US07924953B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting a time-frequency code in an MB-OFDM UWB system. The apparatus includes a controller for providing a band selection signal to the RF receiver and outputting a preamble selection signal at regular symbol periods to calculate a cross correlation value for a predetermined time period more than a beacon frame interval when a time-frequency code search start signal is received; and a cross correlator for storing information on preamble patterns, selecting a preamble stored depending on the preamble selection signal, and calculating a cross correlation value for a digital signal transferred through the RF receiver, wherein the controller determines a time-frequency code using a preamble where a peak occurs as a time-frequency code that is currently in use when a peak signal is inputted based on the calculated cross correlation value, and transmits the determined time-frequency code to the MAC receiver.
US07924948B2
A joint detection system and associated methods are provided. The joint detection system is configured to perform joint detection of received signals. The joint detection system includes a programmable digital signal processor (DSP) configured to generate initial channel estimates corresponding to propagation channels, wherein each of the initial channel estimates includes a plurality of values. The programmable DSP is further configured to determine one or more pre-scaling factors for one or more of the initial channel estimates. The pre-scaling factors are at least partially based on at least one of the plurality of values of one or more of the initial channel estimates. The programmable DSP is further configured to pre-scale the initial channel estimates by the pre-scaling factors.
US07924946B2
By shifting an RF signal to IQ components of a modulated baseband signal directly, the zero-IF technology and IQ interface are applied in ATSC, NTSC, and PAL systems, and VSB and SSB modulations. The mathematic calculations are based on Fourier transform for shifting the RF signal and for recovering a baseband signal from the modulated baseband signal.
US07924938B2
An overhead processor for data transmission in digital communications, where a state machine, including a logic element and a flip-flop, is able to process a “previous” data state and a “next” data state simultaneously by storing the previous state in an external elastic storage element until the next state arrives along the datapath. By employing flip-flops on the path from the logic element to the elastic store and on the path from the elastic store to the logic element, data is transmitted faster, resulting in the ability for both the previous data state and the next data state to be transmitted simultaneously, in one clock cycle, requiring half of the transmission time required by prior art.
US07924935B2
Method and apparatus for determining a downlink channel response in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) system. The method and apparatus uses the uplink quality indication channel for determining the downlink channel response, or uses round trip pilot relay channel sounding. The uplink quality indication channel may comprise modified mini-tiles. The subscriber station using round trip pilot relay channel sounding sends composite transponder pilots after receiving the DL pilots.
US07924932B2
A Viterbi decoding system interprets bits in received QAM constellations as many-valued parameters rather than binary valued parameters. It performs the Viterbi algorithm using these many-valued parameters to provide results superior to hard decision decoding. Rather than applying a hard 0-1 function to the QAM data, the system uses a non-stepped linear or curved transfer function to assign values to the bits. In another aspect, a system differentiates between data bits based on their estimated reliability, giving more emphasis to decoding reliable bits than unreliable bits using any of a variety of techniques. By differentiating between good and bad bits and de-emphasizing or ignoring unreliable bits, the system can provide a significant reduction in uncorrectable errors and packet loss.
US07924927B1
A wireless network apparatus comprises: a wireless transmitter and receiver operated according to at least one recognized wireless communications protocol; a data storage unit; and a programmed processor. The processor is programmed for establishing direct and indirect links with wireless network nodes, storing wireless connectivity data, transmitting wireless connectivity data to the linked nodes for storage, receiving connectivity data from the linked nodes for storage. The wireless network apparatus may function as a wireless network node apparatus, and wireless network terminus, and/or a wireless portal node. Wireless connectivity data, wireless network terminus data, and/or other data associated with the wireless network may be redundantly stored distributed among the wireless network nodes. The wireless network apparatus may be further adapted for enhancing network connectivity, capacity, security, reliability, and/or functionality of the wireless network.
US07924925B2
A video encoder including a processing block and an external memory storing a current frame and a reference frame. The processing block includes a memory interface, a local memory and a processor. The processor encodes the current frame in raster scan macroblock order for FMO using information from the reference frame, converts encoded information into compressed information, and organizes the compressed information according to a predetermined FMO. The processor organizes the compressed information according to any suitable FMO organization such as scattered, interleaved, etc. The processor stores the compressed information into multiple slice groups into the local memory or into the external memory, where the slice groups are organized according to the FMO. The processor loads a search window macroblock into the local memory if not already stored in the local memory. The processor may generate unfiltered reconstructed information and store the unfiltered reconstructed information into the local memory.
US07924909B2
A method and apparatus for a multi-branch wireless receiver for periodically sampling first and second received signals corresponding to first and second receiver branches at first and second sample times to generate offset sample streams. The offset sample streams are then combined in a combining circuit to reduce interference present in the received signals. In an exemplary embodiment, a multi-branch wireless receiver includes an offset circuit to generate first and second offset sample times. A first sampler periodically samples the first received signal at the first sample time to generate a first sample stream and a second sampler periodically samples the second received signal at the second sample time to generate a second sample stream offset from the first sample stream. The combining circuit comprises a RAKE receiver that reduces the interference by scaling and combining despread values generated from the offset sample streams.
US07924905B2
A wireless communication apparatus in a closed loop communication wherein a channel resource can be shared among users and hence the capacity of the communication system can be increased. In this apparatus, calculating parts (6031 and 6032) calculate a first pre-code (α) and a second pre-code (β), respectively, from CSI fed back from a receiving wireless communication apparatus; an encoding part (6033) includes multipliers (α1, α2), which multiply the first pre-code (α) by a first data and a second data to generate a first encoded data and a third encoded data, respectively, and also includes multipliers (β1, β2) that multiply the second pre-code (β) by the first data and the second data to generate a second encoded data and a fourth encoded data, respectively; spreading parts (6034-1 and 6034-2) spread the first and second encoded data with a first spreading code (c) to generate a first spread data and a second spread data, respectively; spreading parts (6035-1 and 6035-2) spread the third and fourth encoded data with a second spreading code (p) to generate a third spread data and a fourth spread data, respectively; an adding part (6036) adds the first spread data and the third spread data together; and an adding part (6037) adds the second spread data and the fourth spread data together.
US07924891B2
A method and system that enables multiplexing a plurality of data streams onto one data stream based on data stream priorities and available transport frame combinations (TFCs) is disclosed. A mobile station has applications that produce separate data streams. Example applications include voice, signaling E-mail and web applications. The data streams are combined by a multiplexer module into one data stream called the transport stream. The transport stream is sent over the reverse link to base station transceivers (BTS). The multiplexer module multiplexes the data streams onto the transport stream according to their priorities and the available TFCs.
US07924886B2
A system and processes create a transport stream carrying several encapsulated contents, watermarks, and other ancillary data. The transport stream is re-multiplexed while keeping synchronous and deterministic operation. Synchronous deterministic operation allow each derived transport stream to be broadcasted in Single Frequency Networks, as all re-multiplexers have the same signal at the input and selecting the same content generates exactly the same stream in multiple locations.
US07924880B2
A method for establishing a hierarchical network with Backbone Provider Bridges includes: dividing the network into a plurality of layers, and partitioning each layer into at least one domain; each domain assigning a service tag for itself; a local domain sending a mapping request including a user type ID to a further domain in the same layer; the further domain in the same layer returning a service tag corresponding to the user type ID to the local domain; the local domain establishing and saving a mapping relationship; and edge devices of each domain learning MAC addresses. Further, a system and device having the same are also provided in the disclosure.
US07924878B2
A multi-mode wireless device on a single substrate includes an analog portion and a digital portion integrated on the single substrate. The analog portion includes a cellular radio core; and a short-range wireless transceiver core. The digital portion includes a multi-processor core with a master processor coupled to a router which distributes data from the radio chip to a serial-parallel array of DSP processors, each of which is connected to multiple DSP coprocessors. This arrangement allows for decoding both complex protocols at low data rates (like GPRS), simple protocols at high data rates (like 802.11A) and complex protocols at high data rates (like WCDMA), using the same hardware.
US07924872B2
A system for multiplexing a transport packet and an Ethernet packet comprises a transport interface for receiving a transport stream comprising the transport packet and a network interface for receiving a network stream comprising the Ethernet packet. The system comprises a packet identifier coupled to the transport interface for filtering the transport stream and selecting the transport packet and a date formatter coupled to the network interface for creating a transport header appended to the Ethernet packet. The system further comprises a multiplexer for receiving the transport packet from the packet identifier, for receiving the Ethernet packet from the data formatter, and for multiplexing the transport packet and the Ethernet packet comprising the transport header.
US07924870B2
A system and method for upstream transmission and the media access control of upstream transmission of groups of fixed sized cells, such as ATM cells in a point to multipoint optical network, such as a passive optical network. The upstream media access control scheme is responsive to grouping information reflecting a parameter of a group of fixed sized cells. The parameter may reflect the length of the relevant payload of the group the fixed sized cells.
US07924869B2
A method of and system for time-division-based channel collision collaboration in a wireless communication system including at least two Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs) with overlapping service areas that employ dynamic frequency hopping is provided. The method includes performing, by at least one Consumer Premise Equipment (CPE) located in an overlapping portion of service areas of at least two WRANs, spectrum sensing and feeding idle channel information back to respective Base Stations (BSs) of the at least two WRANs, broadcasting, by each of the at least two WRANs, a pre-occupation announcement message for a qualified idle channel, and determining, by a WRAN with the highest priority of the at least two WRANs, a time resource allocation for WRANs in a channel collision state of the at least two WRANs. The method addresses problems, such as a large delay and impaired wireless access due to an absence of an idle channel for adjacent WRANs, may be avoided, while the WRANs may maintain their QoSs. Therefore, transmission power of a WRAN during non-operation period may be conserved.
US07924860B1
Data units received by a network device may be classified into traffic flow classes in which the determined traffic flow class for a data unit may be dynamically refined as the data unit is processed by the network device. A dispatch component of the network device may receive data units associated with traffic flow classes. Parallel processing engines of the network device may receive the data units from the dispatch component and may generate, for a least one of the data units, a plurality of dynamically refined indications of the traffic flow class to which the data unit belongs. Additionally, an ordering component of the network device may include a plurality of re-order queues, where the at least one data unit successively progresses through at least two of the re-order queues in an order defined by the plurality of dynamically refined indications of the traffic flow class.
US07924859B2
A method and system for transferring iSCSI protocol data units (“PDUs”) to a host system is provided. The system includes a host bus adapter with a TCP/IP offload engine. The HBA includes, a direct memory access engine operationally coupled to a pool of small buffers and a pool of large buffers, wherein an incoming PDU size is compared to the size of a small buffer and if the PDU fits in the small buffer, then the PDU is placed in the small buffer. If the incoming PDU size is compared to a large buffer size and if the incoming PDU size is less than the large buffer size then the incoming PDU is placed in the large buffer. If the coming PDU size is greater than a large buffer, then the incoming PDU is placed is more than one large buffer and a pointer to a list of large buffers storing the incoming PDU is placed in a small buffer.
US07924835B2
A method of multicast transmission in a communication network by using IGMP protocol, to a plurality of IGMP-equipped hosts serving end customers of the network, the method comprises:—using IGMP protocol to request receipt of information along a multicast channel, by a particular end customer;—adding the end customer to a multicast group including, upon adding said particular end customer, at least one of the end customers;—delivering information along the multicast channel to the end customers belonging to the multicast group, and in response to the request, ensuring for the particular end customer access to information delivered along the multicast channel by transmitting to that end customer access data, which includes: churning information indicative of a multicast churning key and/or service information, and/or a combination thereof.
US07924832B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to facilitating transitions from IPv4 to IPv6 networks. In particular implementations, the invention facilitates or enables accessibility of network application services between IPv4 and IPv6 hosts, or traversal of network paths including both IPv6 or IPv4 domains. Particular implementations of the invention are directed to selective mapping of network layer addresses between IPv6 and IPv4 protocols and Domain Name System records under one or more policy controls. Other implementations of the invention are directed to a proxy-to-proxy based tunnel architecture allowing hosts implementing a first network layer protocol, such as IPv4, to traverse a network implementing a second network layer protocol, such as IPv6.
US07924828B2
An advanced processor comprises a plurality of multithreaded processor cores each having a data cache and instruction cache. A data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores and configured to pass information among the processor cores. A messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores and a plurality of communication ports. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective data cache, and the messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective message station. Advantages of the invention include the ability to provide high bandwidth communications between computer systems and memory in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
US07924825B2
A portable VoIP telephony service includes a portable device that includes a processor and memory having information stored therein. If the portable device is coupled to a first computer, information is coupled via the first computer to the telephony service, and in the event a first incoming telephone call is received, the telephony service causes the first incoming call to be directed as a first VoIP call to the first computer. If the portable device is coupled to the second computer, information is coupled via the second computer to the telephony service, and in the event a second incoming telephone call is received while the portable device is coupled to the second computer, the telephone service causes the second incoming telephone call to be directed to the second computer.
US07924823B2
A system and method for managing an IP telephony network that uses a configuration map for organizing sites in a tree-like hierarchy. The system is capable of managing the addition, removal and movement of IP telephony elements within an IP telephony network and locating services and IP telephony elements within the IP telephony network in an efficient manner.
US07924820B2
An Internet-based system provides substantially instantaneous communication between two devices for exchanging voice and multimedia signals. The system includes ISP gateways with unique IDs that service a plurality of devices with unique telephone numbers. The system further includes a directory which correlates the devices with ISP gateways. More specifically, the directory includes a RELATIVE records/words/cells in a RANDOM ACCESS TABLE (RRAT) with each entry being identified by a record number, which in this case corresponds to the telephone numbers (as they are or in reverse). The entry relates directly or indirectly the telephone number with the respective ISP gateway. Communication is established by having the ISP gateway of the calling device looking up the ISP gateway of the called device in the directory using the telephone number of the called device. The ISP gateway then generates a handle for the called ISP and uses the handle to establish a communication channel between two devices quickly and efficiently.
US07924818B2
Method and apparatus for providing integrated voice and data services over a common interface device
An approach is provided for supporting integrated voice and data services over a common Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) device. The device includes a network interface that receives a call from a calling party device to a called party device. Also, the device has signaling conversion logic configured to convert between Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling and circuit-switched telephony signaling to support the call, wherein addressing information of the calling party device is preserved in the conversion. The called party device includes one of a telephone station and a SIP client. The device further includes a voice port coupled to the signaling conversion logic and configured to communicate selectively with the telephone station; and a data port configured to communicate selectively with the SIP client.
US07924816B2
A method for providing call services in a telecommunications system includes receiving a call request from a call origination station via the Internet. The call request may involve an advanced call service. The method may also include validating the call request and initiating a communications link between the call origination station and a telephony server via the Internet when the call request is validated. The method may further include initiating a telephony link between the telephony server and a call termination station when the call request is validated.
US07924813B1
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: via a CPE telephony device simultaneously connectable to a POTS connection and to a connection to a data network: facilitating, via the POTS connection, a PSTN call, and facilitating, via the data network connection, a display of data to a call participant of the PSTN call, the data provided the data network.
US07924811B2
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided through which a wireless terminal participating in a packet-switched communications session may temporarily suspend the session, for example, upon receipt of an incoming circuit-switched call. The wireless terminal may notify a server associated with the packet-switched session of receipt of the incoming circuit-switched call, and may also notify the server when the packet-switched session may be resumed. In embodiments of the present invention implemented in GSM networks, one or more of the notification messages may be transmitted to the server over the SMS data bearer.
US07924810B2
A method and computing system for controlling access by a user to a computing resource located in respective source and destination domains in a hierarchy of domains. The method comprises establishing a path of domains in the hierarchy from the source domain to the destination domain, specifying for at least one domain in the path preceding the destination domain whether traversal to a successive domain in the path is permitted, and providing to the user access to the computing resource if traversal from the source domain to the destination domain along the path is permitted.
US07924809B2
In a wireless network, simultaneous support of distributed and contiguous sub-carrier allocation may be accomplished in the same sub-frame or time zone. Techniques are described herein that can be used to allocate distributed and/or contiguous basic (physical) resource blocks to users by specifying a codebook index and parent node. Techniques are described herein that can be used to flexibly set a number of sub-channels over which a subscriber station indicates a channel quality indicator to a base station. Sub-channels may be represented as nodes and may be grouped to include a parent node and child nodes. By specifying a code book to use and a parent node, the channel quality indicator of the parent and children nodes can be indicated.
US07924807B2
A method for synchronizing communicating entities in a decentralized network. The method begins with a recipient entity receiving data comprising a first timestamp and a first distance. The first timestamp being the time the first data was broadcast; the first distance being a distance from the sender's synchronization time. Next the recipient entity receives data comprising a second timestamp and a second distance. The second timestamp being the time the second data was broadcast; the second distance being a distance from the sender's synchronization time. Based on the first and second timestamps and distances, the recipient entity calculates a new synchronization time. Next, the recipient entity broadcasts to at least one entity in the decentralized network data comprising a third timestamp and a third distance. The third timestamp being the time the third data was broadcast; the third distance being a distance from the recipient entity's synchronization time.
US07924805B2
A communication apparatus having a generating which generates a single physical frame for transmission and reception. The physical frame includes a first Quality of Service (QoS) data frame, a second Quality of Service (QoS) data frame, and a transmission request for requesting transmission of first acknowledgement information corresponding to the first QoS data frame and second acknowledgement information corresponding to the second QoS data frame. The communication apparatus includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the physical frame and a receiving unit configured to receive acknowledgment information including a reception of the physical frame transmitted.
US07924799B2
A radio communications device includes a transmitter, a receiver, a propagation detecting unit, and a symbol rate setting unit. The receiver has a plurality of antennas, a plurality of transmitting circuits, and a transmission signal processing circuit. The transmission signal processing circuit has a modulator, and modulates data input transmission data in modulator to output the modulated data as transmission signal to the transmitting circuits. The receiver has a plurality of antennas, a plurality of receiving circuits, and a reception signal processing circuit. The reception signal processing circuit has a demodulator, demodulates reception signals input from the receiving circuits in demodulator to generate reception data. The propagation detecting unit detects propagation state of radio waves. The symbol rate setting unit selects a symbol to be communicated from a plurality of symbol rates based on the detected propagating state and sets the selected symbol rate to the modulator and to the demodulator.
US07924796B2
A routing method in an ad hoc network between a source node (S) and a destination node (M) to guarantee a required quality of service level between the source node and the destination node. The source node (S) sends a route request to the network, request containing required quality of service level and an initial value of cost function (Fg). A node receiving a route request sent by a neighbor node then refuses said request if node is not able to guarantee said required quality of service level, and sends over the network a route request containing required quality of service level and a value of cost function combining a value of the cost function received from a previous neighbor node and a value of The cost function calculated on a connection with a neighbor node. The destination node (M) sends a route response step by step to the source node (S) containing the cumulative value of the cost function (Fg) corresponding to a route formed by successive connections between the source node (S) and the destination node (M). The source node chooses the route between the source node (S) and the destination node (M) having the best cumulative cost function.
US07924793B2
Methods and apparatus to manage bandwidth in a wireless network are disclosed. For a wireless network that includes a wireless access point supporting a private service set identifier (SSID) and a public SSID, a disclosed example apparatus comprises a policy interface to receive a value representative of a permissible public bandwidth accessible via the public SSID, and a bandwidth allocator to control usage of the permissible public bandwidth, wherein the bandwidth allocator and the policy interface are physically separate from the wireless access point.
US07924789B1
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for creating an optimized communication path between mobile devices. The method includes receiving a request to transmit data to a destination mobile device, and identifying a destination IP address of a destination mobile device within the request. The method further includes determining if the destination IP address is located within a routing table, and bypassing a reverse tunneling procedure if the destination IP address is located within the routing table. Additionally, the method includes transmitting the data directly to destination foreign agent of the destination mobile device.
US07924788B2
A method of managing access areas in a communication system is disclosed. In the method information regarding a detected access area is received from at least one mobile device, the detected access area being an access area that is not included in a set of available access areas. Potential of the detected access area is then predicted based on the information received from the at least one mobile device. A decision is then made, based on the predicted potential, if the detected access area can be included into the set of available access areas.
US07924787B2
A method and an apparatus for controlling a WLAN scanning period using a velocity sensor in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The velocity of a user is measured at a predetermined period and it is determined whether the measured velocity satisfies a predetermined condition for changing the scanning period. A scanning period corresponding to the velocity is detected in a look-up table, if the velocity satisfies the predetermined condition. Scanning is performed at the detected scanning period.
US07924786B2
Disclosed are a handoff system and a method among heterogeneous networks. The handoff system among heterogeneous networks has plural access nodes which supports wireless communication with a mobile terminal; and a crossover node which selects resources of an access node to which a handoff is made without repetitive communications between access modes and the mobile terminal in selecting an access node. The handoff system performs a handoff to a network if resources of the network are sufficient for wireless communication.
US07924784B2
Disclosed is a feedback control method in closed-loop transmit diversity in which feedback information representing amounts of amplitude and phase control is transmitted from a mobile station to a radio base station. The mobile station receives downlink pilot signals, which are transmitted by a handover-destination base station, during handover control, calculates feedback information, which represents amounts of amplitude and phase and phase control transmitted to the handover-destination base station, beforehand based upon the pilot signals received, and transmits the feedback information to the handover-destination base station before completion of base-station changeover by handover.
US07924778B2
A wireless communication system is disclosed, including a network; and a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTS) coupled to the network, wherein at least one of the base transceiver station (BTS) is adapted to receive a request to communicate with a mobile communication unit (MU) from the network; determine whether to establish a dedicated voice channel or a dedicated packet data channel with the mobile communication unit (MU) on the basis of the request: and if the dedicated voice channel is established, receive voice information from the network and send the voice information to the mobile communication unit (MU) by way of the dedicated voice channel; or if the packet data channel is established, receive packet data from the network, encode the packet data for joint detection, and send the encoded packet data to the mobile communication unit (MU) by way of the dedicated packet data channel.
US07924759B1
A response monitoring apparatus using a remote including an electrical circuit including a user activated input, a transmitter, and a receiver, where the electrical circuit is adapted to detect operation of the user activated input and temporarily activate the receiver. After an activation period, the electrical circuit turns off the receiver to conserve battery power. Both signal verification and time monitoring may be used to generate the signal to turn of the receiver. Different transmission and receiving wavelengths are utilized at both the remote and the base unit, and a sensory output is provided on the remote to indicate receipt and acknowledgement of the signal received from the main processor. Different activation codes are sent back to the receiver to generate different sensory outputs. A supplemental teaching method for using the two way teaching apparatus is also provided.
US07924753B2
Methods and apparatus to decode encoded data. One method starts and stops turbo decoding depending on channel conditions of a received pilot signal. One method may be used with Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (H-ARQ).
US07924743B2
Described are a method and a device for efficiently switching multicast data flows from a shared distribution tree to a shortest path distribution tree. The method achieves an efficient and scalable tree switch that reduces the latency of multicast data transmitted from the source to receivers. A determination is made for each source group (S,G) entry in a portion of a forwarding plane database of a router as to whether a byte count for that entry exceeds a threshold value. A message sent from the forwarding plane to the router control plane indicates the (S,G) entries determined to have byte counts exceeding the respective threshold values. For each message entry, the respective shared distribution tree is switched to a shortest path distribution tree. The method achieves a substantial reduction in the number of inter-process messages exchanged between the control plane and the forwarding plane compared to conventional tree switchover techniques.
US07924741B1
A communication system for collecting and correlating quality information for a session over a path between an origination node and a destination node, the communication system comprising a quality processing system configured to transmit a first subscribe message identifying a first device, and the first device configured to receive the first subscribe message, process first traffic for the session to determine first quality information, and transmit a first quality message indicating the first quality information to the quality processing system responsive to the first subscribe message.
US07924738B1
A first block of packets is sent through a network at a first throughput rate. The first block of packets has a differential treatment field set to a first value. A second block of packets is sent through the network at a second throughput rate. The second block of packets has the differential treatment field set to a second value. A first report indicating that the reception of the first block of packets satisfies a criteria is received. A second report indicating that the reception of the second block of packets satisfies the criteria is received. A treatment field value for the differential treatment field is selected based on the first report and the second report. A packet with the differential treatment field set to the treatment field value is sent to the network.
US07924734B2
A method for optimizing a network configuration of network resources includes receiving service attribute data associated with network resources and the traffic demand, based at least in part on the service attribute data, determining one or more network resources for providing communication between end user devices and a carrier network, i.e., one or more metro and/or backbone networks, and determining an optimal configuration of the one or more network resources within the network, wherein the optimal configuration optimizes one or more predetermined criteria. A system for optimizing a configuration of network resources includes a computer-readable medium including service attribute data descriptive of a plurality of network resources, a preprocessing module operable to receive the one or more service attributes and determine a set of one or more resources and transmission modes between the end user devices and the carrier network, and an optimization module operable to determine an optimum configuration of the resources and transmission modes within the network.
US07924733B2
Performance problems or other conditions are analyzed in a system comprising a plurality of endpoint devices and an associated centralized or distributed controller. End-to-end measurements are obtained for respective paths through the network, for example, using communications between the endpoint devices. For a given end-to-end measurement obtained for a particular one of the paths, a value of a performance indicator for the path is determined and the performance indicator value is assigned to each of a plurality of links of the path. The determining and assigning operations are repeated for additional ones of the end-to-end measurements, the links are grouped into one or more exculpation or inculpation sets based on how many times a particular performance indicator value has been assigned to each of the links, and the one or more sets are utilized to determine, for example, the location of a performance problem in the network.
US07924729B2
In one method for determining a minimum cost solution for resolving a covering-by-pairs problem, a plurality of covering nodes, a plurality of branch nodes, and a plurality of edges connecting the covering nodes and the branch nodes are given. A plurality of vectors are generated. For each vector in the plurality of vectors, it is determined whether the selected covering nodes cover the branch nodes. Responsive to determining that the selected covering nodes do not cover the branch nodes, each vector is completed so that the selected covering nodes cover the branch nodes. Responsive to determining that selected covering nodes cover the branch nodes or to completing the vector, redundant covering nodes are removed from each vector. The vectors are inserted into a current population. A new population is generated by evolving the current population for at least one generation.
US07924719B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that parallelizes the TCP-related actions of a network connection between two computer systems during a data transfer between the two computer systems. During operation, the first computer system partitions the data into two or more data segments, and assigns the data segments to multiple processing elements. These multiple processing elements subsequently prepare and send their assigned data segments to the second computer system in parallel using TCP.
US07924709B2
An electronic token useable for controlling access to a resource is described. The token includes a token grantor identifier indicating a token grantor, a token grantee identifier indicating a token grantee, and a resource access control field. The resource access control field indicates control of additional limitations of token grantee access to a resource as specified by the token grantor. A method for generating and using the electronic token includes generating an electronic token based on a token grantee identifier, a token grantor identifier, and a resource access control field, wherein the resource access control field indicates control of additional limitations of token grantee access to a resource as specified by the token grantor. The electronic token is transmitted to a token grantee computer system. The token grantee computer system transmits the electronic token to a computer system controlling access to a resource requested by the token grantee computer system.
US07924684B2
An optical pickup includes: a first emitting unit to emit an optical beam of a first wavelength; a second emitting unit to emit an optical beam of a second wavelength; a third emitting unit to emit an optical beam of a third wavelength; an object lens to condense optical beams emitted from the first through third emitting units onto a signal recording face of an optical disc; and a diffraction unit provided on one face of an optical element or the object lens positioned on the optical path of the optical beams of the first through third wavelengths; wherein the diffraction unit includes a generally circular first diffraction region provided on the innermost perimeter, a ring zone shaped second diffraction region provided on the outer side of the first diffraction region, and a ring zone shaped third diffraction region provided on the outer side of the second diffraction region.
US07924668B2
An optical disc recording method of suppressing variations in the record quality due to variations in an initial strategy of a write strategy using many parameters corresponding to a next-generation large-capacity optical disc. Modulation conditions for recorded data on the optical disc are determined based on a real measurement thereof; an initial strategy that meets the modulation conditions is determined; an optical strategy is determined in which the record quality is best in the vicinity of the initial strategy; and data is recorded on the optical disc, using the optimal strategy.
US07924666B2
A drive apparatus of the present invention includes a recording/reproduction section and a drive control section. The drive control section at least performs a process including: receiving a recording instruction at least specifying a location at which data is to be recorded; determining whether a data recording which is performed in accordance with the recording instruction is an appending recording, a first time pseudo-overwrite recording or a second time or more pseudo-overwrite recording; generating data including location information before replacement having information set therein according to the result of the determination; and controlling the recording/reproduction section to record the data in one of the plurality of ECC clusters of the write-once recording medium.
US07924664B2
Disclosed herein is a technology that enables stable and high-speed writing and/or reading in an optical disk apparatus. The optical disk apparatus has an optical head that includes a first circuit for driving a laser diode, a second circuit for sampling and holding analog electric signals that are based on reflected laser light from the optical disk, and a third circuit for converting said signals being sampled and held into digital signals. Signals digitized in the optical head are transmitted to the apparatus body side using time-division multiplexing. The first circuit, the second circuit, and the third circuit are constructed on a single substrate or in a single IC.
US07924661B2
A track-jump control system and method are provided. The track-jump control system applied in an optical disc drive comprises a signal generator, a protection device, a velocity estimator, and a controller. The signal generator receives the signal from the PUH and generates a tracking signal and a position signal. The protection device receives the position signal and when the position signal represents the PUH pass a predetermined position of the optical disc, the protection device generates a protection signal. The velocity estimator estimates the velocity of the PUH according to the tracking signal, and then generates a velocity signal. The controller receives the velocity signal and the protection signal, protects the velocity signal according to the protection signal, and generates a control signal to control the track-jump according to the protected velocity signal.
US07924660B2
An optical data carrier includes at least one session in which one or more tracks are stored, wherein each session includes a plurality of data frames, and wherein each data frame includes controlling data and content data coded in a first format. In place of at least part of at least one bit sequence which would be included within said content data and which would correspond to constant data with respect to a second format into which said content data would be converted during a reading process, if said one or more tracks had been transferred onto said optical data carrier in accordance with a predetermined CD standard, the at least part of the at least one bit sequence is represented by a bit sequence which does not correspond to constant data with respect to said second format.
US07924651B2
An exemplary aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is a semiconductor storage device including a power-on reset generator that outputs a first reset signal in accordance with a level of a power supply voltage, a command decoder that moves to a mode set state in accordance with input of an external control pin and outputs mode set information in accordance with a command input from an address pin, an MRS controller that outputs a mode reset signal (MRSPON signal) in accordance with the mode set information, and a reset circuit that outputs a second reset signal initializing each circuit of an operation control section in accordance with the mode reset signal and the first reset signal.
US07924648B2
A method for storage includes collecting information regarding respective performance characteristics of a plurality of memory units in a memory array, each memory unit including one or more cells of the memory array. When data are received for storage in the memory array, a memory unit is selected responsively to the respective performance characteristics, and the received data are stored in the selected memory unit.
US07924644B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, where each memory cell includes a transistor with a floating body region in which majority carriers are accumulated in a steady state. In write and read operations, a first data state corresponding to the steady state is written to and read from at least one selected memory cell of the memory cell array by supplying a first bipolar current through the at least one selected memory cell, and a second data state is written to and read from the at least one selected memory cell by supplying a second bipolar current which is smaller than the first bipolar current through the at least one selected memory cell. In a refresh operation, memory cells of the memory cell array storing the second data state are refreshed.
US07924642B2
A differential input circuit receives differential input signals at a pair of differential input terminals and produces a pair of first differential output signals. A sensing circuit senses at least one of the pair of first differential output signals reaching a certain voltage and provides an activation signal. A latch-type amplifier provides a pair of second differential output signals when activated in accordance with the activation signal. A cutoff circuit establishes connection between the differential input circuit and the latch-type amplifier and breaks connection between the differential input circuit and the latch-type amplifier in accordance with the activation signal.
US07924636B2
To provide an electronic circuit device that can change a characteristic after package sealing and that achieves a reduction in miscellaneous tasks during characteristic setting.The electronic circuit device includes: a burst detecting circuit 7 for detecting, from an input and output terminal 4, a prescribed write activation burst having a length that is larger than or equal to a prescribed time; a signal-pattern detecting circuit 9 for putting a serial interface 8 into an input-enable state in which setting data can be input, when the write activation burst is detected; and a volatile memory 10 and a nonvolatile memory 11 for storing, in the input-enable state, a setting-data signal input from the input and output terminal 4. An operation state of a functional circuit 6 is set in accordance with the setting data written in the volatile memory 10 or the nonvolatile memory 11.
US07924626B2
A method for operating a dielectric charge trapping memory cell as described herein includes applying an initial voltage from the gate to the substrate of the memory cell for a predetermined period of time to reduce the threshold voltage of the memory cell. The method includes applying a sequence of voltages from the gate to the substrate of the memory cell to further reduce the threshold voltage of the memory cell, wherein a subsequent voltage in the sequence of voltages has a lower magnitude from the gate to the substrate than that of a preceding voltage in the sequence of voltages.
US07924625B2
A set non-volatile storage elements are subjected to a programming process in order to store a set of data. During the programming process, one or more verification operations are performed to determine whether the non-volatile storage elements have reached their target condition to store the appropriate data. Decisions about whether to continue programming or whether the programming is successful are made based on whether overlapping groups of the non-volatile storage elements have less than a threshold number of non-volatile storage elements that are not properly programmed.
US07924623B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for operating memory cells. One method includes: performing an erase operation on a selected group of memory cells, the selected group including a number of reference cells and a number of data cells; performing a programming monitor operation on the number of reference cells as part of the erase operation; and determining a number of particular operating parameters associated with operating the number of data cells at least partially based on the programming monitor operation performed on the number of reference cells.
US07924619B2
A NAND architecture non-volatile memory device and programming process programs the various cells of strings of non-volatile memory cells by the application of differing word line pass voltages (Vpass) to the unselected word lines adjacent to the selected word line and memory cell being programmed in order to reduce voltage differences between the word lines of the memory cell string or array during a programming cycle. This allows the word line to word line voltage differential to be reduced and thus decreases the likelihood of breakdown or punch through of the insulator materials placed between the adjacent word lines.
US07924618B2
A programming method of a non-volatile memory device may include providing a memory device in which a first word line is preprogrammed in an erase operation of a memory block, pre-programming a second word line according to a program command, and programming the first word line.
US07924609B2
A spin valve element driving method, and a spin valve element employing such a method, for causing microwave oscillation in a spin valve element. The spin valve element includes an intermediate layer and a pair of ferromagnetic layers including a fixed layer and a free layer sandwiching the intermediate layer, the fixed layer having a higher coercivity than the free layer, and being magnetized in a direction substantially perpendicular to a film plane thereof. The method includes a driving step of passing current from one of the pair of ferromagnetic layers to the other through the intermediate layer.
US07924607B2
A magnetoresistive effect element includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a first spacer layer. The first magnetic layer has an invariable magnetization direction. The second magnetic layer has a variable magnetization direction, and contains at least one element selected from Fe, Co, and Ni, at least one element selected from Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au, and at least one element selected from V, Cr, and Mn. The spacer layer is formed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and made of a nonmagnetic material. A bidirectional electric current flowing through the first magnetic layer, the spacer layer, and the second magnetic layer makes the magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer variable.
US07924599B1
A non-volatile memory cell and related system utilize ferroelectric capacitors as data storage elements. Circuitry is provided for writing to a single ferroelectric capacitor storage element, as well as to dual storage elements operating inversely. The storage elements are read by use of a sense amplifier in a configuration which automatically restores the original data states, thereby eliminating the need for a subsequent restore operation. Memory systems are described which include circuitry for driving bit lines, word lines and drive lines to accomplish both the write and read operations.
US07924597B2
A method of storing data in an array of circuit elements, said method comprising injecting a current into selected circuit elements, said current causing a persistent change in a resistance of said selected circuit elements from a first resistance to a second higher resistance indicative of a binary data bit, wherein said current does not break an electrical circuit in which said circuit element is disposed.
US07924595B2
A high-density semiconductor device includes a first input/output line connected among a plurality of banks on a core area storing data, so that it transmits data, a second input/output line connected to a data pad capable of performing data input/output operations at a Peri-area, so that it transmits data, a first repeater connected between the first input/output line and the second input/output line, for transmitting data of the first input/output line to the second input/output line in response to a read enable signal enabled by a read command, and a second repeater connected between the first input/output line and the second input/output line, for transmitting data of the second input/output line to the first input/output line in response to a write enable signal enabled by a write command.
US07924591B2
A memory device is provided. The memory device comprises a substrate, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of conductive regions and at least a shielding plug. The substrate has a memory region and a peripheral region. The word lines are disposed on the substrate and at least a dummy word line disposed in the peripheral region and adjacent to the word lines. The conductive regions are disposed in the substrate and between the word lines respectively. The shielding plug is located on the substrate and adjacent to the dummy word line and between the dummy word line and the word lines and there is no self-aligned source region around the dummy word line.
US07924582B2
The subject matter of the invention is an inverter (3), more specifically for use in a photovoltaic plant (1) with a direct voltage input (connection terminals 4; 5) for connection to a generator (2) and an alternating voltage output (connection terminals 7; 8) for feeding into an energy supply network (6) as well as with a DC-AC converter (12) with semiconductor switch elements (15) and an intermediate circuit (11), at least one short-circuit switch element (18) being connected in parallel to the generator (2), so that the voltage will not exceed a maximum voltage value neither at the connection terminals (4; 5) of the generator (2) nor between the connection terminals (9; 10) of the inverter. This is achieved in that the inverter (3) comprises, in the intermediate circuit (12), a buffer capacitor (14) that is connected to the generator (2) through a protection diode (17) so that said buffer capacitor (14) will not be discharged upon actuation of the short-circuit switch element (18), the generator (2) working according to a clock rate in the short-circuit mode of operation.
US07924572B2
A module comprises a metallic terminal pins for connection and a circuit board with electronic components mounted thereon, a circuit board connecting side of the connector. The electronic components and the circuit board with the electronic components mounted thereon are encapsulated with the same resin. A metallic base is united to the module to obtain an electric conduction between the metallic base and the circuit board.
US07924565B2
A heat dissipation structure for communication chassis. The heat dissipation structure includes an enclosure. At least one first copper heat absorption component and at least one first heat pipe assembly are disposed in the enclosure. The first heat pipe assembly is connected with the first copper heat absorption component and a section not in contact with the first copper heat absorption component. The first heat pipe assembly serves to quickly transfer heat absorbed by the first copper heat absorption component to the section not in contact with the first copper heat absorption component to dissipate the heat.
US07924561B2
A circuit board case including: a cover that includes a cover front wall and a rise wall connected to the cover front wall, the cover being attachable to an attaching object at a position on the rise wall opposite the cover front wall; and a case that houses a circuit board and includes a case front wall and a first wall surface oriented toward a direction opposite the case front wall, the case being housed in the cover such that the case front wall opposes the cover front wall. A fitting that engages the first wall surface is formed in the rise wall of the cover so as to urge the case toward the cover front wall and thus hold the case within the cover.
US07924558B2
One embodiment includes the provision of a novel insert-and-rotate connection for a daughter card, such as in a blade computer system. The daughter card has both a card edge with a plurality of card edge contacts and a mezzanine connector spaced from the card edge. An interposer mounted on the motherboard has a card edge connector and a midplane connector in communication with the card edge connector. The card edge connector includes a socket for receiving the card edge of the daughter card with the daughter card at an acute angle to the motherboard, to avoid interference between the mezzanine connector on the daughter card and a corresponding mezzanine connector on the motherboard. Once the card edge is inserted into the socket of the card edge connector, the socket allows for rotation of the daughter card about the received card edge. The mezzanine connectors are aligned for connection in response to rotation of the daughter card about the received card edge. The contacts on the card edge also contact the corresponding socket contacts in response to the rotation of the card.
US07924557B2
A retaining apparatus for at least one data storage device includes a tray and a retaining device. The tray is used for receiving the at least one data storage device. The retaining device includes base member, an arm member, and a retaining member. The base member is attached to the tray. The arm member is pivotably attached to the base member about a pivot axis. The pivot axis is located at a first end of the arm member. The retaining member is movably attached to the base member along a first direction. The retaining member includes an engaging portion and a retaining portion. The arm member has a driving portion at the first end engaged with the engaging portion. The first direction is substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis. The retaining member is capable of being driven to move along the first direction by rotating the arm member.
US07924553B2
A locking system for a computer device comprising a display member coupled to a base member to enable positioning of the display member relative to the base member in a open position, a closed position and a tablet position. The system comprises a first locking mechanism adapted to restrict rotational movement between the base and display members in a direction about a first axis. The system also comprises a second locking mechanism adapted to restrict rotational movement between the base and display members in a direction about a second axis.
US07924544B2
An ionization system for a predefined area includes a plurality of emitter modules spaced around the area, a system controller for individually addressing and monitoring the emitter modules and communication lines for electrically connecting the plurality of emitter modules with the system controller. Each emitter module has an individual address and including at least one electrical ionizer.
US07924543B2
A current-limiting circuit (100), which limits an electrical current from a voltage source to a consumer to a predetermined maximum current. A measuring resistor (110) is coupled into a current lead (103) between a circuit input (102) and a circuit output (104). A transistor (106) of the circuit is coupled into the current lead (103) with its collector-emitter path in series with the measuring resistor (110), and its base is connected to the current lead (103) through a series resistor (108). A shunt regulator (116) of the circuit has an anode, a reference input and a cathode, wherein the cathode is connected to the base of the transistor (106), and the anode and the reference input form a voltage tap across the measuring resistor (110). An additional, high-ohmic current path extends in parallel to the transistor (106) and includes a component connected reverse-biased having a diode characteristic and an auxiliary measuring resistor (120b), wherein the auxiliary measuring resistor (120b) is integrated in the voltage tap.
US07924540B2
A main transistor and a reverse current prevention transistor are provided in series between an input terminal and an output terminal. An input diode is provided between a connection point of the reverse current prevention transistor and the main transistor and a reference voltage terminal in such a direction that the anode becomes the reference voltage terminal side. A control unit controls the gate voltage of the main transistor according to a DC voltage. The reverse current prevention transistor is arranged in such a direction that the anode of its body diode becomes the input terminal side. The reverse current prevention transistor is biased to be turned on in a normal state that the input terminal becomes high potential and the reference voltage terminal becomes low potential.
US07924537B2
The disclosure relates to an electrical fault interrupter comprising at least one electrical fault sensor which is configured to detect an electrical fault condition, at least one miswiring circuit configured to detect the improper connection to the electrical fault sensor, and at least one circuit interrupter which is configured to open at least one circuit in the presence of an electrical fault or a miswiring condition. In at least one embodiment, one end of the miswiring circuit is coupled to a ground line.
US07924536B2
A short circuit protection device for the protection of an alternator in which turning on/off a trigger switch causes conduction/cutoff of the field current of the field coil of the alternator is disclosed. The protection device enables the field current to pass through a sensor so that when the field current is abnormally high and the voltage drop across the sensor rises, the potential of an input end of a boost circuit electrically connected to the sensor correspondingly arises and an output end of the boost circuit electrically connected to a shutoff device drives the shutoff device to turn off the trigger switch, and the boost circuit further keeps the shutoff device in on-state to hold the trigger switch off till the short circuit condition is eliminated and the protection circuit system is reset.
US07924533B2
A multi-channel head includes a substrate, a plurality of write elements arranged in a track width direction above the substrate in a lamination direction, and a plurality of read elements arranged in the track width direction above the plurality of write elements in the lamination direction. At least one of the plurality of write elements is offset from the others in the lamination direction. All the plurality of read elements are located higher than an uppermost one of the plurality of write elements in the lamination direction.
US07924532B2
A head gimbal assembly (HGA) of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a flexure, a slider attached to the flexure and including a magnetic head, a plurality of pads at a side of the slider, a plurality of traces attached to and supported by the flexure and respectively bonded to the pads to form an electrically continuous circuit therebetween, and an insulating support element covering a bonding region between the pads and the traces.
US07924530B1
A punched gimbal dimple with a coined, frusto-conical base in a head suspension and a method for producing such a dimple. The dimple has an apex and a base, the base having outer and inner surfaces which generally conform to conical frustums. The conical frustum half-cone angles differ by at least 2 degrees. The dimple and its coined base are fabricated by a dimple punch and die with mismatched punch tangent and chamfer angles. The coined dimple base can be more easily seen by optical systems for aligning a slider to the dimple.
US07924527B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive that can estimate the amount of gas filled in a housing precisely and simply. According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive including a housing in which a magnetic disk and a magnetic head are accommodated and gas having lower density than air is filled, a heating body provided in the housing, and means for holding a reference value of a parameter representing the temperature change speed of the heating body when the heating body is heated in the housing filled with a predetermined reference amount of the gas.
US07924523B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for equalizing an input signal. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide a method for performing equalization in a storage device. Such methods include providing an equalizer circuit that is governed by a target value, and a filter circuit that is governed by a filter coefficient. An initial value is provided to the equalizer circuit as the target value, and an overall target based at least in part on the initial value and the filter coefficient is calculated. An updated value is calculated based on the overall target, and the updated value is provided to the equalizer circuit as the target value.
US07924519B2
Monitoring of the eccentricity of a pre-formatted servo pattern on a disk.
US07924518B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for write pre-compensation. For example, various embodiments of the present invention provide methods for modifying magnetic information transfer. The methods include retrieving magnetically represented data from a storage medium, and converting the magnetically represented data to a series of data samples. A preceding pattern and a transition status is identified in the series of data samples, and an equalized channel response is computed based on an estimated NLTS value. An error value is computed that corresponds to a difference between the estimated NLTS value and an actual NLTS value, and a pre-compensation value is computed based at least in part on the error value.
US07924515B2
The invention relates to an adapter for connecting the optical path of an optical recording device, in particular a camera, to the optical path of an observation device, with an attachment portion for attaching to one of the two devices, and the adapter has two centering mechanisms for centering the optical axis of a lens of the recording device on the optical axis of an eyepiece of the observation device, and a first centering mechanism cooperates with the eyepiece of the observation device and a second centering mechanism cooperates with the lens of the recording device, and one of the two mechanisms is designed to be attached to the eyepiece of the observation device or to the lens of the recording device by means of the attachment portion to provide a centered fit and hold and the second centering mechanism is designed to provide a centrally oriented fit or hold on the lens of the recording device or on the eyepiece of the observation device when necessary.
US07924514B2
A moveable assembly includes a frame, resilient suspension arms made of carbon nanotube bundles, and a moveable member. The frame is disposed around the moveable member. Each of the resilient suspension arms includes a first end fixed to the frame, and a second end connected to the moveable member. The resilient suspension arms are centro-symmetrically arranged relative to the moveable member such that the moveable member is capable of stably moving along a predetermined direction driven by an external force.
US07924513B2
There is provided a lens barrel including: a rear barrel to which an imaging device is attachable, an imaging optical system leading a subject image to the imaging device, and an image blur correcting unit moving a shift lens forming the imaging optical system in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The image blur correcting unit includes a base supporting the shift lens in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging optical system. The lens barrel includes a support mechanism supporting the base to be movable relative to the rear barrel along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; and a fixing device fixing the base to the rear barrel.
US07924500B1
An apparatus and method for compensating for mode-profile distortions caused by bending optical fibers having large mode areas. In various embodiments, the invention micro-structures the index of refraction in the core and surrounding areas of the inner cladding from the inner bend radius to the outer bend radius in a manner that compensates for the index changes that are otherwise induced in the index profile by the geometry and/or stresses to the fiber caused by the bending.
US07924494B2
A support structure within an interferometric modulator device may contact various other structures within the device. Increased bond strengths between the support structure and the other structures may be achieved in various ways, such as by providing roughened surfaces and/or adhesive materials at the interfaces between the support structures and the other structures. In an embodiment, increased adhesion is achieved between a support structure and a substrate layer. In another embodiment, increased adhesion is achieved between a support structure and a moveable layer. Increased adhesion may reduce undesirable slippage between the support structures and the other structures to which they are attached within the interferometric modulator.
US07924490B2
An oscillator device includes an oscillation system having a first oscillator, a second oscillator, a first resilient supporting member and a second resilient supporting member, wherein the oscillation system has at least two frequencies of natural oscillation mode around the torsion axis which include a first resonance frequency f1 and a second resonance frequency f2, wherein there is a relationship that f2 is approximately two-fold of f1, wherein Δf which is expressed as Δf=f2−f×f1 has a relationship of Δf<0, and wherein the drive control means supplies, to the driving means, a driving signal which is comprised of a driving signal based on synthesizing a first driving signal having a first driving frequency and a second driving signal having a second driving frequency, and which is such driving signal that, when a lower-frequency side driving frequency among the first and second driving frequencies is denoted by Df1 and a higher-frequency side driving frequency is denoted by Df2, it satisfies relationships Df1
US07924489B2
Methods and apparatus for use with a micromirror element includes a micromirror a micromirror having a substantially flat outer surface disposed outwardly from a support structure that is operable to at least partially support the micromirror. The support structure includes at least one layer overlying at least two discrete planes that are both substantially parallel to the outer surface of the micromirror. In one particular embodiment, the support structure includes annular-shaped sidewalls that encapsulate a photoresist plug.
US07924486B2
A MEMS scan controller with inherent frequency and a method of control thereof applied to controllers of a MEMS mirror of bidirectional scanning laser printers are disclosed. The amplitude of the MEMS mirror is adjusted by using the inherent frequency so that scan data string is sent within effective scanning window with preset frequency of a laser source of the laser printer and a certain time interval. Thus the controller is simplified and the high precision scanning is achieved.
US07924482B2
The invention provides an image scanning apparatus stabilizing a behavior of a document in scanning an image and enabling to promote image scanning accuracy. The image scanning apparatus according to the invention includes a resist roller 22 for feeding a document, a discharge roller 28 disposed in a feeding direction of the resist roller 22 for feeding the document and a first optical carriage A for scanning the image of the document in feeding the document by the resist roller 22 and the discharge roller 28. The resist roller 22 and the discharge roller 28 are respectively driven by a first motor 150 and a second motor 160. Further, when the document is charged to the discharge roller 28, document feed speed of the resist roller 22 in scanning document is made to be increased.
US07924481B2
An image reading device and an image forming apparatus and methods thereof can achieve a duplex scanning operation and enable a user to easily arrange the scanned documents after being discharged. The image reading device may include a supply path coupled to a document supply port, a simplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to first guide the document to the scan unit, a duplex document feeding path coupled to the supply path to second guide the document to the scan unit to scan a first surface of the document, and a duplex document circulating path to communicate with the duplex document feeding path and guide a second surface of the first surface scanned document to the scan unit.
US07924476B2
A document table is provided with a first chart portion and a second chart portion. In each of the first chart portion and the second chart portion, a reference chart is formed. The first chart portion is disposed at an upstream chart position, and the second chart portion is disposed at a downstream-side position located away in a sub-scanning direction from the upstream chart position. On the basis of respective chart images of the first chart portion and second chart portion obtained from respective reference charts of the first and second chart portions read by a document reading portion, the image processing portion obtains respective sharpening levels for respective image areas of a document image of a document read by the document reading portion and, based on the respective sharpening levels, processes the document image.
US07924473B2
An image evaluation apparatus includes a printing status judgment unit for judging a printing status of a target image assigned with an evaluation value and an evaluation value changing unit for appropriately changing the evaluation value based on information representing the printing status. An image evaluation method and a program for causing a computer to execute the image evaluation method are also provided. Therefore, the evaluation value can be assigned to the image, reflecting an intention and preference of a user at the time of selection of an image for printing.
US07924459B2
A data processing apparatus uses a pattern table arranging binarizing patterns correspondingly to positions of a pixel, each of which is used for a binarization process in which an arrangement of a number of dots depending on a value of multi-valued image data corresponding to the pixel is determined, to select the binarizing pattern depending on the position of the pixel and on the value of multi-valued image data corresponding to the pixel for executing the binarization process. The pattern table corresponding to one of the values to be taken by the multi-valued image data includes a plurality of types of binarizing patterns which determine different arrangements of dots from each other. The arrangement of each of the plurality of types of binarizing patterns in the pattern table corresponding to the one value has a characteristic that the arrangement is aperiodic and that low frequency components are fewer than high frequency components.
US07924453B2
A method comprises collecting printing information relating to an electronic document stored on a computer. The printing information comprises printing attributes according to which the electronic document should be printed. In response to input from a user of the computer, the method causes the electronic document and the printing information to be stored on a portable memory device temporarily connected to the computer. The method causes the electronic document and the printing attributes to be automatically supplied to a printing device after the portable memory device is disconnected from the computer and subsequently connected to the printing device. The method causes the printing device to print the electronic document with the printing attributes based solely on the electronic document and the printing information maintained within the portable memory device.
US07924452B2
An image forming apparatus which communicates with an information processing apparatus includes a display unit which is used to input an instruction to cause the information processing apparatus to execute a dynamic layout function of dynamically determining a layout on the basis of template data so as to form an image by using template data including insertion data and layout information, a transmission unit which transmits, to the information processing apparatus, specifying information to be used when processing is performed by using the dynamic layout function, a reception unit which receives dynamically laid out data, and an output unit which outputs the received data.
US07924451B2
A client server system S includes a plurality of client terminal devices 3 capable to connect with display device 4, whose screen resolution is HD or SD, and a server device which provides image information to the plurality of client terminal devices s through wireless network N. The server device 1 is structured to include a sendable resolution determining program 1134 to make CPU 111 determine whether to convert HD image information into SD image information or not, and an image information sending program 1135 to make the CPU 111 send SD image information attached with SD information to the plurality of client terminal devices 3.
US07924429B2
A system, method and apparatus for anatomical mapping utilizing optical coherence tomography. In the present invention, 3-dimensional fundus intensity imagery can be acquired from a scanning of light back-reflected from an eye. The scanning can include spectral domain scanning, as an example. A fundus intensity image can be acquired in real-time. The 3-dimensional data set can be reduced to generate an anatomical mapping, such as an edema mapping and a thickness mapping. Optionally, a partial fundus intensity image can be produced from the scanning of the eye to generate an en face view of the retinal structure of the eye without first requiring a full segmentation of the 3-D data set. Advantageously, the system, method and apparatus of the present invention can provide quantitative three-dimensional information about the spatial location and extent of macular edema and other pathologies. This three-dimensional information can be used to determine the need for treatment, monitor the effectiveness of treatment and identify the return of fluid that may signal the need for re-treatment.
US07924428B2
An optical rotary adapter is featured by including: a fixed side optical fiber which is fixedly supported by a fixed sleeve and which has an end surface inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber; a fixed side collimator lens which is arranged to be separated from the inclined end surface of the fixed side optical fiber by a predetermined interval; a rotation side optical fiber which is fixedly supported substantially at the center of a rotatably supported rotary cylinder, which is arranged to face the fixed side collimator lens, and which has an end surface inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the fixed side collimator lens; a rotation side collimator lens which is fixedly supported by the rotary cylinder, and which is arranged between the fixed side collimator lens and the rotation side optical fiber so as to be separated from the inclined end surface of the rotation side optical fiber by a predetermined interval; a second luminous flux optical fiber which guides a second luminous flux having a function different from that of a first luminous flux as a measuring light beam to the inside of the fixed sleeve; and a multiplexing device which is provided between the fixed side collimator lens and the rotation side collimator lens, and which multiplexes the first luminous flux with the second luminous flux.
US07924422B2
A zoned order sorting filter for a spectrometer in a semiconductor metrology system is disclosed with reduced light dispersion at the zone joints. The order sorting filter comprises optically-transparent layers deposited underneath, or on top of thin-film filter stacks of the order sorting filter zones, wherein the thicknesses of the optically-transparent layers are adjusted such that the total optical lengths traversed by light at a zone joint are substantially equal in zones adjacent the zone joint. A method for wavelength to detector array pixel location calibration of spectrometers is also disclosed, capable of accurately representing the highly localized nonlinearities of the calibration curve in the vicinity of zone joints of an order sorting filter.
US07924419B2
Apparatus for generating optical radiation includes a laser, which is configured to operate in multiple transverse modes simultaneously so as to generate an input beam, which is characterized by a first speckle contrast. The transverse modes of the input beam are optically mixed so as to generate an output beam have a second speckle contrast, which is substantially less than the first speckle contrast.
US07924415B2
The present invention provides a light direction sensor for determining the direction of a light source. The system includes an image sensor; a spacer attached to the image sensor, and a pattern mask attached to said spacer. The pattern mask has a slit pattern that as light passes through the slit pattern it casts a diffraction pattern onto the image sensor. The method operates by receiving a beam of light onto a patterned mask, wherein the patterned mask as a plurality of a slit segments. Then, diffusing the beam of light onto an image sensor and determining the direction of the light source.
US07924414B2
A system for processing bulk materials, comprising at least one transport apparatus that conveys a stream of bulk materials from a first process position to a second process position, an illumination source that projects light on to a surface of the stream, and at least one spectrometer that captures light reflected, emitted, or absorbed by the stream.
US07924407B2
The present invention relates to an exposure device for forming circuit patterns onto a surface of an object. The exposure device includes at least one spatial light modulator which includes a plurality of reflection elements being arranged in a matrix fashion, at least one optical source which supplies exposure light to the reflection elements, and a bias voltage controller which applies a first voltage to the reflection elements, thereby setting the reflection elements to a first state and which does not apply a voltage to the reflection elements, thereby setting the reflection elements to a second state. In addition, the exposure light is delivered to the surface of the object in the first state, and the exposure light is not delivered to the surface of the object in the second state.
US07924403B2
A immersion lithographic apparatus is disclosed in which one or more liquid diverters are positioned in a space surrounded by a liquid confinement structure. A function of the liquid diverter(s) is to hinder the formation of one or more recirculation zones of immersion liquid which may lead to variations in refractive index of the immersion liquid in the space and thereby imaging errors.
US07924399B2
An assembly including a conditioning system and an object movable into and/or out of an area to be conditioned is disclosed. The conditioning system has fluid outlet passages to supply conditioning fluid to the area to be conditioned and is configured to adjust outflow of the conditioning fluid from the fluid outlet passages depending on a position of the object.
US07924379B2
A liquid crystal display comprising: a brightness enhancing film, polarizing plate (A), a liquid crystal cell, polarizing plate (B) laminated in that order, Wherein (i) polarizing plate (A) has a polarizing plate protective film facing the brightness enhancing film; (ii) the polarizing plate protective film is a cellulose ester film; (iii) an in-plane retardation value Ro(550) of the of the cellulose ester film represented by Formula (I) is 0 to 5 nm; and (iv) a retardation value in a thickness direction Rt(550) of the of the cellulose ester film represented by Formula (II) is −15 to 15 nm, Ro(550)=(Nx−Ny)×d Formula (I) Rt(550)={(Nx+Ny)/2−Nz}×d. Formula (II)
US07924376B2
Aspects of the invention provide a transflective liquid crystal display device that prevents display failure, such as an afterimage and unevenness like stains, and achieves a bright display with a wide viewing angle in both transmissive display and reflective display. The liquid crystal display device of the invention is a vertically-aligned transflective liquid crystal display device having a multigap structure. Each pixel can include, in a dot region, a plurality of islands, and connecting portions for electrically connecting the adjoining islands. Two islands, of the islands, can be disposed in a transmissive display region, and the remaining island is disposed in a reflective display region. A boundary sloping area in which the thickness of a liquid crystal layer continuously changes is disposed right below the connecting portion in the pixel electrode.
US07924372B2
To provide a liquid crystal display device having excellent display quality and a substrate to be used for such liquid crystal display device. A liquid crystal display device is provided with a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates, CF resin layers formed in a display area on the substrate; and a structure for sustaining a cell gap between the substrates in the display area. The structure is provided with a resin spacer layer occupying 90% or more of the volume of an organic member constituting the structure.
US07924367B2
An exemplary backlight module includes a frame and an illuminator support apparatus. The frame defines a through hole therein, and the through hole includes an assembly hole and a location hole communicating with each other. The illuminator support apparatus includes a base and a neck. The base remains fixed to the frame through the location hole. The neck is configured to be slidable from the assembly hole to the location hole and secured to the frame after the supporting body is snugly rotated. A liquid crystal display employing the backlight module is also provided.
US07924364B2
A liquid crystal display module, which can prevent corrugations of a reflection plate, and an assembling method thereof are disclosed. The liquid crystal display module comprises: a liquid crystal panel; a light source assembly; a light guide plate; a reflection plate; a support main; and a cover bottom, the reflection plate being disposed to be spaced a predetermined gap from the inner wall surfaces of the support main, the light guide plate being fixed to lateral stepped faces formed on a lateral inner wall surface of the supporter main while maintaining a first gap between the light guide plate and the reflection plate, and the light source assembly being fixed between an inner wall surface of a light incident portion of the support main and an incident surface of the light guide plate while maintaining a second gap between the light source assembly and the reflection plate.
US07924361B2
A portable display device capable of preventing the ambient temperature of a light source provided in a liquid crystal display device from being intensively raised. The portable display device is constructed with a liquid crystal display panel; a backlight assembly including light source for supplying light to the liquid crystal display panel, and a mold frame receiving the liquid crystal display panel and the light source as well as surrounding at least two sides of the light source. At least one region of the mold frame surrounding the sides of the light source is formed of at least one aperture.
US07924354B2
A pixel structure includes a bright region and a pale region, and the pale region includes a first capacitance coupling region and a second capacitance coupling region. The first capacitance coupling region includes a first coupling capacitor, the second capacitance coupling region includes a second coupling capacitor, and the first coupling capacitor and the second coupling capacitor are connected in parallel.
US07924352B2
A pixel structure of a liquid crystal display panel includes a first transparent substrate, a first data line, a second data line, a transparent electrode, and a compensating conducting pattern layer. In a display region, the first side of the transparent electrode and the first data line partially overlap, forming a first parasitic capacitor, the second side of the transparent electrode and the second data line partially overlap, forming a second parasitic capacitor smaller than the first parasitic capacitor. In a non-display region, the first side of the transparent electrode and the first data line partially overlap, forming a third parasitic capacitor, and the second side of the transparent electrode and the compensating conducing pattern layer partially overlap, forming a fourth parasitic capacitor. The total parasitic capacitance of the first and the third parasitic capacitors and the total parasitic capacitance of the second and the fourth parasitic capacitors are substantially equal.
US07924343B2
A photographing apparatus comprises a photographing device which photographs an image of an object; an illumination device which emits light at the photographing time and illuminates the object; a face detection device which detects a face area and a size of the face area of the person of the object from the image photographed by the photographing device; an object distance calculating device which calculates a distance up to the object from the size of the face area; a photographing sensitivity setting device that sets a photographing sensitivity according to the object distance; and a main emission control device which performs a main emission photographing by using the setting of the photographing sensitivity set by the photographing sensitivity setting device.
US07924342B2
An image sensor equipped with imaging pixels disposed in a two-dimensional array, which converts an image formed through an optical system to an electrical signal, includes: first focus detection pixel groups each formed by disposing in the array of the imaging pixels a plurality of first pixels adopting a split pupil method; and second focus detection pixel groups each formed by disposing in the array of the imaging pixels a plurality of second pixels adopting a split pupil method different from the split pupil method adopted in the first pixels, and a relationship between a number of the first focus detection pixel groups and a number of the second focus detection pixel groups is determined in correspondence to directions of positions assumed by the first focus detection pixel groups and the second focus detection pixel groups relative to a center of the image sensor.
US07924335B2
A row scanner selects an arbitrary row in an pixel array unit. Per-column AD converters separately convert voltage signals respectively outputted from a column of a plurality of unit pixels in the selected arbitrary row into digital signals. A column scanner sequentially outputs the digital signals by a column-scanning operation thereof. An AD conversion result adjuster judges whether or not the digital signals reach a predetermined judgment value or the status equivalent to the digital signals reaching the predetermined judgment value is generated, and fixes the digital signals to digital pixel values set in accordance with the predetermined judgment value when a result of the judgment is positive.
US07924334B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having pixels arranged into a matrix, each pixel containing an electric charge retaining section with a first accumulation capacitance for retaining a signal electric charge, a photoelectric conversion device with a second accumulation capacitance greater than the first accumulation capacitance where a light signal is converted into signal electric charges and then accumulated, a transfer means for controlling a transfer of the signal electric charges from the photoelectric conversion device to the electric charge retaining section, a signal amplification means for amplifying the signal electric charges retained at the electric charge retaining section and outputting them as a pixel signal, and a reset means for controlling a connection between the photoelectric conversion device and a pixel power supply; a horizontal and vertical scanning means for outputting the pixel signal; and a control section for, after transfer of the signal electric charges by the transfer means, executing the connection between the photoelectric conversion device and the pixel power supply by the reset means before a start of an exposure.
US07924333B2
Methods and apparatuses using four-way-shared readout circuits to increase pixel fill factor. Embodiments consolidate circuits from several pixels, reducing the number of components in each pixel and this increasing the fill factor of each pixel. Additionally, embodiments use “straight gate” transfer gates to increase the readout speed and symmetry of the smaller pixels.
US07924328B2
Audio data is accessed. A visual effect is applied to image data based on the audio data. The image data to which the visual effect has been applied based on the audio data is displayed.
US07924305B2
A technique for maintaining consistent video quality between a plurality of videoconference sites is disclosed. Calibration correction factors are determined from video calibration data obtained from the videoconference sites. The calibration factors are applied to transmissions between the videoconference sites.
US07924298B2
A modulation processing section compares video data of a current frame and a previous frame representative value supplied from a frame memory, corrects the video data so that a gradation transition from a gradation indicated by the previous frame representative value to a gradation indicated by the video data is emphasized, and outputs the corrected video data. A judgment section compares both of the data and judges, out of a value calculated from the previous frame representative value by a representative value generating section and the video data, which is to be stored in the frame memory till a next frame begins. This allows for realizing a liquid crystal display device capable of preventing with a relatively small-scale circuit (alternatively, a relatively small amount of calculation) a phenomenon such that: although a response speed of a pixel is improved, the emphasis modulation and a response delay of the pixel are combined so that image quality in displaying moving images deteriorates.
US07924292B2
A circuit and method for reducing artifacts in decoded color video and images are disclosed. The circuit includes a buffer for receiving an input pixel in a first color-space, and a detector for determining after transformation into a second color-space, if at least one component of the transformed pixel would fall outside a predetermined range. The determination may be made by comparing components of the input pixel, to corresponding ranges in the first color-space. Upon determining that at least one component of the transformed pixel would be outside a corresponding predetermined bound in the second color-space, the detector causes the circuit to output a pixel in the first color-space, with at least one predetermined component. The output of the circuit may subsequently be converted to the second color-space by an external color-space converter and displayed onto a color display. The method reduces visible artifacts caused by clipping during color-space conversion.
US07924291B2
A display color-correcting system is provided. Color response values are measured that go into the vertices of polyhedra in a cubic color output space of the display. A set of corresponding values for the display is built from intermediate values determined between the measured color response values. The intermediate values are determined by decomposition and interpolation of interpolation volumes in the cubic color output space. Each of the interpolation volumes is the combined volume of a selected polyhedron within the cubic color output space and a predetermined volume of space between the selected polyhedron and the next polyhedron within the cubic color output space. The set of corresponding values is converted into decoupled RGB adjustment values that specify the RGB signals independently for the display to produce corrected colors. The RGB adjustment values are saved into one or more look-up tables.
US07924280B2
A method is disclosed for processing of diagnostic image data. In one embodiment, the method includes determination of three-dimensional image information using an imaging medico-technical method, in which an examined volume is subdivided into a plurality of voxels and each voxel is allocated one measurement value, and selection of a subset of the voxels, with the measurement values which are associated with the selected voxels satisfying a specific relationship with a limit value. The method further includes identification of at least one cohesive volume area within the selected subset of the voxels, determination of a surface of the identified cohesive volume area, and determination of the distance between voxels within the cohesive volume area and the surface. Additionally, the method includes identification of volume elements within the cohesive volume area, with each volume element having a central voxel whose distance from the surface represents a local maximum, determination of a constriction within the cohesive volume area, which constriction separates identified volume elements from one another, and subdivision of the determined image information into a plurality of data subsets, with the constriction providing a boundary between the different data subsets.
US07924272B2
An infrared source is configured to illuminate the underside of one or more objects on or above a touchable surface of a touch panel. Infrared light reflected from the underside of the object(s) is detected by an infrared sensor integrated in the touch panel below the touchable surface.
US07924267B2
A pointing device for a computer system includes: a first movement sensor for detecting movements of the device along a first axis and a second axis; a second movement sensor, for detecting movements of the device along a third axis not coplanar with the first and second axes; and a processing unit associated to the movement sensors for producing a plurality of movement signals indicating the movement of the device along the first, second, and third axes. The processing unit includes a control stage, for controlling the production of the movement signals on the basis of a response of the second movement sensor.
US07924266B2
A computer mouse includes two components. A fully functional module mouse and a shell mouse that fits over the module mouse. The module mouse is configured to perform at least one complete mouse function, independently of the shell mouse. Other functions can be split between the shell mouse and the module mouse, in any desired way.
US07924261B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for adjusting display light source levels for enhanced image display.
US07924257B2
A driver circuit for driving a display device includes N-number of grayscale selecting circuits, which correspond to N-number of data electrodes, each for selecting one grayscale voltage from among a plurality of grayscale voltages in accordance with an image signal; one voltage follower circuit for subjecting the grayscale voltages, which have been selected by the grayscale selecting circuits, to an impedance conversion to thereby drive the data electrodes; and a changeover control circuit for exercising control so as to divide one horizontal interval into at least (N+1)-number of intervals, drive a Kth data electrode by the output of the amplifier circuit by inputting only an output of a Kth grayscale selecting circuit to the amplifier circuit in a Kth (K=1 to N) interval, and drive the Kth data electrode by the output of the Kth grayscale selecting circuit in at least some intervals other than the Kth interval.
US07924255B2
A gate driving method for a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a gate driver thereof are provided. The LCD has a plurality of scan lines. The method starts by generating a gate driving signal. A correction signal is superposed to the gate driving signal to generate a corrected gate driving signal and to reduce a high voltage level of the gate driving signal, wherein a polarity of the correction signal is opposite to a polarity of the gate driving signal. The corrected gate driving signal is then outputted to drive one of the corresponding scan lines.
US07924245B2
An electro-luminescence display device, including gate lines, data lines crossing the gate lines, pixel cells at crossings of the gate lines and the data lines, a gate driver that sequentially applies a gate signal to the gate lines during one horizontal period, and a plurality of data driving circuits that apply voltage signals to the pixel cells along a gate line during a first time of the horizontal period and applying current signals to the pixel cells during a second time after the first time of the horizontal period.
US07924234B2
A cladding (2) for a microwave antenna comprises at least one plate (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) which has, in a first section plane (x=0; y=0), a cross section in the shape of a logarithmic spiral, characterized in that the plate (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) has a cross section in the shape of a logarithmic spiral also in at least one second section plane perpendicular to the first one.
US07924232B2
An electromagnetic wave measuring method is provided that is capable of performing high-precision measurement in a shorter time and in a greater variety of frequency bands than heretofore with a comparatively simple configuration. A plate-like antenna (13) of which the outline shape of an opposed surface opposite a measured object (5) is similar to the outline shape of an opposed surface of the measured object (5) is brought close to the measured object (5), and an electromagnetic wave from the measured object (5) is measured based on the frequency spectrum of a received signal received by the plate-like antenna (13).
US07924225B2
An antenna system comprising a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a parasitic element, wherein the parasitic element is arranged with regard to the first antenna element and the second antenna element such that a greatest difference in gain between respective antenna patterns of the first and second antenna elements occurs at a null of the pattern of the first antenna element.
US07924215B2
A signal processing circuit detects, at a plurality of different timing points, a first and a second distance of an oncoming vehicle approaching a vehicle including the radar apparatus and detects a first and a second component of a relative velocity of the vehicle in the radar-apparatus direction. A distance of closest approach of the oncoming vehicle to the vehicle appears when the vehicle and the oncoming vehicle pass each other side by side. The signal processing circuit computes the distance of closest approach on the basis of a formula indicating that a relative velocity given by the first distance, the distance of closest approach, and the first component of a relative velocity in the radar-apparatus direction is equal to a relative velocity given by the second distance, the distance of closest approach, and the second component of a relative velocity in the radar-apparatus direction.
US07924211B2
Detecting reflectors of an emitted electromagnetic pulse, using a received signal, by time-sampling the received signal and the emitted pulse at a same sampling frequency, each received sample corresponding to a return-trip distance for the emitted pulse between its transmitter and a possible reflector. The sampled received signal is divided by the emitted pulse sampled and temporally translated into an interval of duration equal to the emitted pulse divided into L samples, producing L results of the division. A weighted summing of the L results of the division is calculated, the sets of L weights each having a support on which the weights are not zero, every subinterval of length between L/n and L being the support for at least one set of weights and no support having a length of less than L/n, wherein the sums of the weights of a set all being equal, and n is a nonzero integer such that L/n is greater than or equal to 2. Finally, determining the minimum of the summations, wherein a nonzero minimum characterizes the amplitude of the pulse reflected by a reflector located at the distance corresponding to the start of a time interval being considered.
US07924200B2
In a particular embodiment, a circuit device includes an input to receive a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal and an output to send a modulated PWM signal. The circuit device further includes a pulse edge control circuit coupled between the input and the output. The pulse edge control circuit receives the PWM signal via the input and includes a control input to receive a modulation control signal. The pulse edge control circuit is adapted to modify the PWM signal to provide the modulated PWM signal with suppressed carrier power and associated harmonics to the output based on the modulation control signal. The circuit device further includes a modulation sequence controller adapted to provide the modulation control signal via the control input. The modulation control signal selectively controls a sequence of the modification of the PWM signal to selectively alter an output power spectrum of the modulated PWM signal.
US07924198B2
A digital-to-analog converter is disclosed. The digital-to-analog converter includes a decoder that receives a plurality of digital input signals to output a plurality of thermometer decode signals, a current supply part including a plurality of current sources, each of which operates in one of a sleeping mode and an operating mode under the control of the thermometer decode signals, and a switching part including a plurality of switching units, each of which operates in one of a sleeping mode and an operating mode under the control of the thermometer decode signals. The current supply part selectively outputs a plurality of switching power signals. The switching part outputs an analog signal under the control of the thermometer decode signals.
US07924195B2
Method and apparatus for signal reconstruction enabling the sharing of analog-to-digital converter resources among signals. Embodiments include a signal reconstruction method that allows reconstruction of multiple non-uniformly sampled signals while avoiding unwanted side effects such as aliasing.
US07924179B2
To provide a decoding device that compactly stores prefix related information therein compatible to variable-length codes used in various systems. The decoding device includes a register file in which a prefix common portion and a word length of the prefix common portion, prefix individual portions and word lengths of the prefix individual portions, word lengths of suffixes, and an input bit sequence are stored, a bit matching unit that determines a prefix included in the input bit sequence from prefixes generated from the prefix common portion and the prefix individual portions, a codeword computation unit that computes the word length of a codeword included in the input bit sequence using the respective word lengths of the prefix common portion, a prefix individual portion, and a suffix corresponding to the determined prefix, and an index computation unit that computes an index in a symbol table using the respective word lengths of the corresponding suffix and the codeword.
US07924172B1
A synthetic vision system (SVS) for an aircraft, including a user input device for receiving runway correction commands from a user. The runway correction commands are in response to discrepancies observed by the user between an observed runway position in the real world and a synthetic vision runway position depicted on an electronic display device. The user input device provides runway corrections. An SVS computer is operatively connected to the electronic display device for providing SVS image data to the electronic display device in response to received runway parameter data. A runway parameter server device (RPSD) is operatively connected to the user input device and to the SVS computer for receiving the runway corrections from the user input device and providing the runway parameter data, including any corrected data provided by the user, to the SVS computer. A runway parameter database is operatively connected to the RPSD for receiving correction data from the RPSD and providing corrected data to the RPSD. The user input device provides the capability of stewing the synthetic vision runway position to the observed real-world runway position when the synthetic vision runway position is observed to be misaligned, the corrected data being subsequently used to provide enhanced runway environment information for taxi operations.
US07924169B2
Device for fastening a sensor on containers with a flexible container wall, in particular mixing bags, comprising a sensor support which is fitted with a sensor, bears against an inner wall of the container wall at least with a rear subsurface averted from the sensor, and is guided with a central piece through an opening in the container wall in which the sensor support is fixed on the container wall by a clamping part which can be connected to the central piece, in which the container wall is clamped between the rear subsurface of the sensor support and on a bearing surface, facing an outer wall of the container, of the clamping part, and in which the rear subsurface bears sealingly against the inner wall of the container wall. The sensor support can also have an electronic or optical transmit unit which is connected to the sensor, in which case the transmit unit communicates in a wireless fashion with a receive unit arranged outside the container.
US07924165B2
An Electronic Shark Deterrent provides protection from, and for, sharks and other aquatic creatures. Compact low power circuitry generates high voltage periodic pulse train bursts, disturbing the electroreceptors of the aquatic Elasmobranchi subclass. A train of thirty 33 us 250 Volt (V) electric pulses lasting one second is produced every six seconds. The device is fully portable, requiring no bulky activity impeding buoys, cords, or external power supplies. Advanced circuitry is compact enough to be worn on a watch sized band or attached to garments and recreation or safety equipment. The deterrent can be used in a fixed configuration to protect fish farms and vacation resort swimming areas. It can be affixed to offshore oil rigs and research stations to protect workers. The Electronic Shark Deterrent is compact and portable enough to be used on longlines, trawls and gillnets to reduce the numbers of endangered aquatic creatures unnecessarily destroyed as bycatch.
US07924162B2
The invention provides a tag identification system, a tag reading apparatus, and a method for determining sequence of tags. According to an aspect of the invention, a tag identification system comprises a tag reading apparatus and a plurality of tags, wherein: the tag reading apparatus has at least two antennas, wherein the apparatus transmits an interrogation signal within the coverage of each of the antennas; the plurality of tags sequentially pass by the coverage of each of the at least two antennas, each of the plurality of tags returning a reply to the at least two antennas in response to a received interrogation signal; and the tag reading apparatus includes a sequence determination unit which determines the sequence in which the plurality of tags pass by based on replies returned from the plurality of tags and received by the at least two antennas.
US07924153B1
An asset tracking unit, system, and method. The asset tracking unit, system, and method may include at least one transceiver having communicative connections with at least one SATCOM network and at least one GPS network via at least one antenna, wherein tracking information for at least one asset associated with the at least one transceiver is received from the GPS network and is communicated to the SATCOM network, a first link that provides a multi-code one of the communicative connections between the at least one transceiver and the at least one SATCOM network, and a second link that provides a multi-channel one of the communicative connections between the at least one transceiver and he at least one GPS network. The unit system and method may additionally include at least one remote operations center remote from an asset to be tracked, wherein the asset to be tracked is geographically associated with the central processing unit.
US07924139B2
A first communication device performs a first, a second, and a third authentication processing for a second communication device, a authentication station sends to the first communication device a confirmation signal indicating that a person's identity is confirmed, when the authentication station succeeds the authentication of the second communication device, so that the authentication station validates the cancellation of a usage restrictions of the controlled device imposed by the first communication device based on the cancellation permission signal.
US07924134B2
A vehicular power converter includes switches and first and second inductive components. The first and second inductive components have substantially adjacent portions and are coupled to the plurality of switches such that when current flows from the plurality of switches and through the first and second inductive components, flux generated by the current flowing through the adjacent portions of the first and second inductive components and located between the adjacent portions is oriented in substantially opposite directions.
US07924130B2
An isolation magnetic device produced by inserting a first end of a wire through a first hole of a core, wrapping the first end of the wire around a first side of the core and inserting the first end of the wire through a second hole of the core. The second hole of the core is spaced from the first hole and has a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first hole. The device is further produced by inserting a second end of the wire through the second hole of the core, wrapping the second end of the wire around the first side of the core and inserting the second end of the wire through the first hole of the core.
US07924120B2
A piezoelectric resonator includes a substrate and a thin-film section. The thin-film section includes a first thin-film section supported by the substrate, and an acoustically-isolated second thin-film section which is separated from the substrate. In the second thin-film section, first and second electrodes are arranged on the respective main surfaces of a piezoelectric film, and a vibration section is provided at an area where the first and the second electrodes overlap each other on the second thin-film section when viewed through in the film-thickness direction. The thin-film section further includes a heat-radiating film which is in contact with peripheral edges of at least the first electrode among the first and second electrodes defining portions of a periphery of the vibration section, and which extends from the peripheral edges to the first thin-film section when viewed through in the film-thickness direction.
US07924111B2
The invention provides a method of transferring single ended signal with interference-resistance. The transmission of the single ended signal includes an input device and an output device. The output device has its signal output terminal connected with a signal input terminal of the input device. A signal floating isolation circuit is connected with the signal output terminal of the output device and/or signal input terminal of the input device. The output signal or input signal is output or input via this floating isolation circuit. The isolation reference terminal of the output signal is coupled to ground of the output device through the isolation impedance, and/or the isolation reference terminal of the input signal is coupled to the ground of the input device. The signal output reference terminal of the output device and the signal input reference terminal of the input device are connected with each other. The invention also provides an input device and an output device both of which are used to transfer single ended signal with interference-resistance. By improving interface circuit design between the signals receiving side and transmitting side, interference signal entered into the signal channels are reduced, and the cost of implementation of the invention are also low.
US07924110B2
In various embodiments, the invention provides a clock generator and/or a timing and frequency reference, with multiple operating modes, such power conservation, clock, reference, and pulsed modes. The various apparatus embodiments include a resonator adapted to provide a first signal having a resonant frequency; an amplifier; a temperature compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to temperature; and a process variation compensator adapted to modify the resonant frequency in response to fabrication process variation. In addition, the various embodiments may also include a frequency divider adapted to divide the first signal having the resonant frequency into a plurality of second signals having a corresponding plurality of frequencies substantially equal to or lower than the resonant frequency; and a frequency selector adapted to provide an output signal from the plurality of second signals. The output signal may be provided in any of various forms, such as differential or single-ended, and substantially square-wave or sinusoidal.
US07924107B2
A resonant tunneling structure for generating oscillation with multiple fundamental oscillation frequencies is provided. A first quantum well layer has a second sub-band (E2). A second quantum well layer has a first sub-band (E1) and a third sub-band (E3). When no electric field is applied, the resonant tunneling structure satisfies “(Eb1, Eb2)
US07924102B2
An oscillator includes a control circuit and a ring of symmetric load delay cells. Each delay cell includes two novel symmetric loads. Each load involves a level shift circuit and a diode-connected transistor coupled in parallel with a current source-connected transistor. The control circuit converts an oscillator input signal into bias control signals that in turn control the effective resistance of the symmetric loads such that delays through the delay cells are a function of the input signal. The control circuit uses a symmetric load replica in a control loop to control the level shift circuits of the delay cells such that the oscillating delay cell output signals have a constant amplitude. In a first advantageous aspect, due to the constant amplitude, the oscillator is operable over a wide frequency range. In a second advantageous aspect, the oscillator input signal to output signal oscillation frequency has a substantially linear relationship.
US07924089B2
A class D amplifier includes an input unit that inputs an input signal and an integrator which includes a differential operational amplifier having an offset voltage correction function. The integrator integrates the input signal input. A pulse-width modulator modulates the integration result of the integrator to generate a pulse signal having a pulse width reflective of the integration result. An output unit outputs the pulse signal. A feedback unit superimposes a signal output from the output unit on the input signal and feeds back the superimposed signal to the integrator. An input controller selectively set the input unit to a state where no signal is input. An output controller sets a voltage of an output from the feedback unit to a constant voltage.
US07924073B2
A back-bias voltage generating circuit controls the back-bias voltage in a predetermined range by detecting the back-bias voltage in case the back-bias voltage level decreases below a predetermined target level. The circuit includes first and second detecting units outputting respective detection signals, which detect a voltage level of the terminal based on respective higher first and lower second target levels. An oscillator generates an oscillation signal that oscillates at a predetermined frequency, in response to a detection signal of the first voltage detecting unit. A charge pumping unit drives the terminal by performing charge pumping in response to the oscillation signal. A voltage level control unit controls the voltage level of the terminal in response to the detection signals, whereby the terminal's voltage level is lower than the first target level and higher than the second target level.
US07924070B2
A power-on reset circuit, connected to an external direct current (DC) power source, to receive DC power signals and generate a reset signal, includes a delay circuit, a combination circuit and a shaping circuit. The delay circuit comprises a plurality of delay units, to delay the received DC power signals and output a plurality of delayed DC power signals. The combination circuit is connected to the delay circuit, to combine the delayed DC power signals into a combination signal, and output the combination signal. The shaping circuit is connected to and turns the combination circuit on and off according to the combination signal and outputs the reset signal.
US07924063B2
An ECU has a main IC and at least one auxiliary IC, with at least the auxiliary IC driving one or more MOS FETs to control supplying of power to respective electrical loads, e.g., in a vehicle. A stepped-up voltage, higher than the circuit power source voltage, is generated within the main IC and supplied to each auxiliary IC, for driving gate electrodes of the MOS FETs. Electrical noise produced by operation of a voltage step-up circuit in the main IC is effectively suppressed by elements that are coupled only to a power source terminal of the main IC alone.
US07924060B2
An output circuit of a semiconductor device includes a signal selector configured to receive first and second input data signals and sequentially outputting the first and second input data signals in response to a phase signal; and an output level controller configured to control a voltage level of an output signal of the signal selector based on the first and second input data signals.
US07924055B2
A data transmitting system is provided that includes a transmitter that suppresses coupling noise by being operated using a differential voltage driving scheme at the time of transmitting data and being operated using a common voltage driving scheme by equalizing potential of a pair of transmission lines during a transition interval; and a receiver that is connected to the transmitter through the pair of transmission lines and recovers the data by sensing the voltage difference in signals of the pair of transmission lines.
US07924054B1
A programmable logic device (PLD), is provided that includes: a plurality of SERDES channels; a programmable logic fabric configured to implement an interface for a standardized cellular base station system; wherein the interface receives data words from the SERDES channels and transmits data words to the SERDES channels, and wherein a standard corresponding to the standardized base station system restricts a latency with regard to flow of the data words through the interface, the data words being arranged into frames; and a timing measurement circuit configured to measure a delay between a detection of a first timing point in the frames at first location in the PLD with respect to the interface and a detection of a second timing point in the frames at a second location in the PLD with respect to the interface.
US07924037B2
An inspection apparatus includes an electrical connection member which is configured to remove flux attached to a part to be inspected of an object to be inspected, a base member which is provided with the electrical connection member, a driving member which is configured to move the base member relative to the object to be inspected, a control member which is configured to control an operation of the driving member, and an inspection start-up member which is configured to send an operation start signal to the control member, when the operation start signal is sent from the inspection start-up member to the control member, the base member is moved by the driving member, and the electrical connection member is brought into contact with the part to be inspected of the object to be inspected a predetermined number of times, by a control of the control member.
US07924031B2
An in-situ method for monitoring the health of a composite component utilizes a condition sensor made of electrically conductive particles dispersed in a polymeric matrix. The sensor is bonded or otherwise formed on the matrix surface of the composite material. Age-related shrinkage of the sensor matrix results in a decrease in the resistivity of the condition sensor. Correlation of measured sensor resistivity with data from aged specimens allows indirect determination of mechanical damage and remaining age of the composite component.
US07924029B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring a ratio of capacitances. The apparatus include a comparator including a comparator input, a comparator output, and a reference voltage; a first capacitive element including a first capacitance, a first electrode coupled to the comparator input, and a second electrode; a first biasing element coupled to the first electrode; a digitally-controlled voltage waveform generator for generating a varying waveform, the voltage waveform generator including a voltage waveform generator output coupled to the second electrode; a second capacitive element including a second capacitance and a third electrode coupled to the comparator input; and a controller coupled to the comparator output, the controller configured to control the digitally-controlled voltage waveform generator, wherein an output signal of the comparator is dependent on a ratio comprising the first capacitance and the second capacitance, and the first capacitive element and/or the second capacitive element has a variable capacitance.
US07924026B2
A method for determining input tones required to produce a desired output includes the step of extracting a linearization of a spectral map representing a device under test (DUT) that i) is under drive of a large signal having one or more fundamental frequencies with associated amplitudes and phases, and ii) produces an approximation of a desired output having at least one unwanted spectral component. The method includes the further step of using an inverse of the extracted linearization to determine the input tones required to produce the desired output under a given load condition.
US07924022B2
An evaluation board, on which is mounted a chip to be evaluated is provided. Particularly, the evaluation board includes a monitoring window for monitoring a power supply part, a ground part, and a surface of the chip, a first signal input part for inputting signals to the chip, and a second signal input part for inputting signals to the chip, wherein the second signal input part is placed as to sandwich said monitoring window between itself and the first signal input part.
US07924005B2
An arrangement for connection of gradient current feed lines in a magnetic resonance apparatus has an electrically insulating connection plate with at least one connection device. The connection device is fashioned to electrically connect a first gradient current feed line with a second gradient current feed line and is associated with a gradient coil that forms a gradient field via a supplied gradient current for a spatial direction. The supply ensues via the two gradient current feed lines connected with one another. A base plate that is fashioned for fastening the connection plate to a magnet housing of the magnetic resonance apparatus. An electrically insulating layer to damp vibrations of the connection plate is arranged between the base plate and the connection plate.
US07924001B2
A method for determining oil viscosity and continuous gas-oil-ratio (GOR) from nuclear magnetic resonance logs (NMR). The method includes obtaining a set of NMR data of a portion of the subterranean formation from inside the wellbore without acquiring formation fluid sample; isolating a quantitative reservoir fluid information associated with oil from oil based mud (OBM) using radial profiling of the set of NMR data, wherein the OBM is used for extracting fluid from the underground reservoir; determining GOR related information associated with the portion of the subterranean formation from the quantitative reservoir fluid information associated with oil, wherein the GOR related information is determined based on a predetermined model; and performing operations for the oilfield based on the GOR related information.
US07923997B2
A magneto-sensitive integrated circuit which amplifies a magneto-sensitive output voltage of a Hall element by an amplifier to generate an amplified voltage, converts an output voltage of the amplifier into a digital signal by an A/D converter; and generates a reference voltage of magnitude corresponding to an indicated value. The amplifier includes a voltage superposition element which superposes a DC voltage corresponding to the reference voltage on the amplified voltage to generate the output voltage of the amplifier.
US07923994B2
A system and method are disclosed for inspecting the wall of a pipeline while traveling therethrough. The system may comprise a portion of pipe comprising a pipe wall forming a cylindrical tube defining a circumferential direction and an axial direction. The system may further include an in-line inspection tool positioned within the portion of pipe. The in-line inspection tool may include a frame extending in the axial direction and at least one magnet connected to the frame and positioned to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be orientated obliquely with respect to the circumferential and axial directions of the pipeline. The inspection tool may include a transmitter connected to the frame to generate an inspection signal within the magnetic field.
US07923991B2
A signal testing apparatus includes a number of first switches, a second switch, and a testing terminal. Each first switch includes a static contact, a first dynamic contact, and a second dynamic contact. The second switch includes a static contact and a number of dynamic contacts. When the static contact and the first dynamic contact of each first switch are connected to each other, a computer interface is connected to a peripheral equipment interface. When the static contact and the second dynamic contact of each first switch are connected to each other, the computer interface is disconnected to the peripheral equipment interface, the static contact of the second switch is capable of selectively connected to one of the dynamic contacts of the second switch, to selectively test a signal output from a corresponding pin of the computer interface.
US07923986B2
A device for measuring a current flowing in an electrical conductor. The device comprises a magnetic circuit coupled to an electrical conductor. The magnetic circuit has an air gap and a magnetic field sensitive component disposed in the air gap to measure a magnetic field generated by the electrical conductor. A control core has a control winding configured to control an effective length of the air gap when the control winding is energized. A magnetic shield at least partially encloses the magnetic circuit, the magnetic field sensitive component and the control core.
US07923975B2
An analog variable-frequency controller includes a first current generator, a second current generator, a clock generator and a light/heavy load selector. The first and second current generator receive a load current signal and then output a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, respectively. The clock generator generates a corresponding switching frequency according to the first voltage signal or the second voltage signal. The light/heavy load selector, connected with the first current generator, the second current generator and the clock generator, receives a control signal for controlling the clock generator to receive the first voltage signal or the second voltage signal. The abovementioned controller is implemented by an analog circuit, which has a lower circuit complexity, lower cost and is easy to be integrated into a switching converter.
US07923974B2
A power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. A controller (e.g., a processor device) monitors energy delivery for each of multiple power converter phases that supply energy to a load. The controller analyzes the energy delivery associated with each of the multiple power converter phases to identify an imbalance of energy delivered by the multiple power converter phases to the load. Based on the analyzing and detection of an imbalance condition, the controller modifies a future order of activating the multiple power converter phases for powering the load. Accordingly, a single phase of a multiphase switching power converter may be prevented from becoming overloaded while delivering energy to power the load.
US07923973B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a power converter. In one aspect, a controller for use in a power converter includes a first calculator coupled to determine an end of an on time of a power switch of the power converter by integrating an input current to output an on time signal representative of the end of the on time of the power switch. The controller also includes a second calculator coupled to determine an end of an off time of the power switch by integrating a difference between an input voltage and an output voltage to output an off time signal representative of the end of the off time of the power switch.
US07923972B2
Exemplary systems and methods for charging a battery with a digital charge reduction loop are described herein. In some embodiments, a system comprises an exemplary digital charge reduction loop which comprises a circuit for determining a charge-current adjustment signal, a counter for generating a digital count value, and a digital-to-analog converter. The circuit for determining a charge-current adjustment signal may base the determination on a source voltage of an input source. The counter may generate a digital count value based on the charge-current adjustment signal. The digital-to-analog converter (DAC) may generate a DAC control signal based on the digital count value of the counter, the DAC control signal being representative of an amount of charge current to be used to charge a battery.
US07923971B2
The object is to provide a safe non-contact electric power transmission apparatus reducing unnecessarily consumed electric power, while intermittently-operated or otherwise restrained electric power transmission is not performed, and heat is not generated when a metal such as a foreign object is placed. In a non-contact electric power transmission apparatus having: a power supplying unit 10 main body containing a power supplying coil L1 for non-contact electric power transmission; a power receiving unit 50 containing a power receiving coil L50 for non-contact electric power transmission; and a supporting base 20 for detachably mounting the power receiving unit 50, formed in a portion of the power supplying unit 10 main body, electric power being transmitted from the power supplying coil L1 to the power receiving coil L50 in a non-contact manner using electromagnetic induction, the power receiving unit 50 has a modulation circuit 52 which outputs a recognition signal upon receiving electric power from the power supplying coil L1 at the power receiving coil L50, and the power supplying unit 10 has a electric power transmitting circuit 1, a control circuit 2, detecting means 3, a demodulation circuit 4, a recognition circuit 5, and a timer circuit 6.
US07923970B2
A charge controlling circuit controls charging of a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. An electric power supplied from an external charger to the lithium-ion rechargeable battery is taken by a charging terminal. When the charging terminal is connected to the external charger, whether or not a charge prohibition condition is satisfied is determined by a CPU. A charging operation is prohibited when the charge prohibition condition is satisfied, but is permitted when the charge prohibition condition is not satisfied. Here, the charge prohibition condition includes a shortest time condition that a time during which the charging terminal is detached from the external charger is above a defined time decided in view of an instantaneous power interruption.
US07923962B2
The system of wireless electronic registration plates which is comprehended by the existance of the central wireless module placed within the motor vehicle and connected on to an electric energy source, and the wireless electronic registration plates, that are placed at the front and the rear sides of a motor vehicle, containing built-in satellite wireless module is functioning on a principle of wireless micro network where the data transfer from a computer or other mobile device for data input is made through the central wireless module to the satellite wireless modules embedded into the registration plates. The wireless electronic registration plates have its own source of electric energy which are connected to a thin, film battery implanted in to the solar housing of the registration plates. The registration data is displayed through an active display.
US07923961B2
A vehicle includes a motor for driving wheels WH, an inverter to drive the motor, and a control device to perform PWM control of the inverter. The control device performs synchronous PWM control in a case where an electric current supplied to the motor by the inverter or torque generated in the motor is larger than a threshold value; and performs the synchronous PWM control or non-synchronous PWM control in a case where the electric current or the torque is smaller than the threshold value and sets carrier frequency or a pulse number of the PWM control to be higher than the case where the electric current or the torque is larger than the threshold value. Thereby, it is possible to provide a vehicle of achieving reduction of noise, reduction of cost and improvement of fuel consumption in a balanced manner.
US07923953B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to provide torque linearity in the field-weakening region for an electric (e.g., IPM) machine. The systems and methods implement a field weakening and a torque linearity control loop for linearizing torque generated by an electric machine. As a result, torque linearity is maintained when the electric machine operates in the field weakening region.
US07923943B2
A secondary side post regulator arrangement for a plurality of LED strings. For each secondary winding, a first electronically controlled switch is provided arranged to control the power output, and a LED string is connected thereto. A second electronically controlled switch is further connected in series with the LED string, arranged to receive a PWM signal, thereby pulsing current through the LED string. A current sensing element is further provided outputting a voltage representation of the current through the LED string, and a synchronized sampling circuit is provided arranged to sample the voltage representation during the on period of the second electronically controlled switch. The sampled and held voltage representation is compared with a reference signal and fed back to control the first electronically controlled switch. The voltage output associated with each secondary winding is controlled, responsive to the reference voltage.
US07923940B2
A method of generating a driving current supplied to a high pressure discharge lamp, including outputting a DC current, converting the DC current to an AC current having a predetermined frequency, generating a reference pulse which is asynchronous with the AC current, and superposing the first pulse and the second pulse to the AC current for producing the driving current.
US07923938B2
A system and method are described in which power is inductively supplied to a product or a package containing a product. This power is received via a coil and used by a light source to further enhance the presentation of the product or packaging. The illuminated light draws more attention to the product or package and thereby increases the probability that a prospective buyer will buy the product. Power is supplied to the package via a coil mounted to a shelf system. The frequency of the power supplied to the shelf coil may be changed to change the frequency at which the light source in the product or package illuminates.
US07923936B2
A fluorescent lamp sensor system is provided. The fluorescent lamp sensor system includes a plurality of bulbs and a plurality of electrodes coupled to the bulbs. A balanced differential circuit measures changes in electric fields produced by the bulbs in front of the electrodes. The balanced differential circuit includes a symmetric current source associated with alternating the surface potential of the bulbs. A current mode detection circuit detects the current associated with the capacitive effects of the balanced differential circuit. A synchronous detection circuit isolates the capacitive effects of the symmetrical current source from stray signals that differ in either frequency or phase.
US07923913B2
An image display apparatus includes first and second light-emitting regions which are arranged in a first direction, a first electron-emitting device corresponding to the first light-emitting region which is located further from the second light-emitting region than the first light-emitting region with respect to the first direction, a second electron-emitting device corresponding to the second light-emitting region which is located further from the first light-emitting region than the second light-emitting region with respect to the first direction, a first black member which is located on the opposite side of the first light-emitting region from the second light-emitting region, and a second black member which is located between the first and second light-emitting regions. A width of the second black member with respect to the first direction is smaller than a width of the first black member.
US07923910B2
A spark plug including an insulator and a metallic shell having an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface has a taper portion which comes into contact with a peripheral region around a mounting hole of an internal combustion engine, a tool engagement portion, and a trunk portion formed between the tool engagement portion and the taper portion. The inner surface has an annular step portion projecting toward the insulator and an internal trunk portion extending from the base of the step portion toward the rear end of the metallic shell. When the insulator and the metallic shell are fixed to each other by one of either cold and hot crimping, the projected area of the taper portion is at least two times or at least 1.5 times that of the step portion, respectively.
US07923908B2
A novel metal halide reflector lamp is described wherein the reflector lamp has a passive optical element to scramble, color mix, and otherwise commingle the light emitted by the metal halide burner. The optical element is placed close to the radiating plasma volume to intercept a large solid angle. Preferably, the optical element substantially intercepts the emitted light within a solid angle that has its vertex at the center of the discharge volume of the burner and is subtended by the open end of the reflector. The optical element can be designed to scatter, reflect or refract the light emanating in this solid angle which otherwise would not impinge on the primary optical control surface of the reflector.
US07923900B2
An ultrasonic motor, which drives a driven member using an elliptical vibration produced by synthesizing a longitudinal vibrational mode and a flexural vibrational mode as a drive force, is configured as follows. Namely, the ultrasonic motor includes a piezoelectric device, and a feed member feeding the piezoelectric device. An extensional axis of the feed member is set to an axis different from main vibrational axes of the longitudinal vibrational mode and the flexural vibrational mode.
US07923889B2
In a manufacturing method of a rotor for an electric motor including: a core (4) formed of stacked steel plates, each of which has a center hole (4a); and a shaft (3) inserted through the center hole (4a) of the core (4), the shaft (3) is deformed to fit a second end plate (2) in a state where the second end plate (2) is pressed against the core (4), and a deformed portion (3e) of the shaft (3) that engages with an edge (2a, 2b) of the second end plate (2) is deformed along a core-side edge portion (2a) and a no core-side edge portion (2b) of the edge (2a, 2b) of the second end plate (2) so that the deformed portion (3e) is deformed into the deformed shape that fits the shape of the edge (2a, 2b) of the second end plate (2).
US07923881B2
An electric machine includes a stator and a rotor core positioned adjacent the stator and rotatable about a longitudinal axis. The rotor core includes a plurality of bar apertures, a plurality of elongated flux barriers separate from the bar apertures and positioned radially inward of the bar apertures, and a plurality of magnet slots separate from the bar slots and positioned radially inward of a portion of the bar apertures. The electric machine also includes a plurality of magnets, each positioned in one of the magnet slots. A plurality of conductive bars are each positioned in one of the bar apertures and includes a first end and a second end. A first end ring is coupled to the first end of each of the bars and a second end ring is coupled to the second end of each of the bars.
US07923877B2
Described is a direct current motor (1) with permanent magnet stator, having at least four stator poles (5, 6, 7, 8) which are spaced at equal angular intervals about the rotation axis (A) of the rotor (3) and which generate a magnetic field that is asymmetrical about the rotation axis (A) of the rotor (3) and where the rotor winding (4) can be powered partially and selectively at least at two fixed, explementary angular sectors.
US07923876B2
A motor is disclosed. The motor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include: a shaft; a bearing supporting the shaft to rotate; a thrust plate supporting a lower end of the shaft a boss joined to the shaft and having a ring-shaped groove on a side facing the bearing; and a rotor joined to the boss.
US07923868B2
Disclosed is a circuit configured to apply a supply voltage to a switching element (e.g., a transistor). The circuit includes a latch and a processor. The latch is configured to sample a voltage of an output signal of the switching element, and the processor is configured to generate a power adjustment signal to adjust the supply voltage based on the voltage sampled by the latch.
US07923867B2
Three single-phase transformers having primary sides connected in a delta connection and the secondary sides connected in a series-delta connection. Each power line is connected through a fused disconnect to two primary terminals, each primary terminal on a different transformer. A second terminal on the secondary side of the first phase transformer is connected to a first terminal on the secondary side of the third transformer through a non-inductive grid resistor. The second terminal on the secondary side of the third transformer is connected to the first terminal on the secondary side of a second transformer. The second terminal on the secondary side of the second transformer is connected to the first terminal on the secondary side of the first transformer. In this fashion, the secondary sides of each of the single-phase transformers are connected in series through a non-inductive grid resistor.
US07923865B2
The disclosure describes techniques for converting an input voltage level to two or more output voltage levels using only two pump capacitors and three switching phases. The disclosure also describes techniques for selectively controlling a dc-dc converter to operate in different conversion modes. One mode may use only two pump capacitors and three switching phases to produce output voltage levels with a first set of conversion ratios. Another mode may use two pump capacitors and two switching phases to produce output voltage levels with a second set of conversion ratios. The first mode may use three different subcircuit arrangements of the pump capacitors. The second mode may use two different subcircuit arrangements of the pump capacitors. A converter may include switches and pump capacitors that can be selectively configured to transition between two or three different subcircuits, thereby producing output voltages according to different conversion ratios on a selective basis.
US07923863B2
A system for line powering includes at least one office-end PSU, one standby PSU and one power switching unit. The office-end PSU provides power for a group of subscriber lines in a centralized manner. The power switching unit monitors the power supply status of the office-end PSU and controls the switching between the office-end PSU and standby PSU. In embodiments of the invention, different rectifier/boost circuits and different step-down circuits need not be set for each pair of subscriber lines between the office-end PSU and the remote device. When an office-end PSU fails to supply power, the standby PSU can be switched over quickly to supply power for the remote device, which cuts down the cost for designing the office-end PSU and the standby PSU while ensuring the reliability of power supply for the remote device.
US07923858B2
An electric power source system in which a momentary interruption of the electric power supply does not occur when the direction of voltage conversion is switched by a voltage conversion device that is capable of bidirectional voltage conversion. The electric power source system includes a bidirectional switching regulator that selectively switches between the voltage conversion in the step-up direction from a low-voltage system to a high-voltage system and the voltage conversion in the step-down direction from the high-voltage system to the low-voltage system, and a linear regulator, connected in parallel to the bidirectional switching regulator, that converts voltage in the step-down direction. The direction of current that flows via the bidirectional switching regulator switches from the step-up direction to the step-down direction after current flows in the step-down direction via the linear regulator.
US07923855B2
The disclosure describes communication of information between a network interface device and subscriber devices over a power line. A UPS unit receives operating power from subscriber premises via a first power line and delivers operating power to the network interface device via a second power line. The network interface device transmits and receives information, such as voice, video and data, to and from the UPS unit via the second power line. The UPS unit receives the information transmitted by the network interface device via the second power line, and transmits the received information to subscriber devices within the premises via the first power line. The UPS unit receives information transmitted by subscriber devices via the first power line, and transmits the received information to the network interface device via the second power line. The first and second power lines each serve as both a power line and a communication medium.
US07923853B2
A method of synchronizing a plurality of generators connected together in parallel to a supply network. A common synchronization signal can be generated having a frequency versus time pattern that is the same as the frequency versus time pattern of the supply network during normal operating conditions. The common synchronization signal is then supplied to each of the generators to control the level of power that is supplied to the supply network by the generators.
US07923847B2
Semiconductor packages that contain a system-in-a-package and methods for making such packages are described. The semiconductor packages contain a first semiconductor die resting on a middle of a land pad array, a second die disposed over the first die and resting on routing leads that are connected to the land pad array, a third die resting on the backside of the second die and connected to the land pad array by wire bonds, and a passive device and/or a discrete device resting on device pads. The packages also contain thermal pads which operate as a heat sink. The land pad array is formed from etching the leadframe. The semiconductor packages have a full land pad array with a thin package size while having a system-in-a-package design. Other embodiments are also described.
US07923842B2
A gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuit device is provided. The GaAs circuit device has a GaAs substrate with a copper contact layer for making electrical ground contact with a pad of a target device. Although copper is known to detrimentally affect GaAS devices, the copper contact layer is isolated from the GaAs substrate using a barrier layer. The barrier layer may be, for example, a layer of nickel vanadium (NiV). This nickel vanadium (NiV) barrier protects the gallium arsenide substrate from the diffusion effects of the copper contact layer. An organic solder preservative may coat the exposed copper to reduce oxidation effects. In some cases, a gold or copper seed layer may be deposited on the GaAs substrate prior to depositing the copper contact layer.
US07923835B2
An electronic device has a substrate that has first and second peripheral portions. The first peripheral portion provides a shearing position for separation. The electronic device has a plurality of wiring layers one of which forms a functional surface wiring on the substrate, an electronic element mounted on the substrate, and an encapsulation member formed over the substrate and the electronic element. The surface wiring is selectively disposed under the encapsulation member and in an area adjacent to the second peripheral portion.
US07923833B2
A semiconductor module 10 includes a ceramic substrate having a front surface on which a semiconductor element 12 is mounted and a rear surface on the opposite side of the front surface, a front metal plate 15 joined to the front surface, a rear metal plate 16 joined to the rear surface, and a heat sink 13 joined to the rear metal plate 16. The rear metal plate 16 includes a joint surface 16b that faces the heat sink 13. The joint surface 16b includes a joint area and a non-joint area. The non-joint area includes recesses 18 which extend in the thickness direction of the rear metal plate 16. The joint area of the rear metal plate 16 is in a range from 65% to 85% of the total area of the joint surface 16b on the rear metal plate 16. As a result, excellent heat dissipating performance can be achieved while occurrence of distortion and cracking due to thermal stress is prevented.
US07923823B2
A method for producing semiconductor chips has the following steps for this purpose: firstly, a semiconductor wafer having a multiplicity of semiconductor chip positions arranged in rows and columns is provided, wherein the semiconductor wafer has on its front side front sides of semiconductor chips with integrated circuits. The rear side of the semiconductor wafer is provided with a coating having Parylene. The semiconductor wafer is subsequently singulated into semiconductor chips having rear sides on which the coating having Parylene is arranged.
US07923806B2
A semiconductor device capable of restricting a void growth in a copper wiring. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, an insulation layer formed above the semiconductor substrate, a barrier metal layer that is a first damascene wiring buried in the insulation layer, defines the bottom face and the side faces, and also defines a first hollow part at the inner side, a copper wiring layer disposed in the first hollow part and defining a second hollow part at the inner side, a first damascene wiring disposed in the second hollow part and containing an auxiliary barrier metal layer separated from the barrier metal layer, and an insulating copper diffusion preventing film disposed on the first damascene wiring and the insulation layer.
US07923800B2
The present invention has a photodiode and a circuit used to amplify the output of the photodiode. Two terminals are formed over the photodiode and circuit with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and a dummy electrode with a larger area than that of either of the two terminals is formed thereover, adjacent to the two terminals. The dummy electrode is not connected to the photodiode or to the circuit of the semiconductor device. Because the dummy electrode has a wide area, damage due to electrostatic discharge occurs in the dummy electrode more easily than in the two terminals; thus, damage due to electrostatic discharge can be prevented from occurring in the semiconductor device.
US07923793B2
An image sensor module having a sensor chip closely adhered on a concave surface and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The image sensor module includes at least one sensor chip, at least one sensor chip-mounting structure comprising a substrate and a polymer layer formed on the substrate, the polymer layer having an concave surface formed on an upper part thereof by a polymer molding method, so that the sensor chip is bent and bonded on the concave surface, and at least one lens fixed on the at least one sensor chip-mounting structure above the sensor chip.
US07923784B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with an isolation layer formed in the semiconductor substrate to delimit active regions. Recess patterns for gates are defined in the active regions and the isolation layer. Gate patterns are formed in and over the recess patterns for gates, and a gate spacer is formed to cover the gate patterns. The recess patterns for gates have a first depth in the active regions and a second depth, which is greater than the first depth, in the isolation layer. Gaps are created between the gate patterns and upper parts of the recess patterns for gates that are defined in the isolation layer. The gate spacer fills the gaps and protects the gate spacer so as to prevent bridging.
US07923781B2
It is an object to achieve high performance of a semiconductor integrated circuit depending on not only a microfabrication technique but also another way and to achieve low power consumption of a semiconductor integrated circuit. A semiconductor device is provided in which a crystal orientation or a crystal axis of a single-crystalline semiconductor layer for a MISFET having a first conductivity type is different from that of a single-crystalline semiconductor layer for a MISFET having a second conductivity type. A crystal orientation or a crystal axis is such that mobility of carriers traveling in a channel length direction is increased in each MISFET. With such a structure, mobility of carriers flowing in a channel of a MISFET is increased, and a semiconductor integrated circuit can be operated at higher speed. Further, low voltage driving becomes possible, and low power consumption can be achieved.
US07923779B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a circuit composed of thin film transistors having a novel GOLD (Gate-Overlapped LDD (Lightly Doped Drain)) structure. The thin film transistor comprises a first gate electrode and a second electrode being in contact with the first gate electrode and a gate insulating film. Further, the LDD is formed by using the first gate electrode as a mask, and source and drain regions are formed by using the second gate electrode as the mask. Then, the LDD overlapping with the second gate electrode is formed. This structure provides the thin film transistor with high reliability.
US07923773B2
A bottom of a gate trench has a first bottom relatively far from an STI and a second bottom relatively near from the STI. A portion, in an active region, configuring the second bottom of the gate trench configures a side-wall channel region, and has a thin-film SOI structure sandwiched between the gate electrode and the STI. On the other hand, a portion configuring the first bottom of the gate trench functions as a sub-channel region. A curvature radius of the second bottom is larger than a curvature radius of the first bottom. In an approximate center in a length direction of the gate trench, a bottom of a trench is approximately flat, and on the other hand, in ends of the length direction, a nearly whole bottom of the trench is curved.
US07923764B2
A semiconductor device includes: a high dielectric constant gate insulating film formed on an active region in a substrate; a gate electrode formed on the high dielectric constant gate insulating film; and an insulating sidewall formed on each side surface of the gate electrode. The high dielectric constant gate insulating film is continuously formed so as to extend from under the gate electrode to under the insulating sidewall. At least part of the high dielectric constant gate insulating film located under the insulating sidewall has a smaller thickness than a thickness of part of the high dielectric constant gate insulating film located under the gate electrode.
US07923762B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device, including: an insulating film provided on a semiconductor substrate so as to have a trench pattern; a gate insulating film provided so as to cover an inner wall of the trench pattern; and a gate electrode formed so as to be filled in the trench pattern through the gate insulating film and so as to protrude more widely than the trench pattern on both sides of the trench pattern on the insulating film.
US07923757B2
A restricted layout region includes a diffusion level layout including p-type and n-type diffusion region layout shapes separated by a central inactive region. The diffusion region layout shapes are defined in a non-symmetrical manner relative to a centerline defined to bisect the diffusion level layout. A gate electrode level layout is defined to include linear-shaped layout features placed to extend in only a first parallel direction. Adjacent linear-shaped layout features that share a common line of extent in the first parallel direction are separated by an end-to-end spacing that is substantially equal across the gate electrode level layout and that is minimized to an extent allowed by a semiconductor device manufacturing capability. The gate electrode level layout includes linear-shaped layout features defined along at least four different lines of extent in the first parallel direction. The restricted layout region corresponds to an entire gate electrode level of a cell layout.
US07923751B2
A bipolar transistor with a specific area resistance less than about 500 mOhms·mm2 comprises a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type defining a collector region (2). A second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type defines a base region (3). A third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type defines an emitter region (4). A metal layer provides contacts (6, 7) to said base (3) and emitter regions (4). The metal layer has thickness greater than about 3 μm.
US07923744B2
The invention discloses a semiconductor light-emitting device, which includes a substrate, a first conductive type semiconductor material layer, a second conductive type semiconductor material layer, a light-emitting layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a plurality of bump structures. The first conductive type semiconductor material layer is formed on the substrate and has an upper surface which includes a first region and a second region distinct from the first region. The first electrode is formed on the first region. The light-emitting layer and the second conductive type semiconductor material layer are formed on the second region. The bump structures are formed on the upper surface of the first conductive type semiconductor material layer and between the first region and the second region. At least one recess is formed in the sidewall of each bump structure. Alternatively, the sidewall of each bump structure has a curved contour.
US07923739B2
A light emission package includes at least one solid state emitter, a leadframe, and a body structure encasing a portion of the leadframe. At least one aperture is defined in an electrical lead to define multiple electrical lead segments, with at least a portion of the aperture disposed outside an exterior side wall of the package. A recess may be defined in the exterior side wall to receive a bent portion of an electrical lead. A body structure cavity may be bounded by a floor, and side wall portions and end wall portions that are separated by transition wall portions including a curved or segmented upper edge, with different wall portions being disposed at different angles of inclination.
US07923738B2
An array of LEDs are grown by epitaxy on row-connecting conductor strips extending in parallel spaced relationship to one another on the surface of a semiconductor substrate and are thereby electrically interconnected in rows. The row-connecting conductor strips are formed by ion implantation of a p-type dopant into parts of an n-type silicon substrate. Column-connecting conductor strips extend over the light-emitting surfaces of the LEDs for electrically interconnecting them in columns. The LEDs are lit up individually by voltage application between one of the row-connecting conductor strips and one of the column-connecting conductor strips.
US07923733B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer including a channel region, and a first region and a second region to which an impurity element is introduced to make the first region and the second region a source and a drain, a third region, and a gate electrode provided to partly overlap with the semiconductor layer with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween In the semiconductor layer, the first region is electrically connected to the gate electrode through a first electrode to which an AC signal is input, the second region is electrically connected to a capacitor element through a second electrode, the third region overlaps with the gate electrode and contains an impurity element at lower concentrations than each of the first region and the second region.
US07923730B2
An impurity element imparting one conductivity type is included in a layer close to a gate insulating film of layers with high crystallinity, so that a channel formation region is formed not in a layer with low crystallinity which is formed at the beginning of film formation but in a layer with high crystallinity which is formed later in a microcrystalline semiconductor film. Further, the layer including an impurity element is used as a channel formation region. Furthermore, a layer which does not include an impurity element imparting one conductivity type or a layer which has an impurity element imparting one conductivity type at an extremely lower concentration than other layers, is provided between a pair of semiconductor films including an impurity element functioning as a source region and a drain region and the layer including an impurity element functioning as a channel formation region.
US07923728B2
A TFT array panel and a manufacturing method thereof,The TFT array panel includes an insulation substrate, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of first dummy wiring lines, a gate insulating layer, and a plurality of data lines. The insulation substrate has a display area for displaying an image and a peripheral area outside the display area. The plurality of gate lines are formed in the display area and in a portion of the peripheral area. The plurality of first dummy wiring lines are insulated from the gate lines and formed in the peripheral area. The gate insulating later is formed on the gate lines and the first dummy wiring lines, and has at least one contact hole exposing at least lateral end portions of the first dummy wiring lines. The plurality of gate lines are formed on the gate insulating layer, define a plurality of pixel areas that form the display area by being insulated from the plurality of gate lines and crossing the plurality of gate lines, and are connected with the at least lateral end portions of the first dummy wiring lines through the at least one contact hole. With this configuration, data voltages can be efficiently applied to respective pixel electrodes of the display area even though the data line, particularly the data fan-out unit, in the peripheral area is disconnected.
US07923726B2
Disclosed is a TFT substrate for a display apparatus comprising a gate wiring including a gate electrode, a data wiring including a data line, a source electrode connected to the data line, and a drain electrode connected to a pixel electrode, and a semiconductor layer disposed between the gate wiring and the data wiring, wherein the semiconductor layer under the drain electrode is disposed within an area overlapping the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer under the source electrode extends outward to an area not overlapping the gate electrode. Advantageously, the present disclosure provides a TFT substrate for a display apparatus having a high aperture ratio and causing less afterimaging, and a manufacturing method of the same.
US07923723B2
The thin-film transistor of the present invention has at least a semiconductor layer including: on a substrate, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel region; a gate insulating film; and a gate electrode, wherein the semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer, and wherein the gate insulating film is amorphous silicon including at least O and N, and the gate insulating film has a distribution of an oxygen concentration in a thickness direction so that the oxygen concentration is high in the side of an interface with an oxide semiconductor layer and the oxygen concentration decreases toward the side of the gate electrode.
US07923718B2
A thin-film transistor (TFT) with dual-layer source and drain electrodes is provided. Each source and drain electrode comprises a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a work function which differs from the energy level of the semiconductor by at least 0.5 eV and the second layer has a work function matching the energy level of the semiconductor. The semiconductor has a short channel length.
US07923715B2
A nonvolatile nanoionic switch is disclosed. A thin layer of chalcogenide glass engages a substrate and a metal selected from the group of silver and copper photo-dissolved in the chalcogenide glass. A first oxidizable electrode and a second inert electrode engage the chalcogenide glass and are spaced apart from each other forming a gap therebetween. A direct current voltage source is applied with positive polarity applied to the oxidizable electrode and negative polarity applied to the inert electrode which electrodeposits silver or copper across the gap closing the switch. Reversing the polarity of the switch dissolves the electrodeposited metal and returns it to the oxidizable electrode. A capacitor arrangement may be formed with the same structure and process.
US07923703B2
One of principal objects of the present invention is to provide a sample dimension measuring method for detecting the position of an edge of a two-dimensional pattern constantly with the same accuracy irrespective of the direction of the edge and a sample dimension measuring apparatus. According to this invention, to accomplish the above object, it is proposed to correct the change of a signal waveform of secondary electrons which depends on the direction of scanning of an electron beam relative to the direction of a pattern edge of an inspection objective pattern. It is proposed that when changing the scanning direction of the electron beam in compliance with the direction of a pattern to be measured, errors in the scanning direction and the scanning position are corrected. In this configuration, a sufficient accuracy of edge detection can be obtained irrespective of the scanning direction of the electron beam.
US07923700B2
Sample inspection apparatus, sample inspection method, and sample inspection system are offered which can give a stimulus to a sample held on a film when the sample is inspected by irradiating it with a primary beam (e.g., an electron beam or other charged-particle beam) via the film. The apparatus has the film, a vacuum chamber, primary beam irradiation column, signal detector, and a controller for controlling the operations of the beam irradiation column and signal detector. The sample is held on a first surface of the film opened to permit access to the film. The vacuum chamber reduces the pressure of the ambient in contact with a second surface of the film. The irradiation column irradiates the sample with the primary beam via the film from the second surface side. The detector detects a secondary signal produced from the sample in response to the irradiation.
US07923694B2
Methods, systems, devices, and computer program products include positioning single-use radiation sensor patches that have adhesive means onto the skin of a patient to evaluate the radiation dose delivered during a treatment session. The sensor patches are configured to be minimally obtrusive and operate without the use of externally extending power cords or lead wires.
US07923691B2
A method is disclosed for producing an attenuation map for a component of an MR/PET system. In at least one embodiment, the method includes ascertaining attenuation values of the component, producing a basic map from the attenuation values, ascertaining a position of the component relative to an examination volume of the MR/PET system, and producing the attenuation map by correcting the basic map using the ascertained position. This enables the actual position of the components to be taken into account in the attenuation correction.
US07923689B2
Multi-band sub-wavelength IR detector having frequency selective slots and method of making the same
In one embodiment, a multiband infrared (IR) detector array includes a metallic surface having a plurality of periodic resonant structures configured to resonantly transmit electromagnetic energy in distinct frequency bands. A plurality of pixels on the array each include at least first and second resonant structures corresponding to first and second wavelengths. For each pixel, the first and second resonant structures have an associated detector and are arranged such that essentially all of the electromagnetic energy at the first wavelength passes through the first resonant structure onto the first detector, and essentially all of the electromagnetic energy at the second wavelength passes through the second resonant structure onto the second detector. In one embodiment, the resonant structures are apertures or slots, and the IR detectors may be mercad telluride configured to absorb radiation in the 8-12 μm band. Detection of more than two wavelengths may be achieved by proper scaling. A method of forming an IR detector array is also disclosed.
US07923685B2
A multi-biprism electron interferometer is configured so as to arrange a plurality of biprisms in an imaging optical system of a specimen. An upper electron biprism is arranged upstream of the specimen in the traveling direction of the electron beam, and an image of the electron biprism is formed on the specimen (object plane) using an imaging action of a pre-field of the objective lens. A double-biprism interference optical system is constructed of a lower electron biprism disposed downstream of the objective lens up to the first image plane of the specimen.
US07923684B2
A pattern is inspected by acquiring a scanning electron microscope picture of an inspection pattern, and acquiring a scanning electron microscope secondary electron signal profile of the inspection pattern. A determination is made as to whether the inspection pattern is defective by comparing the scanning electron microscope picture of the inspection pattern to a scanning electron microscope picture of a sample pattern, and by comparing the scanning electron microscope secondary electron signal profile of the inspection pattern to a scanning electron microscope secondary electron signal profile of a sample pattern.
US07923679B2
In relation with a laser-induced transport process of an object from a carrier to a collecting device, the invention provides a collecting medium in the collecting device in a liquid state. Prior to the laser-induced transport process, the object is separated from a mass on the carrier by laser irradiation. After the laser-induced transport process, the object, thus selected and separated, is transferred together with the collecting medium to a destination, for example, a container, for further treatment. To this end, a manipulation system for liquids is provided, the system permitting manipulation of the collecting medium with the object contained therein with a high degree of reliability and a high throughput.
US07923676B2
A camera module 100a includes a lens unit 1a, which includes a lens 11 and a lens holder 12 holding the lens 11 therein, and an image sensing unit 2a, which has a solid-state image sensor 24. A position adjustment of the lens 11 is performed by moving the lens 11 independently of the lens holder 12, by use of electromagnetic force. This allows a fine adjustment of a position of the lens 11, thereby improving the alignment precision of the lens 11. Thus, a solid-state image sensing device is provided, which can make fine adjustments of focal lengths.
US07923672B2
A device for optically sensing a specimen with a large depth of field has a lighting module which illuminates a zone of the specimen during a predetermined measurement period with a pattern whose phase is modified in time during the measurement period, generating a specimen light to which a corresponding time-variable phase is imparted. The device also includes a detection module having a space-resolving detection zone which records the specimen zone and has multiple recording pixels, two analysis channels which can be connected to the recording pixels, and an analysis unit is connected to both analysis channels. A control unit is provided which, during the measurement period, connects each recording pixel in synchrony with the phase of the detected specimen light to the two analysis channels, alternatively, in such a way that the detected specimen light is divided into two portions phased in relation to one another, and the analysis unit calculates an optical split-image of the specimen zone on the basis of the two phased portions supplied to the analysis channels.
US07923670B2
A fan motor is mounted on the upper wall of the casing. The lower surface of this upper wall is formed into an inclined surface in which inclination is formed from the front wall side of the casing toward a back wall across from the front wall. When the fan motor is driven, oil mist or moisture contained in the air are condensed into water droplets or oil droplets. These water droplets or oil droplets fall and flow to the inner wall surface of the upper wall of the casing along the inner peripheral wall of a vent hole. Then the water droplets or oil droplets flow along the profile line of a vent hole smoothly (without stopping) and roll down the side wall of the casing.
US07923668B2
An engine nacelle inlet lip includes both acoustic treatment and electric heating for ice protection. The inlet lip has a composite outer skin and a composite inner skin, with the composite outer skin having at least one integrated heater element embedded in the composite material. An acoustic cellular core positioned between the outer and inner skin acts to attenuate fan noise from the engine. Covering the outer skin and overlying the acoustic core is a perforated erosion shield having a first set of openings that pass entirely thorough its thickness. The composite outer skin includes a second set of openings such that sound waves can pass from an inner barrel portion of the inlet lip through the erosion shield, outer skin, and heater element to the underlying acoustic cellular core.
US07923665B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a wafer-type thermometer capable of adapting itself to automation and improving the heat resistance to measure temperature distribution of a wafer and a method for manufacturing the wafer-type thermometer. A plurality of temperature sensors are arranged in regions formed by segmenting the upper surface of a wafer into a plurality of regions. Output signals from the plurality of temperature sensors are converted into temperature data by a conversion processing circuit where further processes the temperature data. The conversion processing circuit is housed in a storage room surrounded by a heat insulating member made of a nanocrystalline silicon layer.
US07923653B2
A key switch sheet has a pressure sensitive adhesive layer for holding a contact spring by adhering to an apex portion of a dome-shaped contact spring at a back surface of a base material sheet. A thickness of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer at a region to be made to adhere to the apex portion of the contact spring is thicker than a thickness of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer at a peripheral region and thicker than or equal to a thickness of the pressure sensitive adhesive layer at a region where the base material sheet is made to adhere to a substrate.
US07923651B2
An electrical contact comprising a silver-coated stainless steel strip, which has an underlying layer comprising any one of nickel, cobalt, nickel alloys, and cobalt alloys, on at least a part of the surface of a stainless steel substrate, and has a silver or silver alloy layer formed as an upper layer, in which a copper or copper alloy layer with a thickness of 0.05 to 2.0 μm is provided between the silver or silver alloy layer and the underlying layer; and a producing method of the above-described electrical contact, in which the silver-coated stainless steel strip is subjected to a heat-treating in a non-oxidative atmosphere.
US07923650B2
A ganged auxiliary switch for a circuit breaker comprises at least two auxiliary switches attached to each other in a side-by-side relationship so that they may be inserted into said circuit breaker as a single unit.
US07923649B2
A printed circuit board is provided for use in a keyboard assembly of a mobile device having a plurality of keys in a key layout. The printed circuit board has a plurality of contacts, such as dome switches, arranged in a contact layout. The contact layout is such that it can be used with a plurality of different key layouts, each actuating different combinations of contacts. Some keys in a particular key layout are overlying at least two of the plurality of contacts, and such keys actuate only one of the underlying contacts. As such, a common printed circuit board can be used for a plurality of complementary mobile device designs having different key layouts, thereby allowing a manufacturer to realize cost efficiencies.
US07923641B2
A tape can comprise a two-sided strip of dielectric material, with patches of electrical conductive material adhering to each side. Patches on one side can be longitudinally offset from patches on the opposite side. The patches can be electrically isolated from one another. The tape can be wrapped around one or more conductors, such as wires that transmit data, to provide electrical or electromagnetic shielding. The patches can circumferentially encase the conductors, with patches on one side of the tape covering gaps on the other side of the tape. The tape can be wrapped around the conductors so that an edge of a patch spirals about the conductors in a rotational direction opposite to any twisting of the conductors. The resulting cable can have a shield that is electrically discontinuous between opposite ends of the cable.
US07923623B1
An electric instrument music control device is provided having at least two multi-axis position sensors. One sensor is a reference multi-axis position sensor retained in a fixed position the reference multi-axis position sensor having at least one axis held in a fixed position. Another sensor is a moveable multi-axis position sensor rotatable about at least one axis corresponding to the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is in communication with the reference multi-axis position sensor. The device may include a processor that processes the differentiation between the angular position of the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor and the at least one axis of the moveable multi-axis position sensor, wherein the angular differentiation correlates to a music effect of an electric instrument.
US07923619B2
A plurality of keys are supported at a key support parts such that the respective keys are pivoted by a key-pressing operation of a player in a vertical direction, the keys being arranged in parallel to each other along a width direction of the keyboard device. A plurality of hammers are arranged in parallel to each other along the width direction such that the hammers correspond to the respective keys. The hammers are operatively connected to the corresponding keys to rotate about the respective hammer support parts, the hammers applying inertia to pivoting movements of the corresponding keys. A frame has an opening portion open at a front area which faces the player, and located more frontward than the hammer support parts, and the frame is constructed such that the hammer support parts are located between an upper limit position and a lower limit position of the opening portion in the vertical direction, and the hammers can be inserted into the frame through the opening portion from the front area when the hammers are mounted to the respective hammer support parts.
US07923613B1
A novel maize variety designated X6K217 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 X6K217 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X6K217 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X6K217, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X6K217. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X6K217 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US07923603B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB13W08. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB13W08, to the plants of soybean XB13W08 to plant parts of soybean variety XB13W08 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB13W08 with another soybean plant, using XB13W08 as either the male or the female parent.
US07923602B2
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed, and antibodies specifically binding to those amino acid sequences. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, or 38, or the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, or 37, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US07923590B2
A process for producing a monoalkylation aromatic product, such as ethylbenzene and cumene, utilizing an alkylation reactor zone and a transalkylation zone in series or a combined alkylation and transalkylation reactor zone. This process requires significantly less total aromatics distillation and recycle as compared to the prior art.
US07923585B2
The invention relates to innovative menthol derivatives which are represented by the general formula (I) below and are excellent in a cooling effect and cool retaining effect, cooling agent compositions comprising the menthol derivatives, and sensory stimulation agent compositions containing the cooling agent compositions, as well as fragrance compositions, beverage or food products, cosmetic products, toiletry products, bathing agents, and pharmaceutical products containing the cooling agent compositions or sensory stimulation agent compositions. (general formula (I)) wherein R<1> represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an acyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R<2> and R<3> independently represent an alkylene group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms and optionally having a substituent; double dotted line represents a single bond or a double bond; and n is an integer of 1 to 3.
US07923582B2
The present invention features a chemoselective ligation reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. In general, the invention involves condensation of a specifically engineered phosphine, which can provide for formation of an amide bond between the two reactive partners resulting in a final product comprising a phosphine moiety, or which can be engineered to comprise a cleavable linker so that a substituent of the phosphine is transferred to the azide, releasing an oxidized phosphine byproduct and producing a native amide bond in the final product. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueous environments provides for its application in vivo (e.g., on the cell surface or intracellularly) and in vitro (e.g., synthesis of peptides and other polymers, production of modified (e.g., labeled) amino acids).
US07923573B2
A superior LXR modulator is provided. A compound represented by the general formula (I): [wherein R1: —COR9 (wherein R9: alkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy or optionally substituted amino); R2: H, OH, alkoxy, optionally substituted amino, etc.; R3: H, optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted amino, halogeno, etc.; R4 and R5: H, optionally substituted alkyl, halogeno, etc.; R6 and R7: H, alkyl; R8: —X2R10 [wherein R10: —COR11 (wherein R11: OH, optionally substituted alkoxy, optionally substituted amino, etc.), —SO2R12 (wherein R12: optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted amino, etc.), tetrazol-5-yl, etc.; X2: single bond, optionally substituted alkylene, etc.]; X1: —NH—, —O—, —S—, etc.; Y1: optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted 5- to 6-membered aromatic heterocyclyl; Y2: optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl, etc.] and the like is provided.
US07923568B2
The present invention relates to compounds and derivatives thereof, their synthesis, and their use as estrogen receptor modulators. The compounds of the instant invention are ligands for estrogen receptors and as such may be useful for treatment or prevention of a variety of conditions related to estrogen functioning including: bone loss, bone fractures, osteoporosis, metastatic bone disease, Paget's disease, periodontal disease, cartilage degeneration, endometriosis, uterine fibroid disease, hot flashes, increased levels of LDL cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, impairment of cognitive functioning, cerebral degenerative disorders, restenosis, gynecomastia, vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, obesity, incontinence, inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, retinal degeneration and cancer, in particular of the breast, uterus and prostate.
US07923567B2
The invention relates to novel compound of formula (IV), which is an organic acid salt of N-[(2′-cyanobiphenyl-4-yl)methyl]-(L)-valine ester. This compound is an useful intermediate for process of preparation of Valsartan of formula (I), chemically known as (S)-N-(1-Carboxy-2-methylprop-1-yl)-N-pentanoyl-N-[2′-(1H-terazol-5-yl)biphenyl-4-ylmethyl]amine. This invention also relates to a process for preparing Valsartan using novel intermediate of formula (IV).
US07923565B2
Derivatives of 1-phenyl-2-pyridinyl alkyl alcohols are useful as inhibitors of the phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) enzyme.
US07923564B2
Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)-phenylmethyl)carbamide. Also disclosed herein is the hemi-tartrate salt of N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)-phenylmethyl)carbamide and methods for obtaining the salt. Further disclosed are various crystalline forms of N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)-N′-(4-(2-methylpropyloxy)-phenylmethyl)carbamide and its hemi-tartrate salt including various polymorphs and solvates.
US07923562B2
Bifunctional linkers are provided that comprise a photocleavable moiety flanked by two different amine reactive moieties. In some embodiments the photocleavable moiety is a dimethoxynitrobenzyl moiety. In other embodiments the photocleavable moiety is 8-bromo-7-hydroxyquinoline. In other embodiments the photocleavable moiety is nitrodibenzofuran. In other embodiments the photocleavable moiety is 6-bromo-7-hydroxycoumarin-4-ylmethyl. The linkers find use in synthetic methods, including the generation of photocleavable oligonucleotides, e.g. caged morpholinos.
US07923558B2
The invention relates to a method for obtaining pure tetrahydrocannabinol from reaction mixtures containing tetrahydrocannabinol compounds or from raw products containing tetrahydrocannabinol compounds. According to said method, the tetrahydrocannabinol compounds in the reaction mixture or in the raw product are converted into crystallisable derivatives, preferably using a suitable solvent, said derivatives are then crystallised and isolated, and the pure tetrahydrocannabinol compounds are then obtained from the crystallised derivatives. The invention also related to the use of compounds produced in this way for the production of a medicament for human therapy, and to the medicaments thus produced.
US07923549B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating interleukin and/or interleukin receptor gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of interleukin and/or interleukin receptor gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of interleukin and/or interleukin receptor genes.
US07923543B1
A novel gene (designated 162P1E6) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 162P1E6 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 162P1E6 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 162P1E6 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 162P1E6 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US07923537B2
A method of characterizing the biological activity of a candidate compound may include exposing cells to the candidate compound, and then exposing the cells to a repetitive application of electric fields so as to set the transmembrane potential to a level corresponding to a pre-selected voltage dependent state of a target ion channel.
US07923531B2
A two-step method for introducing acrylic functions into high molecular weight natural resins, under mild conditions, without the risk of gellation, wherein an acrylated natural resin ester is prepared by esterifying one or more of the sterically hindered hydroxy groups of the natural resin ester in an inert solvent with a 3-halopropionic acid, to form a 3-haloproprionate ester of the natural resin ester and dehydrohalogenated the 3-halopropionate ester by reacting it with an organic base.
US07923529B2
An oligothiophene-arylene derivative wherein an arylene having n-type semiconductor characteristics is introduced into an oligothiophene having p-type semiconductor characteristics, thereby simultaneously exhibiting both p-type and n-type semiconductor characteristics. Further, an organic thin film transistor using the oligothiophene-arylene derivative.
US07923528B2
A homopolymer of 1,4-benzodioxepin-3-cyclohexyl-2,5-dione with a Tg of 120° C. Copolymers are also described. The polymers are useful for surgical and other applications where biodegradability is important.
US07923515B2
A dip-formed article that has wearing comfort, excelling in not only tensile strength but also flexing fatigue and that itself does not tend to suffer coloration even when the article is worn and operation is continued; and a dip-forming composition capable of providing such a dip-formed article. There is provided a dip-forming composition comprising a conjugated diene rubber latex and an organic peroxide, wherein providing that X refers to the 10-hr half-life temperature (° C.) of organic peroxide and Y refers to the octanol-water partition coefficient of organic peroxide, the organic peroxide satisfies the formulae: 11≧Y≧2 (1), and 100−2Y≧X≧70−2Y (2). There is further provided a dip-formed article obtained from the composition.
US07923514B2
A process for hydrogenating a conjugated diene polymer wherein a conjugated diene polymer is hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising a platinum group metal or its compound, and a basic compound. More specifically, (1) hydrogenation is conducted in a reaction system prepared by incorporating the catalyst and the basic compound in a solution or latex of the conjugated diene polymer; (2) hydrogenation is conducted in a reaction system prepared by incorporating a catalyst system comprising a combination of the catalyst with the basic compound, in a solution or latex of the conjugated diene polymer; or (3) hydrogenation is conducted in a reaction system prepared by incorporating the catalyst in a solution of a composition comprising the conjugated diene polymer and the basic compound. Thus, a hydrogenated conjugated diene polymer can be efficiently and industrially advantageously produced using a small amount of a catalyst.
US07923506B2
A molding composition comprising: (a) from 40 to 99.99 wt % of a modified polybutylene terephthalate random copolymer that (1) is derived from polyethylene terephthalate component selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate copolymers and (2) has at least one residue derived from the polyethylene terephthalate component, and (b) from 0.01 to 20 wt. % of a carboxy reactive component; wherein the modified polybutylene terephthalate random copolymer, the carboxy reactive component, and optionally at least one additive, are present in a total amount of 100 wt %.
US07923487B2
A lightweight finish composition, method of production and a method of application are provided. The lightweight finish composition comprises a resin dispersion, alkali metal phosphate, alkylolammonium salt of a polyfunctional polymer, and lightweight aggregate such as silica spheres. The lightweight aggregate has a density and weight that is less than those of sand. The combination of alkali metal phosphate and alkylolammonium salt of a polyfunctional polymer stabilizes the lightweight finish composition by preventing the lightweight aggregate from absorbing water, after production of the lightweight finish composition.
US07923483B2
An optical fiber ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers encapsulated within a matrix material, where the optical fiber coating(s) and the matrix material(s), and optionally any ink layers thereon, are characterized by compatible chemical and/or physical properties, whereby the fiber coating and matrix and any ink layers therebetween can be reliably stripped from the optical fibers to afford a suitable strip cleanliness. Novel ink formulations that can be used in the making of such fiber optic ribbons, methods of making such ribbons, and their use are also described.
US07923482B2
The present invention is to provides an ultraviolet-curable resin composition which contains a composite resin (A) having a polysiloxane segment (a1) having a silanol group and/or a hydrolytic silyl group as well as a polymerizable double bond and a polymer segment (a2) other than the polysiloxane segment (a1), and a photo initiator (B). The ultraviolet-curable resin composition is able to form a cured coating film excellent in weatherability such as scratch resistance, acid resistance, alkali resistance and solvent resistance, without heating.
US07923477B2
A composite material is produced from carpet waste and a binding agent, in intimate association, and may also include wood fiber or chips and/or other additives. A method of manufacturing a composite material includes shredding carpet waste, coating the carpet waste with a binding agent, and subjecting the shredded, coated carpet waste to elevated heat and pressure. As an additional step, the composite material may be actively cooled to prevent deformation of the material.
US07923469B2
Compositions for caring for contact lenses and eyes include a liquid aqueous medium and a vitamin derivative component present in an amount effective as a surfactant in the composition. The compositions can be used to clean, soak, re-wet and, with the inclusion of a disinfectant, disinfect contact lenses. In addition, the compositions are effective as artificial tears and eye wash solutions. Methods for contact lens care and eye care are also disclosed.
US07923467B2
The present invention relates to substituted pyrrole derivatives, which can be used as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors. Compounds disclosed herein can function as cholesterol lowering agents and can be used for the treatment of cholesterol-related diseases and related symptoms. Processes for the preparation of disclosed compounds are provided, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the disclosed compounds, and methods of treating cholesterol-related diseases and related symptoms.
US07923460B2
The BRAF gene has been found to be activated by mutation in human cancers, predominantly in malignant melanoma. We tested 476 primary tumors, including 214 lung, 126 head and neck, 54 thyroid, 27 bladder, 38 cervical, and 17 prostate cancers, for the BRAF T1796A mutation by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction enzyme analysis of BRAF exon 15. In 24 (69%) of the 35 papillary thyroid carcinomas examined, we found a missense thymine (T)→adenine (A) transversion at nucleotide 1796 in the BRAF gene (T1796A). The T1796A mutation was detected in four lung cancers and in six head and neck cancers but not in bladder, cervical, or prostate cancers. Our data suggested that activating BGRAF mutations may be an important even in the development of papillary thyroid cancer. Moreover, BRAF mutation reliably predicts a poor prognosis for papillary thyroid carcinomas.
US07923458B2
A method for the treatment of chronic pain in a mammal is provided. The method comprises administering to a mammal (e.g., a human) suffering from chronic pain a pain relieving amount of a diarylureido-dihalokynurenate compound. Preferred diarylureido-dihalokynurenate compounds are esters (e.g., ethyl esters). Particularly preferred are diphenylureido-dichlorokynurenate compounds.
US07923452B2
Fungicidal mixtures comprising(1) boscalid of the formula (I) and (2) pyrimethanil of the formula (II) in a synergistically effective amount, methods for controlling harmful fungi using mixtures of boscalid (I) and pyrimethanil (II) and the use of boscalid (I) and pyrimethanil (II) for preparing such mixtures, compositions comprising these mixtures and also seed comprising these mixtures.
US07923450B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X and Y are as defined herein and to pharmaceutically active acid addition salts thereof. The compounds can be used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, Dutch-type (HCHWA-D), multi-infarct dementia, dementia pugilistica or Down syndrome.
US07923445B2
The present invention relates to inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in activated lymphocytes, including T cells and B cells. The invention also provides compositions and methods for inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis in activated lymphocytes, as well methods for treating diseases associated with activated lymphocytes by administering 5-HT receptor antagonists.
US07923439B2
The present disclosure provides compositions including a first component including at least one phospholipid possessing at least one vinyl group, a second component including a furanone possessing vinyl and/or acrylate groups, and a third component including a hydroxamate. Compositions, medical devices, and coatings including copolymers and blends of the foregoing components are also provided.
US07923434B2
The invention concerns pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active compound at least one compound of general formula (A), wherein: M represents a metal atom, and their uses in particular for preventing or treating pathologies associated with an excess activity of glutathion reductase and/or thioredoxin reductase.
US07923422B2
This invention relates to cationically derivatized polycalactomannans obtained from cassia tora and cassia obtusifolia and to their use in personal care, household care, and institutional care compositions.
US07923419B2
Unwanted heat loss from production tubing or uncontrolled heat transfer to outer annuli is inhibited by introduction into the annuli a thermal insulating packer fluid or a riser fluid containing a zwitterionic surfactant, an alcohol and a brine. The viscosity of the composition is sufficient to reduce the convection flow velocity within the annulus. The invention has particular applicability with high density brines.
US07923410B2
A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.
US07923408B2
Diesel particulate filter that can lower the particulate matter (PM) combustion start temperature and use material containing silicon (Si) for a carrier. The carrier, which has a filter function, is allowed to support a perovskite-type complex oxide expressed by formula (1) as follows, wherein 0
US07923396B2
A catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Group 8 metals, Group 9 metals, Group 10 metals and combinations thereof, an organic compound, and a solid acid and a method of making said catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst can be used in a hydrocarbon conversion process.
US07923382B2
Methods of forming a roughened metal surface on a substrate are provided, along with structures comprising such roughened surfaces. In preferred embodiments roughened surfaces are formed by selectively depositing metal or metal oxide on a substrate surface to form discrete, three-dimensional islands. Selective deposition may be obtained, for example, by modifying process conditions to cause metal agglomeration or by treating the substrate surface to provide a limited number of discontinuous reactive sites. The roughened metal surface may be used, for example, in the manufacture of integrated circuits.
US07923374B2
In a metal film production apparatus, a copper plate member is etched with a Cl2 gas plasma within a chamber to form a precursor comprising a Cu component and a Cl2 gas; and the temperatures of the copper plate member and a substrate and a difference between their temperatures are controlled as predetermined, to deposit the Cu component of the precursor on the substrate, thereby forming a film of Cu. In this apparatus, Cl* is formed in an excitation chamber of a passage communicating with the interior of the chamber to flow a Cl2 gas, and the Cl* is supplied into the chamber to withdraw a Cl2 gas from the precursor adsorbed onto the substrate, thereby promoting a Cu film formation reaction. The apparatus has a high film formation speed, can use an inexpensive starting material, and can minimize impurities remaining in the film.
US07923373B2
Self-assembling materials, such as block copolymers, are used as mandrels for pitch multiplication. The copolymers are deposited over a substrate and directed to self-assemble into a desired pattern. One of the blocks forming the block copolymers is selectively removed. The remaining blocks are used as mandrels for pitch multiplication. Spacer material is blanket deposited over the blocks. The spacer material is subjected to a spacer etch to form spacers on sidewalls of the mandrels. The mandrels are selectively removed to leave free-standing spacers. The spacers may be used as pitch-multiplied mask features to define a pattern in an underlying substrate.
US07923362B2
A method for manufacturing a metal-semiconductor contact in semiconductor Components is disclosed. There is a relatively high risk of contamination in the course of metal depositions in prior-art methods. In the disclosed method, the actual metal -semiconductor or Schottky contact is produced only after the application of a protective layer system, as a result of which it is possible to use any metals, particularly platinum, without the risk of contamination.
US07923361B2
The resist film after high-concentration ion implantation has a hard modified layer on the surface thereof, and is difficult to remove in the temperature region as low as about 150 degrees centigrade. This is because the etching rate of the modified layer sharply decreases with a decrease in temperature. The temperature is increased up to about 250 degrees centigrade to perform an ashing treatment in vacuum in order to increase the etching rate of the modified layer. Then, there occurs a popping phenomenon that the inside resist solvent swells and breaks. The residues scattered thereby of the modified layer and the like seize the wafer surface, and also become difficult to remove even in the subsequent cleaning. According to the present application, in order to remove the resist hardened by ion implantation and the like, the to-be-treated wafer is baked under atmospheric pressure, and then, is subjected to a plasma ashing treatment within the temperature region as high as around 300 degrees centigrade under an oxygen gas atmosphere substantially including an oxygen gas.
US07923360B2
A method of forming dielectric films including a metal silicate on a silicon substrate comprises a first step of oxidizing a surface layer portion of the silicon substrate and forming a silicon dioxide film; a second step of irradiating ion on the surface of the silicon dioxide film and making the surface layer portion of the silicon dioxide film into a reaction-accelerating layer with Si—O cohesion cut; a third step of laminating a metal film on the reaction-accelerating layer in a non-oxidizing atmosphere; and a fourth step of oxidizing the metal film and forming a metal silicate film that diffuses a metal from the metal film to the silicon dioxide film.
US07923359B1
There is a process for reducing the sheet resistance of phosphorus-implanted poly-silicon. In an example embodiment, there is an MOS transistor structure. The structure has a gate region, drain region and a source region. A method for reducing the sheet resistance of the gate region comprises depositing intrinsic amorphous silicon at a predetermined temperature onto the gate region. An amorphizing species is implanted into the intrinsic amorphous silicon. Phosphorus species are then implanted into the gate region of the MOS transistor structure. A feature of this embodiment includes using Ar+ as the amorphizing species.
US07923358B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a polysilicon rod using a metallic core means, comprising: installing a core means in an inner space of a deposition reactor used for preparing a silicon rod, wherein the core means is constituted by forming one or a plurality of separation layer(s) on the surface of a metallic core element and is connected to an electrode means; heating the core means by supplying electricity through the electrode means; and supplying a reaction gas into the inner space for silicon deposition, thereby forming a deposition output in an outward direction on the surface of the core means. According to the present invention, the deposition output and the core means can be separated easily from the silicon rod output obtained by the process of silicon deposition, and the contamination of the deposition output caused by impurities of the metallic core element can be minimized, thereby a high-purity silicon can be prepared in a more economic and convenient way.
US07923352B2
The invention provides a method for activating impurity element added to a semiconductor and performing gettering process in shirt time, and a thermal treatment equipment enabling to perform such the heat-treating. The thermal treatment equipment comprises treatment rooms of n pieces (n>2) performing heat-treating, a preparatory heating room, and a cooling room, and heating a substrate using gas heated by heating units of n pieces as a heating source, wherein a gas-supplying unit is connected to a gas charge port of the cooling room, a discharge port of the cooling room is connected to a first gas-heating unit through a heat exchanger, a charge port of an m-th (1≦m≦(n−1)) treatment room is connected to a discharge port of an m-th gas-heating unit, a charge port of an n-th treatment room is connected to a discharge port of an n-th gas-heating unit, a discharge port of the n-th treatment room is connected to the heat exchanger, and discharge port of the heat exchanger is connected to gas charge port of the preparatory heating room.
US07923351B2
In a method of manufacturing semiconductor chips by dicing individual semiconductor devices from a semiconductor wafer, masks formed for plasma dicing in which a semiconductor wafer is divided by conducting plasma etching are removed by mechanical grinding using a grinding head. Accordingly, by removing the masks for plasma dicing using mechanical grinding, generation of reaction products is prevented when removing the masks, so that the dicing can be conducted without causing quality deterioration due to the accumulated particles.
US07923348B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a peeling method that causes no damage to a layer to be peeled and to allow not only a layer to be peeled with a small surface area but also a layer to be peeled with a large surface area to be peeled entirely. Further, it is also an object of the present invention to bond a layer to be peeled to various base materials to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. Particularly, it is an object to bond various elements typified by a TFF, (a thin film diode, a photoelectric conversion element comprising a PIN junction of silicon, or a silicon resistance element) to a flexible film to provide a lighter semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof.
US07923347B2
Techniques for integrated circuit device fabrication are provided. In one aspect, an integrated circuit device comprises a base, at least one die attached to the base, and a counterbalancing layer on at least a portion of at least one side of the base adapted to compensate for at least a portion of a thermal expansion difference existing between the base and the die. In another aspect, warping of an integrated circuit device comprising at least one die attached to a base is controlled by applying a counterbalancing layer to at least a portion of at least one side of the base adapted to compensate for at least a portion of a thermal expansion difference existing between the base and the die.
US07923342B2
A nonvolatile memory element and associated production methods and memory element arrangements are presented. The nonvolatile memory element has a changeover material and a first and second electrically conductive electrode present at the changeover material. To reduce a forming voltage, a first electrode has a field amplifier structure for amplifying a field strength of an electric field generated by a second electrode in a changeover material. The field amplifier structure is a projection of the electrodes which projects into the changeover material. The memory element arrangement has multiple nonvolatile memory elements which are arranged in matrix form and can be addressed via bit lines arranged in column form and word lines arranged in row form.
US07923340B2
The invention, in one aspect, provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor device. In one aspect, the method provides for a dual implantation of a tub of a bipolar transistor. The tub in bipolar region is implanted by implanting the tub through separate implant masks that are also used to implant tubs associated with MOS fabricate different voltage devices in a non-bipolar region during the fabrication of MOS transistors.
US07923338B2
By forming a single spacer element and reducing the size thereof by a well-controllable etch process, a complex lateral dopant profile may be obtained at reduced process complexity compared to conventional triple spacer approaches in forming drain and source regions of advanced MOS transistors.
US07923336B2
A high-k dielectric film, a method of forming the high-k dielectric film, and a method of forming a related semiconductor device are provided. The high-k dielectric film includes a bottom layer of metal-silicon-oxynitride having a first nitrogen content and a first silicon content and a top layer of metal-silicon-oxynitride having a second nitrogen content and a second silicon content. The second nitrogen content is higher than the first nitrogen content and the second silicon content is higher than the first silicon content.
US07923322B2
A method of forming a capacitor includes forming a first capacitor electrode over a substrate. A substantially crystalline capacitor dielectric layer is formed over the first capacitor electrode. The substrate with the substantially crystalline capacitor dielectric layer is provided within a chemical vapor deposition reactor. Such substrate has an exposed substantially amorphous material. A gaseous precursor comprising silicon is fed to the chemical vapor deposition reactor under conditions effective to substantially selectively deposit polysilicon on the substantially crystalline capacitor dielectric layer relative to the exposed substantially amorphous material, and the polysilicon is formed into a second capacitor electrode.
US07923321B2
A method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, forming a high-k dielectric layer over the substrate, forming a silicon layer over the high-k dielectric layer, forming a hard mask layer over the silicon layer, patterning the hard mask layer, silicon layer, and high-k dielectric layer to form first and second gate structures over the first and second regions, respectively, forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) over the first and second gate structures, modifying a profile of the CESL by an etching process, forming an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the modified CESL, performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) on the ILD to expose the silicon layer of the first and second gate structures, respectively, and removing the silicon layer from the first and second gate structures, respectively, and replacing it with metal gate structures.
US07923314B2
A method for manufacturing a field effect transistor, includes: forming a mask of an insulating film on a semiconductor layer containing Si formed on a semiconductor substrate; forming the semiconductor layer into a mesa structure by performing etching with the use of the mask, the mesa structure extending in a direction parallel to an upper face of the semiconductor substrate; narrowing a distance between two sidewalls of the mesa structure and flattening the sidewalls by performing a heat treatment in a hydrogen atmosphere, the two sidewalls extending in the direction and facing each other; forming a gate insulating film covering the mesa structure having the sidewalls flattened; forming a gate electrode covering the gate insulating film; and forming source and drain regions at portions of the mesa structure, the portions being located on two sides of the gate electrode.
US07923312B2
A fabricating method of a TFT includes first forming a source on a substrate. Then, a first insulation pattern layer is formed to cover parts of the source and the substrate. The first insulation pattern layer has an opening exposing a part of the source. Thereafter, a gate pattern layer is formed on the first insulation pattern layer. Then, the gate pattern layer and a second insulation pattern layer formed thereon surround the opening. Moreover, a second lateral protection wall is formed on an edge of the gate pattern layer in the opening. Afterwards, a channel layer is formed in the opening and covers the second lateral protection wall and the source. Then, a passivation layer with a contact window is formed on the channel layer and the second insulation pattern layer to expose a portion of the channel layer. Thereafter, a drain is formed on the exposed channel layer.
US07923308B2
The invention comprises methods of forming a conductive contact to a source/drain region of a field effect transistor, and methods of forming local interconnects. In one implementation, a method of forming a conductive contact to a source/drain region of a field effect transistor includes providing gate dielectric material intermediate a transistor gate and a channel region of a field effect transistor. At least some of the gate dielectric material extends to be received over at least one source/drain region of the field effect transistor. The gate dielectric material received over the one source/drain region is exposed to conditions effective to change it from being electrically insulative to being electrically conductive and in conductive contact with the one source/drain region. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US07923301B2
A leadframe structure is disclosed. The leadframe structure includes a first leadframe structure portion with a first thin portion and a first thick portion, where the first thin portion is defined in part by a first recess. It also includes a second leadframe structure portion with a second thin portion and a second thick portion, where the second thin portion is defined in part by a second recess. The first thin portion faces the second recess, and the second thin portion faces the first recess.
US07923287B2
A thin film transistor substrate and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate includes forming a first conductive pattern group including a gate line, a gate electrode, and a lower gate pad electrode on a substrate, forming a gate insulating layer on the substrate on which the first conductive pattern group is formed, forming an oxide semiconductor pattern overlapping the gate electrode on the gate insulating layer, and forming first and second conductive layers on the substrate on which the oxide semiconductor pattern is formed and patterning the first and second conductive layers to form a second conductive pattern group including a data line, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a data pad.
US07923275B2
A surface emitting laser includes a lower Bragg reflector, a resonator and an upper Bragg reflector. The resonator is provided on top of the lower Bragg reflector and includes an active layer, a lower semiconductor layer and an upper semiconductor layer. The upper Bragg reflector is provided on top of the resonator, and includes a plurality of semiconductor layers. In this surface emitting laser, the uppermost layer among the plurality of semiconductor layers in the lower Bragg reflector forms an air gap, which is larger than the aperture of the first insulating layer, while the lowermost layer among the plurality of semiconductor layers in the upper Bragg reflector forms an air gap, which is larger than the aperture of the second insulating layer.
US07923267B2
A substrate comprises a substrate main body having a surface on which a measurement object article is to be formed. A reference scale is disposed on the surface of the substrate main body in the vicinity of a region of the surface where the measurement object article is to be formed. The reference scale has adjacent graduations spaced-apart a preselected distance from one another.
US07923263B2
A microelectronic device or non-volatile resistance switching memory comprising the switching material for storing digital information. A process includes a step of depositing the switching material by a CMOS deposition technique at a temperature lower than 400° C.
US07923258B2
A method and apparatus for performing a first measurement on a biological fluid or control, which first measurement varies with both the concentration of a first component and at least one of the presence and concentration of a second component. The method and apparatus perform a second measurement on the biological fluid or control, which second measurement varies primarily only with the at least one of the presence and concentration of the second component to develop an indication of the at least one of the presence and concentration of the second component. The first and second measurements may be made sequentially or simultaneously. The method and apparatus then remove an amount representative of the indicated presence or concentration of the second component from the concentration of the first component indicated by the first measurement.
US07923250B2
Methods of expressing LIM mineralization protein in non-osseous mammalian cells, such as stem cells or intervertebral disc cells (e.g., cells of the annulus fibrosus, or cells of the nucleus pulposus) are described. The methods involve transfecting the cells with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter. Transfection may be accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. Expression of the LIM mineralization protein can stimulate proteoglycan and/or collagen production in cells capable of producing proteoglycyan and/or collagen. Methods for treating disc disease associated with trauma or disc degeneration are also described.
US07923242B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple microorganism detection apparatus that reduces detection time and that provides improved detection sensitivity, especially for gram-negative bacteria. The microorganism detection apparatus of the present invention includes: a detection target introduction portion, into which a sample and reagents are to be introduced; a detector, for detecting the color tone of the reagent introduced into the detection target introduction portion; a sample holder, for holding the sample to be introduced into the detection target introduction portion; a culture solution holder, for holding a culture solution used for microorganism culturing; and reagent holders, for holding the reagents to be introduced into the detection target introduction portion, wherein the presence/absence of microorganisms in the sample is determined based on the detected color tone.
US07923241B2
Disclosed is a cell culture article including: a substrate; a tie-layer attached to at least the substrate; and a bio-compatible layer attached to at least the tie layer, the bio-compatible layer having been obtained from surface oxidation of a polymer layer. Also disclosed are methods for making the cell culture article and methods for performing an assay of a ligand with the article.
US07923228B2
Acceleration of botryococcenoids and growth by concomitant provision of appropriate light, minerals, and assimilable carbon. Specifically, methods, compositions and systems for the in vitro growth of hydrocarbons in photosynthetic organisms while maintaining a biologically exclusive monocultural environment, as for example, from Botryococcus species, is disclosed. Niche-nutrients can include about 200 ppm to about 3% nitrogen, and about 100 ppm to about 15% P2O5, and about 100 ppm to about 3.5% K2O. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to the growth of the Chlorophyta such as Botryococcus sp. in a nutrient medium that includes up to 15% phosphates, at least 3 ppm soluble iron, and up to about 70 ppm soluble zinc. Also disclosed is a substantially pure culture of Botryococcus braunii var. Showa, strain Ninsei, having the ATCC Accession No. PTA-7441, its parts, and hydrocarbons produced therefrom.
US07923225B2
The present invention relates to a method for the enzymatic production of 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acids from 3-hydroxy carboxylic acids, where a 3-hydroxy carboxylic acid is produced in an aqueous reaction solution and/or is added to this reaction solution and is incubated. The aqueous reaction solution comprises a unit having 3-hydroxy-carboxylate-CoA mutase activity which has both 3-hydroxy-carbonyl-CoA ester-producing and 3-hydroxy-carbonyl-CoA ester-isomerizing activity and converts the 3-hydroxy carboxylic acid into the corresponding 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acid which is isolated as acid or in the form of its salts. In a preferred embodiment, the unit having 3-hydroxy-carboxylate-CoA mutase activity is a unit which includes an isolated cobalamin-dependent mutase and where appropriate a 3-hydroxy-carbonyl-CoA ester-producing enzyme or enzyme system or a microorganism including them. The invention preferably relates to a biotechnological process for producing 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acids, where microorganisms which have the desired activities are cultured in an aqueous system with the aid of simple natural products and convert intracellularly formed 3-hydroxy-carbonyl-CoA esters into the corresponding 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acids. The invention likewise encompasses the production of unsaturated 2-methyl carboxylic acids, where the 2-hydroxy-2-methyl carboxylic acids obtained are converted by dehydration into the corresponding unsaturated 2-methyl carboxylic acids (methacrylic acid and higher homologues).
US07923213B2
Assay methods are disclosed involving specific binding reactions which are simplified compared to known methods. A compound capable of producing chemiluminescence is immobilized on a solid support as is a member of a specific binding pair for capturing an analyte from a sample. An activator compound that activates the chemiluminescent compound and is conjugated to a specific binding pair member is added in excess along with the sample to the solid support. Addition of a trigger solution causes a chemiluminescent reaction at the sites where the activator conjugate has been specifically bound. The assay methods are termed non-separation assays because they do not require removal or separation of excess detection label (activator conjugate) prior to the detection step. The methods are applicable to various types of assays including immunoassays, receptor-ligand assays and nucleic acid hybridization assays.
US07923206B2
A method of determining a cellular response to a biological agent can be preformed in the presence of gene silencing. Such a method can include the use of siRNA in order to silence various genes in the cell in order to monitor the cellular response to the biological agent when a gene has been silenced. Accordingly, the response of a cell having a silenced gene to a biological agent can be indicative of which genes may be responsible for normal or abnormal cellular responses to various synthetic and natural biological agents such as active agents or pathogens.
US07923198B2
A method of manufacturing a fine T-shaped electrode includes a step of forming a laminated resist which includes at least a photoresist layer as an uppermost layer; a step of forming an uppermost layer opening by irradiating the laminated resist with light to pattern only the photo resist layer and form an uppermost layer opening; a step of reducing the diameter of the uppermost layer opening by coating a resist pattern thickening material on the photoresist layer; a step of forming a lowermost layer opening by transferring the uppermost layer opening formed in the photoresist layer to a lower layer of the photoresist, and penetrating the laminated resist; a step of reducing the size of the lowermost opening in the lowermost layer of the laminated resist; and a step of forming a T-shaped electrode in the opening part formed through the laminated resist.
US07923197B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor includes, in the following order: a support; an intermediate layer; and an image-forming layer, and the intermediate layer contains a polymer (A) comprising a repeating unit (a1) represented by the formula (I) as defined herein.
US07923194B2
Compositions, methods of use thereof, and methods of decomposition thereof, are provided. One exemplary composition, among others, includes a polymer and a catalytic amount of a negative tone photoinitiator.
US07923193B2
A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt.-% of a polythiol compound and has a very high sensitivity and hardness.
US07923192B2
A base material for a pattern-forming material, a positive resist composition, and a method of resist pattern formation that are capable of forming a high resolution pattern with reduced levels of LER. The base material includes a low molecular weight compound (X1), which is formed from a polyhydric phenol compound (x) that contains two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups and satisfies the conditions (1), (2), and (3) described below, wherein either a portion of, or all of, the phenolic hydroxyl groups are protected with acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting groups: (1) a molecular weight within a range from 300 to 2,500, (2) a molecular weight dispersity of no more than 1.5, and (3) an ability to form an amorphous film using a spin coating method. Alternatively, the base material includes a protected material (Y1), which is formed from a polyhydric phenol compound (y) that contains two or more phenolic hydroxyl groups and has a molecular weight within a range from 300 to 2,500, in which a predetermined proportion of the phenolic hydroxyl groups are protected with acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting groups.
US07923190B2
In a toner containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, an ester compound and a low-melting material, the ester compound is an ester of dipentaerythritol with a carboxylic acid having 18 or more to 25 or less carbon atoms, and, where the melting point of the ester compound is represented by Tm(A) (° C.) and the melting point of the low-melting material is represented by Tm(B) (° C.), the toner satisfies the relationship of: Tm(B)≦Tm(A)+5.
US07923189B2
The invention relates to hydrophobic salts of layer-like metal hydroxides, which are obtainable by adding to a layer-like metal hydroxide salt, which contains trivalent, divalent and optionally monovalent metal cations and one or more organic anions A of the formula (1) X—R—Y (1), wherein X denotes hydrogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, sulfato or sulfo; Y denotes carboxyl, sulfato or sulfo, and R denotes an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocycloaliphatic, olefinic, cycloolefinic, heterocycloolefinic, aromatic, heteroaromatic, araliphatic or heteroaraliphatic radical having 2 to 50 C atoms, wherein one or more substituents from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, halogen, C1-C22-alkyl, C1-C22-alkoxy, C1-C22-alkylene-(CO)—O—(CH2CH2O)0-50-alkyl, C1-C22-alkylene-(CO)—O—(CH2CH2O)0-50-haloalkyl, carboxyl, sulfo, nitro or cyano can be present, in dispersion, with intensive thorough mixing, one or more hydrophobic compounds from the group consisting of waxes and metal soaps in an amount of from 0.2 to 200 wt. %, based on the metal hydroxide salt, and optionally removing the liquid medium, drying the product and isolating it as a powder. The compounds according to the invention are employed as charge control agents, in particular in electrophotography.
US07923183B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image holding member; a toner image formation device that forms a toner image using a toner, the toner including a first component and a second component that are present separately from each other and form a color when they are reacted with each other, and a photocurable composition containing either one of the first component and the second component, the photocurable composition being cured or maintained in an uncured state by applying color forming information, to control the reaction for color formation; a color forming information applying device; a transfer device; a fixing device; and a color formation device.
US07923181B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming photomasks. A stack of at least three different materials is formed over a base. Regions of the stack are removed to leave a mask pattern over the base. The mask pattern includes a pair of spaced-apart adjacent segments of the stack. A liner is formed to cover sidewalls of the segments. Some embodiments include photomasks. The photomasks may include a transparent base supporting a pair of spaced-apart adjacent features. The spaced-apart adjacent features may include sidewalls, with inner sidewalls of the spaced-apart features being adjacent one another, and spaced from one another by a gap. A coating layer of from about 5 Angstroms thick to about 50 Angstroms thick may be along the entirety of the sidewalls of the spaced-apart adjacent features. Some embodiments include methods of photolithographically patterning substrates.
US07923175B2
A photomask structure is described, including a substrate having multiple half-tone phase shift patterns on a device region and multiple opaque patterns on a die seal ring region. By using the photomask, a side lobe effect does not occur to the photoresist layer corresponding to the die seal ring region in the exposure step.
US07923172B2
An improved structure for gas diffusion electrodes and gas diffusion layers whereby fine gradients of porosity and hydrophobicity promote efficient gas transport, water removal and overall enhanced performance of Membrane Electrode Assemblies constructed with these components.
US07923171B2
A cathode catalyst of the present invention includes an A-B-Ch compound, where A is a metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ru, Rh, and combinations thereof, B is a metal selected from the group consisting of Bi, Pb, Tl, Sb, Sn, In, Ga, Ge, and combinations thereof, and Ch is an element selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and combinations thereof. The cathode catalyst may be used in a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell.
US07923166B2
The present invention discloses a membrane for a fuel cell, comprising: a solid polymer electrolyte membrane composed of a crosslinked ion exchange resin, and a polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 to 1,000,000 and having a charge group of polarity opposite to that of the ion exchange group of the ion exchange resin, which polymer is adhered onto at least one surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane in an amount of 0.0001 to 0.5 mg/cm3, preferably in a state that, when the membrane for fuel cell is immersed in a 50 mass % aqueous methanol solution of 30° C., there is substantially no difference in the adhesion amount of the polymer before and after the immersion; and a membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell, comprising the above-mentioned membrane, and a catalyst electrode layer bonded to the membrane, which catalyst electrode layer contains an ion exchange resin having the same polarity as the crosslinked ion exchange resin composing the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a catalyst substance.
US07923165B2
An electronically insulating proton conductor (C) is adhered or deposited as a film on a dense phase proton permeable material (D) in a thicknees such that the composite C/D has a proton conductivity in a preferred intermediate temperature range of 175-550° C. The composite C/D is incorporated in a high temperature electrolyte membrane electrolyte assembly (MEA), which is incorporated into a fuel cell that can operate in this intermediate temperature range. The fuel cell in turn is incorporated into a fuel cell system having a fuel reformer in the flow field of a fuel mixture entering the fuel cell or in a mode where the fuel cell receives fuel from an external reformer.
US07923161B2
An ECU (114) determines a connection state between a vehicle (200) and an external power supply (300) based on a resistance detected by a resistance detector (106). When the vehicle (200) and the external power supply (300) are connected, power supply from an FC (102) to a drive motor (204) is interrupted by turning off a switch (116) to prevent wiring (105) from having breakage etc. by movement of the vehicle (200), thus inhibiting movement of the vehicle (200).
US07923155B2
A lead-acid battery grid made from a lead-based alloy containing, in addition to lead, tin at a concentration that is at least about 0.500%, silver at a concentration that is greater than 0.006%, and bismuth at a concentration that is at least about 0.005%, and, if calcium is present in the lead-based alloy, the calcium is at concentration that is no greater than about 0.010%.
US07923149B2
A positive electrode including a current collector; a positive active material layer disposed on the current collector; and a coating layer disposed on the positive active material layer. The coating layer includes a binder and a inorganic additive. The binder is a poly(vinylidenefluoride-hexafluoropropylene) copolymer comprising 2 to 16 mole % of hexafluoropropylene. The positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery suppresses side-reactions between a positive electrode and an electrolyte, at a high voltage.
US07923148B2
Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which has a negative electrode containing silicon as a negative active material, a positive electrode containing a positive active material, a nonaqueous electrolyte and a separator. Characteristically, an additive which retards oxidation of silicon during operation of the battery is contained either in an interior or surface portion of the positive electrode, or in an interior or surface portion of the negative electrode, or in an interior or surface portion of the separator.
US07923147B2
A layered lithium-nickel-based compound oxide powder for a positive electrode material for a high density lithium secondary cell, capable of providing a lithium secondary cell having a high capacity and excellent in the rate characteristics also, is provided.A layered lithium-nickel-based compound oxide powder for a positive electrode material for a lithium secondary cell, characterized in that the bulk density is at least 2.0 g/cc, the average primary particle size B is from 0.1 to 1 μm, the median diameter A of the secondary particles is from 9 to 20 μm, and the ratio A/B of the median diameter A of the secondary particles to the average primary particle size B, is within a range of from 10 to 200. In production of a layered lithium-nickel-based compound oxide powder, which comprises spray drying a slurry having a nickel compound and a transition metal element compound capable of substituting lithium other than nickel, dispersed in a liquid medium, followed by mixing with a lithium compound, and firing the mixture, the spray drying is carried out under conditions of 0.4≦G/S≦4 and G/S≦0.0012V, when the slurry viscosity at the time of the spray drying is represented by V (cp), the slurry supply amount is represented by S (g/min) and the gas supply amount is represented by G (L/min).
US07923145B2
A surface treated steel sheet for a battery case, which has a diffusion layer of a nickel-phosphorus alloy or a nickel-cobalt-phosphorus alloy formed on the outermost layer of the inside surface of a plated steel sheet for a battery case; a battery case which is produced through forming the surface-treated steel sheet having a diffusion layer of a nickel-phosphorus alloy or a nickel-cobalt-phosphorus alloy by the deep drawing method, the DI forming or the DTR forming: and a battery using the battery case. The battery case can be used for producing a battery excellent in battery characteristics.
US07923142B2
There are provided a novel onium salt and a method for optimizing the interface of a negative electrode by the use of the novel onium salt and/or a conventional onium salt. Such a method is characterized in that an electrolyte comprising novel 2,2,2-trifluoro-N-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)acetamide•tetraethyl ammonium salt is made to intervene between a negative electrode and a positive electrode in an electrochemical device having the constitution: a negative electrode|an electrolyte|a positive electrode, thereby constructing an electrode structure in the electrochemical device, and applying a voltage between the negative electrode and the positive electrode so as for the negative electrode to have a potential of −1 V to −5 V in terms of the potential relative to a reference electrode of I−/I3−, thereby forming a passive-state layer comprising a decomposition product of the above electrolyte or salt on the surface of the above negative electrode.
US07923139B2
A secondary battery provided with a safety element (16) comprising a conductive current interrupter (161) and an insulation holder (162) at thereof bottom. By safety element provided at the bottom of the battery, either sealed formation technology or open-formation technology is allowed in battery formation processing, and any other sealing method is selectable as well as pressing sealing.
US07923131B2
A coated substrate is disclosed. The coated substrate includes a substrate and a coating composition over the substrate comprising at least one metal based layer selected from tungsten, chromium, tantalum, molybdenum, aluminum, niobium, and mixtures and alloys thereof; and mixtures and alloys of cobalt and chromium; and at least one dielectric layer including SixNy, where x/y ranges from 0.75 to 1.5, over the metal based layer. The ΔEcmc (1.5:1) (T), ΔEcmc (1.5:1) (R1) and ΔEcmc (1.5:1) (R2) of a non-heat treated, coated substrate as compared to a heat treated, coated substrate according to the present invention are no greater than 8 units.
US07923127B2
A process for producing sheets of γ-TiAl includes the steps of forming a melt of a γ-TiAl alloy; casting the γ-TiAl alloy to form an as-cast γ-TiAl alloy; encapsulating the as-cast γ-TiAl alloy to form an as-cast γ-TiAl alloy preform; and rolling the as-cast γ-TiAl alloy preform to form a sheet comprising γ-TiAl.
US07923125B2
An apparatus that includes a first component defining an interior of the apparatus; a first solder composition exterior to the first component; a second solder composition exterior to the first solder composition and the first component; and a second component exterior to the second solder composition, the first solder composition, and the first component.
US07923122B2
A large number of small reflection portions are continuously formed over a back face of a base member opposite the light impinging side, in an arbitrary arrangement. The small reflection portions are each formed to have a boundary surface for reflection, interference, and diffraction of incident light impinging onto the base member, to thereby produce random changes in the brightness of reflection light over the entirety of the decoration panel. A reflection layer is formed on the boundary surfaces of the small reflection portions such that the boundary surfaces function as mirror surfaces and reflect light propagating through the base member toward the front face of the base member.
US07923118B2
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display array substrate includes forming a gate wiring line having a gate pad electrode, forming a data wiring line having a data pad electrode, forming a protection layer over the gate pad electrode and the data pad electrode, and positioning etching tapes on the protection layer over the gate pad electrode and the data pad electrode.
US07923116B2
The optical element of the present invention has a first member and a second member which have been joined in close contact, and has nd1>nd2 and (nF1−nC1)<(nF2−nC2), where the first member is formed of a resin having both a benzene ring and a fluorine atom, or the second member is formed of a resin having an alicyclic structure. It also makes use of an optic-purpose resin precursor composition prepared by mixing a first resin precursor having nd<1.50 and (nF−nC)>0.003 in an uncured state and a second resin precursor having nd<1.62 and (nF−nC)>0.010.
US07923115B2
A substrate with film and a glass for forming such a film are provided, wherein the film has high gas barrier property, high transmittance in visible light region, and high productivity since the film provides effective gas barrier property even if the film is a single layer.A substrate with film having an inorganic amorphous film having a softening temperature of from 100 to 800° C. formed on at least one surface of a substrate; or a substrate with film having an inorganic amorphous film having a glass transition temperature of from 50 to 500° C. formed on at least one surface of a substrate. Further, a glass for forming film composed of a borate glass containing B2O3 as the main component, a phosphate glass containing P2O5, a tellurite type composition containing TeO2 as the main component, a bismuth oxide type composition containing Bi2O3 as the main component or a chalcogenide type composition containing at least one type of element selected from the group consisting of S, Se and Te.
US07923114B2
The invention provides certain embodiments that involve sputtering techniques for applying a mixed oxide film comprising silica and titania. In these embodiments, the techniques involve sputtering at least two targets in a common chamber (e.g., in a shared gaseous atmosphere). A first of these targets includes silicon, while a second of the targets includes titanium. Further, the invention provides embodiments involving a substrate bearing a hydrophilic coating, which can be deposited by sputtering or any other suitable thin film deposition technique. The invention also provides techniques and apparatuses useful for depositing a wide variety of coating types. For example, the invention provides thin film deposition technologies in which sputtering apparatuses or other thin film deposition apparatuses are employed.
US07923112B2
The invention relates to a latent heat storage material comprising a first phase change material, at least one second phase change material different from the first phase change material, and an expanded graphite material wherein the first phase change material and the at least one second phase change material are intermixed and the latent heat storage material exhibits a phase transition over a range of temperatures. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of a latent heat storage material comprising combining a mixture of an expanded graphite material and a first phase change material with at least one different second phase change material.
US07923111B2
In a particular embodiment, a particulate material includes alumina hydrate. The particulate material has a 500 psi Compaction Volume Ratio of at least about 4.0 cc/cc.
US07923110B2
A metal nanoparticle which is prepared by forming a self-assembled monolayer including a terminal reactive group on the surface thereof, and introducing a functional group capable of being removed by the action of an acid or an base into the terminal reactive group wherein the self-assembled monolayer is built up of a thiol, an isocyanide, an amine, a carboxylate or a phosphate compound having the terminal reactive group, or built up of a thiol, an isocyanide, an amine, a carboxylate or a phosphate compound having no terminal reactive group followed by introducing the terminal reactive group thereto; and a method for forming a conductive pattern using the same are provided. Since the metal nanoparticle of exemplary embodiments of the present invention can easily form a high conductive film or a high conductive pattern through photo-irradiation and photo-degradation and randomly regulate its conductivity when occasions demand, it can be advantageously applied to an antistatic washable sticky film, antistatic shoes, a conductive polyurethane printer roller, an electromagnetic interference shielding, and the like.
US07923101B2
The present invention relates to a coated cutting tool insert and a texture-hardened α-Al2O3 layer to be used in metal machining. The alumina layer is characterized by the improved toughness and it adheres to the substrate covering all functional parts thereof. The coating is composed of one or more refractory layers of which at least one layer is a texture-hardened α-Al2O3 having a thickness ranging from 2 to 20 μm being composed of columnar grains with a length/width ratio of 2 to 12. The α-Al2O3 exhibits a strong (0006) diffraction peak. The improved wear resistance and toughness can be obtained when the texture coefficient (TC) for the (0006) reflection is larger than 1.33 ln h+2, where h is the α-Al2O3 layer thickness and when the surface of the α-Al2O3 layer is wet-blasted to an Ra-value <1 μm. The alumina layer with a strong (0001) texture is applied on Binder phase enriched cemented carbide substrates. This combination contributes to enhanced wear resistance and toughness.
US07923095B2
A method of forming a molded plastic article with a second surface with molded extensions, and a first surface that is substantially free of sink mark defects. The method involves forming, from a first plastic material, a first molded section with at least one molded extension extending from the second surface. The molded extension is formed in a mold recess with a reversibly positionable slide. After formation of the first molded section, the slide is retracted to a second slide position thus forming within the molded extension a retainer cavity that is in fluid communication with an aperture in the first surface of the first molded section. A second plastic material is introduced into the mold over the first molded section, and a portion thereof passes through the aperture and into the retainer cavity, thereby forming a second molded section that is continuous with each retainer. The first and second molded sections, which together form the molded article, are fixedly attached to each other by at least one molded retainer, and the first surface of the second molded section, which defines the first surface of the molded article (2), is substantially free of sink mark defects. The present invention also relates to a molded article.
US07923089B1
An improved integrated shipping label and packing list form. In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, such a form comprises a first sheet material, a second sheet material, and a third sheet material. The sheet materials are joined together with the first sheet material between the other two sheet materials. Lines of weakness defining at least one shipping label and packing list label are cut into the joined together sheet materials.
US07923083B2
A recording medium containing a substantially colorless compound in which at least 10 atoms having conjugate π electrons are present on a per-molecule basis, wherein it is especially preferable that the compound has at least two aromatic ring groups and/or shows no fluorescence. An ink composition used for printing in image form on media, with the composition containing a dye and controlling a hue change caused in the printed images over a period of one hour immediately after the printing to 5 or below in color-difference terms. And a method of recording images on media by printing an ink composition in image form, wherein the ink composition contains a dye and a hue change caused in the printed images over a period of one hour immediately after the printing is controlled to 5 or below in color-difference terms.
US07923063B2
This invention relates to a method of making glass. In certain example embodiments, a major surface(s) of the glass is treated with aluminum chloride (e.g., AlCl3). This treating, or application of an aluminum chloride based layer on the glass substrate, may be performed using combustion deposition. The combustion deposition may be performed at or just prior to the annealing lehr in certain example embodiments, or at any other suitable location. The aluminum chloride barrier layer, applied at a desirable glass temperature, helps to reduce sodium leaching or diffusion from the glass during conditions such as high heat and/or humidity, thereby improving the durability and/or stability of the resulting product.
US07923059B2
A method of enabling selective area plating on a substrate includes forming a first electrically conductive layer (310) over substantially all of the substrate, covering sections of the first electrically conductive layer with a mask (410) such that the first electrically conductive layer has a masked portion and an unmasked portion, forming a second electrically conductive layer (710, 1210), the second electrically conductive layer forming only over the unmasked portion of the first electrically conductive layer, and removing the mask and the masked portion of the first electrically conductive layer. In an embodiment, the mask covering sections of the first electrically conductive layer is a non-electrically conductive substance (1010) applied with a stamp (1020). In an embodiment, the mask is a black oxide layer.
US07923052B2
A method for processing vegetable oil miscella is provided. The method includes steps of feeding vegetable oil miscella to a conditioned polymeric microfiltration membrane, and recovering a permeate stream having a decreased weight percent of phospholipids compared with the weight percent of phospholipids provided in the miscella. The retentate stream can be further processed for the recovery of lecithin. The polymeric microfiltration membrane can be conditioned for the selective separation of phospholipids in the miscella. A method for conditioning a membrane for selective separation of phospholipids from vegetable oil miscella, and the resulting membrane, are provided. The membrane which can be conditioned can be characterized as having an average pore size of between about 0.1μ and about 2μ.
US07923048B2
Making a pizza crust includes forming a mass of dough into a substantially flattened shape to define an inner crust bordered by an outer crust extending around the inner crust. The outer crust is divided into a plurality of segments without cutting the inner crust by pressing a plurality of cutting fins of a cutting ring through the outer crust to form the plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side facing the inner crust, and a second side facing opposite the inner crust. Each of the plurality of segments is turned such that the second end is moved away from the inner crust.
US07923046B2
A method for producing food and beverage products with a high content of γ-aminobutyric acid, wherein processed tomato products whose filtrate has a coloring degree between 0.02 and 0.2 when sugar content is adjusted to 3% are fermented with lactic acid bacteria, and food and beverage products with a high content of γ-aminobutyric acid obtained by such a method.
US07923045B2
An antioxidant-promoting composition that increases antioxidant defense potential in a subject is disclosed comprising Bacopa monniera extract; milk thistle extract, ashwagandha powder, green tea extract, Gotu kola powder, Ginko biloba leaf extract; Aloe vera powder; turmeric extract; and N-acetyl cysteine. The antioxidant-promoting composition of the invention safely induces cellular antioxidant potential to achieve an overall net decrease in oxidative stress without the undesirable side-effects associated with the individual components of the antioxidant-promoting composition. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the undesirable side-effects of free radicals in a subject by administering to a subject in need of such antioxidants an effective amount of antioxidant-promoting composition of the invention.
US07923041B2
Disclosed are compositions for promoting general health and well-being, comprising an extract of a botanical raw material, wherein said extract inhibits the carboxyl demethylating activity of a protein phosphatase, and methods of making and using same.
US07923028B2
The invention relates to a high dose oral formulation of bisphosphonates and to a process for the preparation of such formulations.
US07923026B2
The present invention relates to a thermostable solid composition containing nanosized micelles, the micelles containing a poorly soluble chemical substance, such as a biologically active substance, dissolved in an auxiliary material, and the micelles being embedded in a water soluble carrier. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a thermostable solid composition and to a process for preparing pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising the same.
US07923009B2
A medicament based on antibodies contains an activated form of ultra-low doses of monoclonal, polyclonal, or natural antibodies to the prostate-specific antigen, the activated form being prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors, preferably according to homeopathic technology. In order to obtain the antibodies, the prostate-specific antigen isolated from the prostatic tissues of cattle or prepared synthetically is employed; a mixture of various, mostly centesimal, homeopathic dilutions is used. The method of treating diseases of the urogenital sphere consists in using activated forms of ultra-low doses of antibodies to prostate-specific antigen prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors.
US07923008B2
A novel polypeptide, osteoprotegerin binding protein, involved in osteolcast maturation has been identified based upon its affinity for osteoprotegerin. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide, or a fragment, analog or derivative thereof, vectors and host cells for production, methods of preparing osteoprotegerin binding protein, and binding assays are also described. Compositions and methods for the treatment of bone diseases such as osteoporosis, bone loss due to arthritis or metastasis, hypercalcemia, and Paget's disease are also provided.
US07923004B2
Aryl substituted pyrazole derivatives are provided, as well as processes for their preparation. The invention also provides compositions and methods for the treatment of HCV by administering a compound of the present invention, alone or in combination with additional antiviral agents, in a therapeutically effective amount.
US07922999B2
A method and system that is directed to the local delivery of growth factors to the mammalian CNS to treat CNS disorders associated with neuronal death and/or dysfunction is described.
US07922996B2
This invention relates to novel compositions of zeolites or microporous metallosilicates characterized by a continuous spatial distribution of the metal and silicon in the crystals and characterized by a crystal surface enriched in silicon relative to the internal part of the same crystals. This invention also relates to a synthesis method of producing these metallosilicates with spatial distribution of the constituting elements. These novel zeolitic compositions can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion reactions. The crystalline metallosilicates can be selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, gallosilicates, ferrosilicates, titanosilicates and borosilicates.
US07922993B2
A method for producing carbon nanostructures according to the invention includes injecting acetylene gas into a reactant liquid. The injected acetylene molecules are then maintained in contact with the reactant liquid for a period of time sufficient to break the carbon-hydrogen bonds in at least some of the acetylene molecules, and place the liberated carbon ions in an excited state. This preferred method further includes enabling the liberated carbon ions in the excited state to traverse a surface of the reactant liquid and enter a collection area. Collection surfaces are provided in the collection area to collect carbon nanostructures.
US07922990B2
A fluidized bed process for the production of polycrystalline silicon granules supplies, in addition to reaction gas, a gas containing 99.5 to 95 mol. percent hydrogen and 0.5 to 5 mol. percent gaseous silicon compounds, and the reactor wall is maintained at the same or a higher temperature than the reaction zone, such that the deposition of silicon on reactor internals is minimized.
US07922986B2
A reagent cup device 1 includes a plurality of individually sealed reagent cup compartments 7, each holding a reagent cup 8 having an open end and an inner surface, at least part of which is coated with a chemical reagent. Each reagent cup compartment 7 is closed and has a first end covered by a first breakable seal 5 and a second end covered by a second breakable seal 10. Since the reagent cup compartments 7 are individually sealed by the breakable seals 5, 10, it is possible to gain access to the interior of a reagent cup compartment 7, and thereby to the reagent cup 8 held therein, without breaking the sealing of the remaining reagent cup compartments 7. Thereby degradation of the chemical reagent in the reagent cups 8 is reduced, and the expected lifetime of the reagent cups 8 is accordingly increased. The breakable seals 5, 10 may be provided with weakened zones in order to easier break the seals 5, 10 when access is desired.
US07922985B2
An analyte test strip for accepting diverse bodily fluid sample volumes includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed above the first insulating layer, and a third insulating layer disposed below the first insulating layer. The third insulating layer has a platform portion that extends beyond the first and second insulating layers and an upper surface. The analyte test strip also has a patterned spacer layer positioned between the first and second layers. The patterned spacer layer defines a channel between the first and second insulating layers that has a sample-receiving chamber, a first port proximate the platform portion and a second port at an outer edge of the analyte test strip. Moreover, the first port and the second port are in fluidic communication with the sample-receiving chamber. In addition, the upper surface of the platform portion is configured to receive a first (relatively large) bodily fluid sample of at least 5 micro-liters and transfer at least a portion of the first bodily fluid sample to the sample-receiving chamber via the first port. The second port is configured to receive a second (relatively small) bodily fluid sample of lesser volume than the first bodily fluid sample and to transfer at least a portion of the second bodily fluid sample to the sample-receiving chamber.
US07922980B2
Improved methods and related apparatus are disclosed for efficiently recovering the heat of condensation from overhead vapor produced during separation of various components of dehydrogenation reaction effluent, particularly in ethylbenzene-to-styrene operations, by the use of at least a compressor to facilitate azeotropic vaporization of an ethylbenzene and water mixture within a preferred range of pressure/temperature conditions so as to minimize undesired polymerization reactions.
US07922978B2
A plasma generating electrode includes two types of plate-shaped unit electrodes of different polarities, the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities being hierarchically and alternately stacked at specific intervals, a discharge space for generating plasma being formed between the opposing unit electrodes, each of the unit electrodes of one polarity among the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities including a plate-shaped conductor exhibiting conductivity and a ceramic dielectric disposed to cover the conductor, the ceramic dielectric of the unit electrode of one polarity including a support protrusion for forming the discharge space for generating plasma between the opposing unit electrodes and at least a part of a space in which the unit electrode of the other polarity is disposed opposite to the unit electrode of one polarity and for supporting the unit electrode of one polarity, the support protrusion being integrally formed with the ceramic dielectric on at least one surface of the ceramic dielectric on at least one end of the ceramic dielectric in one direction.
US07922976B2
A sensing device able to do concurrent real time detection of different kinds of chemical, biomolecule agents, or biological cells and their respective concentrations using optical principles. The sensing system can be produced at a low cost (below $1.00) and in a small size (˜1 cm3). The novel sensing system may be of great value to many industries, for example, medical, forensics, and military. The fundamental principles of this novel invention may be implemented in many variations and combinations of techniques.
US07922966B2
A tank assembly for holding first and second removal materials, comprising a first container and a second container. The first container defines a first chamber. The second container defines a second chamber. The second container is arranged within the first chamber to define a lower portion, an upper portion, and an annular portion of the first chamber. The second chamber comprises a lower portion and a filter portion. The filter portion of the second chamber is adapted to contain the first removal material. The annular portion of the first chamber is adapted to contain the second removal material.
US07922958B2
A syringe and detachable needle assembly having binary attachment features include an elongate syringe barrel having a longitudinal axis, an open proximal end and an open distal end including a collar. The collar includes the cylindrically shaped sidewall having an inside surface and an outside surface. A needle assembly includes the hub having a body portion including a proximal end, a distal end and a conduit therethrough. A cannula having a distal end, a proximal end and a lumen therethrough is attached to the distal end of the hub so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the chamber. A lug is provided on one of the collar and the hub and a ramp and a rest surface is provided on the other of the collar and the hub. The ramp is oriented at an acute angle with respect to longitudinal axis for guiding the lug during needle assembly attachment, to the rest surface forcing the hub to contact the barrel to form a seal the hub and the barrel.
US07922955B2
A method for producing a rubber diaphragm, comprising: (a) preparing materials; (b) primary forming: putting a first rubber film into a lower mold cavity of a diaphragm mold, covering the film with a canvas, positioning the canvas via a mold ring, switching on a primary upper mold on a vulcanizer, pushing the mold into a center of a hot plate of the vulcanizer, and performing primary forming for 30-40 seconds under a setting temperature of 152-157° C. and holding pressure of 16-18 MPa; and (c) secondary forming and curing: taking the mold out, removing the upper mold, putting the second rubber film into a mold cavity and switching on a secondary upper mold, pushing the mold into a center of the hot plate, and performing secondary forming and curing for 5-5.5 minutes under a setting temperature of 152-157° C. and holding pressure of 16-18 MPa. A rubber diaphragm produced by this method.
US07922951B2
Methods and apparatus for plugging cells of honeycomb structures are disclosed. A first method covers the honeycomb structure's end face with a mask having a body and plurality of sized openings positioned to oppose certain cell channels, wherein the outer edge of the body extends radially outwardly from the end face. A film also extends outwardly of the end face, and a plug of material is provided upon the film. The mask and film material are sealed to one another, and a force is applied to the film forcing the material through the mask and into the cells. Also disclosed is adhering a mask to a first end face of the honeycomb structure such that the mask has an outer portion that extends radially beyond an outer edge of the honeycomb; providing a volume of plugging material; clamping the outer portion between a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion; and transferring the plugging material into the honeycomb. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for cutting the plugging material between the mask and a pre-plugging chamber to form a substantially planar surface thereon.
US07922948B2
In a method of moulding a sole of a plastic material and a welt on a shoe upper (1) a mould (3) is used. The mould (3) includes at last (2), upon which a shoe upper (1) is arranged, an upper mould part (5) divided along a longitudinal middle plane and thus includes two halves (5a, 5b) being laterally movable in relation to the lower mould part (4) between an open and a closed mould position, and a lower mould part (4) being vertically movable in relation to the upper mould part (5) between an open and a closed mould position. For carrying out the method an annular shoe welt (6) is provided and arranged in the mould in the mould's open position. The two halves (5a, 5b) of the upper mould part (5) are closed and the lower mould part is moved into its closed position. As a result a circumferential support surface (7) on the upper face of the lower mould part (4) co-acts with a pressure surface (17) on the lower face of a projection (15) on each half (5a, 5b) of the upper mould part such that the portion of the welt (6) facing the shoe upper (1) it tilted inwards and downwards to bring the inner end face of the welt (6) into sealing engagement with the lower side section of the shoe upper (1). The shoe sole is then moulded in a manner known per se by supplying a plastic material to the cavity of the mould.
US07922934B2
The invention relates 1,2,3,6,7,8-hexahydro-s-indacene derivatives and 6,7-dihydro-5H-indeno[5,6-d]-1,3-dioxole derivatives, and to the use thereof as component(s) in liquid-crystalline media. In addition, the present invention relates to liquid-crystal and electro-optical display elements which contain the liquid-crystalline media according to the invention.
US07922906B2
A composition including the fermentation supernatant from a fermentation of yeast is intended to be conveniently introduced through the wastewater plumbing system of a private home or other facility into a septic system servicing the home or other facility to substantially accelerate the ability of the bacteria resident in the septic system to substantially digest biologically available organic compounds present in the septic system, and methods of accomplishing the same.
US07922905B2
Polishing filter and replaceable filter leaf apparatus are provided. The polishing filter includes a housing defining a cavity having fluid inlet and outlet ports and a lid member with a manifold coupled to the outlet port and being adapted to conduct a fluid flow between the outlet port and a plurality of attachment areas. Replaceable filter leafs are selectively movable through an opening into the housing cavity and attachable with the manifold at the plurality of attachment areas. The replaceable filter leafs include a filter envelope consisting of a single substantially rectangular filter panel, a nozzle member on the filter panel and defining a passageway adjacent an opening in the filter envelope for conducting fluids therethrough, and a porous grid member contained within the filter envelope. The nozzle member is selectively attachable onto the manifold of the polishing filter apparatus at one of the plurality of attachment areas. In one form, the filter envelope includes a folded rectangular filter panel with the nozzle member disposed at an outer edge thereof. In another embodiment, the nozzle member is located at a crease line formed in the filter panel. In yet another, a pair of filter panels are connected at their edges with the nozzle member located along a selected edge as desired. The filter leaf apparatus are installed onto the manifold along attachment axes extending through the housing opening.
US07922904B2
The present invention provides an upward-flow manganese contact column for feeding raw water to a manganese catalyst-packed layer through a plurality of dispersion nozzles provided at the upper surface of a chamber by forming the chamber for allowing raw water to flow in at the bottom of a column body into which a granular manganese catalyst is packed. Each dispersion nozzle has an umbrella portion above a perpendicular nozzle body, and the umbrella portion is configured so that the lower end of the umbrella portion is elongated below the upper end of the nozzle body. Raw water is supplied to the entire manganese catalyst-packed layer from the lower end of the umbrella portion of each dispersion nozzle. It is capable, of exhibiting stable treatment ability for a long time by suppressing particles of the manganese catalyst from being worn by collisions of the particles.
US07922899B2
A medical apparatus comprises a user interface for setting parameters and includes: a screen for visualizing values of said parameters, a main control unit connected to the interface, a first memory and a video memory both connected to the main control unit for storing data corresponding to images on screen; the main control unit allows setting of a new value for a parameter, displays the new value on a screen region, stores the new value in the first memory, captures from the video memory data representative of said screen region, verifies from said representative data if the displayed value corresponds to the value in the first memory. A method for setting up a medical apparatus is also disclosed.
US07922890B2
Method and apparatus for a low maintenance, high reliability on-site electrolytic generator incorporating automatic cell monitoring for contaminant film buildup, as well as automatically removing or cleaning the contaminant film. This method and apparatus preferably does not require human intervention to clean.
US07922886B2
A liquid dispensing device includes first and second substrates, with the first substrate including an opening for introduction of a fluid, and the second substrate including a multiplicity of electrodes. The device includes a transfer electrode, located at least partially opposite to the opening, at least two drop-forming electrodes, and a reservoir electrode, located between the transfer electrode and the drop-forming electrodes, and with an area that is at least equal to three times the area of each drop-forming electrode.
US07922884B2
A device for measuring the pressure of a gas mixture composed of gas components has an amperometric sensor that works on the limiting current principle, having two electrodes connected to a direct voltage that are situated on a solid electrolyte, of which one electrode is covered by a diffusion barrier, and a measuring element for measuring the limiting current flowing via electrodes as a measure for the gas pressure. For the purpose of error-free measurement of the gas pressure in a gas mixture in which the concentration of the gas components fluctuates with time, means are provided which fix the mole fraction of a gas component, drawn upon for pressure measurement, that is present upstream of the diffusion barrier at a constant 100%, at least during the pressure measuring phase. In one preferred exemplary embodiment, these means include a storage volume that is adjacent to the diffusion barrier which is separated from the gas mixture by a diffusion path, and two electrodes, situated on the solid electrolyte, for pumping of the gas component into the storage volume.
US07922869B2
A shoe press belt for a paper machine includes a substrate and a polyurethane resin impregnated to laminate on the surfaces of both the shoe side and the felt side thereof, and is excellent in abrasion resistance, crack resistance and processability. A polyurethane resin is produced by using a combination of two kinds of diisocyanates, that is, tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) and diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) as starting materials.
US07922868B2
A papermaker's fabric for use as a forming fabric. The fabric may include bondable or meltable monofilament yarns which may be formed from materials that retain substantial strength and tenacity after thermal treatment. Further, the remaining yarns in the forming fabric may be formed from materials that have a higher melting temperature than the monofilament material that will be thermally bonded or melted.
US07922862B2
A plasma processing apparatus for performing a plasma process on a target substrate includes a process container configured to accommodate the target substrate and to reduce pressure therein. A first electrode is disposed within the process container. A supply system is configured to supply a process gas into the process container. An electric field formation system is configured to form an RF electric field within the process container so as to generate plasma of the process gas. A number of protrusions are discretely disposed on a main surface of the first electrode and protrude toward a space where the plasma is generated.
US07922861B2
The present invention is generally directed to a process for increasing the strength of a component of a laminated absorbent article. The material basis weight of the component may be increased by introducing a material basis weight increasing agent onto at least a portion of the component. The material basis weight increasing agent comprises selected ratios of crystalline and amorphous polymers. In some versions of the invention, polymers capable of existing in different configurations (e.g., a polymer such as polypropylene which can exist in an atactic, syndiotactic, or isotactic configuration) are used to prepare the material basis weight increasing agents of the present invention.
US07922834B2
A main object thereof is to provide a non-oriented electrical steel sheet being excellent in surface characteristics and having both excellent mechanical characteristics and magnetic characteristics necessary for a rotor of rotating machines such as motors and generators which rotate at a high speed, and a method for producing the same. To achieve the object, the present invention provides a non-oriented electrical steel sheet comprising in % by mass: 0.06% or less of C; 3.5% or less of Si; from 0.05% or more to 3.0% or less of Mn; 2.5% or less of Al; 0.30% or less of P; 0.04% or less of S; 0.02% or less of N; at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ti, Zr and V in the predetermined range; and a balance consisting of Fe and impurities; and having a recrystallized fraction being less than 90%.
US07922831B2
A sump for a dishwasher includes a sump case for collecting washing fluid, a pump housing on the sump case, a filtering assembly provided on an upper portion of the pump housing, and a sealing member disposed around the pump housing. The pump housing is provided with a pump case therein.
US07922830B1
What is contemplated is a printing cylinder washer having a removable or portable drive assembly, or a series of portable drive assemblies of different lengths to accommodate different sizes of print rollers. The drive assemblies have a drive mechanism enabled by a dynamic flow of cleaning solution within the washer reservoir. What is also contemplated is the use of an elevation system, an agitation platform, under-immersion spray bars, an ultrasonic wave cleaning system, and a hatch or door equipped with a thermal breaker in conjunction with the hydro-driven portable drive assembly. What is also contemplated is a method of washing printing rollers within the above-described printing cylinder washer by aligning a nozzle with the drive assembly.
US07922828B2
The present invention relates to cleaning compositions and methods employing a water soluble magnesium compound. Such compositions can be used for reducing scale, rinsing, hard surface cleaning, ware washing, and corrosion inhibition.
US07922822B2
A cleaning and sterilizing method for removing organic matter adhered to the surface of an endoscopic camera instrument, and effectively exhibiting bacteria-killing and virus-killing effects of acidic water uses, as a cleaning bath, an alkaline-water-producing electrolysis bath partitioned by a separating membrane and having electrodes on both sides, and conducts preliminary cleaning of an endoscopic camera instrument inserted in the cleaning bath by ultrasonic cleaning with city tap water. Subsequently, saline solution is provided to the electrolysis bath to conduct electrolysis, conduct ultrasonic cleaning with alkaline water obtained by the electrolysis, introduce acidic water in the acidic water generation bath and conduct sterilization-cleaning, and further to conduct ultrasonic cleaning with city tap water. Then, the endoscopic camera instrument is dried with warm air as the case requires.
US07922821B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for installing a source into a gas deposition reactor. The arrangement comprises at least one source fitting for the source such that the source fitting is connected to a reaction space of the gas deposition reactor, and a source installable at least partly inside the source fitting or a source space connected to the source fitting. According to the invention, the arrangement further comprises reception means in the source fitting for receiving the source, and charging means for installing the source in place in the source fitting for use, and a chamber (1), provided in the source, for a solid or liquid source material (3), and isolating means (7, 19) for isolating the chamber (1) substantially from environment.
US07922818B2
A method and apparatus are presented for reducing halide-based contamination within deposited titanium-based thin films. Halide adsorbing materials are utilized within the deposition chamber to remove halides, such as chlorine and chlorides, during the deposition process so that contamination of the titanium-based film is minimized. A method for regenerating the halide adsorbing material is also provided.
US07922815B2
A system and method for growing diamond crystals from diamond crystal seeds by epitaxial deposition at low temperatures and atmospheric and comparatively low pressures. A solvent is circulated (by thermal convection and/or pumping), wherein carbon is added in a hot leg, transfers to a cold leg having, in some embodiments, a range of progressively lowered temperatures and concentrations of carbon via the circulating solvent, and deposits layer-by-layer on diamond seeds located at the progressively lower temperatures since as diamond deposits the carbon concentration lowers and the temperature is lowered to keep the solvent supersaturated. The solvent includes metal(s) or compound(s) that have low melting temperatures and transfer carbon at comparatively low temperatures. A controller receives parameter signals from a variety of sensors located in the system, processes these signals, and optimizes diamond deposition by outputting the necessary control signals to a plurality of control devices (e.g., valves, heaters, coolers, pumps).
US07922812B2
A method for growing large single crystals of metals is disclosed. A polycrystalline form of a metal specimen is initially heated in a non-oxidizing environment. A minimum plastic strain is then applied to the heated metal specimen to initiate the growth of a selected grain within the heated metal specimen. Additional plastic strain is subsequently applied to the heated metal specimen to propagate the growth of the selected grain to become a large single crystal.
US07922806B2
A process of producing a kaolin product for paper coating includes mining kaolin ores by hydromechanization and then producing kaolin slurry; classifying by centrifugal sedimentation; chemical bleaching; eliminating iron ions by circular rinsing; removing water by pressure filtration; producing slurry by dispersing filter cakes, in which complex dispersants, pH adjustor and intercalator are added; delaminating; classifying by vibrating sieve; and spray drying: spray driers are restructured by adding insulating layers on packing auger, elevator scoop and bunker at first; the kaolin slurry J which has passed through vibrating sieves is dried in high speed centrifugal spray drying tower and the moisture of kaolin powder is controlled in 3 wt. %-5 wt. %, and the kaolin product for paper coating is obtained. The process characterizes in stable properties, high efficiency, and high viscosity content and fine particle size of the kaolin products produced.
US07922802B2
A PIT emulsion, including asphalt or bitumen; one or more non-ionic emulsifiers; optionally one or more cationic co-emulsifiers, and/or one or more solvents is provided. A PIT emulsion, including 10% to 70% b.w. asphalt or bitumen; 5% to 15% b.w. of one or more non-ionic emulsifiers; 0 to 5% b.w. of one or more cationic co-emulsifiers; and 0 to 40% b.w. of one or more solvents, where the quantities shown add up to 100% b.w. with water, and optionally other auxiliaries and additives is also provided. A method for making a finely-divided asphalt or bitumen PIT emulsion, including subjecting an aqueous mixture of asphalt or bitumen, at least one non-ionic emulsifier, and optionally a solvent to vigorous stirring to obtain a homogenous composition; heating the homogenous composition above the phase inversion temperature to obtain a PIT emulsion, and cooling the PIT emulsion is also provided.
US07922800B2
An ink set includes a light magenta ink and a dark magenta ink. The light magenta ink includes an effective amount of a pigment having a red/green lambda cutoff ranging from about 585 nm to about 600 nm, and reflecting at least about 14% of blue light at a wavelength of about 470 nm when measured at a density at which the light magenta ink provides a maximum magenta chroma. The dark magenta ink includes an effective amount of a pigment having a red/green lambda cutoff greater than or equal to about 605 nm.
US07922781B2
A compact hydrogen generator for use with fuel cells and other applications includes a hydrogen membrane reactor having a combustion chamber and a reaction chamber. The two chambers are have a fluid connection and a heat exchange relationship with one another. The hydrogen generation apparatus also includes a fuel supply, a fuel supply line for transporting fuel from the fuel supply to the reaction chamber, an oxygen supply, an oxygen supply line for transporting oxygen from the oxygen supply to the combustion chamber, as well as a tail gas supply line for transporting tail gas supply line for transporting tail gases from the reaction chamber, a combustion by-product line for transporting combustion by-products for the combustion chamber, and a reaction product line for transporting hydrogen from the reaction chamber.
US07922772B2
A method for mounting an implant at an orthopedic joint includes forming a tunnel through a bone, the tunnel having an open second end on a natural or resected articulating surface of the bone and an open first end at a location on the bone spaced apart from the natural or resected articulating surface. A fastener is advanced into the tunnel from the first end of the tunnel. The fastener, which is at least partially disposed within the tunnel, is then secured to the implant which is disposed over the second end of the tunnel.
US07922762B2
Devices and methods generally provide enhanced stabilization, exposure and/or treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve introducing a stabilizing member beneath one or more leaflets of a heart valve to engage the annulus at an intersection between the leaflets and the interior ventricular wall of the heart. Force is then applied to the stabilizing member to stabilize and/or expose the valve annulus. In some embodiments, the stabilizing member may include a series of hydraulically driven tethered anchors, such as hooks or clips, for engaging and cinching valve annulus tissue to decrease the diameter of a regurgitant valve. Alternatively, other treatments may be delivered by a stabilizing member, such as radiofrequency energy, drugs, bulking agents or shape memory stents. A second stabilizing member may also be introduced above the leaflets for further stabilization.
US07922754B2
A catheter for delivering luminal prostheses comprises a catheter body having an expandable member near a distal end. The prosthesis has a side hole, and a guidewire extends beneath a proximal portion of the prosthesis and over the exterior of the expandable member. A distal end of the guidewire is retracted proximally from the closest point on the side opening to reduce possible interference with catheter advancement.
US07922751B2
A stand-alone laser device that provides low level laser therapy using one or more laser sources. The laser sources are attached to one or more arms which can be positioned to cause the laser light to impinge on a desired area of a patient's body. A scanning apparatus is attached to the arms which comprise structures that cooperate to cause an optical element to be able to simultaneously rotate about a central axis and move in a linear motion along that axis to achieve any desired scan pattern. Laser light of different pulse widths, different beam shapes and different scan patterns can be applied externally to a patient's body. In the preferred embodiment, red light having a wavelength of about 635 nm is used to stimulate hair growth on a patient's scalp.
US07922748B2
A polyaxial body is selectively removable from a pedicle screw in a spinal fixation system without disruption of the screw's placement in the patient's spine. The polyaxial body according to various embodiments of this invention may be locked relative to the screw head and coupled to the spine rod without deformation of the screw or body components while still allowing for subsequent removal of the body from the screw head. The head of the pedicle screw is threadably engaged with a retainer ring on the polyaxial body thereby permitting selective removal of the body from the screw head without disrupting the placement of the screw in the spine. This allows for the pedicle screw to remain in the spine as the fixation system is adjusted as required by the surgeon for subsequent and reliable reanimation.
US07922747B2
A cross connector apparatus for retaining a pair of spinal rods in spaced relation, including: a middle portion having a first end, a second end, and an extendable member which is able to extend beyond the second end a specified amount; a first side portion positioned adjacent to the first end of the middle portion, wherein the first side portion is rotatably coupled to the middle portion in at least a first plane; and, a second side portion positioned adjacent to the second end of the middle portion, wherein the second side portion is rotatably coupled to the extendable member in at least a second plane. The first and second side portions each further include a mechanism for both retaining the respective side portion in a desired position with respect to the middle portion and retaining a spinal rod member to the respective side portion.
US07922741B2
An embolic protection device comprises a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support frame contacting the filter body. The collapsible filter body has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material to enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body. The filter support frame is movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in the expanded position. The frame has a plurality of engagement segments which are spaced-apart longitudinally and transversely when the filter body is in the deployed expanded configuration to urge the filter body into opposition with the vessel wall. The engagement segments define at least partially a substantially helical engagement track.
US07922739B2
A surgical device 10 with an ergonomic handle 12 and, an elongated tubular portion 18 extending from the ergonomic handle 12 to a functional end 22. The elongated tubular portion 18 has a longitudinal axis 19, and a finger actuator 16 is positioned substantially in line with this axis. Furthermore, the surgical device 10 may also include a rod 20 functionally disposed within the tubular portion 18 along the longitudinal axis 19. The rod 20 may be coupled proximally to the finger actuator 16 and distally to the functional end 22, such that bidirectional pressure applied by the user's finger to the finger actuator 16 along the longitudinal axis 19 manipulates the functional end 22 in a bidirectional manner in response to or in a common direction to the bidirectional pressure. The surgical device 10 may further comprise a ratcheting mechanism 24 to lock the finger actuator 16 in a fixed position, thus locking the functional end 22 in a fixed position. Additionally, the functional end 22 may be free to rotate around the longitudinal axis 19, and the elongated tubular portion 18 may be detachable from the ergonomic handle 12.
US07922732B2
Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.
US07922727B2
A minimally invasive surgical system for implanting pedicle screw assemblies to be connected by a spinal rod is disclosed. In one form, the system includes a plurality of holding mechanisms for the pedicle screw assemblies, each holding mechanism for being inserted through an incision and configured to receive tools along an axis thereof for driving a screw anchor of the pedicle screw assembly into a vertebra and securing the spinal rod thereto and a rod inserter that is configured to adjustably hold the rod and insert the rod through a common incision with one of the holding mechanism for being fed into position in an initial direction that is transverse to the axes of the holding mechanisms.
US07922719B2
A two piece, adjustable angle handle for a surgical instrument, capable of easy adjustment to a number of angles, permitting the handle of the instrument to be grasped with one hand, and the other hand to guide the operating end of the instrument, said handle permanently affixed to an instrument, or capable if attachment to a number of different instruments by means of a firm but releasable fastening to the shaft of the instrument, as with a Hudson fitting; the adjustable angle fastening comprising a radial array of teeth as in a ratchet wheel and a reverse scissor pawl.
US07922707B2
A spike for penetrating the elastomeric stopper of a container, for example a drug or reagent vial, is provided with an elongated body (5) with a blunt tip (47). The spike may be incorporated into a reagent cassette which accepts containers sealed with a punturable cap.
US07922703B2
The invention relates to a drainage device (100) for the treatment of wounds using reduced pressure, comprising (a) a gas-type wound-covering element (3), which, in the state in contact with the body of the patient, is fastened cohesively at the skin surface around the region of the wound and forms a sealed wound space, remaining between the respective wound and the wound-covering element (3); (b) at least one drainage tube (4), which can be connected to means generating the reduced pressure and can be inserted into the wound space approximately parallel to the wound-covering element (3); and (c) at least one absorption body (2) in the form of at least one layer (7) of a textile section (33), which is interspersed with super-absorbing particles and enclosed in an envelope. Due to the size of the pores of the envelope, the absorbed wound secretions remain within the absorption body (2) and, with that, underneath the wound-covering element (3) until the absorption body is removed from the wound space. An air opening (34) is provided for the wound-covering element (3).
US07922696B2
An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle section that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator portion that has a dilator and a dilator hub. The dilator is coaxially disposed and slideable over the elongated body of the needle section. The device further includes a sheath section that has a sheath and a sheath hub. The sheath is coaxially disposed and slideable over the dilator. The device further includes a first locking mechanism operably disposed between the needle hub and the dilator hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the needle section and the dilator portion and a second locking mechanism operably disposed between the dilator hub and the sheath hub to inhibit at least unintentional axial movement between the dilator portion and the sheath section.
US07922691B2
An angioplasty device and particle trap for use in removal of a particle from a small diameter vessel or vessel-like structure is disclosed. One embodiment includes a catheter for insertion into a vessel-like structure, the catheter having a catheter wall and a movable member, a trap operably connected to the catheter wall and to the movable member, wherein relative motion between the catheter wall and the movable member actuates the trap. In one embodiment, the expanded trap is formed from struts in a spiral-shaped configuration. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a waist to creates a pinch-point to trap particles. In one embodiment, the contracted trap forms a cocoon-like structure to further trap particles. In one embodiment, the angioplasty device includes a handle to actuate the trap from a contracted position to an expanded position and return to a contracted position. The handle provides rotational or longitudinal or both types of movement to actuate the trap.
US07922688B2
Automated systems and methods for delivery of a therapeutic or cosmetic substance into cutaneous, subcutaneous or intramuscular tissue, wherein an automated (e.g., robotic) arm is maneuvered to position a delivery device proximate a targeted location (e.g., an existing hair follicle, a location for implanting a skin filler, or a location for intradermal tattoo ink injection) on a patient's skin surface; and a substantially automated process is used to cause the delivery device to puncture the skin surface and penetrate to a desired depth into the tissue at the targeted location, and deliver the substance therein.
US07922686B2
Systems and methods for providing multiple pass continuous flow dialysis therapy are provided. The present invention includes a fluid circuit connected to a patient via a catheter thereby defining a fluid loop along which a therapy fluid including a dialysate can be continuously circulated into, through and out of a peritoneal cavity of a patient to remove a therapeutically effective amount of excess water and solutes including uremic toxins. The feed rate and discharge rate of therapy fluid into the fluid loop can be controllably regulated in proportion to the circulation rate of fluid in the fluid loop such that the therapy fluid can pass a multiple number of times along the fluid loop prior to discharge.
US07922685B2
A self adjusting hydrocephalus valve that continuously drains cerebrospinal fluid at a rate which is proportional to the average pressure difference across the valve. The valve employs a ball-in-cone mechanism having an associated biasing element that is insensitive to high frequency pressure variations for regulating the opening of the valve mechanism. The biasing element includes flexible bellows having a preset tension.
US07922682B2
A method of providing compressive force to a person. In one embodiment, a first level of compression is applied adjacent the axillae of the person, a second level of compression is applied to a side torso region of the person, and a third level of compression is applied to a chest region of the person. The second level of compression is greater than the first level of compression and the third level of compression is greater than the fourth level of compression. The compression may be applied using a compression garment having one or more layers of compression fabric. The garment may be configured using specific compression fabric to provide the desired levels of compression to various regions of the torso of a person.
US07922679B1
An apparatus for drawing blood from a finger includes a flexible band, at least a portion of which is adapted to surround a portion of a finger. A remaining portion of the apparatus is disposed under at least one joint of the finger. The apparatus provides sufficient strength along its longitudinal length to restrict a child or other person from excessively bending the joint when the finger restraint is in position. After a puncture is provided near the tip of the finger, the apparatus is then squeezed to help force an additional quantity of blood to flow out through the puncture. After the blood sample is taken, the apparatus continues to “restrain” the finger until a required bandage is applied. A few of the many possible modifications are also shown.
US07922676B2
The present invention provides a device and kit and method of use thereof for wound treatment of a subject. The device may include an electrically operated patch or other means of delivery of electrical current and a connected moist surface. Optionally, the device may include a composition comprising an active substance useful in wound treatment. Preferably, the means of delivery of electrical current includes a power source and a plurality of electrodes disposed in a suitable conformation on a base substrate layer, which readily facilitates electrical contact with the body area of the subject. Preferably, the kit may include a means of delivery of electrical current and a moist surface provided as separate components.The present invention further provides a thin and flexible device for galvanic treatment to treat wounds with electrical stimulation. Preferably, the device is made using a printing technique.
US07922675B2
An apparatus for maintaining and supplying stable power to a skin care device comprising a DC-DC converting unit (20) for escalating the voltages from a charged battery power source (1), a skin-stimulating unit (50) with a supersonic element or an ion-inducting element, a switch unit (30) having a main switch (SW1) and various functional switches, an LCD displayer (40) for indicating various operating modes, a CPU (2) for controlling each component, a main switch initiating unit having a function when the main switch (SW1) is turned on, the CPS is activated by a switching signal inputted to an analogue input port from said CPU, the first switch unit (31) is activated by the CPU through an analogue output port, then the FET (D4) is switched to supply battery power to the DC-DC converting unit (20), and a function of the PWM control signal, which prolongs the switching-on stage for gradually increasing the voltage up to the operating voltage during the step-up stage, and inversely shortens the switching-off stage for gradually decreasing the operating voltage during the step-down stage. A strength-adjusting switch (SW3) for controlling the strength of output voltage of the DC-DC converting unit (20), and a mode switch (SW2) for operating various modes of supersonic vibrations controlled by each vibrating frequency. An LED displayer being equipped with a minimum number of connecting pins for indicating various operating modes. Each LED is independently activated to turn on and off according to each signal of the input-output terminal from a controlling unit of the CPU.
US07922673B2
A guide wire includes a first wire disposed on the distal side of the guide wire and a second wire disposed on the proximal side from the first wire. The first wire and the second wire are joined to each other by welding. A welded portion formed by welding has a projection projecting in the outer peripheral direction. The height of the projection may be in a range of 0.001 to 0.3 mm. The first wire may be made from a superelastic alloy, and the second wire be made from a stainless steel. The first wire and the second wire are welded to each other by a butt resistance welding process. Such a guide wire has a high joining strength between the first wire and the second wire, to thereby improve the operationality.
US07922671B2
A method and device for automatically assessing loss of hearing sensitivity and compression (recruitment) with user defined frequency resolution by means of extrapolated DPOAE I/O functions and ABRs as well as for automatically fitting hearing aids without any cooperation of the subject tested using a device having a display screen attached to a handheld device generating and collecting otoacoustic emission signals and brain stem response signals into a programmed with a clinical audiogram with fitting parameters for hearing aids calculated on the basis of assessed hearing threshold and compression and identifying the type of hearing required for the individual.
US07922669B2
A system comprising an implantable medical device (IMD) includes an implantable heart sound sensor to produce an electrical signal representative of at least one heart sound. The heart sound is associated with mechanical activity of a patient's heart. Additionally, the IMD includes a heart sound sensor interface circuit coupled to the heart sound sensor to produce a heart sound signal, and a signal analyzer circuit coupled to the heart sound sensor interface circuit. The signal analyzer circuit measures a baseline heart sound signal, and deems that an ischemic event has occurred using, among other things, a measured subsequent change in the heart sound signal from the established baseline heart sound signal.
US07922664B2
The present invention specifies a method and system for assessing the dynamic respiratory arterial pressure wave using plethysmographic sensing techniques. The dynamic respiratory arterial pressure wave is measured and plotted for purposes of diagnosis and or remedial biofeedback.
US07922663B2
An apparatus comprising an implantable acoustic transducer, an acoustic transducer interface circuit communicatively coupled to the acoustic transducer, and a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the acoustic transducer interface circuit. The controller is configured to, in response to receiving an indication of a patient condition associated with a development of a blood vessel obstruction, initiate delivery of acoustic energy that mitigates the blood vessel obstruction. Other systems and methods are described.
US07922659B2
A method of identification of a living body is provided. The method comprises steps of detecting an electromagnetic wave in a frequency band ranging from 300 GHz to 30 THz transmitted from the living body, extracting plural kinds of information from the detected electromagnetic wave, and deriving therefrom information on the living body and information inherent to the living body, and comparing the information on the living body and the information inherent to the living body with preliminarily memorized information. This method identifies an individual living body with improved real-time detectableness and higher security to prevent illegal pretension.
US07922657B2
A first surgical retractor (302) according to the invention includes a handle (308) that defines an axis (320) and has first and second ends. A retractor blade (306) is secured to the second end of the handle. The blade is of a size and shape to engage the mitral valve of a heart so as to be able to retract the mitral valve and adjacent tissues. A second retractor (304) according to the invention has a relatively narrow, elongate blade (352) that can extend deep into the heart to engage the heart in the region of the atrial appendage so as to be able to retract the atrium and expose the pulmonary veins. The retractors are especially adapted to perform an atrial fibrillation surgical procedure.
US07922651B2
An ultrasonic treatment apparatus includes a sheath which has an opening at a distal-end thereof; an ultrasonic transducer which is connected to the sheath, the ultrasonic transducer being able to generate ultrasonic vibration which is of treatment energy; an ultrasonic power supply unit which supplies electric power for driving the ultrasonic transducer; a treatment unit which is connected to the ultrasonic transducer, the treatment unit transmitting the ultrasonic vibration to a living tissue; and a high-frequency power supply unit which supplies high-frequency current which is of the treatment energy to the treatment unit.
US07922646B2
An implantable source (40) of therapeutic radiation for brachytherapy is provided as a sealed, biocompatible capsule (410) of plastic (e.g. polyethylene or PEEK) transparent to the radiation. The capsule contains a radiation source (400) comprising particles of a radioactive isotope (e.g. Pd103, I125, Cs131) in a fluid carrier that is resistant to radiation polymerization but solidifies at elevated temperature. It also has a marker (420), and desirably has a socket (430) which accommodates attaching spacers (660) and makes possible linear strands and planar arrays of the capsules. The spacers may be functional, e.g. heat-generating or medication-releasing.
US07922640B2
A machine for making bags from sheet material of indeterminate length, especially thermoplastic material, has a pair of spaced folders of special construction for folding the material lengthwise. The entry end of the machine can be adjusted as to height. An applicator for adhesive tape can be positioned between the folders. A special construction thermowelds the folded layers together along transverse lines and severs or perforates them along those lines.
US07922638B2
Composite filters are assembled initially by an upstream unit as groups of at least two plugs having different filtration properties. A single flow of the groups is directed from the assembling unit onto a pair of drums and divided into two flows, whereupon these are taken up by two pitch-adapting drums rotating substantially tangential one to another about parallel axes, and released to a rotating member turning on an axis normal to the axes of the drums and equipped with a plurality of carriers by which pairs of the groups are transferred from the drums to the twin channels of a garniture tongue along which two continuous rods of composite filters are formed. The carriers are equipped with an arm presenting a portion angled relative to the axis of the rotating member, so that two groups can be picked up at a time from the drums and deposited simultaneously in the channels.
US07922626B2
An exercise apparatus including: a pair of platforms, each of the pair of platforms having: a base including a lower surface and a pair of opposed flanges extending upwardly from the lower surface; roller units received side-by-side in the base and being independently rotatable, each of the roller units extending between the pair of opposed flanges of the base and including at least two roller bodies spaced from one another by a groove, each of the at least two roller bodies including an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface being in continuous contact with the lower surface of the base; a retainer coupled to the base for maintaining the rollers units on the base; and a connector for coupling the pair of platforms to one another to provide a surface for sliding.
US07922625B2
An exercise device includes a first foot link and a second foot link. The first foot link has a first portion and a second portion linearly guided along a first axis. The first portion of the first foot link is pivotable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The second portion is pivotable of the first foot link is pivotable about an oscillating third axis perpendicular to the first axis. The second foot link has a first portion and a second portion linearly guided along a fourth axis parallel to the first axis. The second portion of the second foot link is pivotable about a fifth axis perpendicular to the fourth axis. The first portion of the second foot link is pivotable about an oscillating sixth axis perpendicular to the fourth axis.
US07922621B1
In order to measure a physical exercise condition data at a time of pre-testing and a muscle force training to accumulate and indicate them together with various set data, a muscle force training machine having a training apparatus main body and a training load applying apparatus is provided with a rotation detecting sensor which detects a rotating direction and an amount of rotation of a main shaft within the training load applying apparatus, and a data processing apparatus which stores the rotating direction and the amount of rotation from the rotation detecting sensor together with set data at least including a load amount, various body condition information of a training person and other data necessary for measuring in a data base, and processes them to make indicative data in forms of display data, print data and the like.
US07922616B2
An apparatus for controlling a hybrid drive system for a motor vehicle, an industrial truck in particular, with an internal combustion engine BKM, an accumulator for electric energy, an apparatus for acquiring the charge condition SOC of the accumulator, at least one electric engine E1/E2, which is connectable to the electric accumulator, and at least one gearbox arrangement, via which the internal combustion engine BKM, the electric engine E1/E2 and at least one wheel of the vehicle can be coupled to each other, with the following features: a desired value transmitter for the travelling speed v, an actual value transmitter for the travelling speed v, a first controlling device for the travelling speed v, and a speed controller for the desired wheel torque; a torque calculation stage, which establishes the desired torque values for the internal combustion engine BKM as well as the desired values for the electric engine E1/E2 from the desired driving torque M-soll or a signal corresponding to the same, a second controlling device, which drives the internal combustion engine BKM such that the deviations become sufficiently small, and a third controlling device, which drives the electric engine E/1/E2 such that the deviations become sufficiently small.
US07922615B2
A transfer case is provided with a range unit, an interaxle differential, a clutch assembly and a power-operated actuation mechanism. The range unit includes a planetary gearset driven by an input shaft, and a synchronized dog clutch assembly for releasably coupling one of the input shaft or an output component of the planetary gearset to an input member of the interaxle differential. The interaxle differential further includes a first output member driving a first output shaft, a second output member operably driving a second output shaft. The clutch assembly is a multi-plate friction clutch operably disposed between the first and second output shafts. The power-operated actuation mechanism includes a range actuator assembly, a clutch actuator assembly and a motor assembly operable to control coordinated actuation of the range actuator assembly and the clutch actuator assembly.
US07922611B2
A power transmission system including an integrally molded hub and elastic member, where stress is inhibited from concentrating at the gate marks remaining after integral molding. In a pulley driven by a belt, a plastic pulley side relief section 1a provided at a pocket section of the pulley and a plastic hub side relief section provided on an iron outer ring of the hub engaged at the pocket section whereby power is transmitted from the pulley to the shaft. The hub side relief section and outer ring forming parts of the hub, the iron inner hub to be fastened to the shaft, and the plastic cylindrical part are integrally molded so that the gate mark for plastic injection is formed near to or further to the outer circumference of the outer ring.
US07922609B1
An arrow nock having a telescoping impeller and housing with a resilient spring for enhancing the acceleration of launch. In various embodiments, effective together or independently, the housing and impeller are configured and coupled to: create arrow rotation during launch; grip the bowstring during notching and release it during launch; and generate tracking signals.
US07922607B2
The present invention relates to a noncontact printing method for applying indicia, such as insignia or stripes, on at least one subsurface layer of a transparent or translucent cover golf ball, e.g. the core, or one or more intermediate layers. The indicia may be visible in ambient light or are only visible when exposed to specific non-ambient light wavelengths, e.g. ultraviolet wavelengths. Advantageously, this method of noncontact printing on subsurface golf ball layers substantially improves the durability of indicia because such indicia are protected from direct abrasion and club impacts by the cover. Moreover, unlike pad printing, noncontact printing forms indicia that are not susceptible to ink degradation because the indicia are solid markings created by very small discrete dots. In one embodiment, both the cover and the intermediate layer(s) may be transparent or translucent and thusly decorated to achieve previously unattainable image depth effects.
US07922606B2
A method for dynamic collision avoidance of graphical and textual elements on a display is disclosed. The method comprises displaying an aerial image of a portion of the golf course on a viewport of a golf GPS device, wherein the GPS device comprises a GPS component, a memory for storing a plurality of aerial images of a golf course, and a user input. The method further comprises determining the location of the at least one element of texts on the display in positional relation to the plurality of elements on the display, determining if there is a collision of elements on the display, and adjusting the texts element to avoid collision.
US07922601B2
A golf club head according to the present invention comprises a plurality of score lines on a face, and a stair-shaped portion comprising a plurality of steps formed on a side wall of the score line from a face side end of the side wall in a depth direction of the score line.
US07922591B2
A clutch assembly for a UV module shutter, comprises a shutter shaft, a shutter drive arm, a clutch plate, at least one ball, a clutch thrust washer, and a spring assembly. The shutter shaft has a flange, the flange having a plurality of radially positioned flange detents. The shutter drive arm includes a drive pin, a drive arm cavity, and a receiver slot opening into the drive arm cavity, the drive pin disposable in a drive slot of a shutter end cap. The clutch plate may be disposed in the clutch plate cavity, may have a tab disposed in the receiver slot and a plurality of clutch plate detents. Each of the ball(s) may extend from one of the flange detents and may be partially disposable in one of the clutch plate detents. The spring assembly may exert a bias against the clutch plate and the thrust washer. The shutter shaft may extend through the shutter drive arm, the clutch plate, and the clutch thrust washer.
US07922587B2
At least two betting terminals for playing a game, comprising a network of terminals linked to different game tables, wherein each of the terminals comprises a mechanism to switch on a plurality of games so as to allow a player at one terminal to switch to different tables and place bets at different games at a time.
US07922583B2
An apparatus and method for generating and controlling electronic signals in a gaming machine is disclosed. The provided apparatus and method include a gaming machine having a CPU or master gaming controller and a digital sound system. The digital sound system comprises one or more speakers, at least one memory unit storing data, a digital signal processor adapted to control and generate audio output, and a programmable logic device interposed between the master gaming controller and the digital signal processor, such that the digital signal processor is unable to communicate to the master gaming controller. The programmable logic device includes at least an address decoder and an event sequencer, with the event sequencer being able to convert instructions from the master gaming controller to instructions that can be executed by the digital signal processor.
US07922579B2
A method and apparatus for a wagering game is described that allows a player to collect indicia from a series of individual primary games to form a winning game outcome in a single secondary game. In one embodiment, the secondary game is won through the collection of a specified number and/or type of indicia. The primary game may have its own pay table with, for example, traditional winning game outcomes for card type games. The number of primary games available to contribute toward a winning secondary game outcome may be limited to a predetermined number of primary game outcomes or a period of time during which game outcomes may be obtained. Alternatively, or in addition, collected indicia obtained from a series of primary game outcomes may expire after a predetermined duration.
US07922550B2
A slider includes a foam board, a top layer and a bottom layer. The foam board is a polystyrene foam board that is easily formed and molded. Furthermore, a bottom of the foam board has a rail portion protruded with a plurality of foam rails therefrom and the foam rails are parallel with each other. In addition, the top layer and the bottom layer are made of polyethylene materials and comprise interface coatings respectively, so that the top layer and the bottom layer made of polyethylene could heat bonded to the polystyrene foam board without adhesives by the first and second interface coatings.
US07922549B1
An oar or paddle for moving forward and backward any kind of vessel through the water comprising two parallel lattices fixed at a given distance from each other and a frame moving between lattices. The frame has a multitude of parallel grooves of circular cross-section which pivotally support a multitude of plates. The plates are located axially of the grooves by the portion of the plates disposed within the groove. The grooves have a peripheral extent which permits the plates to rotate. The frame is connected with vessel's mode of movement backward or forward controller. Lattices are connected with vessel's engine.
US07922540B2
A power plug having backup fuse tube, its major objective is that, when a fuse tube is damaged, a replaceable backup fuse tube can be obtained readily and promptly. The power plug has a backup fuse tube with pins and a casing, lead-out wires. A cavity is provided in the casing. The cavity is covered with a matching backup fuse tube holder. On a backside of the backup fuse tube holder a retainer is provided, and a backup fuse tube is placed in the retainer.
US07922537B2
An electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) defining a number of passageways (10) and shielding holes (14) arranged among the passageways, a conductive covering (5, 6) provided on a top surface of the insulative housing, a dielectric covering (7, 8) provided on a top surface of the conductive covering, a number of electrical contacts (2) receiving in the passageways and comprising a number of signal contacts (22) and grounding contacts (21), and a plurality of conductive elements (3) received in the shielding holes (14) and electrically connected to the grounding contacts (21) through the conductive covering (5, 6), the conductive elements (3) being insulated from the signal contacts (22).
US07922536B2
A cable connector assembly (100) includes an insulative housing (22) having a plurality of contacts received therein, a cable assembly (3) connected with the contacts by a printed circuit board (5), an upper shielding member (11) and a lower shielding member (12) together with the upper shielding member to form a receiving space (10). Each of the upper shielding member and the lower shielding member have a base portion (111, 121) and a plurality of vertical walls (113, 114, 115, 123, 124, 125) extending from the base portion. The lower shielding member (12) defines a stopping portion (126) to prevent the upper shielding member (11) from moving along a transverse direction. The stopping portion (126) is of U-shaped and comprises a first restricting flake (1261) and a second restricting flake (1262), and a corresponding vertical wall (113) of the upper shielding member is located between the first restricting flake (1261) and the second restricting flake (1262).
US07922535B1
An electrical connector includes an inner shielding shell, an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals and an outer shielding shell. The inner shielding shell defines an accommodating chamber therein. The insulating housing has a base body engaged with a rear of the accommodating chamber and a tongue portion extended forward from the base portion to stretch into a front of the accommodating chamber. A ring-shaped cavity is opened in a periphery of the base body for receiving a waterproof washer therein. An outer periphery of the waterproof washer abuts against insides of the inner shielding shell. The terminals are disposed in the insulating housing. The outer shielding shell surrounds the inner shielding shell. The outer shielding shell has at least one soldering arm soldered to a printed circuit board for achieving a ground function of the inner shielding shell through the outer shielding shell.
US07922526B2
It is an object to provide electrical equipment eliminating the need to change the diameter of wires, and capable of improving assembly workability. Vehicle-mounted camera equipment includes a circuit substrate having a substrate connector, and a camera housing. An inside connector section which is connected to the substrate connector is provided integrally on an inner surface side of the camera housing, and an outside connector section which is connected to an external connector provided at the end of an external harness is provided integrally on an outer surface side of the camera housing. Connector terminals of the inside connector section and connector terminals of the outside connector section are connected by connecting conductors, respectively, which are provided to be buried in the camera housing. The connector terminals, and the connecting conductors are made of a single conductive material.
US07922525B2
The present invention provides a USB electrical connector having: a plurality of electrical connection units each including a terminal block and at least two rows of conductive terminals embedded in the terminal block. The conductive terminals are embedded in the terminal block by an overmolding process, and wherein each conductive terminal has one end adapted to be electrically connected with a USB plug and the other end adapted to be connected with a printed circuit board. A joint mechanism joins and holds the plurality of electrical connection units, and a fixture fixes the other end of each conductive terminal connected with the printed circuit board. An outer shielding housing encloses the electrical connection units, the joint mechanism and the fixture. The USB electrical connector of the present invention enables a plurality of rows of conductive terminals to be set in stable and good relative positions.
US07922517B2
A system and method of preventing an unwanted release of wires from a poke in style connector is disclosed. The system and method are designed to prevent wires that can be removed from connectors by simultaneous twisting and pulling force from being released. The system and method operate by bundling at least two wires together to prevent the wires from rotating proximate to the connector.
US07922515B2
A termination device to facilitate interconnection of a twisted pair communications cable to IDCs includes: a housing having an aperture and a pair of first and second IDCs extending within the aperture; a twisted pair communications cable having a twisted pair of first and second conductors; and a termination device. The termination device comprises: a body having an outer surface; a channel in the outer surface of the body, the channel being sized and configured to receive a twist of the first and second conductors and to maintain the twist in position; and IDC guide structure configured to guide the first IDC into engagement with the first conductor at a first engagement location and the second IDC into engagement with the second conductor at a second engagement location, the first and second engagement locations being positioned within the channel and within the twist of the first and second conductors. A splitting structure is positioned in the channel that separates at least a portion of the first and second conductors as they reside in the channel.
US07922514B2
An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2) defining a plate-like shape with at least one alignment hole (21) extending therethrough in a vertical direction, and a number of electrical contacts (3) secured in the insulative housing (2). A number of spring ribs (211) are integrally formed on the insulative housing (2) and extend into the alignment hole (21). The spring ribs (211) deform in radial direction and circumferential direction of the alignment hole for engaging with an alignment post (41).
US07922512B2
A socket connector comprises an insulating base receiving a plurality of contacts, a movable frame assembled to the insulating base, at least one latch device pivotally assembled to the insulating base, and at least one actuating member corresponding to the latch device and retained on a sidewall of the movable frame. The at least one actuating member includes a driving portion disposed at inner edge of the sidewall of the movable frame and extending downwardly. The movable frame is able to move up and down relative to the insulating base. Each latch device includes a latching member having a pressing portion with a cuneiform outside surface. When the actuating member moves up and down together with the movable frame, the driving portion of the actuating member pushes the cuneiform outside surface of the pressing portion of the latch device to shift between a closed position and an opened position.
US07922505B2
A card connector 1 includes a slide member 21 movable along an inserting/withdrawing direction of a card, an urging member 22 for urging the slide member 21 toward a card insertion opening, and a pin member 26 having a slide end 26a slidable within and relative to a cam groove 25 provided in the slide member 21 and a support shaft end 26b supported to the body 2 side. As the slide end 26a is retained at a lock portion L formed in the cam groove 25, the card is retained at an appropriate position. The card connector 1 includes a switch mechanism M which is operated by the support shaft end 26b when the slide end 26a is pushed by the slide member 21 along the urging direction of the urging member 22 at the time of retention of the slide end 26a at the lock portion L.
US07922501B2
A substrate earthing mechanism includes a plate-like spring extending toward a substrate in a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate, and a contact portion coupled to a tip end of the plate-like spring for coming into contact with the substrate to thereby provide electrical conduction therebetween. The plate spring and the contact portion are laid out so that a contact position at which the contact portion is in contact with the substrate and a layout position of the plate-like spring are substantially the same in position as each other in a direction at right angles to the substrate surface in the state that the plate spring is out of its elastic deformation.
US07922500B2
An electrical connector has a plurality of terminals arranged side-by-side in a horizontal direction. Each of the terminals has a first connection portion adapted to be connected with one of two members electrically connectable to each other via the electrical connector, and a second connection portion adapted to be connected with the other member. In the electrical connector, two or more first terminals consisting of a part of the terminals are arranged such that an inter-terminal pitch in the first connection portions thereof is equal to that in the second connection portions thereof, and two or more second terminals consisting of the remaining terminals other than the first terminals are arranged such that an inter-terminal pitch in the first connection portions thereof is less than that in the second connection portions thereof.
US07922489B2
The invention relates to a process for determining the form a duplicate of a residual tooth area, which is to be fitted with a dental restoration whereby the duplicate sections to be fitted with the restoration are removed from the duplicate and the form data to be allocated to their forms has to be determined and stored in a computer, by means of which the form of the restoration is calculated taking into consideration the spatial allocation of the duplicate sections. In order to be able to determine the shape of the residual tooth area to be fitted with the restoration, and thereby determine the shape of the restoration itself with high precision, it is proposed that the duplicate sections are or are being individually referenced to each other in their spatial allocation to each other according to a referencing stored in the computer.
US07922487B2
A degradation resistant gingival retraction cord including silk is formed from two or more strands that are braided, twisted or woven. The degradation resistant retraction cord comprises at least about 50% silk, 80% silk, 90% silk, 95% silk, or essentially all silk. They are able to maintain at least about 70%, 80% or 90% of this tensile strength for a time period of at least about 7 days, 30 days, 60 days, or 90 days. The silk retraction cords have the look, feel and desirable utility of a thin, flexible, and resilient natural fiber cord, while also resisting degradation when pre-impregnated with a corrosive agent. Such cords combine the degradation resistance of a man-made fiber, while also having greater liquid absorbance, lightness, flexibility and resilience like a natural fiber cord.
US07922472B2
A mold for use in an injection molding process includes a molding plate, a molding block and a plurality of mold cores. The molding plate defines a receiving cavity, a plurality of through holes and a plurality of elongate gates. The through holes surround the receiving cavity, and each of the elongate gates communicates with the receiving cavity and the corresponding through hole. The molding block is detectably received in the receiving cavity. The molding block defines a cold slug well and a plurality of runners. Each runner communicates with the cold slug well and the corresponding elongate gate. Each mold core is received in the corresponding through hole.
US07922466B2
The invention relates to a radial fan (1), preferably a high-speed radial fan, comprising a blower wheel (8), a housing (2) which receives a rotor (6) and a stator (5) of an electrical drive (4) of the blower wheel shaft (7), and a cooling system. The aim of the invention is to develop one such radial fan in terms of the cooling system required. To this end, paths (30, 37) for a first cooling medium (K1) and a second cooling medium (K2) are provided in the housing (2), the second cooling medium (K2) being cooled by the first cooling medium (K1) as provided for by the housing (2), and the paths (30, 37) are separated from each other by intact material walls (40) of the housing (2).
US07922465B2
A cooling fan includes a fan housing (10) having a central tube (11) extending upwardly therefrom, a bearing (20) received in the central tube, a stator (40) mounted around the central tube, a rotor (30) having a shaft (37) extending into the bearing, and a magnetic ring (38) being fixedly mounted to the rotor to rotate with the rotor during operation of the cooling fan. The bearing is made of iron-copper alloy. The magnetic ring is made of hard magnetic material and exerts a magnetic attraction on the bearing, whereby the rotor is pulled downwardly by a magnetic attraction of the bearing on the magnetic ring to lessen the floating problem of the rotor during operation of the cooling fan.
US07922462B2
The invention provides a pump assembly comprising an actuator lever, a supporting structure, a pump comprising a pump member moveable by actuation of the actuator lever, and an actuator for moving the actuator lever. A first stationary pivoting joint is formed between the actuator lever and the supporting structure, and a second floating pivoting joint is formed between the actuator lever and the pump member allowing the pump member to float relative to the actuator lever, the floating pivoting point providing a constant-length actuator arm defined between the first pivoting joint and the second pivoting joint.
US07922461B2
An inflatable product includes an inflatable body, a socket built in the inflatable body, and an electric pump. The electric pump includes a pump body and an air outlet, connected to the socket to pump the inflatable body, wherein the pump body is wholly or partially located in the socket. A connector may be provided at a predetermined position of the electric pump for connecting an external power to actuate the electric pump.
US07922460B2
A refrigerating compressor includes a compressing element and a hermetic container accommodating the compressing element, which includes a compressing chamber where refrigerant gas is compressed, and a suction muffler (118) having a sound deadening space (119) and communicating with the compressing chamber. The suction muffler (118) includes a tail tube (121) having a first end open into the hermetic container and a second end open into the sound deadening space (119), and a resonating chamber (122) formed attached to the tail tube (121) and having a resonance frequency substantially agreeing with a specific resonance frequency of the hermetic container. This structure allows the resonating chamber (122) to deaden the noises coming from vibration sounds of a suction valve or ripple sounds of refrigerant gas.
US07922457B2
A compressor system operable to shutdown in response to a shutdown signal. The compressor system includes a compression device operable between a first speed and a second speed to produce a flow of compressed fluid at a pressure. A blowdown valve is movable between a closed position and an open position in which at least a portion of the flow of compressed fluid passes through the blowdown valve to reduce the pressure of the flow of compressed fluid. A sensor is positioned to measure the pressure and a controller is operable to move the blowdown valve to the open position and set the speed of the compression device to a low set point speed in response to the shutdown signal.
US07922447B2
A highly stable and durable fan bearing structure practical for small electronic device application is disclosed to include a bearing block, which has a stepped hub defining a vertically extending axle hole and an inside annular flange inside the axle hole at a distance away from the top opening of the axle hole, a fan blade assembly, which has permanent magnets mounted in a hollow base block thereof and an axle suspending in the hollow base block and inserted into the axle hole and coupled to the inside annular flange of the stepped hub and kept in coincidence with the central axis of the axle hole, and a stator module accommodated in the hollow base block of the fan blade assembly for acting against the permanent magnets to cause rotation of the fan blade assembly upon connection of an electric current.
US07922444B2
A shroud rail for retaining a feather seal in a vane shroud of a gas turbine engine comprises a slot for, receiving the feather seal, and a chamfer rail pocket for lightening the shroud rail. The slot traverses the vane shroud and includes a slot base extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the shroud rail, and a slot wall extending generally perpendicularly from the slot base. The chamfer rail pocket comprises a pocket wall extending along the slot wall, and a chamfer wall extending from the pocket wall at an angle oblique to the slot base.
US07922442B2
A fan array fan section in an air-handling system includes a plurality of fan units arranged in a fan array and positioned within an air-handling compartment. One preferred embodiment may include an array controller programmed to operate the plurality of fan units at peak efficiency. The plurality of fan units may be arranged in a true array configuration, a spaced pattern array configuration, a checker board array configuration, rows slightly offset array configuration, columns slightly offset array configuration, or a staggered array configuration.
US07922432B2
A quick-positioning screw assembly includes a cap having an inside annular flange and a locating groove or locating rib extending around the inside wall, a mounting socket bonded to a mounting through hole of a first plate member and having a top positioning flange extending around the periphery and detachably forced into engagement with the locating groove or locating rib of the cap, a screw press-fitted into the inner diameter of the inside annular flange of the cap for threading into a screw hole on a second plate member to secure the first plate member to the second plate member, and a compression spring mounted in the cap around the screw and stopped between the inside annular flange of the cap and an inside annular flange of the mounting socket.
US07922430B2
The current invention is directed to an improved storage unit for dunnage wherein the dunnage comprises load supporting plates and load locking bars, the load supporting plates being stored in a horizontal orientation.
US07922429B2
The drill bit comprises a cutting blade formed at one end of a shank. The cutting blade has a pair of cutting shoulders that extend inwardly from the outer sides of the blade toward the bit axis. A tip having converging sides that create a point extends from the shoulders. The cutting edge of each shoulder is beveled with respect to the plane of the face of the blade. A flute is provided on the leading portion of each blade face adjacent the cutting edges. Each flute is a smooth curve that creates a substantially uninterrupted recess on each face of the blade that facilitates chip removal, increases the drill rate and lowers the power required to drill a hole. A non-stick coating may be applied to the blade to further facilitate chip removal.
US07922424B2
A diamond wire saw and method provides a frame that includes a clamp that attaches to a target (e.g. piling, beam, tubular), an elongated toothed rack extending away from the mount and target, and a moving portion that carries the diamond wire and motor drives that advance the moving portion toward the target and along the toothed rack while driving the wire around roller guides.
US07922414B2
The present invention relates to a link for joining mooring lines having an eye at their joining end, characterized in that the link comprises two side plates joined by two hollow, cylindrical or non-cylindrical shafts, which shafts have a diameter which allows the bending of a polymer line around it without causing breakage to the strands of the polymer line.
US07922410B2
An applicator may include a stem, a closure element configured to close a receptacle, and a bundle of bristles including a cross-section of elongate shape along a major axis thereof. The closure element may be at a first end of the stem. The bundle of bristles may be at a second end of the stem, remote from the first end of the stem. The bundle of bristles may include, as observed perpendicularly to the major axis, a beveled end. An angle at a tip of the bevel may lie in a range of about 10° to about 35°.
