data packet.
US07924716B2
The invention provides a coordination layer of coordinating entities provided intermediate the admission control interfaces of the transport network domains, and any QoS signaller which signals QoS requests on behalf of the application layer. The coordination layer acts to distribute an admission control request across the multiple transport network domains by the use of coordination request messages containing the admission control request being forwarded through the coordination layer of coordinating entities. At each coordinating entity the admission control request is passed on to the admission control interface of the transport network which the coordinating entity serves, and an admission control response obtained. This admission control response is then combined with admission control responses from the other domains which are propagated through the coordination layer via coordination messages. The result is that the coordination layer acts to combine the various admission control responses into a combined response, which can be provided back to the QoS signaller (or other requesting entity). Thus, coordination of admission control across multiple transport network domains is achieved, without a QoS signaller having to contact each individual domain.
US07924714B2
It is an object of the present invention to receive/play a streaming immediately after a switching not to disconnect it when a terminal for receiving the streaming is switched from a first receiving terminal to a second receiving terminalA communication method of switching a receiving terminal of a streaming to which a rate control using TFRC is applied from a first receiving terminal to a second receiving terminal, includes a deciding step of deciding whether or not a route on a network between a transmitting terminal of the streaming and the first receiving terminal is identical to a route on the network between the transmitting terminal and the second receiving terminal, and a transferring step of transferring history information of a packet loss that the first receiving terminal is managing to the second receiving terminal when it is decided that both routes are identical.
US07924710B2
A method for transmitting a payload encapsulated in a packet from a transmitter to a receiver by using an Automatic Request process, in which: the receiver checks each packet received from the transmitter to detect some potential corrupted received packets the receiver acknowledges the correct or the corrupted reception of each received packet by emitting one or many acknowledgment messages to the transmitter; the transmitter resends the packets that were indicated as corrupted in the received acknowledgment messages. For at least some packets, the transmitter implements an EC-PartARQ error control mechanism including the steps of: defining a sensitive part and a non-sensitive part in the transmitted packet; checking only the sensitive parts in the packets to detect any potential corrupted received packet, a packet being considered as corrupted if the sensitive part has not been correctly received.
US07924705B2
The present invention provides a method and system for the restoration of an optical mesh network subsequent to the simultaneous failing of a large number of network connections due to a transmission failure. The system and method increase the restoration speed of a large number of failed network connections through connection aggregation. The system and method provide that connection aggregation is the logical bundling of a plurality of network connections across a network span. By enabling the bundling of these individual network connections transported over a particular span or spans, a network operator manages the bundle as if it were one network connection. The method and system provide that other network links support these bundled connections when the network segment that a managed bundle is traversing fails.
US07924688B2
An optical pickup includes a first objective lens, a second objective lens having a numerical aperture different from that of the first objective lens, and an objective lens holder that holds the objective lenses. The first objective lens is attached to the objective lens holder via a spacer. The objective lens holder has a first fixture hole that receives the spacer with the first objective lens and a second fixture hole that receives the second objective lens. The first fixture hole is provided with a spacer supporting portion in which the spacer is inserted in a rotatable manner.
US07924685B2
An object of the invention is to provide a plastic objective lens having a good lens tilt property in both thicknesses of a two-layer disc in a used temperature range even in the plastic objective lens in which a numerical aperture (NA) is equal to or higher than 0.81, while dissolving the problem mentioned above. The objective lens includes a point at which a third order comma aberration amount generated at a time of a lens tilt of the objective lens becomes equal to a third order comma aberration amount generated at a time when a disc is tilted at the same angle amount as the lens tilt angle, in a transparent board thickness which is thicker than a larger thickness of the two-layer transparent board under a room temperature (25±3° C.).
US07924672B2
In an optical disk, a substrate has main data recorded in the form of a combination of pits and lands on one side thereof, and at least a reflective layer and cover layer are stacked on the substrate to cover the pits and lands on the substrate. To the optical disk, sub data is recorded in the form of marks formed by irradiating writing-power laser light to the reflective layer. The marks are formed so that reading signal level will be raised where the marks are formed while it will be lowered where the marks are formed in a counterfeit disk produced based on an authenticated disk, namely, the reading signal level where the marks are formed is different in polarity between in the authenticated and counterfeit disks. Further, in a player for the optical disk, discrimination is made between the authenticated and counterfeit disks by detecting the sub data recorded in the optical disk and judging whether the value of the detected sub data has been read at a correct polarity.
US07924658B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a heat-assisted magnetic recording head, capable of joining a light source unit and a slider with a sufficiently high alignment accuracy. In the method, the unit including a light source is joined to the slider including a head part. First, at least one marker provided on the head-part end surface is set so that the distance from the waveguide incident center to the marker end is substantially equal to the distance from the light-emission center of the light source to the end surface of the light source. After that, the unit and slider are relatively moved while keeping the unit in surface contact with the slider, and the relative positions are set so that the end of the marker coincides with, or is at a distance within an acceptable range from, the edge of the surface of the light source.
US07924655B2
An energy based technique to estimate the positions of people speaking from an ad hoc network of microphones. The present technique does not require accurate synchronization of the microphones. In addition, a technique to normalize the gains of the microphones based on people's speech is presented, which allows aggregation of various audio channels from the ad hoc microphone network into a single stream for audio conferencing. The technique is invariant of the speaker's volumes thus making the system easy to deploy in practice.
US07924645B2
A refreshing method suitable for a memory device is provided which includes the following steps. A sleep mode is set and the memory device cannot be read and programmed in the sleep mode. A first and a second memory cell arrays are sequentially auto-refreshed, and the steps for auto-refreshing each of the first and the second memory cell arrays individually include: during an equalization period, switching the potential of a sense line pair, a first bit line pair and a second bit line pair to a reference voltage wherein the sense line pair is not coupled to the second bit line pair, and during a refreshing period, adjusting the potential of the first and the second bit line pairs according to a refresh sequence of the first and the second memory cell arrays, thereby coupling the sense line pair to one of the first and the second bit line pairs.
US07924638B2
An integrated circuit memory is described having multiple memory banks which are grouped into repair groups Group0, Group1. One of the memory banks is provided with redundant rows which can be used to substitute for a defective row found within any of the memory banks within the common repair group concerned. Redundant columns of memory cells are also provided and these may be substituted for defective columns by multiplexing circuitry. This multiplexing circuitry shifts the bit lines which are selected to form part of a bit group to access a given data bit by an amount less than the multiplexing width being supported by that multiplexing circuitry thereby reducing the number of redundant columns which need be provided.
US07924635B2
A hybrid solid-state memory system is provided for storing data. The solid-state memory system comprises a volatile solid-state memory, a non-volatile solid-state memory, and a memory controller. Further, a method is provided for storing data in the solid-state memory system. The method comprises the following steps. A write command is received by the memory controller. Write data is stored in the volatile memory in response to the write command. Data is transferred from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory in response to a data transfer request.
US07924632B2
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a shape of a matrix along a plurality of bit lines arranged in parallel and a plurality of word lines intersecting orthogonally to the bit lines, and that have their data read out to the bit lines; a sense amplifier which detects a voltage or a current of the bit line, and which decides the read data from each of the memory cells; a clamping transistor which is connected between the sense amplifier and the bit lines, and which determines a voltage in a charging mode of the bit lines by a clamp voltage applied to a gate thereof; and a clamp voltage generation circuit which generates the clamp voltage so as to become larger as a distance from the sense amplifier to a selected one of the memory cells is longer.
US07924630B2
Techniques for simultaneously driving a plurality of source lines are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for simultaneously driving a plurality of source lines. The apparatus may include a plurality of source lines coupled to a single source line driver. The apparatus may also include a plurality of dynamic random access memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns, each dynamic random access memory cell including one or more memory transistors. Each of the one or more memory transistors may include a first region coupled to a first source line of the plurality of source lines, a second region coupled to a bit line, a body region disposed between the first region and the second region, wherein the body region may be electrically floating, and a gate coupled to a word line and spaced apart from, and capacitively coupled to, the body region.
US07924622B2
Integrated circuit flash memory devices, such as NAND flash memory devices, include an array of regular flash memory cells, an array of dummy flash memory cells and an erase controller. The erase controller is configured to concurrently apply a different predetermined bias voltage to the dummy flash memory cells than to the regular flash memory cells during an erase operation of the integrated circuit flash memory device. Related methods are also described.
US07924616B2
The voltage of a selected word line is increased beyond the voltage to which a respective string driver transistor is capable of driving the word line by capacitively coupling a voltage to the selected word line from adjacent word lines. The voltage is capacitively coupled to the selected word line by increasing the voltages of the adjacent word lines after a programming voltage has been applied to a string driver transistor for the selected word line and after a string driver voltage has been applied to the gates of all of the string driver transistors in an array.
US07924612B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a memory cell, a first gate control circuit that is coupled to the memory cell, and a second gate control circuit that is coupled to the memory cell. The memory cell includes a first gate electrode that is formed above a channel region in a semiconductor substrate, a second gate electrode that is formed beside the first gate electrode, and that is capacitively coupled with the first gate electrode through a first insulating layer, and a charge trapping layer that is formed between the channel region and the second gate electrode, and that includes a second insulating layer for trapping a charge. Data stored in a memory cell transistor including the second gate electrode changes depending on an amount of the charge trapped in the charge trapping layer. The first gate control circuit applies a potential to the first gate electrode, when reading the data stored in the memory cell transistor. The second gate control circuit brings the second gate electrode into a floating state, when the potential is applied to the first gate electrode.
US07924602B2
A method of programming a carbon nanotube memory cell is provided, wherein the memory cell comprises a first conductor, a steering element, a carbon nanotube fabric, and a second conductor, wherein the steering element and the carbon nanotube fabric are arranged electrically in series between the first conductor and the second conductor, and wherein the entire carbon nanotube memory cell is formed above a substrate, the carbon nanotube fabric having a first resistivity, the method including applying a first electrical set pulse between the first conductor and the second conductor, wherein, after application of the first electrical set pulse, the carbon nanotube fabric has a second resistivity, the second resistivity less than the first resistivity. Other aspects are also provided.
US07924601B2
An ReRAM of the present invention includes a high speed write-in region and a main memory region, only memory cells designated to have the storage state out of the memory cells corresponded to data are set to the storage state in the high speed write-in region. The data written in the memory cell array are transferred to the main memory region, the memory cells of the memory cell array corresponded to the data transferred from the high speed write-in region are reset to the no-storage state in the main memory region, only the memory cells designated to have the storage state out of the memory cells are set, and all memory cells are reset to the no-storage state, or the initial state, in the high speed write-in region.
US07924596B2
A programmable ROM (PROM) architecture includes cascode NMOS transistors with a fuse bit cell that is arrayed, with sleep transistors located in each column of the array that in a standby mode shut down the entire fuse array. A fuse redundancy scheme may be used to repair a defective fuse row.
US07924594B2
A method of data recording and reading for a memory device employing magnetic domain wall movement. The memory device includes a writing track, an interconnecting layer formed on the writing track, and a recording track formed on the interconnecting layer.
US07924593B2
Provided are an information storage device and a method of operating the same. The information storage device includes: a magnetic layer having a plurality of magnetic domain regions and a magnetic domain wall interposed between the magnetic domain regions; a first unit disposed on a first region which is one of the plurality of magnetic domain regions for recording information to the first region; a second unit connected to the first unit for inducing a magnetic field so as to record information to the first region.
US07924588B2
A content addressable memory (CAM) device includes an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns; compare circuitry configured to indicate match results of search data presented to each row of the array; and compare circuitry configured to indicate match results of search data presented to each column of the array, thereby resulting in a two-dimensional search capability of the array.
US07924587B2
A method for data storage in analog memory cells includes defining multiple programming states for storing data in the analog memory cells. The programming states represent respective combinations of more than one bit and correspond to respective, different levels of a physical quantity stored in the memory cells. The data is stored in the memory cells by applying to the memory cells programming pulses that cause the levels of the physical quantity stored in the memory cells to transition between the programming states, such that a given transition is caused by only a single programming pulse.
US07924585B2
The invention relates to a pulse resistor for a frequency converter in the higher voltage and capacity range. The inventive pulse resistor is characterized by comprising at least two bipolar subsystems (24) and a resistor element (14), said subsystems (24) and said resistor element (14) being connected in series. The inventive pulse resistor is devoid of the drawbacks of known pulse resistors, it can be finely controlled by a brake current (iB) and can be adapted to any medium voltage by simple means.
US07924584B1
A power supply and methods are provided. The power supply includes a bi-forward converter and a feed forward circuit. The bi-forward converter is operable to convert an input voltage into an output voltage. The feed forward circuit is operable to detect a peak voltage associated with the input voltage, and the bi-forward converter is further operable to adjust the output voltage responsive to the peak voltage detected by the feed forward circuit.
US07924583B2
A method and an arrangement for controlling an inverter provided with a voltage intermediate circuit, the inverter (1) comprising two or more sub-inverters (1A, 1B, 1C), each being connected with a specific cable to feed a common load (2) and each sub-inverter (1A, 1B, 1C) receiving the same switch instruction pattern. The method comprises the steps of determining the magnitude of a time delay, and consecutively generating, with each sub-inverter (1A, 1B, 1C), an output voltage according to the switch instruction for the load (2) such that each sub-inverter generates an output voltage according to the switch instruction after a time equal to the time delay.
US07924576B2
A fixing assembly can fix a shielding panel to a housing of a computer case. The fixing assembly includes two sliding members and a driving member. The housing includes a front plate defining through holes. The shielding panel includes a plurality of latching hooks corresponding to the through holes. Each latching hook passes though the corresponding through hole. The sliding members are slidably attached to the opposite edge portions of the front plate respectively. Each sliding member defines a plurality of engaging holes corresponding to the through holes. Each engaging hole includes a latching portion and a receiving portion in communication with the latching portion. Each latching hook is latched in one corresponding latching portion or received in one corresponding receiving portion. The driving member is capable of sliding the sliding members such that each latching hook is movable between the corresponding latching portion and the corresponding receiving portion.
US07924573B2
A card connector adapted for receiving a card, comprises an insulating housing defining a card insertion/ejection direction; a plurality of contacts received in the insulating housing, a shell and an ejector. The shell covers the insulating housing and is formed with a receiving portion. The receiving portion comprises an upper portion, a lower portion opposite to the upper portion and a connecting portion connecting the upper portion and the lower portion. The ejector has a front end received and locked in the receiving portion of the shell.
US07924570B2
A computer system comprising an interface assembly configured to support one or more I/O connections. In one variation, the computer system comprises a main board housed within a chassis, a chassis connector coupled to the chassis, and one or more I/O cables coupled to the chassis connector. In another variation, the computer assembly comprises a computer rack with a plurality of connector interfaces, each of which is adapted for engaging a computer through a chassis connector with a plurality of I/O ports.
US07924566B2
A heat dissipation device includes a heat sink in which a plurality of mounting holes are defined, and a plurality of fasteners. Each of the fasteners includes a shaft with one end thereof received in a corresponding mounting hole, a sleeve enclosing the shaft and received in the mounting hole, and a fixture engaging the shaft and pressing the heat sink and a bottom end of the sleeve. The sleeve is filled between the end of the shaft and an inner face of the heat sink defining the mounting hole to perform an engagement of the shaft in the mounting hole of the heat sink, thereby fastening the fasteners to the heat sink. The shaft has a screw extending out of the mounting hole for mounting the heat sink on a printed circuit board.
US07924556B2
A mounting apparatus includes a receiving tray receiving a data storage device, a rack receiving the receiving tray, a rotatable shaft, two pivoting members fixed to the rotatable shaft, two resilient members, and a cover detachably mounted to the rack. The clamping protrusion protrudes out from the receiving tray. The rotatable shaft includes a latching portion. The resilient members are mounted to the corresponding pivoting members, and each resilient member resists against the rack and the corresponding pivoting member. When the cover is mounted to the rack, the pivoting members are rotated together with the rotatable shaft. Therefore, the latching portion rotates to engage with the clamping protrusion, and the resilient members are deformed. When the cover is removed from the rack, the resilient members are released to rotate the pivoting members together with the rotatable shaft. The latching portion rotates to disengage from the clamping protrusion.
US07924550B2
The invention relates to a multiphase line fuse module. According to the invention, said multiphase line fuse module comprises a busbar pack (32), interposed between two supporting plates (16, 42), at least one line fuse (52, 66) with an associated AC contactor (54) per phase, said phase assemblies being arranged one on top of the other in front on a small face of the busbar pack (32) having connections (56, 58) on the small face and being electrically connected to the small face connections (56, 68), and a cover closing the phase assemblies on the front side. The invention thus provides a space-saving system for line fuses (52, 66), AC contactors (54) and busbars in one housing, thereby allowing an easy replacement of the wearing parts.
US07924546B2
A system is presented for an improved igniter and an igniter bobbin for a high voltage burner igniter that reduces parts count and simplifies assembly of the igniter used in fuel based burners for boilers, forced air furnaces and water heaters. In one aspect of the invention, the igniter bobbin of the present invention comprises two high voltage insulators and a coil bobbin of a high voltage transformer molded or otherwise integrated together into a single monolithic structure. In another aspect, the igniter bobbin may be molded from an insulative material to form the single monolithic structure that insulates the high voltage electrodes which are inserted within the high voltage insulators portion of the structure, and to insulate the primary and secondary coils that are wound onto the coil bobbin portion of the structure.
US07924541B2
A power plug having leakage current protection function is disclosed. The power plug includes a changeover mechanism for making and breaking electrical connection between the input (line) and output (load) side of the plug, and a control circuit for detecting a leakage current and a short circuit. A reset button and a test button are provided. When the reset button is pressed, a reset shaft operates the changeover mechanism to achieve electrical connection between the input and output sides. When there is a current leakage, a short circuit or other abnormal conditions at the output side of the plug (or the input side of the appliance connected to the plug), the control circuit generates a signal to operate the changeover mechanism to electrically disconnect the input and output sides. The test button can simulate a short circuit to electrically disconnect the input and output sides.
US07924539B2
A protection circuit with suppressed erroneous operation due to power source fluctuation has a first resistor and a capacitor connected in series between a power source line and a ground line, an inverter with an input connected between the first resistor and the capacitor, and a MOS transistor with a gate electrode that receives an output of the inverter and with a drain electrode and source electrode connected to the power source line and the ground line. When high voltage fluctuation occurs in the power source line, a level change at a connection point between the first resistor and the capacitor is delayed according to a time constant. By the delay, the MOS transistor that receives an output of the inverter is temporarily turned on and discharges a high voltage to the ground line.
US07924538B2
The invention relates to a protective circuit for an electrical device operated in particular in an explosion-hazard area, with a limiting circuit connected downstream of a pair of input terminals for limiting an output voltage present at a pair of output terminals and/or an output current delivered at the output terminals below a threshold value and a shorting circuit, which shorts the output or input terminals when a threshold value is exceeded, the control signal that controls the limitation originating from the same place as the signal that triggers the shorting circuit, and with a measuring circuit, which uses the output voltage or the output current to provide a control signal, which is fed on the one hand to a final control element for reducing the output voltage or the output current and on the other hand to the shorting circuit, the measuring circuit comprising a ZENER diode and/or a measuring resistor and the control signal being a voltage that is in particular a transistor-amplified or impedance-converted voltage. To minimize the difference between the guaranteed output voltage and the safety voltage, the invention proposes that the final control element is a self-conducting field-effect transistor, at the gate of which the control signal is present, and the measuring circuit is connected downstream of the field-effect transistor in the direction of current flow.
US07924525B1
Drive circuitry for driving a load through a connection to a transmission line, such as for driving the write head of a hard disk drive. A hybrid termination is provided for termination at the connection to the transmission line. The termination is hybrid since there is both an in-series and an in-parallel component to the termination resistance. In addition, in embodiments where there is matched termination of the transmission line during a boost period of driving the load, the termination is hybrid since the termination is switched between a boost period of a write operation, and a steady state period of the write operation.
US07924522B2
An apparatus and a method of detecting an error symbol in a data storage apparatus so that an error correcting performance of an error correction decoder. The error symbol detecting apparatus includes an equalizer equalizing a signal transmitted to a channel using a channel equalization characteristic that is suitable for a corresponding system, a data detector to detect data from the signal output from the equalizer, a modeling tool designed to have the same characteristics corresponding to a partial response (PR) target polynomial applied to the system, a correlation evaluation information generating unit to generate correlation evaluation information based on a correlation degree between an actual output of the equalizer and a target output of the modeling tool, and an error symbol determination unit to determine an order of probability of error generation of the symbols based on the correlation evaluation information, and to determine a predetermined number of symbols having a high probability of generating errors corresponding to the order of probability of error generation as error generating symbols.
US07924511B2
Providing an optical system having excellent optical performance over entire focusing range from infinity to a close distance, a method for focusing the optical system, and an imaging apparatus equipped therewith. The optical system includes, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, and a second lens group G2 having positive refractive power. The second lens group G2 is movable along an optical axis for varying focusing. The first lens group G1 satisfies a given conditional expression.
US07924492B2
Provided is an optical device having an edge effect with improved phase shift and propagation loss of light without decreasing the dynamic characteristics of the optical device. The optical device includes a first semiconductor layer which is doped with a first type of conductive impurities, and has a recessed groove in an upper portion thereof; a gate insulating layer covering the groove and a portion of the first semiconductor layer; and a second semiconductor layer which covers an upper surface of the gate insulating layer and is doped with a second type of conductive impurities opposite to the first type of conductive impurities.
US07924491B2
A disclosed optical scanning device includes: a light source unit having plural luminous sources; a light source driving unit modulating each luminous source in accordance with pixel information; an oscillating mirror supported on a twist beam as a rotation shaft, the oscillating mirror collectively deflecting light beams from the luminous sources and performing reciprocating scanning on a surface to be scanned; an imaging optical system imaging the light beams from the luminous sources on the surface to be scanned; an oscillating mirror driving unit setting a scanning frequency f in accordance with a resonance frequency of the oscillating mirror; and a pitch adjustment unit adjusting beam spot intervals p in a sub-scanning direction in accordance with the scanning frequency f of the oscillating mirror that has been set.
US07924487B2
An optical scanning device includes a coupling optical system, a light source including a plurality of light emitting units for emitting light beams, and a deflector including a deflecting surface for deflecting the light beams. The coupling optical system is arranged on an optical path between the light source and the deflector so that the light beams enter the deflector at an angle with respect to a normal direction of the deflecting surface in a sub-scanning direction. The light emitting units are arranged two-dimensionally, and a distance between two light emitting units at opposite ends in a main scanning direction is smaller than a distance between two light emitting units at opposite ends in the sub-scanning direction.
US07924478B2
Disclosed are a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing the same. The scanner module includes a light source generating light to be irradiated onto an object and a light guide member extending in correspondence with a width of the object to be scanned. The light guide member has a reflective surface for reflecting the light generated from the light source, an exit surface for radiating the light, which is reflected from the reflective surface, toward the object, and a plurality of guide surfaces each guiding the light toward the exit surface by reflecting the light reflected from the reflective surface deviates from the exit surface. The light is effectively guided to be output from the exit surface without substantial light loss.
US07924475B2
An image reading apparatus includes: a first feed path; a second feed path; a detection unit; a feed system; an image read unit; a feed path switching unit; a drive source; a drive force transmission unit; a control unit that has a first feed mode that feeds a document from the first feed path to a document discharge portion and a second feed mode that feeds a document from the first feed path to the second feed path, and shifts a current feed mode from the second feed mode to the first feed mode; and an image modification unit that modifies the image read by the image read unit based on drive loss information acquired with regard to a drive loss of the drive force transmission unit occurring at the time of switching of the feed mode by the control unit.
US07924461B2
A method and apparatus for printing a document by remaining color toner or ink information is provided. The printing method comprising the steps of providing remaining color toner or ink information supported by the printing device; dividing the document into areas, and designating colors to the designated areas; and if the remaining amounts of colors are sufficient to print the document in the designated colors, printing the document in the designated colors
US07924460B2
A method for color correction of an image having an insignia portion in a multi-module printer (10). A first color profile is calibrated for a four-color image. A second color profile is calibrated for a four-color image with a transparent toner layer on top of the insignia portion of the four-color image. The image data is then buffered in a color input band buffer (40) and processed through the first (50) and second (60) color profiles in a color management module. The processed image data is stored in an output band buffer (70, 80) corresponding to the image data processed through each color profile. Clear toner input band data stored in a clear toner input band buffer (30) is compared with the processed image data in each output band buffer (70, 80) to select an output signal (100) on a per pixel basis to send to the multi-module printer (10).
US07924454B2
A FoIP server mediating fax communication between gateways and enterprise backend systems. The gateways are VoIP capable, connected to the PSTN and the enterprise network, and mediate between the PSTN fax call and fax over IP calls. The FoIP Server mediates between the FoIP calls and enterprise backend systems, such as message transfer agent (MTA), Customer Relationship Management CRM, document management, web services, mainframe, or a specialized application requiring faxing capabilities.
US07924450B2
A method of reprinting content on a print medium using a mobile telecommunications device, comprising the steps of: determining a first print media identifier, from a first print medium provided with content, using a sensor module of the mobile telecommunications device, the first print medium having been inserted into a media feed path of the mobile telecommunications device; retrieving a copy of the content, previously stored in a database, using the print media identifier; and, printing the copy of the content on a second print medium using a printer module of the mobile telecommunications device.
US07924449B2
In response to a print request from a host computer, a port for receiving print data is assigned to the host computer, the host computer is notified of a URI representing the port that serves as a destination of print data, and the port is associated with the URI in a port-status management table. When a connection for sending print data from a host computer is established, the port-status management table is referred to. If the host computer is associated with the port of the connection, printing is executed. After receiving print data, the port is closed, and the port-status management table is updated to cancel the assignment of the port to the host computer.
US07924448B2
A data communication apparatus is provided with a connecting section connectable to at least one managed apparatus, a sending section calling via a communication line a central management apparatus which remotely manages the managed apparatus and sending status information of the managed apparatus to the central managing apparatus, a set section set with parameters from the central managing apparatus, where the parameters include a called telephone number which called by the status information sending section and/or line type information which indicates a type of line, and a communication section responding to a request from the central managing apparatus and calling the called telephone number to make a test communication.
US07924445B2
A printing method and apparatus, the method and apparatus including inputting a print job, printing the print job, selecting an output mode in which sheets of the print job are either reversed or not reversed before being output to a stacking unit. When printing is performed based on a second print job subsequent to printing performed based on a first print job, the second print job is output in the same output mode as that of the first print job.
US07924432B2
A statistically sparse subset of switchable optical sources in a sample is activated, and the activated switchable optical sources are excited such that optical beams are emitted from the activated switchable optical sources along at least two optical paths. A first wavefront modification in a first optical beam emitted from the activated switchable optical sources along a first optical path is introduced and a second wavefront modification in a second optical beam emitted from the activated switchable optical sources along a second optical path is introduced, the second wavefront modification being distinct from the first wavefront modification. The first and second optical beams are interfered with each other to produce a plurality of output beams, and three-dimensional position information of the optical sources is determined based on an intensity of each output beam from the plurality of output beams.
US07924426B2
A shape measuring apparatus for measuring the shape of a measurement target surface includes an interferometer and computer. The interferometer senses interference light formed by measurement light from the measurement target surface and reference light by a photoelectric converter, while changing the light path length of the measurement light or the reference light. The computer Fourier-transforms a first interference signal sensed by the photoelectric converter to obtain a phase distribution and an amplitude distribution, shapes the amplitude distribution, inversely Fourier-transforms the phase distribution and the shaped amplitude distribution to obtain a second interference signal, and determines the shape of the measurement target surface based on the second interference signal.
US07924425B2
A system for spatially selective, fixed-optics fluorescence detection in a multichannel polymeric microfluidic device, and a method for performing spatially selective, fixed-optics fluorescence detection.
US07924421B2
Systems and methods for in-line inspection of plastic blow molded containers. The inspection system may comprise a plurality of emitter assemblies arranged in a vertical array. Each emitter assembly may cyclically emit light energy in at least two different narrow wavelength bands at a container as the container passes through an inspection area. The system may also comprise a plurality of broadband photodetectors arranged in a vertical array, each photodetector facing at least one of the emitter assemblies with the inspection area therebetween such that the photodetectors are capable of sensing light energy that passes through the container when it is in the inspection area. The system may also comprise a processor in communication with the photodetectors for determining a characteristic of the container based on signals from the photodetectors.
US07924404B2
A manifold is provided between an outlet of a fluid supply system for an immersion lithographic apparatus and a separator. The manifold is provided with a pressure sensor which passes the measured pressure in the manifold to a mass flow controller. The mass flow controller controls a leak flow into the manifold based on the measured pressure in the manifold so as to maintain a desired pressure in the manifold.
US07924386B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line on a substrate; a data line defining a pixel region by crossing the gate line; a thin film transistor formed at a crossing position between the gate line and the data line; a passivation layer protecting the thin film transistor; a pixel electrode connected with the thin film transistor; a common electrode generating an electric field with the pixel electrode; and a plurality of grooves on the passivation layer, wherein at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is arranged at intervals in the pixel region, and the grooves are formed at intervals on the passivation layer disposed between the at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode arranged at intervals in the pixel region.
US07924384B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which exhibits the excellent wide viewing angle characteristic and the high-speed responsiveness. A pixel region includes a switching element which is operated in response to a scanning signal from a gate signal line, a pixel electrode to which a video signal from a drain signal line is supplied through a switching element, and a counter electrode which generates an electric field between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode. The pixel region is constituted of divided respective regions. In one region, the counter electrode made of a light-transmitting material which is formed on the center except for a slight periphery of the region below an insulation film and the pixel electrode which is constituted of a group of electrodes which extend in one direction and are arranged in parallel to each other in the direction which intersects one direction above the insulation film in a state that the group of electrodes are overlapped to the counter electrode are formed. In another region, the counter electrode which is constituted of a group of electrodes which extend in one direction and are arranged in parallel to each other in the direction which intersects one direction below the insulation layer and the pixel electrode which is constituted of a group of electrodes which extend in one direction and are arranged in parallel in the direction which intersects one direction above the insulation film and is arranged alternately with the counter electrode are formed.
US07924382B2
A color filter substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes a color layer, a photo spacer and a counter electrode disposed on the substrate, and an alignment control protrusion is disposed on the counter electrode for controlling alignment of liquid crystal. A manufacturing method for the color filter substrate includes the step of forming an opening by laser irradiation in a region of the counter electrode corresponding to an absent portion occurring in the alignment control protrusion. The manufacturing method is also applicable to an active matrix substrate for a liquid crystal display device. The manufacturing method can effectively correct a defect if one occurs in the alignment control protrusion.
US07924378B2
A photo-sensitive element, a readout pixel with the photo-sensitive element, and a liquid crystal display with the readout pixels are described. The photo-sensitive element includes a switch TFT and a photo detecting device. The gate electrode of the switch TFT is electrically connected to a switch line and the source electrode of the switch TFT is electrically connected to a readout line. The photo detecting device is connected between the switch line and the drain electrode of the switch TFT for detecting the brightness of a light incident thereon. The photo detecting device is preferably a photo TFT, a photo diode, or a light sensitive resistor. The photo TFT and the switch TFT are preferably amorphous silicon transistors. The switch line is preferably a gate line disposed on the TFT array substrate of the liquid crystal display.
US07924373B2
A method for forming a display panel including the following steps is provided. A barrier layer having a plurality of openings is formed. A color filter layer having a plurality of units and a plurality of black matrix structures among the plurality of units is formed over the barrier layer. A first width of the plurality of openings and a second width of the plurality of black matrix structures are determined based on a first aperture ratio of the barrier layer and a second aperture ratio of the color filter layer.
US07924368B2
An optical assembly includes a light diffusing layer attached to a reflective polarizing layer. An intermediate region between the light diffusing layer and the reflective polarizing layer includes an intermediate structure that defines voids between the light diffusing layer and the reflective polarizing layer.
US07924360B2
A display module includes a planar display panel, a frame disposed under the planar display panel, a lower bezel disposed outside the frame, and an upper bezel disposed outside the planar display panel. The frame includes at least one side wall. The outer surface of the side wall includes a plurality of tenons and at least one fixing plate is coupled to the side wall. The fixing plate is contacted with a side of the planar display panel. The side wall of the lower bezel includes at least one first hole corresponding to a first tenon so that the first tenon can be engaged with the first hole. The side wall of the upper bezel includes at least one second hole corresponding to a second tenon so that the second tenon can be engaged with the second hole.
US07924359B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight unit having a fluorescent lamp, a reflection sheet reflecting light emitted from the fluorescent lamp, and a bottom cover supporting the reflection sheet, and a metal chassis supporting and affixing the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight unit.
US07924355B2
Three layers are formed on a TFT substrate SUB 100. The three layers include a first transparent electrode PSL1 131, a second transparent electrode CSL 127 and a third transparent electrode PSL2 132, all of which are laminated in parallel to the substrate surface. Two auxiliary capacitances to a liquid crystal capacitance are formed between the first transparent electrode PSL1 131 and the second transparent electrode CSL 127 and between the second transparent electrode CSL 127 and the third transparent electrode PSL2 132.
US07924350B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD). The LCD includes a plurality of display units formed with a first substrate, a color matrix formed on the first substrate, and a common electrode formed on the color matrix, a second substrate spaced from the first substrate, a pixel electrode matrix formed on the second substrate, a liquid crystal material disposed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode matrix. The LCD includes a touch sensing member integrated onto the color matrix of the first substrate.
US07924345B2
A method for processing video information may include calculating a polarity change count (PCC) for a plurality of pixel pairs selected from a plurality of pixels from different fields utilizing a plurality of difference polarity values associated with the plurality of pixel pairs. At least a portion of the plurality of pixels from different fields may be deinterlaced based on at least the calculated PCC. The plurality of difference polarity values may be calculated for the plurality of pixel pairs selected from the plurality of pixels from different fields. At least one difference in amplitude of at least one of the selected pixel pairs may be calculated for the calculating the plurality of difference polarity values. The plurality of pixels from different fields may comprise a plurality of adjacent pixels from a plurality of woven fields.
US07924341B2
An optical subsystem (e.g., a lens assembly) provides descriptors of the image quality produced by the optics. The descriptors can be communicated to the electrical back-end (e.g., detector plus image processing), which can then automatically adjust the image processing accordingly.
US07924338B2
A method for reading out charge from an interlined CCD having a plurality of photo-sensing regions and a plurality of vertical shift registers, and each photosensitive region is mated respectively to a CCD of a vertical shift register and a color filter having a repeating pattern of two rows in which each row includes at least two colors spanning the photo-sensing regions, the method includes reading out one row from each of the two row pattern; summing the same color from each row in the vertical shift register to reduce the resolution by one half; without transferring charge out of the vertical shift register, repeating the reading and summing steps for the remaining row; and reading out the charge in the vertical shift registers in a manner in which different colors are not summed together.
US07924337B2
An imager having two panels of pixels (i.e., the imager's rows of pixels are split into two panels) that are controllable by separate row decoders. The dual panel architecture allows pipelining of pixel readout and column readout operations to improve the imager's frame rate. The dual panel architecture may use a standard pixel configuration, a shared column and/or a shared row and column configuration.
US07924332B2
A voltage and current mode active pixel sensor for high resolution imaging is presented. The photo pixel is composed of a photodiode and two transistors: reset and transconductance amplifier transistor. The switch transistor is moved outside the pixel, allowing for lower pixel pitch and increased linearity of the output photocurrent. The reset and amplifier (readout) transistors may also be shared among adjacent pixels by the introduction of transfer switches between the photodiodes and the source of the reset transistor and the gate of the readout transistor. The switch transistor outside the pixels provides biasing voltages or currents to the readout transistors to selectively turn them on when readout of the corresponding photodiode is desired and turns the readout transistor off when the corresponding photodiode is not to be read out. The increased linearity of the image sensor has greatly reduced spatial variations across the image after correlated double sampling and the column fix pattern noise is greatly improved.
US07924331B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state imaging device and driving method thereof capable of suppressing image quality defect caused by a coupling which occurs when a readout transistor that controls signal charge readout from a photodiode. The solid-state imaging device is an amplifying solid-state imaging device which includes: a unit cell having a readout transistor which reads signal charge from the photodiode, which outputs an amplifier signal corresponding to the signal charge; a first vertical signal line and a second vertical signal line connected to the unit cell; a sampling capacity which accumulates amplifier signals transmitted via the first vertical signal line and the second vertical signal line; a bias current supply, a coupling control transistor, and a coupling control circuit, which prevent transmission of the amplifier signal from the unit cell to the sampling capacity either at the start or the end of the signal charge readout by the readout transistor.
US07924329B2
A noise eliminator is provided which can highly compress and store dark current noise components while maintaining characteristics, including many high frequency components. A noise distribution analysis section 10 determines the magnitude distribution of dark current noise components of at least some pixels, and then computes the threshold and typical values for quantization based on this distribution. A quantization section 12 quantizes the dark current noise components based on the computed threshold value, and a memory 14 stores the quantized dark current noise components. An inverse quantization section 16 inversely quantizes the quantized dark current noise components stored in the memory 14 with reference to the typical value computed by the noise distribution analysis section 10. The inversely quantized dark current noise components are supplied to a subtraction section 18, and the subtraction section 18 subtracts the inversely quantized dark current noise components from an image signal.
US07924327B2
A plurality of imaging regions are provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of optical systems and are disposed on optical axes of the respective optical systems. Each imaging region has a plurality of pixels. The imaging apparatus further comprises an origin assigning means for assigning an origin of each imaging region, a pixel position specifying means for specifying positions of a plurality of pixels included in each imaging region using the origin as a reference, and a combination means for combining a plurality of images captured by the respective imaging regions. Thereby, it is possible to make a thin imaging apparatus capable of being easily assembled.
US07924322B2
An image pickup apparatus which is arranged so that a calculation portion calculates a first adjustment value for white balance adjustment from a first image obtained by capturing an image at first timing, a discrimination portion discriminates depending on objects conditions whether or not white balance of a second image obtained by capturing the image at second timing is subjected to white balance adjustment using the first adjustment value, and an adjustment portion performs the white balance adjustment on the second image using the first adjustment value on the basis of a discrimination result of the discrimination portion.
US07924319B2
A signal processing apparatus for carrying out signal processing on an input image signal and to output the result includes first correction processing means for carrying out correction processing dependent on pixels on the input image signal, second correction processing means for carrying out correction processing independent from pixels on a supplied image signal, synchronization processing means for generating RGB signals that represent a captured image and has matching spatial phases based on a supplied image signal, conversion means for carrying out at least processing for generating a luminance signal and a color signal based on a supplied image signal, and first resolution conversion means for converting a captured image into an image having the same resolution as an output image. The first resolution conversion means is provided downstream of the first correction processing means and upstream of the conversion means.
US07924312B2
Methods and thermal imaging cameras are provided for registering visible-light and infrared images within a thermal imaging camera to reduce a parallax error in the images. Registration generally includes detecting a first feature set in the visible-light image data, detecting a second feature set in the infrared image data and generating a plurality of overlapping alignments of the infrared image data and the visible-light image data. A similarity figure is calculated as a function of the relative alignment of the first feature set and the second feature set for each alignment and the alignment with the desired similarity figure is selected. The images are aligned and the camera displays at least a portion of the visible-light image data and/or at least a portion of the infrared image data.
US07924297B2
An image control apparatus includes a signal-receiving unit to which image signals are input, a resolution detecting unit configured to detect the resolution of the input image signals, a viewing-distance detecting unit configured to detect a viewing distance between a viewer and a display apparatus, a display-size control unit configured to control a display size of images displayed in the display apparatus, a scaling unit, and an output unit configured to output the images scaled by the scaling unit to the display apparatus. When the resolution of images is changed, the scaling unit scales the image signals in accordance with the amount of change in resolution and the viewing distance, and outputs the signals to the display apparatus.
US07924275B2
An electronic module includes an EL section; a first substrate on which the EL section is formed; a second substrate attached to the first substrate; an integrated circuit chip mounted on the second substrate; a plurality of first power supply interconnects formed on the first substrate, extending through a pair of regions located on both sides of the EL section; and a plurality of second power supply interconnects formed on the second substrate, extending through a pair of regions located on both sides of the integrated circuit chip.
US07924274B2
The present invention provides a various methods, systems and devices for controlling light modulating elements and/or spatial light modulators. In some embodiments of the present invention, a recursive feedback method is used to control light modulating elements and/or spatial light modulators.
US07924270B2
The present invention is a pocket-sized, portable computing apparatus that performs frequently used laboratory calculations, provides a look-up function for commonly used data and procedures, and provides note-taking and data capture for record-keeping. The present invention displays data in a form that a chemist finds most convenient and manipulates this data with functions a chemist typically utilizes in his work. In addition, the present invention provides a user interface that is compatible with traditional methods for formula manipulations and chemistry workflows and that increases the efficiency of the user in performing laboratory tasks.
US07924263B2
A flat panel display, particularly a liquid crystal display has a front plate with a plate area defined by a plate perimeter, which is in turn defined by a first and second pair of parallel sides, the pairs of sides in perpendicular relationship to each other. An active display area providing a unitary visual display is located within the plate perimeter. In the invention, this active display area is divided into at least first and second display areas, a visual output of said first and second display areas being separately driven. In some embodiments, one or both of the display areas is subdivided into first and second subdisplay areas, with the visual output of the first and second subdisplay areas being separately driven.
US07924262B2
A light source driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a controller, a first driver and a second driver. The controller outputs a first control signal to drive the light source in a normal-luminance mode and outputs a second control signal to drive the light source in a low-luminance mode. The first driver drives the light source, based on a first voltage in response to the first control signal in the low-luminance mode. The second driver drives the light source, based on a second voltage in response to the second control signal in the normal luminance mode. Therefore, the light source driving apparatus driving the light source decreases current-consumption and prevents unnecessary power consumption from increasing in a low-luminance driving mode.
US07924253B2
A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixels defined by adjacent scan lines and data lines. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel defined by the scan line and a first common electrode line and a second sub-pixel defined by the scan line and a second common electrode line. The first common electrode line is connected to at least one of the voltage sources. The second common electrode is electrically connected to two of the voltage sources through a first and a second switch devices. The two switch devices are connected to different scan lines.
US07924251B2
The present invention provides an image processing method of a hold type display device, a driving method of the display device and a display device driven by the method, for improving the moving picture quality without lowering the luminance and the contrast. In the image processing method for dividing one frame into sub frames, luminance components of a certain sub frame are distributed to other sub frames, so as to generate sub frame with luminance components higher than the average in the one frame and sub frame with luminance components lower than the average in the one frame, as a result of which the amount of luminance during one frame period is kept constant before and after the distribution of luminance components.
US07924249B2
A method and system for light emitting device displays is provided. The system includes one or more pixels, each having a light emitting device, a drive transistor for driving the light emitting device, and a switch transistor for selecting the pixel; and a circuit for monitoring and extracting the change of the pixel to calibrate programming data for the pixel. Programming data is calibrated using the monitoring result.
US07924219B2
A positioning method includes: determining a receiving environment of a satellite signal from a positioning satellite; predicting a state vector including a position of a positioning device and a velocity of the positioning device based on the satellite signal; predicting a first distance-equivalent value indicating a distance between the positioning satellite and the positioning device; measuring a second distance-equivalent value indicating a distance between the positioning satellite and the positioning device; calculating an observed value indicating a difference between the first distance-equivalent value and the second distance-equivalent value; setting a first measurement error for the positioning satellite based on a signal strength of the satellite signal; setting a suitability condition of the observed value based on the receiving environment; setting a second measurement error larger than the first measurement error when the observed value is not suitable by the suitability condition; and correcting the state vector using the observed value and the second measurement error.
US07924214B2
In an azimuth detecting apparatus, a receiver includes antenna elements arranged at predetermined intervals d. A first signal producer produces, based on reception signals generated by the antenna elements, first signals which are equivalent to signals generated by antenna elements arranged at first intervals d1, d1 being an integral multiple of d. A second signal producer produces, based on the reception signals, second signals which are equivalent to signals generated by antenna elements arranged at second intervals d2, d2 being an integral multiple of d and greater than d1. A first azimuth detector detects, within a first azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d1, the azimuth of the target based on the first signals. A second azimuth detector detects, within a second azimuth detection area whose angular range is defined by d2, the azimuth of the target based on the second signals.
US07924207B2
A single-slope ADC, particularly suitable for use in a massive-parallel ADC architecture in a readout circuit of a CMOS imager. A plurality of ramp signals are generated which define non-overlapping sub-ranges of the full input range. For each ADC channel, the sub-range in which the voltage of the input signal falls is determined, and the corresponding ramp signal is selected for use in the A/D conversion. Thus, the speed of the A/D conversion process can be increased and the power consumption decreased.
US07924203B2
A most significant bits analog to digital converter for determining a first P bits of an N bit analog to digital conversion, the most significant bits analog to digital converter comprising: a digital to analog converter a capacitive attenuator, and a switching arrangement for inhibiting action of the attenuator during sampling and enabling the attenuator during conversion.
US07924202B2
An integrated circuit device includes an amplifier circuit that includes first to Nth amplifiers that are cascaded and receives an input signal, an A/D converter that performs an A/D conversion process on a signal amplified by the amplifier circuit, first to Nth D/A converters that are provided corresponding to the first to Nth amplifiers and used to perform an offset adjustment of the first to Nth amplifiers, and a control circuit that sets an offset adjustment of the first to Nth amplifiers using the first to Nth D/A converters and a gain adjustment of the first to Nth amplifiers.
US07924201B2
A current output type digital-analog conversion circuit which outputs a current signal includes a decoder for decoding higher-order bits of input digital data, a plurality of binary current generators, and a current adder. Each of the binary current generators includes a device for outputting a binary current which increases linearly as binary values according to lower-order bits of the input digital data, and a device for outputting a predetermined all-ON current. Either the device for outputting the binary current or the element for outputting the all-ON current of the binary current generator is selected according to a decode signal output by the decoder. The current adder adds up and outputs the binary currents and the all-ON currents output by the plurality of binary current generators.
US07924187B2
A multi-speed burst mode serializer/de-serializer (SerDes) is configurable and can operate in one of a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes correspond to the reception of signals from optical network units that operate at different nominal speeds. These various modes of operation can enable a single SerDes design to apply to a variety of speeds and network configurations (e.g., point-to-point or point-to-multipoint). In one example, the design can be initially configured for operation with a single ONT or a network of ONTs at a single speed, or can be dynamically configured during operation for use with a network of ONTs operating at different speeds.
US07924183B2
A method and system for decompressing a compressed file is disclosed in this invention, the method comprising: reading a compressed data block from the compressed file; decompressing the compressed data block; outputting the decompressed data for storage into a decompressed file; deleting the compressed data block that was decompressed from the compressed file. The proposed method and system in this invention can reduce the unnecessary repeated data between compressed data and decompressed data. The storage space requirement will be reduced during decompression, and the existing compression/decompression algorithms need not be changed by using this invention. Thus, this invention is easy to be integrated into existing compression/decompression tools.
US07924176B2
Methods and apparatus for implementing an n-state ripple-adder scheme coder with n≧2 using an n-state reversible switching function and a non-reversible n-state switching function acting upon a first and a second word of at least 2 n-state symbols are disclosed. Corresponding decoding methods and apparatus are also disclosed. A resulting codeword may be a codeword which can be decoded by using the identical or different n-state switching functions in a corresponding ripple adder scheme decoder. Feistel networks and LFSRs apply the coding and decoding. Systems using the coding and decoding methods may be communication, storage and/or financial systems.
US07924175B2
Disclosed in a wearable electronic device including an optical keypad supported by a keypad housing. The optical keypad may include a plurality of keys disposed along the keypad housing, and a plurality of illumination sources and optical receivers with a corresponding illumination source and optical receiver for each of the plurality of keys. The keypad signal interface may be limited to three connections, to provide a connection for power, a connection for ground, and a connection for data between the keypad housing and the main housing. The electronic device may also include at least one optical receiver configured to be optically coupled to at least one of the plurality of illumination sources, and configured to convert a received optical signal representing data into an electrical signal representing data. The illumination sources may provide optical signals during key presses, and may in addition provide key illumination for unpressed keys.
US07924166B2
A system for detecting and containing a breach in a container. The container wall includes containment layers and a sensor layer sandwiched between the containment layers. The sensor layer contains a signal path that can be carried by a signal cable such as fiber optic or wire cable. The containment layers contain shards of material. When the wall of the container is compromised, the signal in the sensor layer is altered by the disturbed shards cutting the signal cable, thus allowing for the detection of a rupture, vandalism or an unauthorized access attempt, The containment layers may be composed of a gel or rubber material to slow leakage.
US07924164B1
A detection system senses the location of a preselected color within one or more monitored zones of a machine tool. If the operator of a machine tool wears a red glove, the system detects the location of the color red and defines various monitored zones through the use of synchronization signals and a time circuit. The system can take action based on the location of the particular monitored zones in which the red glove is sensed. These actions can include the sounding of a horn, the lighting of a light, or the deactivation of the machine tool.
US07924142B2
Generally stated, the present disclosure relates to wiping substrates such as wet wipes and dry wipes that include a thermal grill utilized to deliver a warming sensation. In an exemplary aspect, disposed on at least one structural layer of the wipe substrate is a thermal grill. The thermal grill includes an alternating pattern of thermally active areas and secondary areas that provide a feeling of warmth to a user of the wipe across the entire surface of the wipe. The thermally active portions of the wipe include a temperature change substance that when in liquid communication with an activation agent is adapted to provide a temperature change of at least 5° C. from the temperature of the secondary portion. By providing a thermal grill with thermally active portions, the entire wipe gives the user of the wipe a warming sensation.
US07924141B2
A method of coordinating a plurality of RFID readers includes controlling the RFID readers such that only one of the readers performs an inventory of RFID tags at a time. A system for coordinating a plurality of RFID readers is also provided.
US07924140B2
The invention relates to an identification method carried out as follows. A surface structure and an inner structure of a body member are measured (ST1-ST4, ST7) so as to obtain a surface-structure measurement result (FPM) and an inner-structure measurement result (BVPM), respectively. The surface-structure measurement result (FPM) is compared (ST5) with a surface-structure reference result (FPR) that distinguishes an individual from other individuals. The inner-structure measurement result (BVPM) is compared (ST8) with an inner-structure reference result (BVPR) that is associated with the same individual and that distinguishes the individual from other individuals. The body member may be, for example, a finger. In that case, the surface structure comprises a fingerprint and the inner structure comprises a blood-vessel pattern.
US07924137B2
A fuse includes a fusible element and a body member encased within a heat-resistant housing. The fusible element is configured to open an electrical circuit coupled to a storage battery in response to an over-current in the electrical circuit. The housing is configured to contain an arc generated by the fusible element in response to the over-current and to shield the arc and the fusible element from ambient particles. Thus, the fuse is ignition protected. The body member includes an insulating material configured to interrupt the arc. The housing includes an opening configured to receive a terminal of the storage battery or a terminal of a mounting plate. An insulating material disposed about a first end of the mounting plate terminal is configured to electrically isolate the fuse and a power supply cable in the electrical circuit from the mounting plate terminal.
US07924132B2
A reduced cost energy transfer element for power converter circuits. In one embodiment, an energy transfer element according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic element having an external surface with at least a first winding and a second winding wound around the external surface of the magnetic element without a bobbin. As such, energy to be received from a power converter circuit input is to be transferred from the first winding to the second winding through a magnetic coupling provided by the magnetic element to a power converter circuit output.
US07924118B2
In a duplexer, a transmission elastic wave filter and a reception elastic wave filter are mounted on a laminated substrate, a coil connected between an antenna terminal and a ground potential is provided on the laminated substrate, the reception elastic wave filter has first and second ground pads connected to ground potentials of IDTs connected to first and second balanced terminals, the distance between the second ground pad and the coil is greater than the distance between the first ground pad and the coil, and an inductance component in a conductive path E connecting the second ground pad to the second ground terminal is less than an inductance component in a conductive path D connecting the first ground pad to the first ground terminal, so as to improve isolation characteristics between first and second balanced terminals of a reception filter chip.
US07924115B2
Disclosed is a DPDT RF switch. The DPDT RF switch includes: first to fourth transmission lines for forming first to fourth ports, respectively; and first to fourth slot line pattern sections. The first slot line pattern section includes: a first slot line; and a first switching device for blocking signal transfer by short-circuiting a gap of a slot line. The third slot line pattern section includes: a third slot line; and a third switching device for blocking signal transfer by short-circuiting a gap of a slot line. The second slot line pattern section includes: a first loop-shaped slot line; a second slot line; and a second switching device for blocking signal transfer by short-circuiting a gap of a slot line. The fourth slot line pattern section includes: a second loop-shaped slot line; a fourth slot line; and a fourth switching device for blocking signal transfer by short-circuiting a gap of a slot line.
US07924108B2
An oscillator circuit has a crystal oscillator amplifier having only two clock input terminals, one being an input terminal and the other being an output terminal. The input terminal allows a user of the integrated circuit to choose between connecting a first clock signal generated from a crystal or a second clock signal generated by a non-crystal source to the input terminal. Control circuitry has a capacitor coupled in parallel with a transistor. Both are coupled in series with a resistive device at an output of the control circuitry to provide a control signal. Clock generation circuitry coupled to the crystal oscillator amplifier provides an oscillating output signal in response to an enable signal. In one form a comparator circuit provides the oscillating output signal. The control signal is used to ensure that inputs to the comparator circuit repeatedly cross each other over time.
US07924106B2
To provide an oscillation module which is able to improve an input level by passing signals in a main signal band while removing near noise and far noise.An oscillation module is provided with an OCXO, an amplifier, and a noise elimination filter. The noise elimination filter includes: a BPF passing a signal in the main signal band and eliminating far noise with respect to the main signal band; an L-BEF eliminating near noise in a low frequency band with respect to the main signal band; and an H-BEF eliminating near noise in a high frequency band with respect to the main signal band. Each filter is configured with a crystal filter.
US07924098B2
A first FET is inserted in a series position between a signal input terminal and a signal output terminal, while second and third FETs are inserted in a shunt position respectively between the signal input terminal and a ground terminal and between the signal output terminal and a ground terminal. First and second reference voltage terminals and a control terminal are provided. A first reference voltage and a control voltage are applied to the first FET, while a second reference voltage and a control voltage are applied respectively to the second and third FETs, so that the first, second, and third FETs serve as variable resistors. As such, a gain control circuit is constructed. Further, a first resistor is provided in parallel to the first FET, while second and third resistors are provided respectively in series to the second and third FETs.
US07924095B2
An operational amplifier is provided. The operational amplifier includes a first transistor configured to receive a first input voltage, a second transistor configured to receive a second input voltage, and a current steering module coupled to first and second transistors and configured to receive a reference voltage. The first and second transistors form a differential pair. The first transistor, second transistor, and current steering module are configured such that a current is steered from the current steering module or to the current steering module based on common-mode voltages of the first and second input voltages and the reference voltage to set a common-mode output voltage of the operational amplifier.
US07924088B1
An offset voltage calibration method is disclosed, which is utilized for calibrating an offset voltage of an electronic device during a calibration period. The offset voltage calibration method includes generating a control signal according to an output signal of the electronic device, counting a count value and generating an offset indication signal according to the control signal, stopping counting and generating a final count value according to a compensation value after the output signal changes state, generating a calibration signal according to the count value or the final count value, and calibrating the offset voltage according to the offset indication signal and the calibration signal.
US07924087B2
A reference buffer circuit with high driving capability is disclosed. In which, a buffering stage has a first NMOS transistor and a first PMOS transistor to provide high and low tracking voltages respectively based on a high input voltage and a low input voltage. A first driving stage is driven by the high and low tracking voltages to output a first high output voltage and a first low output voltage. A body of the first PMOS transistor is tied to a first bias voltage lower than a supply voltage for the buffering and first driving stages.
US07924078B2
Bistable circuit switching at the edges of a clock signal, including means for pre-charging an intermediate node of the circuit, delay means including a chain of inverters defining a time window around an edge of said clock signal, means for discharging the intermediate node controlled by at least one input data item making it possible to discharge the intermediate node for the duration of said time window, characterized in that the delay means include means for temporally adjusting the duration of the time window to the time for discharging the intermediate node through said discharge means.
US07924052B1
A cluster internal routing network for use in a programmable logic device with a cluster-based architecture employs a Clos network-based routing architecture. The routing architecture is a multi-stage blocking architecture, where the number of inputs to the first stage exceeds the number of outputs from the first stage.
US07924040B2
Methods, devices, and systems for probing electrical circuits without loading the circuits are described herein. One embodiment of an electrical probe includes a coaxial cable having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, an extension portion of the inner conductor extending beyond the outer conductor at a probe end of the cable. The electrical probe includes a conductive whisker having a first portion separated from and extending a distance along the extension portion such that the first portion and the extension portion form a first capacitor and a second portion having a probe tip for receiving an input test signal from a circuit node under test.
US07924034B2
In an electrical connecting apparatus, a thermal deformation restriction member, a reinforcing plate, and an auxiliary member are made of materials having smaller thermal expansion coefficients in this order, and a wiring board supporting a probe assembly is coupled with the reinforcing plate. The auxiliary member has a void inside the coupling region with the reinforcing plate. The void receives the deformed part when the center portion of the wiring board is deformed toward the reinforcing plate. Thus, the thermal deformation restriction member, the reinforcing plate, and the auxiliary member function as a three-layer bimetal having a sandwich structure, and the thermal deformation of the wiring board is restricted effectively.
US07924032B1
A method for fabricating pipeline coating samples containing synthetic disbonds to be used in estimating a condition of a coating of an underground pipeline. The method includes the steps of providing a section of a pipe having a predetermined diameter and length; installing end caps on opposing ends of the pipe section, each end cap having an electrical connection extending therefrom; applying a material having a low dielectric coefficient around the pipe segment between the end caps to simulate an air-filled disbond; varying the coverage area of material to simulate various disbond sizes; and wrapping the pipe segment and end caps with tape to cover the material having a low dielectric coefficient.
US07924027B2
An arrangement and method are provided for determining the distance between an objective of a microscope and a sample examined with the microscope. Fitted on the objective or in the immediate vicinity of the objective is a capacitive sensor in whose measuring range the sample and/or a microscope slide supporting the sample is located or into which it can be brought. The sample and/or the slide causing a measurable change in the capacitance of the sensor. From the change in the capacitance of the sensor, the distance of the sample and/or of the microscope slide from the sensor is determined, and thus the distance of the sample from the objective. A capacitive distance sensor can be applied in such an arrangement by which a stray field can be generated between at least two electrodes. The capacitance experiences a measurable change owing to an object introduced into the stray field. The electrodes of the sensor are arranged as substantially coaxial lateral surfaces. The electrodes are designed such that the sensor can be plugged onto the objective of the microscope, the lateral surfaces at least partially enclosing and touching the objective.
US07924020B2
An apparatus and associated method is provided for suspending a test object in a gravitational field from a support member, exciting the test object by noncontactingly engaging it with a predetermined waveform force, and characterizing the test object qualitatively in relation to an observed modal frequency response of the test object to the excitation.
US07924004B2
The present invention provides nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising means for applying a static magnetic field (H0) to a sample under investigation, a radio frequency circuit arranged to be inductively coupled to the sample by means of an oscillating magnetic field disposed generally perpendicular to the static magnetic field for applying an excitation signal to the sample, and an electric potential sensor (E1, E2) for detecting the excitation of the sample and for generating a detection output. The electric potential sensor comprises an electrode placed generally perpendicular to the axis of the oscillating magnetic field for capacitively coupling the electric potential sensor to the sample.
US07924003B2
NMR signal contributions from water and fat are separated using a model of the fat resonant frequency spectrum that has multiple resonant peaks. The relative frequencies of the multiple fat spectrum peaks are known a priori and their relative amplitudes are determined using a self-calibration process. With the determined relative amplitudes of the fat spectrum peaks, acquired NMR signals are modeled. Using this model and NMR signal data acquired at a plurality of echo times (TE), the signal contribution from multiple fat spectrum peaks is separated from the acquired NMR signal data. A combined image is alternatively produced from weighted contributions of the separated water and fat images. Additionally, a more accurate estimation of the apparent relaxation time and rate (T*2 and R*2, respectively) is alternatively performed.
US07923992B2
An apparatus and a method for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being mixed use sensors detecting ferrous taggant particles in the component(s) and the mixture. The sensors include an annular drive coil positioned between inner and outer annular sense coils all surrounding a passage for material being sensed. The ratio is determined by comparing a signal generated by one sensor through which a taggant particle containing component is flowing with a signal generated by another sensor through which the mixture is flowing delayed by the time required for the component to flow from the one sensor to the another sensor. The signals can also be used to control the flow of the components and to check the mixture after use.
US07923988B2
A test equipment to test power over Ethernet (PoE) function of an Ethernet device comprises a first connector, a second connector, a data signal transmission circuit, a first polarity determination circuit, a second polarity determination circuit and a notification circuit. The first connector receives and transmits data signals and power signals transmitted by the Ethernet device. The data signal transmission circuit transmits the data signals to the second connector and outputs the power signals. The first and second polarity determination circuits receive and output the power signals to the notification circuit. The notification circuit receives the power signals and consequently generates a notice to indicate the PoE function of the Ethernet device is normal.
US07923985B2
A range-changing circuit for a measurement device having a desirable range includes an array of graduated impedances. And amplifier supplies an electrical voltage to at least one of the impedances of the array. A voltage sensing and limiting switch is provided in a feedback path of the amplifier. The switch limits said electrical voltage supplied to said at least one of the impedances in response to a sensed voltage that is sensed by the switch. An electrical voltage in the desirable range is developed across a different one of the impedances of the array based on an operation of the switch.
US07923984B2
A universal, wireless, nano-optical voltmeter comprises an organic core having at least one voltage-sensitive dye and at least one polymeric shell substantially surrounding the organic core. The nano-optical voltmeter can detect electric fields in cells. The nano-optical voltmeter allows three-dimensional E field profiling throughout the entire volume of living cells. The nano-optical voltmeter may be calibrated externally and then applied for E field determinations inside any live cell or cellular compartment, with no further calibration steps.
US07923979B2
A control system for dynamically adjusting an output voltage of a voltage converter includes a signal calculation circuit, a pulse width modulator, a voltage converter, a nonlinear calibration circuit and a signal converter. The signal calculation circuit, the pulse width modulator, the voltage converter and the signal converter form a long-tail loop. The signal calculation circuit simultaneously receives a target value and a detection value from the signal converter to generate an error value for adjusting the output of the pulse width modulator. The voltage converter and the nonlinear calibration circuit form a local pulse-squashing loop. Pulse widths of an input signal to the voltage converter can be timely and effectively calibrated and controlled, thereby decreasing power consumption of the voltage converter and providing an effective protective mechanism.
US07923956B2
A control device, for a servo die cushion, capable of improving a response after overshoot generated by collision of a slide and a die cushion. The control device has a local maximum point judging part which judges a local maximum point based on the detected speed of the servomotor; a speed correction value calculating part which calculates a speed correction value for the servomotor based on the judgment result and the detected speed of the slide; a second force commanding part which generates a second force command value, the second force command value decreasing from an initial value to a first force command value, the initial value being equal to the force detected value when reaching generally the local maximum point. The force command value is switched from the first force command value to the second force command value, when the force detected value reaches the local maximum point.
US07923941B2
The present application claims a compact low cost topology solution of a ballast for a discharge lamp that can provide both high power factor and low total harmonic distortion with fewer components than prior art. The topology provides the feature of a low crest factor and quick start that increase both the lamp life and the number of starts for the product. By using Bipolar Junction Transistor instead of Field Effect Transistor as the main switches and also a lower value electrolytic, the cost and size are considerably reduced.
US07923939B1
A mixed mode control for dimmable fluorescent lamp provides a smooth and continuous control of output of the lamp. A load threshold, below which the output of the discharge lamp could not be effectively controlled by the conventional frequency control, is determined. During the dimming of the discharge lamp, when the load is not lower than the load threshold, the conventional frequency control is employed. However, when the load is lower than the load threshold, a complementary duty cycle control is used.
US07923937B2
The light emitting device has a limiter transistor which is connected to a monitoring element, and an inverter an output terminal of which is connected to a gate electrode of the limiter transistor and an input terminal of which is connected to one electrode of the limiter transistor and the monitoring element. In the case where the monitoring element is short-circuited, the limiter transistor can be turned off by the inverter to correct a defect of the monitoring element.
US07923935B2
A lighting fixture (1010) has a fluorescent tube (1012) and a plurality of emitters (1022-1032). A color sensor (1016) detects light that has been totally internally reflected within a diffuser (1014) and provides a color feedback signal to a feedback control circuit (1020) to control the light output from the fixture (1012).
US07923933B2
An apparatus and method for detecting lamp failure is described for an array of lamps used in a rapid thermal processing system. The lamp failure detection system enables identification of a failed lamp among a plurality of lamps, and also provides identification of the failure type. The apparatus applies a lamp failure detection method to the voltage drop values measured across each lamp to determine if a lamp is in a failure state. In one embodiment, a field programmable gate array is used to apply a failure detection method to the lamp voltage values.
US07923927B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display. The organic light emitting display includes a display panel including a first substrate in which an organic light emitting diode is formed, a second substrate arranged on the top of the first substrate and a sealing material for combining the first substrate with the second substrate. The device includes a bezel including a lower surface and a plurality of sidewalls extending from edges of the lower surface, wherein a space for receiving the display panel is defined by the lower surface and the sidewalls. The device further includes a reinforcing lattice arranged between the display panel and the bezel.
US07923923B2
An organic light emitting display device including: a substrate; a sealing member; an organic light emitting device between the substrate and the sealing member and for displaying images; a selective light absorbing layer on a surface of the sealing member facing the organic light emitting device and including pigments for selectively absorbing light; and a black matrix layer on the selective light absorbing layer corresponding to non-emission areas of the organic light emitting device.
US07923921B2
An organic electroluminescent device. The organic electroluminescent device comprises a first barrier layer disposed on a substrate; organic electroluminescent elements disposed over the first barrier layer and encapsulated with a second barrier layer; and a getter layer disposed between the first and second barrier layers. Each of the first and second barrier layers includes an organic layer and an inorganic layer covering the top and sidewall surfaces of the organic layer, thus providing stacked inorganic sidewalls to hinder moisture and oxygen.
US07923916B2
An organic electroluminescent device including a switching element and a driving element connected to the switching element on a substrate including a pixel region, a cathode connected to the driving element, in which the cathode includes molybdenum (Mo), an emitting layer on the cathode, and an anode on the emitting layer.
US07923912B2
A light emission having: a first substrate; a second substrate opposite the first substrate; a sealing member between the first and second substrates and forming a vacuum envelope with the first and second substrates. The device also includes an electron emission unit on the first substrate, the electron emission unit having a plurality of pixel regions, each of the plurality of pixel regions having an independently controlled electron emission; a light emission unit on the second substrate, the light emission unit having a phosphor layer and an anode electrode on the phosphor layer; at least one anode button penetrating the second substrate at a region enclosed by the sealing member and spaced apart from the light emission unit; and a conductive layer on the second substrate and electrically coupling the anode button to the anode electrode.
US07923907B2
A robust LED lamp may be assembly by forming a heat sinking sandwich with two metal heat sinks positioned around the circuit board and pinned together a heat conductive element. The assembly is positioned by pressing it into a base providing electrical connections. The robust assembly is rapidly assembled, thermally effective in draining or spreading heat from the circuit board and is readily adaptable to a variety of applications lighting. The heat sink may be decorated, colored or otherwise esthetically enhanced for consumer appreciation.
US07923902B2
Electroactive polymer constructions that convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and vice versa are disclosed. The subject transducers (actuators, generators, sensors or combinations thereof) share the requirement of a frame or fixture element used in preloading elastomeric film electrodes and dielectric polymer in a desired configuration. The structures are either integrally biased in a push-pull arrangement or preloaded/biased by another element.
US07923899B2
An ultrasonic actuator (3) includes an actuator body (4) performing a plurality of vibrations including a bending vibration, and a driver element (5) which is attached to a long side surface (40b) of the actuator body (4), and outputs a driving force by making an orbit motion in response to the vibrations of the actuator body (4). The driver element (5) is provided with an attachment surface (51), and is attached to the long side surface (40b) with the attachment surface (51) in surface contact with the long side surface (40b). A width of the attachment surface (51) in the longitudinal direction of the long side surface (40b) is smaller than a maximum width of the driver element (5) in the longitudinal direction of the long side surface (40b).
US07923898B2
A piezo drive system includes an elastic fixing frame, a drive element, a rod, and a rotor. A vamplate portion is formed on the outer surface of the rod. One end of the rod is secured to around the center of a face of the drive element. The rotor consists of a cylindrical portion and a disk portion, and can rotate relative to the rod. Protrusions are formed on the inside of a top surface portion of the fixing frame to push against the disk portion. Using the drive element, the rod rotates while tilting and makes a surface contact with the vamplate portion, producing friction. Consequently, the rotor is rotated.
US07923895B2
The present invention provides devices and structures and methods of use thereof in electrochemical actuation. This invention provides electrochemical actuators, which are based, inter-alia, on an electric field-driven intercalation or alloying of high-modulus inorganic compounds, which can produce large and reversible volume changes, providing high actuation energy density, high actuation authority and large free strain.
US07923892B2
A switch for a recording circuit used to determine brush wear of an electrical brush comprises a flag having a first end and a second end defining distal ends of the flag. The flag is mounted on the electrical brush at the first end so as to move in unison with brush wear while being in electrical communication with the electrical brush and has a piercing feature on the second end. The switch further comprises a contact plate arrange relative to the flag so as to bring the flag in contact with the contact plate at a predetermined brush wear and includes an inner conductive core encased by a cover forming an outer layer of the contact plate, wherein the piercing feature is configured to penetrate the cover and to contact the conductive core to cause electrically continuous contact between the flag and the contact plate and close the switch.
US07923890B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a generator frame that includes a spring ring configured to mount removably between an outer annular support and a stator. The spring ring includes a first guide configured to circumferentially align the spring ring to the outer annular support, and a second guide configured to circumferentially align the spring ring to the stator.
US07923880B2
A single phase stepping motor has a stator, and a rotor disposed to surround the stator. The stator includes first and second annular stator yokes, which are disposed opposite to each other and have a plurality of pole teeth formed along a circumference thereof, and an annular stator coil disposed between the first and second stator yokes. The rotor includes a ring magnet, which is disposed to surround the first and second stator yokes, and has a plurality of magnetic poles formed along a circumference of the rotor, and a shaft disposed at a center position of the magnet. At least a partial region of a gap formed between each of the pole teeth and the opposing magnetic pole of the magnet is non-uniform in a predetermined direction.
US07923879B2
A permanent magnet motor includes a rotor and a plurality of permanent magnets located inside a rotor core. One or more of the permanent magnets having relatively smaller coercive forces have a first magnetic characteristic that when a magnetizing magnetic field is caused to act on the permanent magnets, a magnetic susceptibility is substantially at 0 until reaching an inflection point during magnetization, and when exceeding the inflection point, the magnetic susceptibility enters a loop approximating to the hysteresis loop in a first quadrant, and a second magnetic characteristic that when a demagnetizing magnetic field is caused to act on the permanent magnets, a magnetic susceptibility is substantially at 0 until reaching the inflection point during demagnetization, and when exceeding the inflection point, the magnetic susceptibility enters a loop approximating to the hysteresis loop in a second quadrant.
US07923872B2
In an armature of a motor, each of windings is wound around at least two of a plurality of tooth portions of a core to form at least two wound parts of the winding. A crossover of each winding, which connects between corresponding two of the at least two wound parts, is placed on one axial side of a ring portion of the core. A crossover relief space is axially recessed in an end surface of the ring portion on the one axial side. At least a portion of each crossover is received in the crossover relief space. Guides project on the other axial side of the core and guide winding terminal portions of the windings.
US07923869B2
A power adapter includes a primary side for receiving power from a mains power supply; a secondary side for providing operating and/or charging power, derived from the primary side, to an electronic device connected to the secondary side; presence logic for determining whether the electronic device is connected to the secondary side; and switching logic for turning off the primary side automatically when the presence logic determines the electronic device is not connected. The power adapter thus shuts itself down if no electronic device is attached, and automatically starts itself up when a device is connected to the power adapter and is thus needed. The power adapter may also include voltage detection logic that detects when the device is fully charged. The power adapter also shuts itself down when an attached electronic device becomes fully charged, and automatically starts itself up when the charged state of the electronic device falls below a predetermined level. While shut down, the power adapter consumes either no power or very little power. The power adapter may wake itself up and provide power to a device even in the event the device itself is without power, such as when the device is turned off and/or has a flat or dead battery.
US07923866B2
When power storage units and are both in a normal condition, system relays are maintained in an ON state. A converter performs a voltage conversion operation in accordance with a voltage control mode, and a converter performs a boost operation in accordance with an electric power control mode. If some kind of fault condition occurs in the power storage unit and the system relay is driven to an OFF state, the converters stop the voltage conversion operation and maintain an electrically conducting state between the power storage units and a main positive bus, a main negative bus.
US07923856B2
A method for causing, in a power distribution network, an oscillation allowing data to be transmitted, includes connecting at least one capacitive load in series with a modulation circuit between two wires of the network. The amplitude modulation circuit includes at least one Zener diode and at least one switch. A short make pulse is applied to the switch such that it is conductive and short-circuits the Zener diode by modulating the amplitude of the network voltage. The duration of the make pulse is such that the amplitude modulation of the network voltage causes a response of the network in the form of a high-frequency oscillation of the network voltage.
US07923851B2
A microelectronic assembly can include a microelectronic device having device contacts exposed at a surface thereof and an interconnection element having element contacts and having a face adjacent to the microelectronic device. Conductive elements, e.g., wirebonds connect the device contacts with the element contacts and have portions extending in runs above the surface of the microelectronic device. A conductive layer has a conductive surface disposed at at least a substantially uniform distance above or below the plurality of the runs of the conductive elements. In some cases, the conductive material can have first and second dimensions in first and second horizontal directions which are smaller than first and second corresponding dimensions of the microelectronic device. The conductive material is connectable to a source of reference potential so as to achieve a desired impedance for the conductive elements.
US07923846B2
A multiple encapsulation integrated circuit package-in-package system includes: dicing a top integrated circuit wafer having a bottom encapsulant thereon to form a top integrated circuit die with the bottom encapsulant; positioning internal leadfingers adjacent and connected to a bottom integrated circuit die; pressing the bottom encapsulant on to the bottom integrated circuit die; connecting the top integrated circuit die to external leadfingers adjacent the internal leadfingers; and forming a top encapsulant over the top integrated circuit die.
US07923836B2
A microelectronic element and a related method for fabricating such is provided. The microelectronic element comprises a contact pad overlying a major surface of a substrate. The contact pad has a composition including copper at a contact surface. A passivation layer is also provided overlying the major surface of the substrate. The passivation layer overlies the contact pad such that it exposes at least a portion of the contact surface. A plurality of metal layers arranged in a stack overlie the contact surface and at least a portion of the passivation layer. The stack includes multiple layers, which can have different thicknesses and different metals, with the lowest layer including titanium (Ti) and nickel (Ni) in contact with the contact surface.
US07923828B2
An interconnect element is provided which includes a dielectric element having a first major surface, a second major surface remote from the first major surface, and a plurality of recesses extending inwardly from the first major surface. A plurality of metal traces are embedded in the plurality of recesses, the metal traces having outer surfaces substantially co-planar with the first major surface and inner surfaces remote from the outer surfaces. A plurality of posts extend from the inner surfaces of the plurality of metal traces through the dielectric element, the plurality of posts having tops exposed at the second major surface. A multilayer wiring board including a plurality of such interconnect elements is also provided, as well as various methods for making such interconnect elements and multilayer wiring boards.
US07923824B2
The present invention provides microelectronic component assemblies and lead frame structures that may be useful in such assemblies. For example, one such lead frame structure may include a set of leads extending in a first direction and a dam bar. Each of the leads may have an outer length and an outer edge. The dam bar may include a plurality of dam bar elements, with each dam bar element being joined to the outer lengths of two adjacent leads. In this example, each dam bar element has an outer edge that extends farther outwardly than the outer edges of the two adjacent leads. The outer edges of the leads and the outer edges of the dam bar elements together define an irregular outer edge of the dam bar. Other lead frame structures and various microelectronic component assemblies are also shown and described.
US07923820B2
A porous dielectric element is produced by forming a first dielectric and a second dielectric. The second dielectric is dispersed in the first dielectric. The second dielectric is then removed from the second dielectric by using a chemical dissolution. The removal of the second dielectric from the first dielectric leaves pores in the first dielectric. The pores, which are filled with air, improve the overall dielectric constant of the resulting dielectric element.
US07923817B2
A semiconductor device includes a first capacitor comprising a plurality of first unit capacitors interconnected to each other, each having a first unit capacitance; and a second capacitor comprising a plurality of second unit capacitors interconnected to each other, each having a second unit capacitance, wherein the first unit capacitors and the second unit capacitors have equal numbers of unit capacitors. The first unit capacitors and the second unit capacitors are arranged in an array with rows and columns and placed in an alternating pattern in each row and each column. The first and the second unit capacitors each have a total number greater than two.
US07923814B2
A semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulating film and an inductor. The inductor includes a first soft magnetic thin film pattern formed on the interlayer insulating film, the first soft magnetic film comprising a) at least one material selected from Fe, Co, Ni, or alloys thereof b) at least one element selected from Ti, Hf, or B, and c) N, a metal film pattern formed on the first soft magnetic thin film pattern and a second soft magnetic thin film pattern formed on the metal film pattern, the second soft magnetic thin film pattern comprising a) at least one material selected from Fe, Co, Ni, or alloys thereof; b) at least one element selected from Ti, Hf, or B; and c) N. Edges of the first soft magnetic thin film pattern, edges of the metal film pattern and edges of the second soft magnetic thin film pattern are vertically aligned.
US07923811B1
An electronic fuse (“E-fuse”) cell is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The E-fuse cell has a fuse element with a fuse link extending from a first fuse terminal across a thick dielectric structure to a second fuse terminal. The first and second fuse terminals are separated from the semiconductor substrate by a thin dielectric layer.
US07923807B2
A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate of the first conductivity type. A well layer of the first conductivity type is selectively formed on the semiconductor substrate. A first diffused layer of the second conductivity type is selectively formed on the well layer. A second diffused layer of the second conductivity type is formed on the well layer apart from the first diffused layer. A control electrode is formed on an insulating film between the first diffused layer and the second diffused layer. A main electrode is formed on each of the first diffused layer and the second diffused layer. A first trench is formed in the semiconductor substrate surrounding the well layer. A third diffused layer of the second conductivity type is formed contacting to the first trench. The second diffused layer and the third diffused layer are electrically kept at the same potential.
US07923802B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus for forming a photodiode. One embodiment provides a thin dielectric layer sandwiched between two metallic plates (electrodes), one or both of which are periodically patterned in one or two dimensions. The effect of the pattern is to couple incident light within some range of wavelength and/or incidence angles to surface excitations of the metal surface called surface plasmons, enhancing the electric field near the surface and resulting in dramatically increased photo-absorption and carrier generation in the dielectric layer.
US07923783B2
A semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a resistance element which is constructed with a first conductor which extends in a first direction and is connected to a first contact; a second conductor which extends in said first direction and is connected to a second contact; and a first insulation film which exists between said first conductor and said second conductor, said first insulation film also having an opening in which a third conductor which connects said first conductor and said second conductor is arranged.
US07923778B2
A salicide process is conducted to a thin film integrated circuit without worrying about damages to a glass substrate, and thus, high-speed operation of a circuit can be achieved. A base metal film, an oxide and a base insulating film are formed over a glass substrate. A TFT having a sidewall is formed over the base insulating film, and a metal film is formed to cover the TFT. Annealing is conducted by RTA or the like at such a temperature that does not cause shrinkage of the substrate, and a high-resistant metal silicide layer is formed in source and drain regions. After removing an unreacted metal film, laser irradiation is conducted for the second annealing; therefore a silicide reaction proceeds and the high-resistant metal silicide layer becomes a low-resistant metal silicide layer. In the second annealing, a base metal film absorbs and accumulates heat of the laser irradiation, and a semiconductor layer is supplied with beat of the base metal film in addition to heat of the laser irradiation, thereby enhancing efficiency of the silicide reaction in the source and drain regions.
US07923775B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of trench patterns formed over a substrate; gate insulation layers formed over sidewalls of the trench patterns; gate electrodes formed over the trench patterns; line patterns coupling the gate electrodes; and source and drain regions formed in upper and lower portions of the substrate adjacent to the sidewalls of the trench patterns.
US07923774B2
A semiconductor device includes a drain, a body disposed over the drain, a source embedded in the body, a gate trench extending through the source and the body into the drain, a gate disposed in the gate trench, a source body contact trench extending through the source into the body, a conductive contact layer disposed along at least a portion of a source body contact trench sidewall and in contact with at least a portion of the source, and a trench filling material disposed in the source body contact trench and overlaying at least a portion of the conductive contact layer.
US07923765B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell region which is formed on a semiconductor substrate to store predetermined information, and a peripheral circuit region which is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The memory cell region includes a gate electrode; and a charge storage layer, the charge storage layer being formed to be a notch or wedge shape having an edge extending into both sides of a bottom end of the gate electrode. The peripheral circuit region includes no charge storage layer therein.
US07923761B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate insulation film that is formed of pyroceramics including an amorphous matrix layer, which is provided on a major surface of a silicon substrate, and crystalline phases lines with a high dielectric constant, which are dispersed in the amorphous matrix layer. The semiconductor device further includes a gate electrode that is provided on the gate insulation film.
US07923759B2
A method for manufacturing a metal gate includes providing a substrate including a gate electrode located on the substrate. A plurality of layers is formed, including a first layer located on the substrate and the gate electrode and a second layer adjacent the first layer. The layers are etched to form a plurality of adjacent spacers, including a first spacer located on the substrate and adjacent the gate electrode and a second spacer adjacent the first spacer. The first spacer is then etched and a metal layer is formed on the device immediately adjacent to the gate electrode. The metal layer is then reacted with the gate electrode to form a metal gate.
US07923756B2
A semiconductor device with a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) type transistor structure, which is used for, e.g. a static random access memory (SRAM) type memory cell, includes a part that is vulnerable to soft errors. In the semiconductor device with the MOS type transistor structure, an additional load capacitance is formed at the part that is vulnerable to soft errors.
US07923747B2
A wafer level LED package structure includes a light-emitting unit, a first conductive unit, a second conductive unit and an insulative unit. The light-emitting unit has a light-emitting body, a positive conductive layer and a negative conductive layer formed on the light-emitting body, and a first insulative layer formed between the positive conductive layer and the negative conductive layer. The first conductive unit has a first positive conductive layer formed on the positive conductive layer and a first negative conductive layer formed on the negative conductive layer. The second conductive unit has a second positive conductive layer formed on the first positive conductive layer and a second negative conductive layer formed on the first negative conductive layer. The insulative unit has a second insulative layer formed on the first insulative layer and disposed between the second positive conductive layer and the second negative conductive layer.
US07923746B2
The present invention discloses a light emitting diode (LED) package structure, which includes a carrier, a first protrusion, a LED chip, and an adhesion layer. The first protrusion is disposed on the carrier and has a first opening to expose the carrier, wherein the first protrusion is formed by a thermal conductive material. The LED chip is disposed in the first opening on the carrier, and a ratio between a width of the first opening and a width of the LED chip is 1˜1.5. The adhesion layer is disposed between the LED chip and the carrier to bond the LED chip to the carrier.
US07923742B2
A nitride semiconductor laminated structure comprises: a substrate; a first p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed using an organometallic compound as a Group III element source material, a p-type impurity source material, and ammonia as a Group V element source material, with the hydrogen concentration in the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer being 1×1019 cm−3 or less; and a second p-type nitride semiconductor layer on the first p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed using an organometallic compound as a Group III element source material, a p-type impurity source material, and ammonia and a hydrazine derivative as Group V element source materials, with the carbon concentration in the second p-type nitride semiconductor layer being 1×1018 cm−3 or less.
US07923741B1
A semiconductor lighting device includes at least one semiconductor light emitter and at least one wavelength converting element, physically separated from the light emitter. At least one wavelength converting element has a reflective member underneath it, so that both primary light and converted light from the wavelength converting layer become a forward transferred light preventing from backscattering loss into the light emitter. The reflective member may be a thermal conductive element to effectively remove the heat from the wavelength converting element. Accordingly, the remote wavelength conversion on a reflective surface improves the thermal stability of the wavelength conversion material and prevents backscattering loss to produce a higher radiance result from the device.
US07923729B2
An active matrix substrate with a high aperture ratio is provided, which is capable of preventing electrical short circuits between pixel electrodes and auxiliary capacitive electrodes. Gate lines and auxiliary capacitive electrodes are formed on an insulated substrate. The auxiliary capacitive electrodes have holes formed therethrough. To cover the gate lines and the auxiliary capacitive electrodes, a first interlayer insulating film is formed, on which source lines, a semiconductor layer, and drain electrodes are formed. Then, a second interlayer insulating film is formed to cover all those layers. In the second interlayer insulating film, contact holes are formed to reach the drain electrodes in areas corresponding to the areas of the holes. Pixel electrodes formed on the second interlayer insulating film are connected to the drain electrodes through the contact holes.
US07923727B2
This image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes, a photoelectric conversion film arranged on the plurality of pixel electrodes, a dummy electrode formed on an end of the photoelectric conversion film for ejecting charges generated in the vicinity of the end of the photoelectric conversion film and a first transistor for controlling ejection of charges flowing into the dummy electrode.
US07923720B2
The invention is an organic luminescence transistor device including: a substrate; a first electrode layer provided on a side of an upper surface of the substrate; a layered structure provided locally on a side of an upper surface of the first electrode layer, the layered structure covering an area of a predetermined size in a plan view, the layered structure including an insulation layer, an assistance electrode layer and an electric-charge-injection inhibiting layer in this order; an organic EL layer provided on the side of an upper surface of the first electrode layer at least at an area not provided with the layered structure; and a second electrode layer provided on a side of an upper surface of the organic EL layer.
US07923719B2
In the present invention, a semiconductor device that has a nonvolatile memory element to which data can be written at times other than during manufacture and in which forgery and the like performed by rewriting of data can be prevented is provided. In addition, a semiconductor device in which a high level of integration is possible is provided. Furthermore, a semiconductor device in which miniaturization is possible is provided. In a semiconductor device having a memory element that includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an organic compound layer interposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; the second conductive layer is connected to a wiring, formed in the same way as the first conductive layer is formed, through an opening formed in the organic compound layer.
US07923716B2
There is provided a nitride semiconductor device including: an n-type nitride semiconductor layer; a p-type nitride semiconductor layer; and an active layer formed between the n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers, the active layer including a plurality of quantum well layers and at least one quantum barrier layer deposited alternately with each other, wherein the active layer includes a first quantum well layer, a second quantum well layer formed adjacent to the first quantum well layer toward the p-type nitride semiconductor layer and having a quantum level higher than a quantum level of the first quantum well layer, and a tunneling quantum barrier layer formed between the first and second quantum well layers and having a thickness enabling a carrier to be tunneled therethrough.
US07923712B2
A PCM cell structure comprises a first electrode, a phase change element, and a second electrode, wherein the phase change element is inserted in between the first electrode and the second electrode and only the peripheral edge of the first electrode contacts the phase change element thereby reducing the contact area between the phase change element and the first electrode and thereby increasing the current density through the phase change element and effectively inducing the phase change at lower levels of current and reduced programming power.
US07923701B2
Charged particle beam equipment has a processing unit for calibrating dimension values of an enlarged specimen image, and means for changing the amount by which a charged particle beam is scanned. Also, a specimen stand has a mechanism for holding a specimen having a periodical structure or a specimen simultaneously having a periodical structure and a non-periodical structure, and a storage device for automatically changing a magnification for an enlarged specimen image, and storing measured values at all magnifications.
US07923698B2
A neutron detector comprises a gas-filled dielectric shell, preferably a glass balloon, having opposite electrodes. An electric field is established whereby ionizing particles may be detected via ionization and current flow in the gas, using a pulse height analyzer or other conventional means. The dielectric shell preferably has low gas permeability and a bulk resistivity in the range of 108 to 1017 Ω-m, and is preferably in the millimeter to centimeter size range. Multiple balloons may be arranged in parallel or may be individually addressable by the detector electronics.
US07923693B2
The present invention describes scintillator-elements for use in X-ray detectors, the elements being shaped to ensure maximum absorption of the energy carried in by X-ray photons and to provide high position-resolution. Arrangements of such scintillator-elements in arrays and detector-systems comprising a plurality of arrays are described.
US07923688B2
An optical detector pixel element. The novel pixel element includes a metallic substrate having a plurality of resonant apertures, each aperture adapted to resonantly transmit electromagnetic energy in a distinct frequency band, and a plurality of detectors adapted to detect the energy transmitted by the apertures. Each aperture is adapted to collect energy incident on an area larger than the aperture and focus the energy into a smaller, localized region in which one or more of the detectors is placed. The plural apertures are positioned such that they collect energy incident on a substantially common area, but are of different sizes such that they are resonant to different frequencies. Energy in different frequency bands are therefore funneled through different apertures. In an illustrative embodiment, several identical pixel elements are joined together to form an array.
US07923687B2
A radiation image capturing system includes an image capturing apparatus for acquiring radiation image information of a subject by controlling a radiation source according to predetermined image capturing conditions, an image capturing order supply apparatus for supplying an image capturing order including the image capturing conditions, and a controller for controlling the image capturing apparatus according to the image capturing order. The controller includes an image capturing order changer for changing the image capturing order, an image capturing detail editor for editing image capturing details of the radiation image information acquired when the image capturing apparatus is controlled according to the image capturing order, and an image capturing detail supply unit for supplying the edited image capturing details.
US07923667B2
Electric Room Heater in its housing contains heaters which consist of strip of oriented cold rolled transformer sheet that are cooled by natural air circulation. Heater consists of two cross supports (11) connected by a central support (14). Between the cross supports are placed non-flammable insulating holders (13). The insulating holders have sprockets. Between sprockets lies strip of the heater of oriented cold rolled transformer sheet (12). The insulating holder (13) by its width (17) creates distance between layers of heater strips, and by sprockets width (18) makes distance between adjacent strips, windings, in the layer. These distances make channels for air circulation, thus enabling strip temperature to be less then 100° C.
US07923654B2
A capacitive touch switch having a printed circuit board and capacitive electrode provided on a surface of the printed circuit board is disclosed. The printed circuit board is interposed between a transparent planar light guide and the electrode, the planar light guide being attached to a first face of a transparent cover whose second face is adapted to be touched by the user, a light source being connected to the printed circuit board and being able to convey light to the planar light guide.
US07923648B2
A draft protection device for a balance and a balance equipped with the draft protection device, wherein the draft protection device includes front and rear panels, two side panels and a top panel, and four posts which are fixedly mounted on a top cover of the balance, and wherein the posts extend vertically. The front and rear panels rest against the posts and are held in place by grooves provided in front and rear top frames which are connected to the top ends of the posts. The side panels are slidable while the front and rear panels are stationary. A friction reduction device mounted in the scale top cover so that the side panels slide along the friction reduction device.
US07923634B2
The manufacturing method of the panel installation portion 12a allows the portions of the upper block and the lower block for forming the panel installation portion to be exchanged as the nesting blocks upon press working so as to change the protruding amount of the panel installation portion from the outer peripheral surface.
US07923630B2
An enclosure (4) for electrical apparatus (6) has a sealable outlet (8) for partially evacuating the enclosure and a sealable inlet (9)for partially filling the enclosure with a liquid (7) having a vapor pressure at operating temperatures of the apparatus suitable to enhance electrical isolation of the electrical apparatus and suitable to provide convective cooling of the electrical apparatus. The vapor preferably provides a voltage hold-off sufficiently high for operating voltages of the electrical apparatus and has a relative permittivity sufficiently low to prevent stray capacitance in the electrical apparatus above a predetermined limit.
US07923620B2
Described are methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer program products, that provide a practice mode for multiple musical parts in a rhythm-action game. In one aspect this is accomplished by displaying, on a display in communication with a game platform, a first and second target musical data associated with a musical composition. The game platform receives a selection by the user of the first target musical data to be performed and produces an audio output associated with the first and second target musical data. The game platform also produces a synthesized tone associated with the first target musical data. In some versions, the target music data that is not selected is dimmed and made less visible.
US07923618B2
The subject invention pertains to a ligature for securing a single-beating reed to a mouthpiece of any single reed woodwind instrument. According to a specific embodiment, the subject ligature can be provided with two rounded ribs affixed to the interior of a three-fingered collar that is held together across a longitudinal split by tightening screws. One of the two rounded ribs is provided with a concavity opening into the interior of the collar in order to create a triangular negative space on a surface of a secured reed. This negative space allows for asymmetrical pressure to be exerted onto the reed, which can result in a freedom of vibration and may provide subtle improvements in tone, control, articulation, and richness in the core of sound.
US07923615B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst system for the selective conversion of hydrocarbons into multi-walled carbon nanotubes and hydrogen comprising a compound of the formula: (Ni,Co)FeyOz(Al2O3)w wherein ‘y’ represents the molar fraction of Fe relative to Co and Ni and wherein 0.11≦y≦9.0, 1.12≦z≦14.5, and 1.5≦w≦64.
US07923612B1
A novel maize variety designated X6F640 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X6F640 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X6F640 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X6F640, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X6F640. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X6F640.
US07923601B2
The present invention relates to making it possible to cultivate a new flowering plant that meets the needs of the flower market, namely, a flower having a unique color, a new type of flower and the like. The present invention also relates to making it possible to process a cut flower that meets the needs of the flower market, namely, a cut flower having a unique color or a new type of cut flower. By releasing the restraint on the floral bud imposed by the outermost layer of the floral bud, the present invention provides a cultivation method of a flowering plant having a unique appearance, a flowering plant obtained by the cultivation method, a processing method of a cut flower having a unique appearance and a cut flower obtained by the processing method. The present invention further provides a chlamydeous flowering plant and a cut chlamydeous flower in each of which the restraint on the floral bud imposed by the outermost layer of the floral bud is released.
US07923591B2
Method and device for manufacturing at least one low olefin from an oxygenate-containing first reaction mixture (11) through conversion by a catalyst (20) to an olefin and paraffin-containing second reaction mixture (21) where the second reaction mixture (21) is flowed through a separation system (300), in which one at least one low olefin-containing first product stream (31) and at least one paraffin-enriched fraction (321) is extracted and where the remaining product stream (322) is at least partially recirculated to the catalyst (20).
US07923574B2
The invention relates to novel prepolymers which are accessible from the formamides of oligomeric di- or polyamines (formamide-terminated oligomers) and di- or polyisocyanates.
US07923571B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 4-alkoxycarbonyl-3-aminothiophenes of the general formula (I) and/or their hydrochlorides of the formula (I)′ in which R1 and R2 are each as defined in the description, and/or their mono- or bisacetylated or mono- or bisformylated form, by reacting enamines of the formula (II) in which R1 and R2 are each as defined in the description, and/or their mono- or bisacetylated or mono- or bisformylated form, with a chlorinating agent in the presence of one or more diluents, and also to a process for preparing the compounds of the formula (II).
US07923551B2
The present invention provides a method of purifying RNA, including contacting a solid support with an acidic solution having a RNA-containing sample and a kosmotropic salt having a concentration of less than 1M, thereby binding the RNA to the solid support. According to the present invention, RNA is purified efficiently due to high RNA yield and low contamination by DNA. The present invention is particularly effective in purifying RNAs of 200 nucleotides or less.
US07923550B2
The present invention describes novel compounds and methods for capping reactive groups on support and during multistep synthesis. These new capping reagents are also useful for high quality synthesis on solid supports and surfaces used as microarrays, biosensors, or in general as biochips. The compounds are also useful for controlling surface density of reactive groups on a support. The compounds may also be used to modify the hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics of a surface or a molecule. The compounds have functional utility in various applications in the fields of genomics, proteomics, diagnostics and medicine.
US07923541B2
A process for recovering Rebaudioside A from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plants is provided and includes the steps of sequentially extracting plant material with a first solvent to obtain a first extract, filtering the first extract and passing the first extract through a polar resin to obtain a filtrate, and purifying the filtrate to obtain a crystalline-containing material. With further purification, a product containing over 99% Rebaudioside A is obtained. The present invention is also directed toward a method of purifying stevia glycosides to obtain purified Rebaudioside A. In one embodiment, the method includes silica gel column chromatography using an solvent comprising ethyl acetate and ethanol.
US07923538B2
The present invention relates to a recombinant antibody composition having higher complement-dependent cytotoxic activity than a human IgG1 antibody and a human IgG3 antibody, wherein a polypeptide comprising a CH2 domain in the Fc region of a human IgG1 antibody is replaced by a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which corresponds to the same position of a human IgG3 antibody indicated by the EU index as in Kabat, et al.; a DNA encoding the antibody molecule or a heavy chain constant region of the antibody molecule contained in the recombinant antibody composition; a transformant obtainable by introducing the recombinant vector into a host cell; a process for producing the recombinant antibody composition using the transformant; and a medicament comprising the recombinant antibody composition as an active ingredient.
US07923535B2
A method is disclosed for producing a polypeptide with a modified activity or stability, by replacing an arginine residue capable of being ADP-ribosylated with a tryptophan or a phenylalanine. In one embodiment, compositions are provided that include polypeptides, such as alpha defensin, with arginine-to-tryptophan or arginine-to-phenylalanine substitutions, where the arginine residue is capable of being ADP-ribosylated. In another embodiment, methods are disclosed for modifying an immune response in a subject.
US07923527B1
The invention provides a carbon nanotube compound and method for producing the same. The method of the invention comprises the following steps. Firstly, Aniline-trimer and DMAc(dimethyl acetamide) solution are mixed to form a first solution. Secondly, Dianhydride and DMAc solution are mixed to form a second solution. The first solution and the second are mixed to form a third solution. Additionally, carboxyl-multiwall carbon nanotubes (c-MWNT), Diaminodiphenylether and DMAc solution are mixed to form a fourth solution. The third solution and the fourth are mixed to form a polyamic acid/CNT solution. Some polyamic acid/CNT solution is spread on a substrate and processed by a thermal treatment, and a carbon nanotube compound is eventually produced.
US07923526B2
A sulfopolyester comprising repeat residue units from the reaction product dimethyl-5-sodiosulfoisophthalate, isophthalic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and diethylene glycol, has at least one property selected from: a) an acidity of greater than 0.030 measured as milliequivalents H+/gram of sulfopolyester; b) a titanium concentration, measured as metal, of less than about 27 ppm, based on the amount of sulfopolyester; or c) an acidity of greater than 0.010 measured as milliequivalents H+/gram of sulfopolyester, a pH of less than 6.0 and a concentration of a base compound of less than 0.0335 moles/kg of sulfopolyester.A method for making the water-dispersible or water-dissipative sulfopolyester of the present invention is disclosed.Aqueous dispersion having from 0.001 to about 35 weight % of the sulfopolyester of the present invention is also disclosed.The sulfopolyester is useful in making hair spray formulations suitable for pump or aerosol spray applicators.
US07923525B2
A polyester resin and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The fabrication method includes providing a diphenol monomer and a diacid monomer. The diphenol monomer is acetylated and then melt pre-polymerized with diacid monomer to form a pre-polymer. Then, the pre-polymer is polymerized by solid state polymerization to form a heat-resistant and transparent polyester resin.
US07923523B2
A linear polymer comprising carborane, siloxane, and acetylene units, which may be cross-linked to a cured polymer and/or pyrolyzed to a ceramic.
US07923522B2
The invention provides a preparation process of organic-group-modified zeolite fine particles excellent in stability of particle size and to be used for electronic materials or the like. The preparation process comprises a first step of obtaining a liquid containing zeolite seed crystals having a particle size of 80 nm or less which are formed in the presence of a structure directing agent, a second step of adding an organic-group-containing hydrolyzable silane compound to the liquid obtained by the first step, and a third step of maturing the liquid of the second step at temperature higher than that of the first step. A dispersion liquid of zeolite fine particles obtained by the process.
US07923519B2
An FEP pellet having a volatile content of 0.2% by weight or less. The FEP pellet satisfies the following requirements (i) and (ii) when used to form a insulating material coating a core wire by extrusion coating at a coating speed of 2,800 ft/min.: (i) an adhesive strength between the insulating material and said core wire of 0.8 kg or more; and (ii) an average number of cone-breaks in the insulating material of one or less per 50,000 feet of the coated core wire.
US07923517B2
A method for producing polymer particles which includes: forming polymer particles by heterogeneous polymerization of a monomer in a supercritical fluid and/or subcritical fluid, wherein a radical polymerization initiator (I) having in a molecular at least a group having radical-generation capability and a group having affinity for the supercritical fluid and/or subcritical fluid, and a radical polymerization initiator (II) are used in combination.
US07923516B2
The present invention is a cyanate-epoxy composite resin composition comprised of a cyanate ester resin (A), an epoxy resin (B), and a latent curing agent (C), characterized in that the latent curing agent (C) is composed of a modified polyamine (c1), a phenol resin (c2) and one or more kind of polycarboxylic acid (c3). The above modified polyamine (c1) is a modified polyamine, which is obtained by the reaction of polyamine compound (c1-1) with epoxy compound (c1-2), containing one or more amino group having an active hydrogen within a molecule.
US07923504B2
Thermoplastic matrix/compound, comprising thermoplastic polymer and silanised, structurally modified, pyrogenically produced silica.
US07923499B2
Disclosed is calcium carbonate treated with a curing active ingredient, which, when compounded in a rubber, enables to provide good workability (handling) to the rubber and maximize advantageous properties of the rubber attributable to calcium carbonate (e.g., slip resistance) without deteriorating the reinforcing property of the rubber. The calcium carbonated treated with a curing active ingredient is produced by mixing a modified calcium carbonate having its surface treated with a fatty acid or a resin acid and silicic acid and having an average primary particle diameter of 0.01 to 0.5 μm with a curing active ingredient which takes a liquid form at ambient temperature so that the content of the curing active ingredient in the finished product becomes 9.1 to 35 wt %.
US07923497B2
Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a composition comprising a polymeric material; and a ceramic antiferroelectric particle. Disclosed herein too is a method of tuning a dielectric constant of a composition comprising subjecting a composition comprising a polymeric material and a ceramic antiferroelectric particle to a biasing electric field; and changing the dielectric constant of the composition. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising blending a polymeric material with ceramic antiferroelectric particles to form a composition. Disclosed herein too is a method comprising blending a polymeric material with ceramic antiferroelectric particles to form a composition; applying an electrical field to the composition; and reorienting the ceramic antiferroelectric particles.
US07923496B1
Improving the properties of polymer materials by incorporating into a polymer material an effective amount of a modifying agent, preferably trans-4-tertbutyl-1-phenylcycolhexanol. Properties such as melting point, elastic modulus and softening temperature are improved.
US07923494B2
A polyester resin composition and a molded body formed from the polyester resin composition are provided. The polyester resin composition includes a layered silicate and a crystalline polyester. The layered silicate is ion exchanged with a dimethyldialkylammonium salt and the ion exchange amount is equal to or higher than 0.7 and less than 0.9 based on an ion exchange capacity of the layered silicate. The dimethyldialkylammonium salt may be a dimethyldioctadecylammonium salt or a dimethyldidodecylammonium salt.
US07923491B2
Elastomeric compositions comprising graphite nanoparticles (preferably graphene nanoparticles) and methods for making same. Such compositions are useful for tire innertubes and tire innerliners.
US07923481B2
The present invention relates to a composition which is curable by radiation such as an ultraviolet ray or an electron beam. Specifically, the present invention relates to a curable composition which is useful for coatings and inks. The present invention provides a radiation curable composition that is highly cationically polymerizable and highly adhesive to substrates. A radiation curable composition of the present invention includes, as essential ingredients, a cationically polymerizable compound (a) represented by the following general formula 1 (wherein, R represents an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, n represents a number from 1 to 4, and m represents a number from 0 to 10); a cationic photoinitiator (b); and water (c).
US07923480B2
A composition usable as a moisture absorbent for an organic electroluminescence device. A photocurable hygroscopic composition comprising (a) a moisture-reactive organic metal compound, (b) a (meth)acrylate, (c) a carboxyl group-containing polymerizable monomer, and (d) a photopolymerization initiator. The proportion of the moisture-reactive organic metal compound (a) is from 5 to 70 wt % based on the entire composition, and the proportion of the carboxyl group-containing polymerizable monomer (c) is from 0.1 to 50 mol % based on the moisture-reactive organic metal compound (a).
US07923479B2
Superabsorbent foam comprising superabsorbent fiber and/or fruit fiber, processes for producing superabsorbent foam having improved wet strength by foaming a crosslinkable aqueous mixture comprising at least 50 mol % neutralized acid-functional monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or at least one basic polymer, crosslinker, superabsorbent synthetic fiber and/or fruit fiber and at least one surfactant and subsequently polymerizing the monomer in the foamed mixture or crosslinking the basic polymer to form a hydrogel foam and use of the thus obtainable foam in hygiene articles to absorb body fluids, in dressing material to cover wounds, as a sealing material, as a packaging material, as a soil improver, as a soil substitute, to dewater sludges, to thicken waterborne paints or coatings in the course of disposing of residual quantities thereof, to dewater water-containing oils or hydrocarbons or as a material for filters in ventilation systems.
US07923478B2
A nanoporous material is provided. The pores of the nanoporous material are formed between nanoparticles that have a polymeric surface layer. The nanoporous material is produced by (a) suspending the nanoparticles in a medium material, wherein the nanoparticles are phase separated from the medium material, (b) heating the suspension to a temperature above the melting point of the nanoparticle surface layer, and (c) cooling the suspension. Alternatively, the nanoporous material may be produced by dissolving nanoparticles having a polymeric surface layer in a solvent, and then adding a medium material that causes the nanoparticles to phase separate from the solution.
US07923474B2
Amine dispersants are disclosed. Also disclosed are organic dispersions that comprise ultrafine particles and an amine dispersant. The amine dispersant is the Michael addition product of reactants that include (a) a polyether (meth)acrylate and (b) a polyamine. Also disclosed are coating compositions that comprise such dispersions and substrates at least partially coated with such coating compositions.
US07923464B2
This invention relates to novel benzimidazole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods of treatment therewith.The compounds of the invention are useful in the treatment of central nervous system diseases and disorders, which are responsive to modulation of the GABAA receptor complex, and in particular for combating anxiety and related diseases.
US07923461B2
A compound having the following formula wherein A is —O—; B is alkylene or alkenylene optionally containing —O—, —S—, —(NR7)—, —CO— or —N═; R1 and R2 are alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl is unsubstituted or substituted by halogen, cycloalkyl, aryl, adamantyl or amino; R3 is a substituted or unsubstituted pyridine ring; R5 and R6 are hydrogen or alkyl; R7 is hydrogen or alkyl; X is O or S; and each hydrogen of the said amino is unsubstituted or substituted by alkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, cycloalkyloxycarbonyl, arylalkoxycarbonyl or halogenoalkyloxycarbonyl. The compound is a TNF-α production inhibitor that is useful for treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
US07923448B2
The present invention is directed to a method of treating a subject with acute spinal cord injury by administering a purine receptor antagonist to the subject under conditions effective to treat spinal cord injury. The purine receptor antagonist inhibits P2X purine receptor activation. The inhibition of P2X purine receptor activation can also be used in conjunction with methods of treating a subject with spinal cord ischemia resulting from stroke or vascular insult, interruption, or mechanical injury, treating a subject with ischemic or traumatic insults of brain tissue in regions expressing P2X receptors, and for inhibiting ATP-triggered brain or spinal cord cell death.
US07923443B2
Disclosed herein is a composition for the treatment bone fracture comprising N-hydroxy-4-{5-[4-( 5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)phenoxy]pentoxyl-benzamidine, 4-{5-[4-(5-isopropyl-2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl) phenoxy]pentoxy}-benzamidine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as a medicinally effective ingredient. The composition of the present invention can significantly reduce the volume of bony callus, and increase bony density and strength of bony callus, and decrease the contents of connective tissue and cartilage tissue in bony callus, and thus promote loss and ossification of the bony callus formed during the fracture healing process. Therefore, the composition of the present invention is useful for the treatment of bone fracture.
US07923433B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for assessing profiles of catalytically active enzymes in compositions containing a plurality of proteins. In preferred embodiments, the enzyme is a hydrolase, most preferably a cysteine protease. The methods described herein use activity based probes (“ABPs”) that have an affinity moiety for directing the binding of the ABP to one or more catalytically active target enzymes, a reactive group for forming a covalent bond at an active site of the target enzyme(s), and a TAG (e.g., a detectable label, preferably a fluorophore). One or more ABPs may be combined with a protein-containing sample under conditions for binding and reaction of the ABP(s) with target enzyme(s) that are present in the sample. The resulting products may then be used to assess the active enzyme profile of the sample, and can be correlated to the presence, amount, or activity of one or more target enzyme(s) present in the original complex protein mixture.
US07923430B2
Cell lines having genetically modified glycosylation pathways that allow them to carry out a sequence of enzymatic reactions, which mimic the processing of glycoproteins in humans, have been developed. The lower eukaryotes, which ordinarily produce high-mannose containing N-glycans, including unicellular and multicellular fungi are modified to produce N-glycans such as Man5GlcNAc2 or other structures along human glycosylation pathways. This is achieved using a combination of engineering and/or selection of strains which: do not express certain enzymes which create the undesirable complex structures characteristic of the fungal glycoproteins, which express exogenous enzymes selected either to have optimal activity under the conditions present in the fungi where activity is desired, or which are targeted to an organelle where optimal activity is achieved, and combinations thereof wherein the genetically engineered eukaryote expresses multiple exogenous enzymes required to produce “human-like” glycoproteins.
US07923426B2
A detergent composition comprising: a non-sulphated anionic surfactant, alkyl sulphate surfactant(s) of formula R2—O—SO3−M+, with R2 being a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, optionally alkoxylated, C6-C18 alkyl and with M+ being a proton or a cation which provides charge neutrality, and wherein the alkyl sulphate surfactant(s) of formula R2—O—SO3−M+, comprises from 85% to 100% by weight of alkyl sulphate surfactant(s) of formula R1—O—SO3−M+, with R1 being a linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, optionally alkoxylated, C6-C14 alkyl and with M+ being a proton or a cation which provides charge neutrality, wherein the composition comprises from 0 to 20% of zeolite, and wherein the composition does not comprise from 40% to 43% by weight of sodium chloride.
US07923424B2
A method of cleaning a substrate includes contacting a surface of a semiconductor substrate with a composition comprising a superacid. The semiconductor substrate may be a wafer.
US07923420B2
A lubricating oil composition having a total base number of more than 15 mg KOH/g including oil of lubricating viscosity; detergent; and at least one compound of the formula (I) and/or formula (II): wherein Ar and Ar′ represent substituted or unsubstituted aromatic moieties; L and L′ are linking moieties; each Y is independently —ORI″or H(O(CR12)n)yX—, wherein X is (CR1′2)z, O or S; R1 and R1′ are H, alkyl or aryl; R1″ is alkyl or aryl; each Y′ is independently Z(O(CR22)n′)y′X′—, wherein X′ is (CR2′2)z′, O or S; R2 and R2′ are H, alkyl or aryl; Z is H, acyl, alkyl or aryl; z and z′ are 1 to 10; n is 0 to 10 when X is (CR1′2)z and 2 to 10 when X is O or S; n′ is 0 to 10 when X′ is (CR2′2)z′, and 2 to 10 when X′ is O or S; y and y′ are 1 to 30; a and a′ are 0 to 3; and m and m′ are 1 to 100, with the proviso that in compounds of formula (I), at least one Ar moiety bears at least one group Y and that in compounds of formula (II), at least one Ar′ moiety bears at least one group Y′ in wherein Z is not H.
US07923418B2
This invention provides acrylate polymers having at least two different ester groups. The ester groups are selected from the following: a) an aralkyl group; b) a linear alkylether group; c) a polyethoxylated alkylaryl group; and d) a polyethoxylated alkyl group, with the proviso that at least one of said ester groups is selected from b) or d). Processes for preparing such polymers and processes for breaking emulsions with these acrylate polymers are also provided.
US07923415B2
The invention discloses a method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore: providing a treatment fluid made of: a fluid; a particulate material, and a viscosifier material; wherein the viscosifier material is inactive in a first state and is able to increase viscosity of the treatment fluid when in a second state; introducing the treatment fluid into the wellbore; and providing a trigger able to activate the viscosifier material from first state to second state.
US07923414B2
Embodiments of this invention relate to a composition and a method for tailoring the rheology of a fluid for use in the oil field services industry including forming a fluid comprising a tetrakis(hydroxyalkyl) phosphonium salt and a polymer, and exposing the fluid to a temperature of about 20° C. to about 200° C., wherein a viscosity is observed that is at least about 5 percent different than if no salt were present. Embodiments of this invention also relate to a composition and a method for tailoring the rheology of a fluid for use in the oil field services industry including forming a fluid comprising a tetrakis(hydroxyalkyl) phosphonium salt and diutan and/or guar and/or guar derivatives and/or a combination thereof, and exposing the fluid to a temperature of about 20° C. to about 163° C., wherein a viscosity is observed that is at least about 5 percent lower than if no salt were present. Embodiments of this invention also relate to a composition and a method for tailoring the rheology of a fluid for use in the oil field services industry including forming a fluid comprising a tetrakis(hydroxyalkyl) phosphonium salt and xanthan, and exposing the fluid to a temperature of about 20° C. to about 200° C., wherein a viscosity is observed that is at least about 5 percent higher than if no salt were present.
US07923409B2
A catalyst that can be used for the production of hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels in steam reforming processes contains an active metal of, e.g., at least one of Ir, Pt and Pd, on a catalyst support of, e.g., at least one of monoclinic zirconia and an alkaline-earth metal hexaaluminate. The catalyst exhibits improved activity, stability in both air and reducing atmospheres, and sulfur tolerance.
US07923407B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a catalyst for the exhaust gas purification having excellent ignition performance and NOx purification performance. The present invention provides a catalyst for the exhaust gas purification which comprises a catalytically active component (I) having palladium and barium supported on a refractory inorganic oxide (A); and a catalytically active component (II) having at least either of rhodium and platinum on a refractory inorganic oxide (B), a method for the production thereof, and a method for purifying an exhaust gas using such a catalyst.
US07923406B2
A support for a fuel reforming catalyst includes aluminum (Al); and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) encapsulating the aluminum, wherein a total volume of micropores and mesopores is in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 ml/g per unit mass, and a volume of macropores is in the range of 0.4 to 1.2 ml/g per unit mass, and a method of preparing the same. The support has excellent heat transfer characteristics due to its high thermal conductivity and excellent mass transfer characteristics because the micropores, mesopores, and macropores exist in a proper ratio. Accordingly, if the support is used for a supported catalyst that is used in a reaction, in which the reaction rate is controlled by heat transfer and mass transfer, such as a fuel reforming reaction, the activity of the catalyst is enhanced. In addition, the support can be easily formed as desired due to its high mechanical strength.
US07923405B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for the chemical conversion of syngas to alcohols. The invention includes catalyst compositions, methods of making the catalyst compositions, and methods of using the catalyst compositions. Certain embodiments teach compositions for catalyzing the conversion of syngas into products comprising at least one C1-C4 alcohol, such as ethanol. These compositions generally include cobalt, molybdenum, and sulfur. Preferred catalyst compositions for converting syngas into alcohols include cobalt associated with sulfide in certain preferred stoichiometries as described and taught herein.
US07923398B2
A preparation process is described for a porous composite material formed from an amorphous core based on at least one silicon oxide on which crystals of EU-1 zeolite are dispersed, said process comprising 1) the impregnation of a solid comprising a silicon oxide and an aluminum oxide with an aqueous solution comprising a hexamethonium cation, 2) the hydrothermal treatment, implemented in an autoclave of volume V (ml) under steam and at a temperature T comprised between 120 and 220° C., of said solid from stage 1), the quantity of water introduced beforehand into said autoclave being strictly greater than a volumetric quantity equal to V*[23.48*10−10*T3−48*10−8*T2+5*10−5*T−0.002] and less than or equal to 0.25*V, and is such that said solid is not in direct contact with it, 3) the drying then calcination of the solid from stage 2). The preparation a catalyst from said material for its use in the isomerization of C8 aromatics is also described.
US07923392B2
An elastic material for use in an absorbent article is provided. The elastic material contains a crosslinked network formed from a branched block copolymer having a monoalkenyl aromatic midblock positioned between conjugated diene endblocks (e.g., butadiene-styrene-butadiene (“B-S-B”) triblock copolymer). Prior to crosslinking, the branched block copolymers have a relatively low viscosity and thus may be readily formed into a precursor elastic material (e.g., film, strands, web, etc.) that is subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties. Crosslinking is typically achieved through the formation of free radicals (unpaired electrons) that link together to form a plurality of carbon-carbon covalent bonds at the conjugated diene endblocks.
US07923391B2
A nonwoven web material that includes an elastic component or material (e.g., nonwoven web, nonwoven web laminated to an elastic material, etc.) is provided. The elastic component contains a crosslinked network formed from a pentablock copolymer containing at least two monoalkenyl aromatic midblocks positioned between conjugated diene endblocks, such as butadiene-styrene-butadiene-styrene-butadiene (“BSBSB”) or isoprene-styrene-isoprene-styrene-isoprene (“ISISI”). Prior to crosslinking, the pentablock copolymers have a relatively low viscosity and thus may be readily formed into a precursor elastic material (e.g., film, strands, web, etc.) that is subsequently crosslinked to achieve the desired elastic and mechanical properties.
US07923387B2
A floor covering having a double rollable reinforcement, of the type comprising on the front a calendered sheet of predefined thickness, a first reinforcement, a layer of foam and a second reinforcement, made from polyester material comprising a grid and a non-woven layer on the back, is characterized in that the first reinforcement comprises a single glass grid.
US07923386B2
A method of forming a layer on a substrate in a chamber, wherein the substrate has at least one formed feature across its surface, is provided. The method includes exposing the substrate to a silicon-containing precursor in the presence of a plasma to deposit a layer, treating the deposited layer with a plasma, and repeating the exposing and treating until a desired thickness of the layer is obtained. The plasma may be generated from an oxygen-containing gas.
US07923381B2
A dielectric film containing Zr—Sn—Ti—O and methods of fabricating such a dielectric film produce a reliable dielectric layer having an equivalent oxide thickness thinner than attainable using SiO2. Films of Zr—Sn—Ti—O may be formed in a self-limiting growth process.
US07923380B2
A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber that processes a substrate, and a substrate placing base enclosed in the processing chamber, and a substrate transporting member that allows the substrate to wait temporarily on the substrate placing base, and exhaust holes provided so as to surround the substrate placing base, and a retracting space that allows the substrate transporting member to move in between lines each connecting the exhaust hole and an upper end of the substrate placing base and the substrate placing base.
US07923370B2
A multi-chip device and method of stacking a plurality substantially identical chips to produce the device are provided. The multi-chip device, or circuit, includes at least one through-chip via providing a parallel connection between signal pads from at least two chips, and at least one through-chip via providing a serial or daisy chain connection between signal pads from at least two chips. Common connection signal pads are arranged symmetrically about a center line of the chip with respect to duplicate common signal pads. Input signal pads are symmetrically disposed about the center line of the chip with respect to corresponding output signal pads. The chips in the stack are alternating flipped versions of the substantially identical chip to provide for this arrangement. At least one serial connection is provided between signal pads of stacked and flipped chips when more than two chips are stacked.
US07923368B2
A method of forming a diffusion region is disclosed. The method includes depositing a nanoparticle ink on a surface of a wafer to form a non-densified thin film, the nanoparticle ink having set of nanoparticles, wherein at least some nanoparticles of the set of nanoparticles include dopant atoms therein. The method also includes heating the non-densified thin film to a first temperature and for a first time period to remove a solvent from the deposited nanoparticle ink; and heating the non-densified thin film to a second temperature and for a second time period to form a densified thin film, wherein at least some of the dopant atoms diffuse into the wafer to form the diffusion region.
US07923365B2
Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming a field effect transistor having a gate electrode, a sacrificial spacer on a sidewall of the gate electrode and silicided source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is used as an implantation mask when forming highly doped portions of the source/drain regions. The sacrificial spacer is then removed from the sidewall of the gate electrode. A stress-inducing electrically insulating layer, which is configured to induce a net tensile stress (for NMOS transistors) or compressive stress (for PMOS transistors) in a channel region of the field effect transistor, is then formed on the sidewall of the gate electrode.
US07923341B2
A method for passivating short circuit defects in a thin film large area photovoltaic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The method employs a passivation agent and a counter electrode disposed in said passivation agent. The method includes controlling an application of current between the substrate of said photovoltaic device and said counter electrode so as to ensure high selectivity of modification of a transparent conductive oxide material of said photovoltaic module adjacent said short circuit defect, while leaving the transparent conductive oxide material of said photovoltaic module of non-defect areas in its unmodified form.
US07923337B2
Improved fin field effect transistor (FinFET) devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method for fabricating a field effect transistor device comprises the following steps. A substrate is provided having a silicon layer thereon. A fin lithography hardmask is patterned on the silicon layer. A dummy gate structure is placed over a central portion of the fin lithography hardmask. A tiller layer is deposited around the dummy gate structure. The dummy gate structure is removed to reveal a trench in the filler layer, centered over the central portion of the fin lithography hardmask, that distinguishes a fin region of the device from source and drain regions of the device. The fin lithography hardmask in the fin region is used to etch a plurality of fins in the silicon layer. The trench is filled with a gate material to form a gate stack over the fins. The filler layer is removed to reveal the source and drain regions of the device, wherein the source and drain regions are intact and self-aligned with the gate stack.
US07923334B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the following steps. A device isolation layer with a trench type is etched in a predetermined portion of a substrate to define an active region. Predetermined portions where gate lines traverse in the device isolation layer are etched to a certain depth to form a plurality of first recesses. A pair of gate lines filling the first recesses and traversing over the active region is formed. Portions of the active region which storage nodes contact on one sides of the gate lines are etched to form a plurality of second recesses. An ion-implantation process is performed to form a plurality of first junction regions beneath the second recesses and to form a second junction region in a portion of the active region between the gate lines such that the second junction region contacts bit lines.
US07923333B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a substrate, forming a gate electrode buried over the trench to form a buried gate pattern, etching portions of the substrate on both sides of the buried gate pattern to a certain depth, performing an ion implantation process on the substrate to form source/drain junctions, and forming metal patterns over the source/drain junctions.
US07923329B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a spin-on-carbon (SOC) film that facilitates a low temperature baking process, can prevent collapse of vertical transistors while forming a bit line, thereby providing a more simple manufacturing method and improving manufacturing yields.
US07923327B2
Provided are a non-volatile memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The non-volatile memory device comprises: a control gate region formed by doping a semiconductor substrate with second impurities; an electron injection region formed by doping the semiconductor substrate with first impurities, where a top surface of the electron injection region includes a tip portion at an edge; a floating gate electrode covering at least a portion of the control gate region and the tip portion of the electron injection region; a first tunnel oxide layer interposed between the floating gate electrode and the control gate region; a second tunnel oxide layer interposed between the floating gate electrode and the electron injection region; a trench surrounding the electron injection region in the semiconductor substrate; and a device isolation layer pattern filled in the trench.
US07923319B2
When a natural oxide film is left at the interface between a metal silicide layer and a silicon nitride film, in various heating steps (steps involving heating of a semiconductor substrate, such as various insulation film and conductive film deposition steps) after deposition of the silicon nitride film, the metal silicide layer partially abnormally grows due to oxygen of the natural oxide film occurring on the metal silicide layer surface. A substantially non-bias (including low bias) plasma treatment is performed in a gas atmosphere containing an inert gas as a main component on the top surface of a metal silicide film of nickel silicide or the like over source/drain of a field-effect transistor forming an integrated circuit. Then, a silicon nitride film serving as an etching stop film of a contact process is deposited. As a result, without causing undesirable cutting of the metal silicide film, the natural oxide film over the top surface of the metal silicide film can be removed.
US07923299B2
A manufacturing process for an embedded semiconductor device is provided. In the manufacturing process, at least one insulation layer and a substrate are stacked to each other, and a third metal layer is laminated on the insulation layer to embed a semiconductor device in the insulation layer. The substrate has a base, a first circuit layer, a second circuit layer, and at least a first conductive structure passing through the base and electrically connected to the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer. In addition, the third metal layer is patterned to form a third circuit layer having a plurality of third pads.
US07923292B2
In the semiconductor device which has the structure which stores a plurality of semiconductor chips with which plane sizes differ in the same sealing body in the state where they are accumulated via DAF, thickness of DAF of the back surface of the uppermost semiconductor chip with which the control circuit was formed was made thicker than each of DAF of the back surface of the lower layer semiconductor chip with which the memory circuit was formed. Hereby, the defect that the bonding wire which connects the uppermost semiconductor chip and a wiring substrate contacts the main surface corner part of a lower layer semiconductor chip can be reduced.
US07923291B2
A method of fabricating an electronic device having stacked chips is provided. The method includes forming a plurality of chips arranged in a row direction and at least one chip arranged in a column direction. A molding layer is formed between the chips. Grooves are formed in the molding layer between the chips arranged in the row direction. Conductive interconnections are formed on the substrate having the grooves. The substrate is sawn along an odd- or even-numbered one of the grooves to be separated into a plurality of unit substrates. At least one of the separated unit substrates is folded along an unsawn groove of the grooves.
US07923286B2
A phase-change memory comprises a bottom electrode formed on a substrate. A first isolation layer is formed on the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed on the isolation layer. A first phase-change material is formed in the first isolation layer, wherein the top electrode and the bottom electrode are electrically connected via the first phase-change material. Since the phase-change material can have a diameter less than the resolution limit of the photolithography process, an operating current for a state conversion of the phase-change material pattern may be reduced so as to decrease a power dissipation of the phase-change memory device.
US07923285B2
A non-volatile memory with a self-aligned RRAM element includes a lower electrode element, generally planar in form, having an inner contact surface; an upper electrode element, spaced from the lower electrode element; a containment structure extends between the upper electrode element and the lower electrode element, with a sidewall spacer element having a generally funnel-shaped central cavity with a central aperture; and a spandrel element positioned between the sidewall spacer element and the lower electrode. A RRAM element extends between the lower electrode element and the upper electrode, occupying at least a portion of the sidewall spacer element central cavity and projecting from the sidewall spacer terminal edge toward and making contact with the lower electrode. In this manner, the spandrel element inner surface is spaced from the RRAM element to define a thermal isolation cell adjacent the RRAM element.
US07923283B2
An integrated circuit device having vias having good resistance to migration causing the breaking of a wiring line, or an integrated circuit device having a wiring structure that is fined by breaking the limit of lithography technique is provided. The former device comprises a plurality of elements fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, wiring lines for making the elements and the integrated circuit device function, and vias for interconnecting wiring lines in separate layers, the via being formed of one or more cylindrical structures made up of carbon atoms. The latter device comprises a plurality of elements fabricated on a semiconductor substrate and wiring members for making the elements and the integrated circuit device function, at least part of the wiring members being formed of one or more cylindrical structures made up of carbon atoms. The latter device is preferably manufactured by a method comprising using a CVD process for the formation of the cylindrical structures, while applying a direct current electric field so as to grow the cylindrical structures in one direction, or applying an alternating current electric field so as to grow the cylindrical structures in two directions. A semiconductor device using a carbon nanotube and a method of forming a pattern using a carbon nanotube as a mask are also disclosed.
US07923281B2
A deposition method and a system are provided to deposit a CdS buffer layer on a surface of a solar cell absorber layer of a flexible workpiece from a process solution including all chemical components of the CdS buffer layer material. CdS is deposited from the deposition solution while the flexible workpiece is heated and elastically shaped by a heated shaping plate to retain the process solution on the solar cell absorber layer. The flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by pulling a back surface of the flexible workpiece into a cavity area in the heated shaping plate using an attractive force.
US07923277B1
The present invention is related to a surface-mounting ceramic LED package and a method for its production comprising: layering a ceramic green sheet which has a hole and a second ceramic green sheet, inserting a mold with a groove to form a partition in the bottom of the ceramic green sheet substrate, and firing the ceramic green sheet substrate.
US07923273B2
An optoelectronics chip-to-chip interconnects system is provided, including at least one packaged chip to be connected on the printed-circuit-board with at least one other packaged chip, optical-electrical (O-E) conversion mean, waveguide-board, and (PCB). Single to multiple chips interconnects can be interconnected provided using the technique disclosed in this invention. The packaged chip includes semiconductor die and its package based on the ball-grid array or chip-scale-package. The O-E board includes the optoelectronics components and multiple electrical contacts on both sides of the O-E substrate. The waveguide board includes the electrical conductor transferring the signal from O-E board to PCB and the flex optical waveguide easily stackable onto the PCB to guide optical signal from one chip-to-other chip. Alternatively, the electrode can be directly connected to the PCB instead of including in the waveguide board. The chip-to-chip interconnections system is pin-free and compatible with the PCB. The main advantages of this invention are to use the packaged chip for interconnection and the conventional PCB technology can be used for low speed electrical signal connection. Also, the part of the heat from the packaged chip can be transmitted to the PCB through the conductors, so that complex cooling system can be avoided.
US07923270B2
In a light-emitting device and its manufacturing method, mounting by batch process with surface-mount technology, high light extraction efficiency, and low manufacturing cost are realized. The light-emitting device comprises semiconductor layers of p-type and n-type nitride semiconductor, semiconductor-surface-electrodes to apply currents into each of the semiconductor layers, an insulating layer which holds the semiconductor layers, and mount-surface-electrodes. The semiconductor layers has a non-deposited area where the other semiconductor layer is not deposited. The insulating layer has VIA which electrically connect the mount-surface-electrodes and the semiconductor-surface-electrodes. In the manufacturing process, firstly, semiconductor layers and semiconductor-surface-electrodes are deposited on the transparent crystal substrate, and by using build-up process, insulating layer and the mount-surface-electrodes are formed, and secondly, VIA are formed, and finally, the transparent crystal substrate is separated to get light-emitting device. Light can be extracted directly and efficiently from the semiconductor layers. With the mount-surface-electrodes, light-emitting device can be mounted by using surface mount technology.
US07923261B2
This invention is directed to a method for determining a source of carbon feed used in manufacturing product produced from the carbon feed. The invention further provides a method for tracking products, particularly MTO products, derived from a particular carbon feed. In general, the method involves a variety of steps that include one or more of determining, comparing, inventorying, and tracking the 13C:12C ratio (or HD:H2 ratio) of the product that is being tracked to the measured or predetermined 13C:12C ratio (or HD:H2 ratio) of the feed used to make the product.
US07923254B2
A method for studying, determining or evaluating a pharmacological action of a test substance, the method including subjecting the brain tissue of an SART stressed animal administered with the test substance to an expression proteome analysis, where expression changes of NSF (N-ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion protein), which is or is not modified after translation, in the SART stressed animal administered with the test substance as compared with an SART stressed animal to which a test substance is not administered is used as an index.
US07923226B2
A bioengineered synthesis scheme for the production of L-1,2,4-butanetriol, D-1,2,4-butanetriol and racemic mixtures thereof from a carbon source is provided. Methods of producing L-1,2,4-butanetriol, D-1,2,4-butanetriol and racemic mixtures thereof are also provided. Methods are also provided for converting D-1,2,4-butanetriol and L-1,2,4,-butanetriol to D,L-1,2,4-butanetriol trinitrate.
US07923224B2
The present invention discloses a method of recovering lipase activity which comprises the steps of using a lipase derived from Thermomyces sp. and immobilized on a carrier, or a lipase powder composition which comprises a filter aid and the lipase derived from Thermomyces sp. and immobilized on a carrier which is crushed into the average particle size of 1 μm or larger and smaller than 300 μm in an esterification or transesterification reaction; and washing said lipase or lipase powder composition with triacylglycerol. According to this method, the decreased lipase activity can be effectively recovered.
US07923223B2
The present invention relates to a Δ9 desaturase, which has the ability to convert palmitic acid [16:0] or stearic acid [18:0] into palmitoleic acid [16:1] or oleic acid [18:1], respectively. Isolated nucleic acid fragments and recombinant constructs comprising such fragments encoding Δ9 desaturase along with a method of making long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) using this Δ9 desaturase in oleaginous yeast is disclosed.
US07923216B2
A hybrid protein (GFP-TTC) comprising the non-toxic proteolytic C fragment of tetanus toxin fused to green fluorescent protein was used to analyze the functional synaptic organization of neural networks. When injected intramuscularly in vivo, the GFP-TTC hybrid protein binds to tetanus neurotoxin receptors and clusters very rapidly to the active neuromuscular junction. Membrane traffic by GFP-TTC at the pre-synaptic level of the neuromuscular junction is strongly and rapidly influenced by exogenously co-injecting neurotrophic factors, such as BDNF, NT-4, and GDNF, but not by NGF, NT-3, and CNTF. The membrane traffic, directly detected using GFP-TTC in vivo, permits methods of analyzing synaptic functioning as well as methods of modulating neuronal transport using neurotrophic factors and agonists or antagonists thereof.
US07923215B2
The subject invention provides a process for measuring the relative potency of a test batch of glatiramer acetate. In addition, the subject invention provides a process for preparing a batch of glatiramer acetate as acceptable for pharmaceutical use.
US07923212B2
Novel polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for zalpha11, a novel cytokine receptor. The polypeptides may be used within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. Ligand-binding receptor polypeptides can also be used to block ligand activity in vitro and in vivo. The polynucleotides encoding zalpha11, are located on chromosome 16, and can be used to identify a region of the genome associated with human disease states. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
US07923211B2
A method to determine specificity of ligand binding includes comparing a solid phase carrier first extract obtained by pre-treating a sample with a ligand-immobilized solid phase carrier and a solid phase carrier second extract obtained by treating the pretreated sample again with a ligand-immobilized solid phase carrier in terms of the proteins contained therein, and identifying a protein whose content is remarkably decreased in the second extract compared to the first extract, in order to solve 1) the problem of the solubility of subject ligand, 2) the problem of the non-specific protein-denaturing effect of the subject ligand added, and the like, in antagonism experiments in target search using an affinity resin.
US07923208B2
Cytokines and their receptors have proven usefulness in both basic research and as therapeutics. The present invention provides a new human cytokine receptor designated as “Zcytor16.”
US07923203B2
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions regarding the preparation of an cell concentrate, such as, for example, an osteogenic cell concentrate, from a physiological solution, such as bone marrow aspirate, blood, or a mixture thereof. In specific embodiments, the invention provides methods and compositions utilizing two physiological solution-processing techniques, particularly in a point of care environment, wherein centrifugation is not employed.
US07923201B2
A near-field exposure method in which an exposure mask having a light blocking film with an opening smaller than a wavelength of light from an exposure light source is used, and an object is exposed by near-field light produced at the opening of the exposure mask based on the exposure light from the exposure light source. A width of the opening is determined to satisfy equations (1), (2) and (3) below, wherein the width of the opening of the exposure mask is denoted by s (nm), a processing pitch of the object to be exposed is denoted by p (nm) and coefficients are denoted by a and b: s=ap−b (1) 0.46≦a≦0.58 (2) 3≦b≦13 (3) The exposure mask having the opening with the determined width is provided, and the exposure light is projected to the exposure mask to thereby expose the object to be exposed.
US07923200B2
The present invention relates to an aqueous coating composition for coating a photoresist pattern comprising a polymer containing a lactam group of structure (1) where R1 is independently selected hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C6 alkyl alcohol, hydroxy (OH), amine (NH2), carboxylic acid, and amide (CONH2), represents the attachment to the polymer, m=1-6, and n=1-4. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a microelectronic device comprising providing a substrate with a photoresist pattern, coating the photoresist pattern with the novel coating material reacting a portion of the coating material in contact with the photoresist pattern, and removing a portion of the coating material which is not reacted with a removal solution.
US07923191B2
The present disclosure relates to chemically processed toner. The toner may be prepared by an emulsion aggregation method by forming a polyester dispersion wherein the polyester has an acid value of about 5 to about 50 and a particle size of about 50 to about 500 nanometers. The polyester dispersion may then be combined with a pigment and/or release agent dispersion wherein the pigment and/or release agent dispersion may contain a dispersant. This may then be followed by heating and recovering agglomerated toner particles wherein the toner particles may have a mean particle size of about 3 to about 15 microns and an average degree of circularity of between about 0.90 to about 1.0.
US07923186B2
The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to layers that are useful in imaging apparatus members and components, for use in electrostatographic, including digital, apparatuses. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to an improved electrostatographic imaging member incorporating amino triphenymethane into the charge generating layer which results in a surprisingly lateral charge migration (LCM) resistant device.
US07923185B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the charge transport layer contains a pyrazine.
US07923169B2
A metal separator defines a fluid passage. The fluid passage defines a reactant gas passage formed at a first, MEA-opposing surface of the metal separator, a coolant passage formed at a second, opposite surface of the metal separator, a reactant gas manifold fluidly connected to the reactant gas passage and a coolant manifold fluidly connected to the coolant passage. The metal separator includes a rib formed thereon so as to surround a portion of the metal separator where the fluid passage is formed. The rib is adapted to contact a metal separator of an adjacent fuel cell to construct a seal for a fluid passage surrounded by the rib. A plurality of seal lines where each seal line includes each rib may be provided. By virtue of the presence of the rib, a gasket provided in a fuel cell of comparison does not need to be provided.
US07923157B2
Disclosed is a lithium secondary battery comprising a cathode including a lithium-containing transition metal oxide, an anode including a carbon-based material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte with addition of a compound of formula (1). Incorporation of the compound (1) into the electrolyte significantly improves the high-temperature performance and cycle life characteristics of the battery.
US07923153B2
A primary electrochemical cell and electrolyte incorporating a linear asymmetric ether is disclosed. The ether may include EME, used in combination with DIOX and DME, or have the general structural formula R1—O—CH2—CH2—O—R2 or R1—O—CH2—CH(CH3)—O—R2, where a total of at least 7 carbon atoms must be present in the compound, and R1 and R2 consist alkyl, cyclic, aromatic or halogenated groups but cannot be the same group (i.e., R1≠R2).
US07923143B2
A battery separator comprising a nonwoven fabric, wherein the nonwoven fabric contains (1) superfine fibers having a fiber diameter of 3 μm or less, (2) noncircular fine fibers having a noncircular cross-sectional shape and having a fiber diameter of 3 to 5 μm (excluding 3 μm), the fiber diameter meaning a diameter of a circle having an area the same as that of the noncircular cross-sectional shape, and (3) polypropylene based high-strength composite fibers containing a fusible component on the surface thereof and having a tensile strength of 4.5 cN/dtex or more, and the fusible component contained in the polypropylene based high-strength composite fibers is fused, and a battery comprising the battery separator are disclosed. A battery separator of the present invention has a high electrolyte-holding capacity and is capable of effectively preventing a short circuit, even if the separator is designed to be thinner to enhance the capacity of a battery.
US07923140B2
A fluid regulating microvalve assembly for use to control fluid flow to a fluid consuming electrode, such as an oxygen reduction electrode, in an electrochemical cell. The microvalve assembly includes a stationary valve body having an aperture and a microactuator movable from a first position where the microvalve body aperture is closed to fluid flow to at least a second position where fluid is able to pass through the microvalve body aperture. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can utilize cell potential or a separate source to open and close the microvalve. The fluid regulating microvalve assembly can be located outside the cell housing or inside the cell housing, for example between one or more fluid inlet apertures and the fluid consuming electrode. The invention includes a method of making a multilayer microvalve assembly, particularly one for use in a fluid depolarized battery, using a printing process to deposit at least one of the layers.
US07923138B2
An electrochemical cell with a collector assembly for sealing the open end of a cell container. The collector assembly includes a retainer and a contact spring with a peripheral flange, each having a central opening therein. A pressure release vent member disposed between the retainer and the peripheral flange of the contact spring seals the openings in the retainer and contact spring under normal conditions and ruptures to release pressure from within the cell when the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined limit.
US07923137B2
An electrochemical battery cell with an aperture in the container or cell cover has the aperture sealed by an improved thermoplastic sealing member, which forms at least a part of the cell's pressure relief vent and is made from a material comprising a thermoplastic resin and more than 10 weight percent of a thermal-stabilizing filler, to provide an effective seal and a reliable pressure relief vent over a broad temperature range.
US07923136B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes magnetic patterns made of a ferromagnetic recording layer containing Co, and a nonmagnetic layer which separates the magnetic patterns and has a lower Co concentration than the magnetic patterns.
US07923135B2
A magnetic recording medium is formed by stacking in order, on a nonmagnetic base, at least an underlayer, magnetic recording layer, and protective layer. The magnetic recording layer includes a plurality of magnetic layers and an exchange-coupling control layer, and the magnetic recording medium is characterized in that a physical pattern is formed in the exchange-coupling control layer. The exchange-coupling control layer is located between the magnetic layers of the magnetic recording layer.
US07923134B2
Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a discrete track medium for realizing a high track density in a low price by adopting a configuration, in which filling of a non-magnetic material into a guard band portion and smoothing processing of a medium surface are not required. According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium, on the non-magnetic substrate, includes at least: a soft magnetic underlayer; a first recording layer including a crystal grain having a magnetic property and a non-magnetic grain boundary having an oxide, as a main component, surrounding the crystal grain; a second recording layer containing a ferromagnetic metal as a main component and not containing an oxide; and at least one non-magnetic layer provided between the first recording layer and the second recording layer. A recording track portion for magnetically recording information and a guard band portion provided between adjacent recording track portions are included in the perpendicular magnetic recording medium. The relationship between the total thickness t1 of the non-magnetic layer in the guard band portion and the total thickness t2 of the non-magnetic layer in the recording track portion is set as t1>t2.
US07923126B2
The invention relates to a use of a duplex steel for the production of an armouring layer of a flexible pipe comprising at least one unbonded armouring layer and at least one unbonded sealing layer wherein the duplex steel comprises in weight percent 0.01-0.05% by weight of carbon (C) at least 0.15% by weight of nitrogen (N) 20.0-23.0% by weight of chromium (Cr) up to 3.0% by weight of nickel (Ni) up to 1.0% by weight of molybdenum (Mo) 3-6% by weight of manganese (Mn) up to 1.0% by weight of copper (Cu) incidental impurities and balance being iron (Fe).
US07923108B2
Built-up roofing surfacing sheets that include a white, resin coated aluminum foil adhered to one side of an asphalt-impregnated fiberglass mat and sand adhered to the other side of the asphalt-impregnated fiberglass mat, the surfacing sheet being compliant with the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 24 in effect as of Sep. 11, 2006, and methods of manufacturing the built-up roofing surfacing sheets.
US07923106B2
A responsive coated substrate, said substrate comprising an interfacial surface to which a responsive coating attaches, said responsive coating comprising (a) at least one silicone-based, substantially hydrophobic polymer and (b) at least one substantially hydrophilic polymer wherein said responsive coating substrate is in a first state; and methods of coating the same.
US07923100B2
In one embodiment, the sheet, comprises: a cap layer comprising an acrylic polymer; and a base layer, wherein the sheet is thermoformable. The base layer comprises a cycloaliphatic polyester copolymer and an optionally, an aromatic polycarbonate. The cycloaliphatic polyester copolymer can comprise greater than 10 wt % cycloaliphatic diol or acid or combination thereof, based upon a total weight of the cycloaliphatic polyester copolymer.
US07923094B1
A non-woven ballistic material that demonstrates exceptional ballistic properties which ballistic material is fabricated by the lamination or angular lamination of a plurality of wide sheets of UHMWPE comprising a plurality of strips of highly oriented ultra high molecular weight polyethylene partially overlapped or abutted longitudinally to define joints between adjoining strips wherein the thickness of the joint is less than about 80% of the thickness of the sum of the thicknesses of the adjoining strips that make up the joint.
US07923090B2
A transparent protective layer (106) having a thickness of 100 μm is formed of a resin film (100), a boundary layer (104) and an adhesive layer (103) on a signal recording layer (102). When nf, ni and na are the indices of refraction of the resin film (100), the boundary layer (104) and the adhesive layer (103), respectively, the relationship among nf, ni, and na satisfies any one of the following equation: na
US07923088B2
A frictional holding pad for removably attaching items, such as a cell phone or sunglasses, to a vehicle surface, such as a dash or console, to allow storage of items on the pad to prevent the items from shifting or sliding due to the movement of the vehicle. The holding pad includes a top surface having an uppermost contact surface configured to contact and frictionally cling to the item and a bottom surface having a lowermost contact surface configured to contact and frictionally cling to the vehicle surface. The top and the bottom surfaces are configured to provide a greater frictional engagement between the lowermost contact surface and the vehicle surface than the uppermost contact surface and the item. Protrusions or indentation can be formed in the top and bottom surfaces of the pad.
US07923078B2
A light-modulating liquid-crystal element comprising two substrates which each have an electrode layer and at least one of which is transparent, and a light-modulating layer supported between these substrates, wherein the light-modulating layer comprises a nematic liquid-crystal material and a transparent solid substance, and the nematic liquid-crystal material comprises a compound represented by the following general formula (I), and/or a compound represented by the following general formula (II), and a compound represented by the general formula (III), the nematic liquid-crystal material being dispersed as independent microdroplets in the transparent solid substance, the microdroplets having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 50 μm. (In the formulae, R1 to R3 each independently is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or the like; A1 and A2 each independently is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene; X1 and X2 each independently is a cyano group, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or the like.)
US07923074B2
A method for preparing a vehicle interior material comprises the steps of feeding 100 parts by weight of phosphorus and nitrogen-containing non-halogen flame retardant particles and 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of hydrophobic inorganic oxide fine particles having hydrophobic groups and having an average particle size of 0.001 to 5 μm to a mixer equipped with a high-speed agitation means having a revolution capability of about 100 to 5,000 rpm, agitating and mixing the phosphorus and nitrogen-containing non-halogen flame retardant particles and the hydrophobic inorganic oxide fine particles to produce the phosphorus and nitrogen-containing non-halogen flame retardant particles coated with the hydrophobic inorganic oxide fine particles, mixing 100 parts by weight as solids of a synthetic resin emulsion and 1 to 300 parts by weight of the phosphorus and nitrogen-containing non-halogen flame retardant particles coated with the hydrophobic inorganic oxide fine particles to produce a coating composition, coating the coating composition onto the vehicle interior material, and drying the coated vehicle interior material.
US07923067B2
A method of coloring a surface of a zirconium-based metallic glass component that includes the step of imparting interference colors by carrying out an anodizing process using an alkaline solution to form a film having a thickness of 300 nm or less on the surface of the zirconium-based metallic glass component.
US07923065B2
An image removing method including heating a recording material having thereon an image to a temperature so that the image has a plasticity; pressure-contacting an uppermost stream peeling member with the recording material while the image maintains a plasticity; separating the uppermost stream peeling member from the recording material to transfer at least a portion of the image to the uppermost stream peeling member; and repeating the heating, pressure-contacting and separating steps at least one more time using at least one downstream peeling member, wherein the uppermost stream peeling member has a first outermost layer which does not have a plasticity when being pressure-contacted with the recording material, and at least one of the at least one downstream peeling member has a second outermost layer which has a plasticity when being pressure-contacted with the recording material.
US07923060B2
There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a thin and uniform ceramic filter formed with less membrane formation times and having less defects. A ceramic sol whose average pore diameter after the sol itself has been formed into a membrane is larger than that of a ceramic separation membrane and is 10 nm or less is brought into contact with the surface of a ceramic separation membrane having an average pore diameter of 0.5 to 10 nm, and the ceramic separation membrane having the ceramic sol is dried and then fired to repair a defect portion of the ceramic separation membrane.
US07923058B2
To provide an ink for producing a catalyst capable of stably forming metal particles which act as catalysts suitable for growth of carbon fibers by applying them onto a substrate. A solution containing a metal organic compound containing any one metal of Pd, Fe, Co and Ni and a water-soluble polymer compound is formed by using water or an organic solvent as a main solvent.
US07923053B2
Methods are provided for surface modifying a hydrophobic polymer substrate to increase wettability comprising the steps of pre-treating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a radio frequency (RF)-generated first plasma and a RF-generated second plasma wherein the first plasma and the second plasma are applied sequentially, coating the hydrophobic polymer substrate with a hydrophilic coating; and polymerizing the hydrophilic coating on the hydrophobic polymer substrate by exposure to a RF-generated third plasma.
US07923047B2
A seasoning for reducing dietary sodium intake is disclosed. The portion of seasoning has a mean particle size of less than or equal to 20 microns. In one embodiment, the invention is a seasoning comprising a first seasoning component including a salt and a second seasoning component selected for at least one of complementing and reducing the amount of the first seasoning component required for flavoring a food product.
US07923042B2
The present invention relates to a medicated gauze containing as active ingredient, aliantoin, a Centella asiatica extract and, optionally, an Urtica dioica extract.
US07923040B2
Homeopathic formulations (a) comprising tinctures and/or diluted extracts preferably subjected to potentization of at least 8 or 9 herbs selected from Bellis Perennis, Calendula Officinalis, Hamamelis Virginiana, Arnica Montana, Hypericum Perforatum, Aconitum Napellus, Ledum Palustre, Bryonia Alba and Ruta Graveolens; or (b) consisting of, as active ingredients, tinctures and/or diluted extracts subjected to potentization of 5, 6 or 7 herbs selected from Bellis Perennis, Calendula Officinalis, Hamamelis Virginiana, Arnica Montana, Hypericum Perforatum, Aconitum Napellus, Ledum Palustre, Bryonia Alba and Ruta Graveolens. The potentized homeopathics are in a penetrating base, preferably clear gel base. The homeopathic formulations are highly effective in treating or relieving pain and inflammation. Also, a method of treating or relieving pain and inflammation by administering any of the homeopathic formulations of the invention to a subject, preferably a subject in need of such treatment or relief. Further, a method of making the homeopathic formulation by mixing the homeopathically prepared herbal active ingredients with a base, preferably a clear gel base.
US07923039B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plants. Specifically, invention described herein relates to the commercial processing of plant material, including that from desert plants native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, such as the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum), for the extraction of biopolymers, including natural rubbers. More specifically, the invention relates to laboratory to commercial scale extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plant materials including the chemical and mechanical processing of the plants and purification of the extracted biopolymer.
US07923027B2
The present invention relates to a process using ultrasonic cutting for the preparation of an oral delivery device comprising a core which includes a pharmaceutically active agent covered by an outer coating which includes one or more openings communicating from the exterior of the device toward the core.
US07923021B2
This invention provides a rapidly degrading composition for local delivery of a medicament, such as, an antibiotic. Additionally, this invention provides a method that can be used on the battlefield to deliver antibiotics as a preliminary treatment through the use of a rapidly degrading composition.
US07923018B2
The invention relates to a vaccine for the treatment of disease caused by Neisseria, the vaccine comprising one or more immunogenic components for Neisseria serogroups, as well as antibodies to the immunogenic components and methods of preventing and treating Neisseria infections. The immunogens are based on elements of the inner core lipopolysaccharide.
US07923012B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an antibody against fibroblast growth factor 23. The antibody is obtained by immunizing an animal with a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 by deletion, substitution, or addition of 1 or several amino acids, and has fibroblast growth factor-23 activity and activity to control phosphate metabolism or vitamin D metabolism, and is shown by the following (a), (b), or (c): (a) an antibody, which recognizes an amino acid sequence between the 180th and the 194th, or the 237th and the 251st amino acid residues represented by SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) an antibody, which is produced by a hybridoma whose accession number is FERM BP-7838, FERM BP-7839, FERM BP-7840, or FERM BP-8268; or (c) an antibody, which is competitive with the antibody produced by the hybridoma whose accession number is FERM BP-7838, FERM BP-7839, FERM BP-7840, or FERM BP-8268 upon binding with the polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.
US07923011B2
The invention provides various antibodies that bind to lymphotoxin-α, methods for making such antibodies, compositions and articles incorporating such antibodies, and their uses in treating, for example, an autoimmune disorder. The antibodies include murine, chimeric, and humanized antibodies.
US07923010B2
Disclosed are methods for treating an autoimmune disease or condition in a subject. The methods include administering to the subject a compound which inhibits the subject's classical complement pathway. Also disclosed are methods for suppressing hyperacute graft rejection in a subject. The methods include administering to the subject a compound which inhibits the subject's classical complement pathway. Compositions which include a specific inhibitor of C1q and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient are also described.
US07923005B2
A process for the production of organic and combination formulation of bio-pesticide containing Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens comprising preparation of mother culture, liquid fermentation as well as solid fermentation of T. harzianum, preparation of mother culture, liquid fermentation as well as solid fermentation of P. fluorescens separately, followed by mixing both the bio-pesticides in the proportion of 1-2: 1-2: preferably 1:1 to get the final combination, formulation.
US07923001B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating urinary tract infections. In particular, the present invention relates to vaccines and immune modulators for treating urinary tract infections.
US07922992B2
The invention is a method and composition for producing carbon dioxide that is based on the reaction or activation of at least one carbon-containing compound with protons. The carbon-containing compound can be in the form of a powder, an impregnated carrier (e.g. zeolite crystals) or an aqueous solution and is preferably selected from the group consisting of carbonates, bicarbonates or sesquicarbonates. The protons are preferably provided by a proton-generating species such as an acid or metal salt. The method and composition can further include a water-retaining substance and/or a chlorine dioxide-producing compound in accordance with the invention.
US07922982B1
A chemical dispensing system for a water-filled structure, such as, for example, a swimming pool or a spa, having an interchangeable float adjuster.
