US07975308B1

Embodiments in accordance with the invention install a primary security browser extension first in the browser event notification order list and a secondary security browser extension last in the event notification order list. On receipt of a user data event including user confidential data at the primary security browser extension, the user confidential data is obfuscated by the primary security browser extension and the user data event including the obfuscated data is released to a next browser extension in the browser event notification order list. Upon receipt of the user data event at the secondary security browser extension, the obfuscated data is restored with the original user confidential data and the user data event is released for further processing.
US07975306B2

A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to analyze program instructions for security vulnerabilities. The executable instructions perform a security audit of program instructions. Based upon the security audit, sensors are inserted into the program instructions. The program instructions are executable and the sensors generate a stream of security events. The stream of security events is monitored and security performance results are reported.
US07975302B2

A system for detecting real-time system file intrusions in a user computer that is coupled to an administrator computer and includes an operating system and system files. At a boot time of the user computer, an application program interface (API) of the operating system receives a list of vital system files that consists of at least two directory files. At the boot time, one of more daemons are launched, after which the API detects one or more system calls made to one or more vital system files. The API raises an automatic interrupt ‘I’ command that awakens a daemon from a sleep mode. The awakened daemon catches the interrupt ‘I’ command and sends an alert message to the administrator computer to alert the administrator computer of the detecting of the system call made to the one or more vital system files.
US07975301B2

A SPAM detection system is provided. The system includes a graph clustering component to analyze web data. A link analysis component can be associated with the graph clustering component to facilitate SPAM detection in accordance with the web data.
US07975292B2

A method of controlling access to an interaction context of an application, including receiving login requests pertaining to an access account, each login request including a login password to be matched against an access password associated with the access account. A database includes at least one account record including a password state field indicating whether the access password is a temporary password or a permanent password and a security hold field indicating whether a security hold has been placed on the access account by an administrator. Access is denied upon receipt of a login request when the login password fails to match the access password. Access is denied upon receipt of a login request when the login password matches the access password, the password state field indicates that the access password is a permanent password, and the security hold field indicates that there is a security hold on the access account. Access is granted upon receipt of a login request when the login password matches the access password, the password state field indicates that the access password is a permanent password, and the security hold field indicates that there is no security hold on the access account. The method includes granting access which is limited to permitting changing of the access password and prompting a change of the access password upon receipt of a login request when the login password matches the access password and the access password is a temporary password.
US07975291B2

In the global information sharing and distributing service system, the public use of idle resources can be propelled and sufficient security can be guaranteed on the resources for private use. A node machine configuring an information network includes resources located in a private zone available to private use, resources located in a public zone for public service use, and a private resource security management unit for management of the security of the resources located in the private zone.
US07975286B1

A method and apparatus for evaluating one or more assets for compliance to at least one network security policy are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request for evaluating at least one asset for compliance to at least one security policy. The method then performs an evaluation of compliance on the at least one asset to determine compliance of the at least one asset to the at least one security policy. The method then records a result of the evaluation of compliance into a database. Finally, the method tracks the at least one asset that has been deemed to be non-compliant to the at least one security policy over a period of time.
US07975283B2

Methods, devices, and computer program products are disclosed for conserving bandwith. If a presence of at least one individual is detected, then a stream of data is delivered to the multimedia device. If the presence of at least one individual is not detected, then the stream of data is degraded to conserve bandwidth.
US07975281B2

A digital broadcast receiver and a control method thereof are disclosed. The control method of the digital broadcast receiver includes receiving a broadcast signal into which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, extracting transmission parameter channel (TPC) signaling information and fast information channel (FIC) signaling information from a data group in the received mobile service data, acquiring a program table describing virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble, which is a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, using the extracted FIC signaling information, selectively detecting a first message descriptor mapped with time information or a second message descriptor not mapped with time information, using the acquired program table, performing a control operation to display a message defined in the detected message descriptor.
US07975273B2

Provided are a fuzzing system and method of a distributed computing environment (DCE) remote procedure call (RPC) object. The fuzzing system includes a file manager, a random data generator, a RPC packet, and a packet injector. The file manager obtains necessary information by parsing and analyzing an idl file for a target object for fuzzing and a file having information about a Named Pipe file. The random data generator generates a random value using a system clock as a factor. The RPC packet creator embodies protocols used for RPC communication by functions and generating a RPC packet for RPC communication. The packet injector inserts the necessary information and the random value into the generated RPC packet and transmits the generated RPC packet to the target object for fuzzing.
US07975265B2

A system and method are disclosed for providing installation support to a user of a computer system. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include launching an installation tool in connection with installation of a peripheral driver. The tool may have capabilities that include, for example, capturing an install status at a plurality of predefined points in an install routine. During installation, an error may be detected at one of the predefined points and a diagnostic routine may be launched in response. The method may also include considering an accounting of the captured install states and using this information to help generate an action script crafted to resolve the detected install error.
US07975261B2

Aiming at enabling an analysis of relationship between a task transition and performance information such as mis-caching in a multiprocessor system and clearly identifying a relationship between a degree of parallelism and the task transition of the system processing, trace information and performance information corresponding to the trace information are obtained from memory, and the task transition state and performance information based on the trace information are displayed by superimposing on the transition chart. A degree of parallelism corresponding to an operation state of a plurality of processors is calculated on the basis of the trace information, and the degree of parallelism is displayed by being temporally synchronized with the task transition chart.
US07975260B1

A method includes generating a list of shared and private memory regions of a debuggee. A thread is injected into the debuggee for generating the list and communicating with the debugger. Associated shared memory region handles are added to the list. The handles are used to map the shared memory regions of the debuggee to a debugger. New shared memory regions corresponding to the private memory regions of the debuggee are created and mapped to the debugger. Handles for the new shared memory regions are provided to map the new shared memory regions to the debuggee. The debuggee private memory regions are freed. The new shared memory regions are mapped to respective virtual addresses of the debuggee corresponding to the respective freed private memory regions. In this manner, content of debuggee memory regions is directly accessible by the debugger, and computer processing resources are conserved.
US07975259B2

Objects associated with a business document and one or more functions associated with the production of the objects may be determined. An object associated with an unexpected result in the business document may be selected. A function associated with the object may be selected, the function being associated with one or more custom settings. One or more steps, based on the custom settings, used in producing the selected object and associated with the selected function may be determined and provided in a result view.
US07975257B2

Static and dynamic code analyses are seamlessly, iteratively performed. A software analysis tool integrates the results of dynamic and static analysis and iteratively utilizes results from a previous analysis, or analyses, to augment a current analysis. During a debugging process, information collected at runtime is integrated with static code analysis results. This information is generated and stored as part of the results of the testing and debugging processes. The stored information is subsequently utilized to provide improved analysis results. The software analysis tool eliminates the need for software developers to separately perform static analysis and dynamic analysis.
US07975255B2

A relay component is deployed to a Web application. The relay component converts Web software components to a format expected by an integration broker. Developers may then implement an integration strategy entirely in the integration broker and then connect the presentation layer of the Web pages to the integration broker logic via the Web software components. When the data format of the disparate applications changes or is otherwise updated, developers may simply rebind the business object definitions from the integration brokers to Web software components, rather than recoding the entire Web application.
US07975250B2

A dual mesh interconnect network in a heterogeneous configurable circuit may be allocated between data communication and control communication.
US07975249B2

An operation timing verifying apparatus and program for accurately verifying operation timings of a semiconductor integrated circuit in design with suppressing design time and cost. The operation timing verifying apparatus and program sets an unreal corner condition that all delay elements present a maximum delay as an operating condition, performs operation timing analysis in the operating condition, thereby extracting an operation-violating circuit path, if any, from a circuit layout, sets a real corner condition that at least one element type of delay elements from among the delay elements present a maximum delay as the operating condition and performs the operation timing analysis on only the operation-violating circuit path to determine again whether an operation violation exists therein.
US07975244B2

A method is provided for designing a mask that includes the use of a pixel-based simulation of a lithographic process model, in which test structures are designed for determining numerical and discretization errors associated with the pixel grid as opposed to other model inaccuracies. The test structure has a plurality of rows of the same sequence of features, but each row is offset from other rows along an x-direction by a multiple of a minimum step size, such as used in modifying masks during optical proximity correction. The images for each row are simulated with a lithographic model that uses the selected pixel-grid size and the differences between row images are compared. If the differences between rows exceed or violate a predetermined criterion, the pixel grid size may be modified to minimize discretization and/or numerical errors due to the choice of pixel grid size.
US07975243B2

Systems and method which allow for control of televisions and other media device are disclosed. A television set is provided with a gesture capture device configured to receive a gesture input directed to at least one of a plurality of predefined areas related to the television set. The television set further includes a user interaction interface configured to generate data indicative of the gesture input directed toward the at least one of the predefined areas and control the television based at least in part on the generated data.
US07975239B2

A system and method for providing metadata interaction and visualization with task-related objects is described. A plurality of task-oriented items is defined. Each task-oriented item includes a storage component specifying metadata relating to at least one of planning, executing or completing a task. A visualization is provided to tie in the task-oriented items and associate modeling logic operating on at least one such task-oriented item. The visualization is displayed by highlighting at least one of interdependencies and conflicts between the metadata of the task-oriented items.
US07975234B2

A user interface is described which displays a shape and enables a user to manipulate that shape by dividing it into a number of regions. Each region has an associated term which is made up from one or more constraints. A mathematical function, such as an objective function, is generated from the resultant graphical representation of the shape, where the function contains a term for each region and where each term is weighted according to the size of the corresponding region.
US07975230B2

The present invention provides an information-processing apparatus including reproduction means for synchronously reproducing content data common to an other information-processing apparatus, user information input means for inputting first user condition information including a voice and image of a user, user information receiver means for receiving second user condition information including a voice and image of an other user from the other information-processing apparatus, synthesis means for synthesizing a voice and image of the content data synchronously reproduced by the reproduction means with the voice and image of the second user condition information received by the user-information receiver means; information analysis means for analyzing at least either the first user condition information input by the user-information input means or the second user condition information received by the user-information receiver means, and parameter-setting means for setting a control parameter used for controlling a process, which is carried out by the synthesis means to synthesize voices and images, on the basis of an analysis result produced by the information analysis means.
US07975226B2

Various embodiments of the present invention pertain to determining presentation effects for a sequence of digital content records based at least upon a comparison of environmental conditions in which the digital content records were captured. Examples of such environmental conditions include time-date of capture, geographic location of capture, direction of capture, altitude of capture, etc. By determining presentation effects based upon environmental conditions, such presentation effects can be quickly and intelligently determined, with reduced user interaction as compared to conventional schemes.
US07975222B1

A method for dynamic linking between graphic documents and comment databases is described and includes entering a base graphic representation of a project in a computer system. The base graphic representation may be the conversion of a user supplied format graphic to a web support format graphic. A coordinate overlay grid of a coordinate overlay program may be linked to the base graphic representation for overlay positioning and display on the base graphic representation. The coordinate overlay program may have a notation subprogram linked to the coordinate overlay grid for a user to designate notation with an identifier relative to a distinct location of the base graphic representation on the coordinate overlay grid. A text or graphic comment data record may be entered in a comment data record referenced to an identifier and displayed using a computer cursor device and display to activate an identifier.
US07975219B2

A method, graphical interface and computer-readable medium for reformatting data including selecting at least one input file graphical element from a first pane corresponding to at least one input file to reformat. A reformatting batch job is created and is depicted in a second pane as a reformatting batch job graphical element when the at least one input file graphical element is selected in the first pane. At least one reformatting process is associated to the at least one input file in the reformatting batch job from a third pane. The reformatting batch job is executed with the at least one reformatting process being performed on the at least one input file.
US07975217B2

The present invention relates to embedding metadata with user interface messages. One method embodiment includes: encoding the metadata into a sequence of non-displayable characters; combining the displayable data and the sequence of non-displayable characters; and sending the combined displayable data and sequence of non-displayable characters to a client for display. In examples, the displayable characters may be displayable Unicode characters, and the non-displayable characters may be non-displayable Unicode characters, such as the left-to-right mark (0x200E) and the right-to-left mark (0x200F).
US07975209B2

Data in non-volatile storage is decoded using iterative probabilistic decoding. An error correcting code such as a low density parity check code may be used. In one approach, initial reliability metrics, such as logarithmic likelihood ratios, are used in decoding sensed states of a set of non-volatile storage elements. The decoding attempts to converge by adjusting the reliability metrics for bits in code words which represent the sensed state. Simulated annealing using an adjustable temperature parameter based on a level of error in the data can be performed to. The simulated annealing can introduce randomness, as noise for example, into the decoding process. Moreover, knowledge of the device characteristics can be used to guide the simulated annealing process rather than introducing absolute randomness. The introduction of a degree of randomness adds flexibility that permits possible faster convergence times and convergence in situations where data may otherwise be uncorrectable.
US07975208B2

An optical storage medium recording apparatus is provided a data preparing and ECC encoding circuit that both prepares the data by combining different categories of data into data sequences in accordance with a data layout on the optical storage medium and encodes the combined data. The encoded data is temporarily stored in a data buffer, and subsequently successively read out by a recording circuit for recording onto the optical storage medium according to the data layout. For a Blu-ray disc recording apparatus, the data preparing and ECC encoding circuit includes a LDC/BIS encoder for generating long distance error correction codes (LDC) and burst indicator subcodes (BIS) from the combined data to form LDC and BIS encoded data, which is temporarily stored in the data buffer. The recording circuit includes an interleave circuit for interleaving the LDC and BIS data to form physical clusters for recording on the disc.
US07975183B2

A system includes a platform domain implementing address-indexed operations and an application domain implementing application context-oriented operations. The platform domain includes a platform interconnect to process address-indexed platform transactions and a trace monitor to generate a debug trace stream from platform transactions based on their platform context information. The application domain includes a processing component and a queue manager to queue descriptors for data frames to be processed by the application domain, each descriptor having application context information including application-specific debug information for the corresponding data frame. The processing component processes a selected data frame by accessing, from the queue manager, a descriptor associated with the selected data frame, translating an application-specific debug information of the descriptor to a corresponding platform attribute value, and providing a platform transaction to the platform interconnect for processing in the platform domain, the platform transaction having the platform attribute value in an attribute field.
US07975176B2

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture to dynamically address and resolve an improper shut-down of an application. Internal state data of the application is stored in persistent memory. New internal state data is dynamically created and authenticated following an improper shut-down of the application. Responsive to the authentication, the application is re-started with the authenticated new internal state data, without being subject to an immediate improper shut-down.
US07975175B2

Embodiments of a system that adjusts a checkpointing frequency in a distributed computing system that executes multiple jobs are described. During operation, the system receives signals associated with the operation of the computing nodes. Then, the system determines risk metrics for the computing nodes using a pattern-recognition technique to identify anomalous signals in the received signals. Next, the system adjusts a checkpointing frequency of a given checkpoint for a given computing node based on a comparison of a risk metric associated with the given computing node and a threshold, thereby implementing holistic fault tolerance, in which prediction and prevention of potential faults occurs across the distributed computing system.
US07975172B2

A pipelined execution unit uses the bubbles that occur during execution to selectively repeat operations performed in one or more stages of a multistage execution pipeline to verify the results of such operations during otherwise unused execution cycles for the execution pipeline. Whenever a bubble follows a particular instruction within an execution pipeline, the result of an operation that is performed for that instruction by a particular stage of the execution pipeline may be stored, and the operation may be repeated by the stage in a subsequent execution cycle in which no productive operation would otherwise be performed due to the presence of the bubble. The results of the operations may then be compared and used to either verify the original result or identify a potential error in the execution of the instruction.
US07975171B2

The present invention provides a method and system for performing file recovery in a computer system coupled to a storage subsystem, wherein a data scrubbing process analyzes said storage subsystem for potential or existing storage errors. The method includes: receiving a report from said data scrubbing process describing said errors, including logical block addresses (LBAs) of storage locations containing errors; interacting with a file system created on logical unit numbers (LUN) provided by said storage subsystem in order to identify file information pertaining to the erroneous LBAs; moving the file pertaining to said erroneous LBAs to a different storage location; updating pointers to said file; in case of an unrecoverable, accessing a backup copy of said file from a backup location; if a predetermined degree of error severity is exceeded, creating an additional copy of said file; and updating the pointers to said file managed by the file system, respectively.
US07975170B2

A refresh scheduler is configured to refresh memory cells of a memory device according to a plurality of refresh intervals. The various refresh intervals are determined in response to refresh errors.
US07975169B2

A method, system, and computer program product for preserving data in a storage subsystem having dual cache and dual nonvolatile storage (NVS) through a failover from a failed cluster to a surviving cluster is provided. A memory preserved indicator is initiated to mark tracks on a cache of the surviving cluster to be preserved, the tracks having an image in an NVS of the failed cluster. A destage operation is performed to destage the marked tracks. Subsequent to a determination that each of the marked tracks have been destaged, the memory preserved indicator is disabled to remove the mark from the tracks. If the surviving cluster reboots previous to each of the marked tracks having been destaged, the cache is verified as a memory preserved cache, the marked tracks are retained for processing while all unmarked tracks are removed, and the marked tracks are processed.
US07975164B2

A DDR memory controller is described wherein a core domain capture clock is created by programmably delaying the core clock of the memory controller. The delay of this capture clock is calibrated during a power on the initialization sequence in concert with a DDR memory in a system environment, thereby minimizing the effects of system delays and increasing both device and system yield. An additional embodiment also includes programmably delaying the incoming dqs signal.
US07975161B2

A processing system includes a bus and a processor whose core is constrained to have one or more core clock signal frequencies no lower than a predetermined multiple of the lowest of one or more bus clock signal frequencies. In a power-save mode, the processor is able to generate one or more core clock signals at frequencies such that the lowest core clock signal frequency is lower than the predetermined multiple of the lowest of the one or more bus clock signal frequencies in performance mode. The processor is able to achieve this by generating the one or more bus clock signals so that the lowest of the bus clock signal frequencies in power-save mode is lower than the lowest of the bus clock signal frequencies in performance mode.
US07975158B2

A noise reduction method by implementing certain point-to-point delay is disclosed. In this regard a method is introduced comprising determining a frequency of a greatest noise on a high-speed data link when turning on a power delivery network, determining a delay time between a first port and a second port that minimizes the greatest noise, and turning on the second port after the delay time from turning on the first port. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US07975156B2

A device comprising a temperature measurement module, a performance state module, a memory bandwidth module, and a fan speed module. The temperature measurement module is configured to determine a rate of temperature change in a server and to output a control signal when the rate of temperature change is above a threshold rate. The performance state module is configured to reduce a performance state of the device to a lowest system level in response to the control signal, and to reduce a processor power consumption and a subsystem power consumption to a minimum power level in response to reducing the performance state to the lowest system level. The memory bandwidth module is configured to reduce a memory bandwidth to a minimum bandwidth level based on the control signal. The fan speed module is configured to reduce a fan speed to a minimum level based on the control signal.
US07975155B2

A method and an apparatus for controlling voltage level and clock signal frequency supplied to a system. The apparatus includes a hardware module, adapted to receive at least one indication of a load of the system and to determine a voltage level and a clock signal frequency to be provided to the system, and a software module, adapted to configure a voltage source and a clock signal source in response to the determination. The method includes: (i) receiving, at a hardware module, indication of a load of a system; (ii) determining, by the hardware module, a voltage level and a clock signal frequency to be provided to the system; and (iii) configuring, by a software module, a voltage source and a clock signal source in response to the determination.
US07975154B2

A controlling circuit for a communication port having a ring indicator (RI) pin is provided. The controlling circuit includes a first selection circuit and a second selection circuit. The first selection circuit is controlled by a basic input/output system (BIOS) for determining whether an RI signal is transmitted to the RI pin. The second selection circuit is controlled by the BIOS for determining whether a first voltage or a second voltage is transmitted to the RI pin.
US07975148B2

In an information recording medium reproducing method, an information recording medium, a reproducing apparatus and an information recording medium managing method, a predetermined server is accessed on the basis of an address recorded in an information recording medium to issue key data from the server, and encrypted data recorded in the information recording medium are decrypted with the key data thus issued.
US07975146B2

A method and an apparatus for recognition of biometric data with high fraud resistance, in particular for recognition of characteristics of fingers and of faces, wherein an object is acquired by optical scanning and numerical parameters are acquired by means of digital image processing.
US07975142B2

A ring authentication method for a concurrency environment, the method capable of providing unforgeability, sender anonymity, and deniability in the concurrency environment, in which, when a receiver receiving a message requests a sender of the message to certify the message, the sender requested to certify the message sends a message certification value certifying that the sender is one of a plurality of users {P1, . . . , Pn} and authenticates the message m to the receiver, and the receiver verifies the sent message certification value and authenticates that the message is sent from the one of the plurality of users {P1, . . . , Pn}.
US07975140B2

Described are a method and system for establishing a secure communication session with third-party access at a later time. A first communication subsession is established between two original devices using a first key generated by a two-party key and security association protocol. At least one of the original devices is established as a group key server. A request from a joining device to join the secure communication session is received and a second communication subsession is established between the original devices using a second key generated by the two-party key and security association protocol. The second key is provided to the joining device to enable participation in the second communication subsession.
US07975139B2

The invention describes a method and system for verifying the link between a public key and a server's identity as claimed in the server's certificate without relying on the trustworthiness of the root certificate of the server's certificate chain. The system establishes a secure socket layer type connection between a client and a server, wherein the server transmits information including the server's public key to the client while establishing the connection. Next, a first information is sent from the client to the server. The client and the server create an identical authentication key using a shared secret known to the server and the client. Next, the server transmits a first encrypted message to the client, wherein the first encrypted message includes the server's public key encrypted with the authentication key. Then, the client decrypts the first encrypted message and verifies the correctness of that message including comparing the public key included in the decrypted first encrypted message to the public key transmitted during the set-up of the secure socket layer type connection to authenticate the client and to establish the trustworthiness of the server's public key and thereby the entire SSL connection. The client then transmits a second encrypted message to the server, wherein the second encrypted message is the first information encrypted with the authentication key. Finally, the server then decrypts the second encrypted message and verifies the correctness of the decrypted second encrypted message to authenticate the client.
US07975136B1

A system and method for determining a designated boot volume of a computer system coupled to a SAN is disclosed. The computer system is configured to boot from a logical volume on the SAN using a corresponding bus interface. One or more logical volumes within the SAN are identified and have code written to them. The code is executable to determine whether or not the computer system is configured to boot from that logical volume and to determine configuration information stored on the identified logical volumes.
US07975130B2

A method and system for early instruction text based operand store compare avoidance in a processor are provided. The system includes a processor pipeline for processing instruction text in an instruction stream, where the instruction text includes operand address information. The system also includes delay logic to monitor the instruction stream. The delay logic performs a method that includes detecting a load instruction following a store instruction in the instruction stream, comparing the operand address information of the store instruction with the load instruction. The method also includes delaying the load instruction in the processor pipeline in response to detecting a common field value between the operand address information of the store instruction and the load instruction.
US07975112B2

A method for controlling a switch apparatus connected to a first and a second storage apparatus, and a host, the switch apparatus managing a virtual storage area maintained by the first and second storage apparatuses, the host accessible to the virtual storage area by transmitting a command for identifying a subarea of the virtual storage area, the second storage apparatus allowable to an access faster than the first storage apparatus does, the method includes: receiving a command; determining which of the first and second storage apparatuses maintains the subarea to be accessed; accessing the subarea corresponding to the command; detecting a frequency of access to each of the subareas; and moving data stored in the first storage apparatus and having higher frequency of access than data stored in the second storage apparatus into the subareas maintained in the second storage apparatus.
US07975110B1

A servo controller for a disk drive controller comprising a storage device that stores communication information for a plurality of devices and a serial port controller located on the servo controller that communicates with the storage device, that receives a request to communicate with one of the plurality of devices, and that allows communication between at least one processor and the one of the plurality of devices according to the stored communication information and the request, wherein each of the plurality of devices uses a different protocol.
US07975090B2

A system for I/O controller-processor interconnect coupling supporting a push-pull DMA read operation, in one aspect, may comprise a processor interconnect comprising a plurality of caches and memory subsystems and an I/O controller coupled with the processor interconnect. The I/O controller may comprise a plurality of DMA read request queues, a DMA read slot pool comprising a plurality of DMA read slots, and an expander logic determining a priority of requests in said request queues.
US07975085B2

A signal processing device controls a plurality of signal processing units that process an input signal inputted via a signal line with wide bandwidth, via a control line with narrow bandwidth or the signal line, and includes: a storing unit configured to store correspondence information that associates instruction information indicating an instruction of control with respect to each of the signal processing units, with control information related to all of the plurality of signal processing units, among pieces of control information necessary for each of the signal processing units to execute content of control; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the control information associated with the instruction information by the correspondence information, to the plurality of signal processing units via the signal line, when control is instructed with respect to the plurality of signal processing units.
US07975081B2

Provided are an image display system and a control method for the image display system capable of displaying an image, which is represented by raster image data to be transferred through burst transmission and which is formed with a plurality of scanning lines, through simple control. An image display system includes a plurality of FIFO memories numbering the same as scanning lines in which pixels to be transferred during one burst transmission are contained do, and an input control unit that selects one of the plurality of FIFO memories according to a line number assigned to a line of pixels corresponding to unit transfer data, and stores second raster image data in the selected FIFO memory.
US07975068B2

The invention is a system and method for reconfigurable computers. The invention involves a plurality of reconfigurable component clusters (RCCs), each of which can change their respective configuration upon receiving a configuration command. The invention uses a reconfiguration network for distributing the configuration command to the RCCs, wherein the reconfiguration network comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each RCC is connected to a cell.
US07975062B2

A media device allows users to watch and capture portions from a media stream. Users may then share the captured media content with other users. In one embodiment, the media device receives a media stream, plays the media stream, and caches a portion of the media stream as it is being played. A user can define a media clip by selecting its boundaries in the cached portion of the media stream. The media device creates the media clip based on the user's input and enables the user to transmit the media clip to another system, such as a community website for sharing it with other users.
US07975052B2

Methods, systems and computer readable mediums storing computer executable programs for managing access to a network at a network access management module are disclosed. A first network request is received from a client at a network access management module. A first determination is made regarding whether the first network request is associated with a restricted network action at the network access management module. A second network request is received from the client at the network access management module. The second network request is intercepted at the network access management module based on the first determination. A network access restriction notification is transmitted from the network access management module to the client based on the first determination.
US07975051B2

A system and method for managing, routing and controlling devices and inter-device connections located within an environment to manage and control the environment using a control client is presented. A user provides commands via the control client to a server that maintains a representation of the environment and the devices within the environment. The server provides commands to devices present within the environment in response to user commands and other events, including events from the environment. The commands cause the devices in the environment to adopt specific desired states thereby causing the environment and the devices within the environment to create desired connections by and between the devices and to otherwise control and effect the environment.
US07975046B2

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for verifying a lawful interception system. A first file and a second file are received. The first file is formed by recording data traffic at a computer as the data traffic generated at the computer is transmitted from the computer to a remote network via a broadband remote access server (BRAS), saving the recorded data traffic as a first packet capture and flat file export (PCAP) file, and exporting packet summary lines from the first PCAP file. The second file is formed by intercepting the data traffic as the data traffic egresses from a mediation system to a law enforcement agency (LEA) system, saving the intercepted data traffic as a second PCAP file, and exporting packet summary lines from the second PCAP file. The first file is compared with the second file to verify an accuracy of the mediation system.
US07975044B1

Provided are methods for partitioning communication data in a network and disambiguating fixed or non-ephemeral communication data from ephemeral communication data and services. In one example, kmeans data clustering is used to partition or cluster server ports based on a location of the server ports in a 2-dimensional space. The location of the server ports may be based on a number of connections per server port and the number of servers using that port.
US07975043B2

In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a method for monitoring a content delivery network includes obtaining data from devices within the network, organizing the data into hierarchically accessible tiers, and displaying at least part of the data at one of the hierarchal tiers, wherein the hierarchical tiers include a) a site tier including a map comprising ones of the devices that are potential content sources in the network, b) a service tier including a map comprising content-based relationships between the devices, and c) an operations tier including a map comprising characteristics of the devices and characteristics of relationships between the devices and content in the network.
US07975042B2

Servlets within a web server maintain state information concerning requests made by users of the server. The servlets associate each user with an HTTP session object. The session object is configured to include information that identifies the last-N web pages requested by the user. Periodically, or in response to a triggering event, the server analyzes the contents of the session objects, for example by tabulating the frequency with which each web page has been requested in the recent past. From the results of the analysis, web-page caching priorities are determined, and the contents of the server's cache are altered accordingly.
US07975040B2

Systems and methods are described herein to virtualize functions and decentralize services in a flat-graph network of client devices. Other embodiments include apparatus and systems of devices comprising virtual node modules to perform a variety of service functions. Further embodiments include methods for overlaying service functions on a flat-graph network of client devices.
US07975022B2

A method of displaying a web page to a user. A triggering device having a unique code stored therein is provided to the user. The unique code is extracted from the triggering device with an activation system, the activation system disposed on a network. Location information associated with the unique code is retrieved from a database, the location information corresponding to a location of the web page on a remote location disposed on the network. In response to retrieving the location information, the activation system is connected to the remote location. The web page corresponding to the location information of the remote location is then presented to the user via the activation system.
US07975018B2

A plurality of access nodes sharing access to data on a storage network implement a directory based cache ownership scheme. One node, designated as a global coordinator, maintains a directory (e.g., table or other data structure) storing information about I/O operations by the access nodes. The other nodes send requests to the global coordinator when an I/O operation is to be performed on identified data. Ownership of that data in the directory is given to the first requesting node. Ownership may transfer to another node if the directory entry is unused or quiescent. The distributed directory-based cache coherency allows for reducing bandwidth requirements between geographically separated access nodes by allowing localized (cached) access to remote data.
US07975008B2

A system for managing data traffic in a multi-user multiple-simultaneous-access (MUMSA) environment, for example in a code reuse multiple access (CRMA) environment or other physical environment having true random access with more than one transmission present at the same time, the system including a channel load estimator for multiple users, a congestion threshold calculator using the estimate of channel load to calculate threshold on an ongoing basis, a tester at each terminal performing an experiment using that congestion threshold value and a random number generator to determine if a packet is eligible to be transmitted, a traffic controller for transferring downstream virtual channel traffic and a redistributing mechanism for redistributing user terminals to affiliate with the proper downstream virtual channel.
US07975005B2

One aspect of the present invention provides a system configured to enable a proxy to redirect downloads from a web server to one or more remote machines via a command issued from a local computer web browser. In one embodiment, a user accesses the web server with a web browser on a local computer, and uses the web browser to initiate the download from the web server. Connection and authentication information for the download is sent to a router/proxy which is connected to both the local machine and the one or more remote machines. The router/proxy redirects the download to a process running on the one or more remote machines, where the download is then saved. The web browser on the local computer is then notified when the download is complete.
US07975001B1

A computer-readable medium including executable instructions for performing parallel processing on behalf of a client operating a technical computing environment is provided. The medium may include instructions for receiving a request from the client. The medium may include instructions for commencing parallel processing on behalf of the client based on the received request and instructions for sending a query to the client, the query related to the parallel processing. The medium may include instructions for receiving an answer from the client, the answer received when the client has processed the query. The medium may include instructions for generating a result based on the parallel processing, the result used by the client or by another device to perform an operation.
US07974998B1

A blog website may register with a trackback spam filtering service to receive a trackback URL pointed to a computer of the track back spam filtering service. The trackback URL may be posted on the blog to allow readers to trackback to the blog. Trackback pings for linking to the blog may be received by the trackback spam filtering service for evaluation. The trackback spam filtering service may extract comment links from the trackback pings, and provide the comment links to a web reputation service to determine characteristics of the comment links. The trackback spam filtering service may consult a rules database that includes deterministic rules, heuristic rule, or both to determine if a comment link having particular characteristics is pointed to a spammer website. If so, the trackback spam filtering service may block the trackback to the blog.
US07974987B1

Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for providing a device handle database in an EFI environment are disclosed. According to one method, a device handle database is created for storing data identifying the protocols that have been installed on one or more device handles. The database includes a sorted array of elements utilized to store protocol data for a family of protocols having the same GUID. Each element in the array comprises a family data structure including a field for storing the GUID for the family along with a field for storing a pointer to a linked list that stores the protocol instance data for each of the protocols in the family. Each node in the linked list is also a member of a linked list for storing protocol data for all of the protocols installed on a given device handle.
US07974981B2

Optimized storage and query of multi-value properties is enabled by generating a base table for single value properties associated with a user-defined schema and a number of row-based tables for each different type of multi-value properties. By combining multi-value properties into row-based tables or even into compatible type tables, a number of tables to be created for a database system such as SQL system is reduced at the same time optimizing create/read/update/delete operations.
US07974978B2

Techniques for graph indexing are provided. In one aspect, a method for indexing graphs in a database, the graphs comprising graphic data, comprises the following steps. Frequent subgraphs among one or more of the graphs in the database are identified, the frequent subgraphs appearing in at least a threshold number of the graphs in the database. One or more of the frequent subgraphs are used to create an index of the graphs in the database.
US07974977B2

A clustering system generates an original Laplacian matrix representing objects and their relationships. The clustering system initially applies an eigenvalue decomposition solver to the original Laplacian matrix for a number of iterations. The clustering system then identifies the elements of the resultant eigenvector that are stable. The clustering system then aggregates the elements of the original Laplacian matrix corresponding to the identified stable elements and forms a new Laplacian matrix that is a compressed form of the original Laplacian matrix. The clustering system repeats the applying of the eigenvalue decomposition solver and the generating of new compressed Laplacian matrices until the new Laplacian matrix is small enough so that a final solution can be generated in a reasonable amount of time.
US07974972B2

A system that automatically discerning the best combinations of a user query's geographical origin and language, retrieving and displaying search results accordingly. A record on the system are associated with a geographic location and a language. A record could be composed of two or more records, each of which associates with a location and a language. A record could be in rich media format.
US07974960B2

A computer system for identifying information related to a context includes a context gathering service configured to receive context deltas from a runtime and to identify a current context state. A context delta describes a change from a previous context state to the current context state. The computer system also includes a semantic model with elements and attributes, wherein an element represents one or more context states and an attribute is assigned to the element. The computer system further includes a rule interpreter configured to map the current context state to a current element and a recommender service configured to identify information related to the context in a knowledge source. The recommender service is identified by one or more attributes at least one of which is assigned to the current element.
US07974953B1

Techniques introduced herein allow writeable PPIs to be analyzed prior to deletion to determine whether or not the writeable PPIs have reached the end of their life cycle. Prior to deletion a writeable PPI manager can inspect the writeable PPI to determine whether or not the writeable PPI has reached the end of the writeable PPI life cycle. If various criteria are not met, then the writeable PPI can be determined to have not yet reached the end of its life cycle and the deletion can be prevented.
US07974946B2

A system and method for maintaining data synchronization across a plurality of user devices is provided. The system and method manage data synchronization among a plurality of data storage devices includes a mobile personal information system adapted interface with a number of data storage devices. A personal information system supports multiple data synchronization protocols so that the personal information system may synchronize data with a wide range of different data storage devices. A synchronization arbitrator is associated with the personal information system. The synchronization arbitrator is adapted to register all of a user's personal devices which store the user's personal information. The synchronization arbitrator also initiates a data synchronization function with each registered data storage device, employing the synchronization protocol appropriate for each device. The personal information management system may comprise a vehicular mounted personal data storage system. The user devices may include a hand-held personal data storage system and a computer adapted to store personal data.
US07974941B2

In order to facilitate creation of a community without member-specific registration, one or more sibling identifiers with corresponding units to be distributed to other persons are allocated to a subscriber and the one or more sibling identifiers is associated with the subscriber's identifier. The subscriber may then give a unit to his/her friend and when the friend uses the unit, or more precisely a sibling identifier the unit relates to, the system will recognize that the subscriber and the friend belong to the same community on the basis of the association formed when sibling identifiers were allocated.
US07974939B2

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for processing model based commands for distributed applications. Embodiments facilitate execution of model-based commands, including software lifecycle commands, using model-based workflow instances. Data related to command execution is stored in a shared repository such that command processors can understand their status in relationship to workflow instances. Further, since the repository is shared, command execution can be distributed and balanced across a plurality of different executive services. Embodiments also include model-based error handling and error recovery mechanisms.
US07974936B2

Character string divider divides a targeted character string into a plurality of groups at each bonding sites on a main chain. In the character string dividing process, the character string divider adds starting/ending symbols to the targeted character string, inserts a delimiter between adjacent characters, changes a notation related to oxo acids, reconstructs an atomic symbol consisting of two characters, changes a notation regarding a subscript or superscript, links hydrogen to another element, reconstructs a set of side chains, reconstructs a character string consisting of one group, reconstructs a back-end group, reconstructs a double bond in a group, and removes the starting/ending symbols. Character string reverser reverses the alignment of the groups.
US07974933B2

Estimating the overall efficacy of a mathematical model of system behavior involves providing a template representing factors that affect the overall efficacy of the mathematical model. A Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) having nodes based on the factors of the template is created and the BBN is used to obtain an estimate of the overall efficacy of the mathematical model of system behavior.
US07974930B2

An interactive, computer-implemented system for providing a comparison of at least two real estate properties is provided. The system includes a database that stores a plurality of data relating to real estate properties. The data includes at least one of address data, ownership data, size data, geographic location data and monetary value data. An interface system enables a system user to input a request for a comparison of at least a portion of the data for at least two of the real estate properties. The request includes information sufficient to identify the real estate properties to be compared. A processor uses the information to obtain a comparison of the data relating to the real estate properties. A delivery system provides to the system user a comparison of the data relating to the real estate properties.
US07974926B2

Provided is a new system for content use and settlement. A user requests a mobile telephone charge management server (3000) to perform proxy settlement for goods purchased using mobile telephones 1 (4100), 2 (4200) and 3 (4300). The mobile telephone charge management server (3000) makes an inquiry to a registration server (3100) as to whether or not proxy settlement is possible. When proxy settlement is not possible, the mobile telephone performs settlement using electronic money that has been deposited therein.
US07974919B2

Characteristic normalization (or leveling) is a process that yields consistent and equitable characteristic definitions across multiple sources of credit information. This leveling ensures that when the same data is present for multiple credit sources, for example two or more credit reporting agencies, it is interpreted in the same manner, acknowledging that differences in the data itself may still be present.
US07974916B1

Methods and systems are provided for performing a tax-deferred transaction involving an Investor owning a Relinquished Property according to structures depending on the form of ownership. One structure can involve an Individual Investor, and another structure can involve an Investor Partnership. The structure involving the Individual Investor as the owner of Relinquished Property can include the steps of: (1) the Investor selling the Relinquished Property; (2) the Investor acquiring as a Replacement Property, directly or indirectly from a REIT or its affiliate for example, an interest in Like Kind Property; and (3) the Investor transferring such interest to the Operating Partnership of the REIT in exchange for DCX Units.
US07974911B2

Effective selection of trade execution strategies using a multi-dimensional model is disclosed. A relationship exists between order difficulty and execution strategy. Execution strategy depends on order difficulty, and order difficulty has many dimensions. The multi-dimensional model classifies trade orders according to the dimensions, and then maps these classified trade orders into suitable execution strategies. For each trade order, one or more appropriate strategies are automatically selected and presented to the trader to assist the trader in making an informed and timely decision.
US07974910B2

Methods and associated apparatus comprise, among other features, organizing previously acquired auction data into a plurality of sub-samples, each sub-sample comprising bid data associated with auctions having a common number of bidders, applying an inverse bid function to at least two sub-samples, pooling results from applying the inverse bid function to form a first pool, applying a direct bid function on the first pool to generate sample bids, matching bids from at least one sub-sample to the sample bids, and pooling results from the matching with the first pool to form a second pool.
US07974909B1

One aspect of the invention includes a trading system that enables a trader to systematically layout and describe trading processes and to configure the trading system to automatically perform trading functions for the trader. This aspect frees the trader from the task of implementing those processes and enables the trader to focus on trading. The trading system may respond and react faster than the trader, and the trader may, in turn, concentrate on an overall trading strategy versus concentrating on implementing that strategy. In another aspect, the invention enables the trading system to perform a trading using snapshot processing.
US07974901B2

In various embodiments, apparatus and processes permit a video game in which there are relationships between player characters, karma points employed, and death and reincarnation of player characters.
US07974899B1

A user may generate a digital image of a negotiable instrument such as a check. The digital image may be transmitted to an institution in a digital image file for deposit of the check. After the user selects to submit the digital image file, the digital image file may be sent from a user computing device to the institution. The user computing device may be decoupled from the transaction once the submission of the digital image file for deposit of the check is made. The transaction is thereafter managed by the institution. Incomplete transactions are avoided by moving the transaction processing to the server side at the institution after the user submits the digital image file. This may be referred to as an atomic deposit transaction.
US07974885B1

The present invention provides a software facility for identifying the items most relevant to a current query based on items selected in connection with similar queries. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the facility receives a query specifying one or more query terms. In response, the facility generates a query result identifying a plurality of items that satisfy the query. The facility then produces a ranking value for at least a portion of the items identified in the query result by combining the relative frequencies with which users selected that item from the query results generated from queries specifying each of the terms specified by the query. The facility identifies as most relevant those items having the highest ranking values.
US07974884B2

The network server stores the order information and the customer information received from the order entry channel in a database with identification information of the retailer system that has mediated the order, extracts, in response to a request from the retailer system, at least one of the order information, the customer information corresponding to the identification information of the retailer system having made the request, and information obtained based on at least one of the order information and the customer information from the database, and provides to the retailer system. The network order system includes the network server for receiving and managing at least the order information.
US07974876B2

A method and system for creating an advertising list including a big advertiser's advertising information, which can prevent a big advertiser's advertising information, less associated with a content page, from being displaying only because the big advertiser purchased a plurality of keywords, and thereby control ‘the Poor Get Poorer and the Rich Get Richer’ phenomenon in displaying advertising is provided. According to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for creating an advertising list, which can control ‘the Poor Get Poorer and the Rich Get Richer’ phenomenon in displaying advertising where a big advertiser's advertising information with a great purchasing power is preferentially displayed in an advertising list and thus small and medium advertisers' advertising information may not be displayed.
US07974871B2

The system and method of the present invention allows a Chair to a meeting to pre-define an agenda in the meeting invitation and to send the meeting invitation to the Invitees/Attendees. The Invitees/Attendees receive the meeting notice to determine whether they can attend the meeting during the time/date specified. In the event that the Invitees/Attendees can only attend a portion of the meeting, the Invitees/Attendees are given an option to request reordering of agenda items. After receiving enough receipts, the Meeting Chair can decide to reorder the agenda items and send an update to Invitees/Attendees prior to the meeting or not to reorder and the original agenda stands.
US07974867B2

A computer-implemented method of compiling a customer information set that complies with regulatory criteria is provided. The method comprises providing an overall question set having a plurality of questions and determining from the overall question set a basic question set, the basic question set including at least one basic question. The method further comprises associating an expected answer with at least one question of the basic question set and providing criteria for modifying the basic question set based on receiving an answer that differs from the expected answer. The method still further comprises optimizing an interactive customer survey with a customer using the overall question set, the basic question set, the expected answer and the criteria for modifying the basic question set.
US07974860B1

Methods and systems for directing enrollment and/or use of health and wellness plans based on personality type are disclosed.
US07974855B2

A system for representing information and decision flow requirements in a transactional business process is provided. The system comprises an information gathering object and a decision object. The information gathering object represents a piece of information used in the transactional business system and the decision object represents a satisfying condition for achieving an objective associated with the transactional business system. The system further comprises one or more information channels that link the information gathering objects to the one or more decision objects. The information channels represent the information and decision flow requirements within the transactional business system.
US07974846B2

A data embedding device for embedding data in a speech code obtained by encoding a speech in accordance with a speech encoding method based on a voice generation process of a human being, includes an embedding judgment unit, every speech code, judging whether or not data should be embedded in the speech code, and an embedding unit embedding data in two or more parameter codes of a plurality of parameter codes constituting the speech code for which it is judged by the embedding judgment unit that the data should be embedded.
US07974841B2

Electronic devices and methods are disclosed that adaptively filter a microphone signal responsive to recognition of a targeted speaker's voice. An electronic device can include a microphone, a speaker characterization circuit, an adaptive sound filter circuit, and a speaker recognition circuit. The speaker characterization circuit operates in a training mode to learn characteristics of the targeted speaker's voice component in the microphone signal, and to store the learned characteristics. The adaptive sound filter circuit adaptively filters the microphone signal responsive to a control signal. The speaker recognition circuit uses the learned characteristics to recognize the presence of the targeted speaker's voice in the microphone signal and to regulate the control signal to cause the adaptive sound filter circuit to adapt the filtering to increase the targeted speaker's voice component of the microphone signal relative to other components.
US07974840B2

A method of and an apparatus for encoding/decoding an MPEG-4 bit sliced arithmetic coding (BSAC) audio bitstream having ancillary information. A time domain audio signal is converted to a frequency domain audio signal and quantized. A number of data bits is counted and a number of available bits per layer is obtained. The number of available bits per layer is modified considering the size of ancillary information. Actual audio data is encoded in units of layers and ancillary information is embedded in the encoded bitstream. A header is decoded and a layer structure of an audio bitstream is calculated to determine the size of the ancillary information as a difference between a size of data up to a top layer and a size of a frame. The ancillary information is extracted to improve meta data and sound quality of audio contents.
US07974836B2

A Voice User Interface (VUI) or Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system utilizes three levels of navigation (e.g. Main Menu, Services, and Helper Commands) in presenting information units arranged in sets. The units are “spoken” by a system in a group to a human user and the group of information at each level is preceded by a tone that is unique to the level. When navigating the levels, the tones of the levels are in a musical progression, e.g. the three-note blues progression I, IV, V, for preceding the groups of information, respectively. The musical progression returns to the tonic of the musical key when the navigation returns to the level one of the first group of information.
US07974834B2

A program reservation/playback judgment system for making an automatic judgment of reservation or playback of a program based on the program information in texts written in a natural language. A natural language program information processing section analyzes texts read-out thereby for extracting the program information in the texts. The extracted program information is displayed as a program information screen for confirming the program information. Upon user's operation of a reservation/playback button, the program of the program information is confirmed. Based on a comparison result of the current date and time with the date and start time of the program information by a current date/time acquisition section, a date/time judgment section makes a judgment whether the program of the program information is reserved for recording or played back, thereby instructing a program monitoring device to reserve or playback.
US07974833B2

A special notation that extends the notion of IDL by weighted operators. The Weighted IDL or WIDL can be intersected with a language model, for example an n-gram language model or a syntax-based language model. The intersection is carried out by converting the IDL to a graph, and unfolding the graph in a way which maximizes its compactness.
US07974816B2

Disclosed are method and apparatus for registering multiple sensors collecting data from multiple objects. Sensor registration is decomposed into a two-step procedure. The first step corrects systematic errors. The second step assigns objects measured by one sensor to objects measured by a second sensor. Systematic errors are corrected by generating the global minimum of a systematic error function. One embodiment for generating the global minimum uses a Continuous Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure.
US07974813B2

Aspects of the present invention are directed at using LiDAR data to identify attributes of vegetation. In this regard, a method is provided that identifies the location of individual items of vegetation from raw LiDAR data. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a coordinate position represented in the LiDAR data that generated a return signal. Then, a determination is made regarding whether the selected coordinate position is inside a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation. If the selected coordinate position is not within a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation, the method determines that the selected coordinate position is associated with a new item of vegetation. In this instance, a digital representation of the new item of vegetation is generated.
US07974802B2

A method optimizes photomask inspection. After masks are manufactured, the method predicts the likelihood that the masks will be defect free based on defect criteria, etch area, etch mode, and etch tool type associated with the masks. The method skips an initial mask inspection for masks that have a predictability value above a predetermined value and performs the initial mask inspection for masks that have a predictability value below the predetermined value. After initial inspection is preformed (or skipped), a pellicle is mounted on the mask and then all masks are inspected or reinspected for defects and foreign matter.
US07974800B2

A detecting apparatus detects the degree of correlation between first events and second events repeatedly occurring in an observed apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires second event count values each indicating the number of second events occurring during each first period between each first event and the first event next thereto. A measuring unit measures an observed number of each second event count value derived from the number of times the second event count value is observed. A calculating unit calculates the degree of correlation between the first events and the second events based on the observed number of each second event count value.
US07974789B2

The present invention is in the field of nucleic acid-based genetic analysis. More particularly, it discloses novel insights into the overall structure of genetic variation in all living species. The structure can be revealed with the use of any data set of genetic variants from a particular locus. The invention is useful to define the subset of variations that are most suited as genetic markers to search for correlations with certain phenotypic traits. Additionally, the insights are useful for the development of algorithms and computer programs that convert genotype data into the constituent haplotypes that are laborious and costly to derive in an experimental way. The invention is useful in areas such as (i) genome-wide association studies, (ii) clinical in vitro diagnosis, (iii) plant and animal breeding, (iv) the identification of micro-organisms.
US07974786B2

The present invention relates to a visualization method of RNA pseudoknot structures for more efficiently and clearly visualizing all types of RNA pseudoknot structures including H-types in the form of a planar graph without edge-crossing so that the structures can be easily examined. The visualization method comprises reading the structure data in bracket view, identifying stem-loops and pseudoknots enclosed in bracket pairs from the input structure data, first computing the position and shape of a stem-loop contained in an identified pseudoknot to visualize the stem-loop, second computing the position and shape of the pseudoknot containing the calculated stem-loop to visualize the pseudoknot, third computing the position and shape of a stem-loop outside the computed pseudoknot, and inserting or connecting the visualized stem-loops into or to the pseudoknots to complete an RNA pseudoknot structure drawing.
US07974773B1

A system for providing taxi navigation information to a pilot of an aircraft is comprised of a navigation system; a taxi navigation module consisting of, in part, a processor and database; and an indicating system consisting of, in part, a tactical display unit system (e.g., a primary flight director (“PFD”), and head-up display (“HUD”) of an aircraft. A navigation system may provide aircraft position data of the aircraft while it is on the ground. A processor receives the aircraft position data, retrieves taxi navigation symbology based upon the aircraft position data from a taxi navigation database, and provides this data to the indicating system. The indicating system generates the display of taxi navigation information on a display unit which, in turn, provides the pilot with an egocentric view of airport signage using colored aviation signage symbology.
US07974772B2

A method provides driving operation data in a network for wirelessly exchanging driving operation data. A first motor vehicle connected to the network by communication technology determines the absolute driving operation data of a second motor vehicle by way of at least one environment sensor disposed in the first motor vehicle. The absolute driving operation data of the second motor vehicle are transmitted by the first motor vehicle to at least one other subscriber to the network.
US07974770B2

An engine-controlling unit/method for an internal-combustion engine with first and second combustion-chamber groups having a first and second catalytic exhaust-gas converter, respectively, having (a) a master control device that controls a combustion-air ratio for the first combustion-chamber group by forcibly exciting the first combustion-chamber group, further having (b) a slave control device that controls a combustion-air ratio for the second combustion-chamber group by forcibly exciting the second combustion-chamber group, and further having (c) a data link between the master and slave for control through the master. It is proposed (d) for the master to transmit a synchronizing signal to the slave over the data link during changeover between the rich and lean combustion-air ratio within the scope of forced excitation, and (e) on receipt of the synchronizing signal from the master for the slave to change over within the scope of forced excitation between the rich and lean combustion-air ratio.
US07974769B2

A system adapted for counteracting engine produced vibratory forces and isolating the forces from a body, includes active engine mounts, force or acceleration sensors, and a controller communicatively coupled to the mounts and sensors, and configured to execute an integrated open and closed-loop control method.
US07974756B2

A construction vehicle includes an engine, a hydraulic pump configured to be driven by the engine, a traveling hydraulic motor configured to be driven by pressured oil discharged by the hydraulic pump, a traveling wheel configured to be driven by driving force of the traveling hydraulic motor, and a control unit configured to control a vehicle velocity and a traction force by controlling rotation speed of the engine, capacity of the hydraulic pump, and capacity of the traveling hydraulic motor. In addition, the control unit is further configured to perform slip reduction control for reducing the maximum rotation speed of the engine as the vehicle velocity becomes slow in a low-velocity range in which the vehicle velocity is less than or equal to a predetermined velocity.
US07974745B2

An avionic aviation system including: a ground station that is linked to an aircraft via a wireless interface; wherein the ground station includes, a receiver that receives, via a wireless interface, a transmission from a detection device integrated in avionics of the aircraft, said transmission including a parameter regarding at least one of takeoff and landing of the aircraft, and a counter module that increments a value based on the parameter regarding at least one of takeoff or landing for the aircraft.
US07974721B2

A fabrication aiding apparatus capable of easily and properly setting a margin line is provided. The apparatus includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) to store three-dimensional shape data on a model of an abutment tooth to which a dental prosthesis is applied, an accepting section to accept the input of specification of an angle formed between a line defining a contact point and a reference axis on a face containing the reference axis in the model, a contact point detecting section to detect, based on the three-dimensional shape data, three-dimensional position information about a contact with the line forming a specified angle with the reference axis on the face containing the reference axis in the model, and a margin determining section to determine, based on coordinates of a contact point, three-dimensional position information of a margin line in the model.
US07974719B2

Systems and methods for the automatic manufacture of a multiple component object with intersecting components based on a standard design model of the object. The systems and methods according to the invention are capable of automatically extracting from a design model the dimensions of the components and the intersection parameters of the components, and of instructing a manufacturing machine to mark out the position of the components and manufacture the object on the basis of the extracted information. This increases efficiency and compatibility with existing design models and reduces cost.
US07974715B2

A computer based digital transcription system employs audio and video inputs of a court proceeding, and stores the digital signals in a memory in the form of distinct file segments of a predetermined time length during each recording session. The computer associates a date and time and a third identifier, such as location, with each distinct file segment. Playback of any desired segment may be effected during recording or at any time afterward; and playback does not interfere with the recording of realtime information.
US07974714B2

An intelligent electronic appliance preferably includes a user interface, data input and/or output port, and an intelligent processor. A preferred embodiment comprises a set top box for interacting with broadband media streams, with an adaptive user interface, content-based media processing and/or media metadata processing, and telecommunications integration. An adaptive user interface models the user, by observation, feedback, and/or explicit input, and presents a user interface and/or executes functions based on the user model. A content-based media processing system analyzes media content, for example audio and video, to understand the content, for example to generate content-descriptive metadata. A media metadata processing system operates on locally or remotely generated metadata to process the media in accordance with the metadata, which may be, for example, an electronic program guide, MPEG 7 data, and/or automatically generated format. A set top box preferably includes digital trick play effects, and incorporated digital rights management features.
US07974713B2

A selected channel of a multi-channel signal represented by frames composed from sampling values having a high time resolution is provided that can be encoded with higher quality when a wave form parameter representation representing a wave form of an intermediate resolution representation of the selected channel is derived. The wave form parameter representation with the intermediate resolution can be used to shape a reconstructed channel to retrieve a channel having a signal envelope close to a selected original channel. The time scale on which the shaping is performed is shorter than the time scale of a framewise processing, thus enhancing the quality of the reconstructed channel. On the other hand, the shaping time scale is larger than the time scale of the sampling values, significantly reducing the amount of data needed by the wave form parameter representation.
US07974700B1

A protective faceplate (37) for an implantable component of a tissue-stimulating prosthesis, such as a prosthetic hearing implant. The faceplate (37) comprising a first or outer surface and an opposed second or inner surface. The implantable component can be removably or non-removably mountable to the second surface and adapted to extend into a cavity formed in a bone of a recipient.
US07974692B2

An implantable pulse generator senses a cardiac signal, identifies cardiac events in the cardiac signal, and starts a blanking interval including a repeatable noise window blanking interval in response to each cardiac event. When noise is detected during the repeatable noise window blanking interval, the noise window blanking interval is repeated. In one embodiment, the duration of repeated repeatable noise window blanking intervals is summed and compared to a pacing escape interval. When the sum is greater than the pacing escape interval, asynchronous pacing pulses are delivered until the noise ceases. Alternatively, when the sum is greater than the pacing escape interval, the pace escape interval is repeated.
US07974676B2

A method of identifying the location of a lesion in an image and evaluating whether the identified lesion is more likely to be cancerous, benign or uncertain is provided where the image includes a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a particular intensity I in the range of 0
US07974675B2

A method of measuring pressure through a septum in a patient's heart is provided. A lead inserted into the right side of a heart is routed through the septum to gain access to the left side of the heart. The lead includes a mounting mechanism that secures the lead to one or both sides of the septal walls. The lead also includes one or more sensors for measuring cardiac pressure on the left side of the heart and, as necessary, the right side of the heart.
US07974664B2

A Bluetooth earphone and an ear-hook device thereof are provided. The Bluetooth earphone includes an earphone body and an ear-hook device. The ear-hook device includes a hinge assembly and an ear hook. The hinge assembly is rotatably disposed on the earphone body. The ear hook is rotatably disposed on the hinge assembly. As a result, the ear hook is able to rotate around the earphone body on two different axes via the hinge assembly, such that a user can selectively wear the Bluetooth earphone on his or her left ear or right ear.
US07974659B2

A wireless network is disclosed that provides repeat dialing to called parties that are powered off. The wireless network includes an originating MSC system, a Home Location Register (HLR) system for a called party, and a serving MSC system that serves the called party. Responsive to identifying that the called party is powered off, the calling party transmits a repeat dialing instruction to the originating MSC system. The originating MSC system then transmits a repeat dialing indicator to the HLR system for the called party. The HLR system for the called party identifies when the called party powers on. When the called party does power on, the HLR system transmits an instruction to the serving MSC system to attempt to set up a call between the called party and the calling party.
US07974638B2

A method for locating at least one individual located remotely from a broadcast network. An analysis unit compares user profiles, dynamic locations stored in the communicator location database, and/or fixed locations entered into the analysis unit. A data set of at least one matching individualized locatee user profile is generated and the individualized locatee user profile is transmitted to the locator via the locator's communicator device.
US07974628B2

A home wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and services a plurality of wireless terminals within the WLAN service area including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) wireless terminal. The home wireless router receives a request from the VoIP wireless terminal to establish a VoIP conference call with at least two other VoIP wireless terminals. The home wireless router interacts with the VoIP service accumulator to determine at least one other home wireless router required to service the VoIP conference call, queries the at least one other home wireless router to determine its ability to service the VoIP conference call for at least one serviced VoIP wireless terminal, and receives a response from the at least one other home wireless router. The home wireless router, the at least one other home wireless router, and the VoIP service accumulator then set up and service the VoIP conference call.
US07974623B2

A communication terminal apparatus that exhibits a shorter time period required until a start of communication and causes the throughput in the wireless communication system to be less reduced. In this apparatus, when the number, N, of retransmissions notified by a response determining part (107) is zero, a subchannel-to-be-used selecting part (108) selects a subchannel, among others, which exhibits the highest order one of the reception qualities of the subchannels notified by a reception quality determining part (106), and then notifies the selected subchannel to a subchannel allocating part (113). When the notified number, N, of retransmissions is one or more, the response determining part (107) selects a subchannel which exhibits the N-th lower order reception quality than the highest order reception quality, based on the reception qualities of the subchannels notified by the reception quality determining part (106) for a pilot signal received after a transmission of the latest access request signal, and then notifies the selected subchannel to the subchannel allocating part (113).
US07974621B2

A method and apparatus for transitioning between radio link protocols in a packet-based real-time media communication system. A wireless communication device such as a cell phone will operate under one radio link protocol (such as IS-856, also known as 1xEV-DO) to engage in packet-based signaling for setup of a packet-based real-time media session such as a push-to-talk session. Once the session is set up, the wireless communication device will then automatically transition to operate under a different radio link protocol (such as IS-2000, also known as 1xRTT), and will engage in packet-based real-time media communication in the session over that different radio link protocol. Preferably, the radio link protocol used for session setup signaling will provide for reduced setup latency, while the radio link protocol used for bearer communication in the session will provide for reduced jitter and improved real-time media communication.
US07974620B1

A method, system, and media are provided for selecting a preferred roaming partner based on load conditions on an access networks associated with the selected preferred roaming partner. A wireless device storing one or more lists of preferred roaming partners is configured to receive configurations messages from the access networks associated with each of the preferred roaming partners. The wireless device parses the configurations messages and extracts load information from fields included the configuration messages. A load value of each preferred roaming partner is calculated based on the extracted load information. The wireless device selects the preferred roaming partner having the lowest load value to initiate wireless communication over the access network corresponding to the selected preferred roaming partner.
US07974609B2

A mobile communication terminal having a function of displaying a communication state and a method thereof are disclosed. The method of displaying a communication state in a case of a multiparty call using a mobile communication terminal having a plurality of display units includes displaying information on one calling party on a first display unit, and displaying information on the other calling party on a second display unit.Here, information on one calling party and information on another calling party can be switched with each other and displayed on the different display units, and therefore voice communication is possible between one or more of the parties at the same time.
US07974603B2

To stop functions of a subscriber authentication module regardless of whether a roaming network is based on IMT-2000 or GSM.HLR of a mobile communication network based on IMT-2000 has a stop information addition part instructing a RAND field of an authentication vector used for authentication of USIM to cause part or all of functions in the subscriber authentication module to stop. The USIM mounted in a mobile terminal has a function stop part executing to cause part or all of functions of the subscriber authentication module to stop, an identification part that refers to information identifying stop information contained in received data and transmits the stop information to a function stop part, and an operation part for performing a predetermined operation using the received data.
US07974602B2

A system and method are provided by which a network operator is able to detect fraudulent use of a subscriber's terminal, regardless of whether or not the subscriber is aware of the fraudulent use of her terminal. Detecting unauthorized terminal use in a wireless network includes recording a history of terminal location and registration patterns, analyzing the recorded history of location and registration patterns of the terminal, monitoring current location and registration patterns of the terminal, and requesting clarification when a deviation between said statistical analysis of the location and registration patterns of said terminal and said current location and registration patterns of said terminal is detected.
US07974601B2

Systems and methods for determining an optimal range of frequencies of electromagnetic waves are described. In some embodiments, mobile voice communications devices measure average power received from certain ranges of such frequencies, each range associated with a communications service provider. A cost may be associated with each range. An optimal range of frequencies may be determined based on these factors. Each device may also receive a set of data identifying the location of the device. Each device may transmit one or more communications signals to a CIP with such measurements and location information, and some of this information may be stored in a database.
US07974599B2

A low noise amplifier includes an input transistor, an inductor, and a current sink. The input transistor includes a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the gate of the input transistor is operably coupled to receive an input radio frequency (RF) signal. The inductor includes a first node and a second node, wherein the first node of the inductor is operably coupled to a power supply and the second node of the inductor is operably coupled to the drain of the input transistor to provide an output of the low noise amplifier. The current sink includes a first node and a second node, wherein the first node of the current sink is operably coupled to the source of the input transistor and the second node of the current sink is operably coupled to a circuit ground, wherein a real component of input impedance of the low noise amplifier is substantially constant when the low noise amplifier is in the off mode as when the low noise amplifier is in the on mode.
US07974589B2

Data transmitter embodiments are provided which are particularly useful as interface devices for accurate and reliable transmittal of data from high-speed data system devices such as analog-to-digital converters. Transmitter embodiments have been found to provide excellent fidelity of data transfer at high data rates (e.g., 4 gigabits/second) while consuming only a portion of the power of many conventional transmitters and requiring only a portion of the layout area of these transmitters. Transmitter embodiments provide effective control of transmitter parameters such as matched impedances, data symmetry, common-mode level, data eye and current drain.
US07974587B2

A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers.
US07974584B2

A wireless communication system capable of eliminating interference accompanying uplink transmission at the time of diversity handover, thereby improving the quality of wireless communication. An uplink quality measurer measures an uplink quality representing the quality of uplink data, and a transmission decision unit compares the measured uplink quality with a reference value to determine whether to accept or reject transmission of the uplink data and transmits a transmission acceptance/rejection signal in accordance with the comparison result. A transmission acceptance/rejection signal receiver of a terminal receives the transmission acceptance/rejection signals from a plurality of base stations with which the terminal is connected by diversity handover, and an uplink data transmission controller transmits the uplink data only when it is judged based on the transmission acceptance/rejection signals that there is no base station rejecting the transmission of the uplink data.
US07974582B2

A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing and having radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a processor operative with each other. Audio circuitry is carried by the circuit board and an audio transducer assembly, such as a speaker, has electrical contacts that electrically engage the audio circuitry for carrying audio signals between the audio circuitry and audio transducer assembly. A filter is mounted at the audio transducer assembly and reduces radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic interference to the audio transducer assembly during device operation.
US07974555B2

A development apparatus 8 has developer transport members 26 and 27 respectively contained in containers 22 and 23 and transporting developer while stirring the developer and passing the developer to each other at a passing portion 41 and a passing portion 42, thereby causing the developer to circulate in a developer tank 21. The passing portion 41 is formed at a location of a partition 21c adjacent to a developer discharging mechanism 34 and the passing portion 42 is formed at a location of the partition 21c away from the developer discharging mechanism 34. The passing portions 41 and 42 have configurations in which a transport force acting on the developer at the passing portion 41 is greater than the transport force acting on the developer at the passing portion 42.
US07974553B2

An image forming apparatus has an apparatus main assembly; an image forming unit; a fixing unit which has a pressure applying mechanism and a cam member; an opening and closing member which is attached to the apparatus main assembly to be capable of being opened and closed; a first gear which is provided at the apparatus main assembly; a second gear which is provided at the fixing unit; and a connection gear which connects the first gear and the second gear. The connection gear is configured to be detachable from between the first gear and the second gear and to be attachable being engaged with both the first gear and the second gear only in a case that the first gear and the second gear are respectively at a predetermined phase.
US07974549B2

A developing device includes: a developing roller on the surface of which intersecting inclined grooves are formed by rolling working; and a seal member which comes into contact with the developing roller, wherein ridge portions of a convex portion surrounded by the inclined grooves of the surface of the developing roller are formed such that rotational resistance due to the contact of the seal member on the downstream side of a rotation direction opposite to a rotation direction of the developing roller at the time of development is larger than rotational resistance due to the contact of the seal member on the downstream side of a rotation direction of the developing roller at the time of development, and at the time of refreshing of the seal member, the developing roller is rotated in the opposite direction to a direction at the time of development.
US07974538B2

An environment that facilitates the purchasing and updating of specific operational features in an optical transceiver (or optical transmitter or optical receiver). The environment includes a host computing system (hereinafter referred to as the “host”), a network, a remote computing site, and an optical transceiver having a system memory and at least one processor. The host determines that microcode that governs the behavior of an optical transceiver is desired to be purchased. A request to purchase the microcode is sent over the network from the host to the remote computing site. The remote computing site responds to this request by providing the host information by which the purchased microcode may be accessed. The host may then access the microcode. Finally, the host provides the microcode to the optical transceiver memory where it may later be executed by the processor.
US07974528B2

An exemplary image stabilizing camera system includes a camera module. The camera module includes a movable AF unit, a frame having a receiving cavity defined therein, an electromagnetic driving unit, and an elastic member. The receiving cavity is configured for receiving the movable AF unit therein. The electromagnetic driving unit is configured for driving the movable AF unit to move relative to the frame so as to counteract movement of the object relative to the system such that the system can, after a shake of the system, capture a stabilized image of the object which is substantially identical with an image thereof captured without the shake of the system. The elastic member is disposed on a top end of the movable AF unit. The elastic member is configured for connecting the movable AF unit to the frame, thereby suspending the movable AF unit in the receiving cavity.
US07974527B1

Hot liquid dispenser includes a housing including first and second liquid-retaining chambers, the first chamber being accessible to enable liquid to be placed therein and the second chamber being situated within a closed interior space of the housing. A heating system heats liquid in the first chamber without directly heating liquid in the second chamber. A conduit system allows only a one-way flow of liquid from the first to the second chamber and also prevents formation of a fluid connection between liquid in the first and second chambers. The dispenser includes a dispensing system having an outlet from which liquid placed into the first chamber is dispensed without continuous fluid movement of the liquid from the first chamber through the second chamber to the outlet such that liquid is retained in the second chamber without a fluid connection to the first chamber and without flowing toward the outlet.
US07974523B2

The optimal buffering strategy of the present invention allows for full smooth reverse functionality in an MPEG-type stream player, while reducing the buffering requirements. Furthermore, the buffering strategy drastically reduces the required number of passes through the video data unit by optimal scheduling of picture decodes. A video data unit buffering strategy for smooth reverse includes the following operations. First, a video data unit is scanned before decoding any pictures within the video data unit. Positions of each picture are then marked out in the video data unit. Next, the entire video data unit is decoded, except the open GOP pictures which need a reference picture from an adjacent video data unit. The open GOP pictures are then copied to the end of the current video data unit in the buffer, and the new video data unit continues to be fetched.
US07974516B2

Provided are apparatuses and methods for reproducing a data structure for managing reproduction of still images recorded on a recording medium. In the recording medium, a data area stores at least first and second still images and a playlist area stores at least one playlist. The playlist includes mark information, and the mark information provides presentation information on the first and second images to allow for at least skipping from reproducing the first image to reproducing the second image.
US07974515B2

A storage means, for each optical disk, and for each title recorded upon that optical disk, stores whether or not it is a replay-completed title. And an output means separates the titles recorded upon an optical disk which is loaded into replay-completed titles and titles which are not replay-completed, based upon the contents stored in the storage means, and selectively outputs a first title menu image consisting of the replay-completed titles, or a second title menu image consisting of the titles which are not replay-completed.
US07974513B2

A user can simply select and set up resolution of a monitor display device 2 among the resolutions which the monitor display device 2 supports, according to his/her taste, only by operating a specific key such provided in the remote control 4. The resolution of the monitor display device 2 is changed responding to a number of pressing down of the specific key by the user. When a command is inputted once, the resolution of video signals outputted from the optical disc player 1 is changed to be the lowest level. When the command is inputted twice, the resolution of the video signals is changed to be the next level. When the specific key is pressed down furthermore while the monitor display device 2 displays the images at the highest resolution, the output of the video signals from the optical disc player 1 is stopped. When the specific key is pressed down furthermore, the video signals are outputted at the lowest resolution.
US07974512B2

There are provided an information storage medium capable of real-time recording/playback of digital moving picture information, and a digital information recording/playback system using this medium. In a medium that records/plays back data including video data and control information, the control information (DA21 in FIG. 4; RTR_VMG in FIG. 30) includes information (VOBU entry in FIG. 31) for accessing a specific portion (VOBU) of the video data.
US07974508B2

A multi-layer structure and a method for manufacturing the multi-layer structure are provided. The multi-layer structure includes: a waveguide including one or more light coupling regions having a refractive index gradient; at least one organic material based active optical element disposed above the waveguide; wherein the one or more light coupling regions is configured to change characteristics of light propagating in the waveguide; wherein at least one of the one or more light coupling regions is configured to enhance light coupling between the waveguide and the active optical element.
US07974506B2

A device for emitting a first and a second electromagnetic radiation (13, 23, 53) via a radiation coupling-out surface (5) along a device beam path. A first radiation-emitting arrangement (1) has at least one first radiation-emitting component (10) which emits the first electromagnetic radiation (13). A second radiation-emitting arrangement (2) has at least one second radiation-emitting component (20) which emits the second electromagnetic radiation (23). Furthermore, the device has a radiation-directing element (3), wherein the radiation coupling-out surface (5) is arranged in the beam path of the second radiation-emitting arrangement (2) and the radiation-directing element (3) directs the first electromagnetic radiation (13) to the radiation coupling-out surface (5).
US07974503B2

A fiber grating sensor including an elastic circular plate and one or two FBG'ss attached to the bottom surface of the elastic circular plate. Two ends of the FBG are connected to an optic fiber for signal transmission. The fiber grating sensor readouts are independent of temperature variation. The fiber grating sensor mechanism according to the present invention may be applied in a variety of sensors such as gauge pressure transducer, differential pressure transducer, load cell and displacement transducer with a distributive design, and for various purposes.
US07974497B2

A method of modifying the region displayed in a window of predetermined size within a digital image represented by several resolution levels, between a first region (display_zone) of the digital image displayed at a first resolution (R) and a second region (final_zone) of the digital image including the first region (display_zone) and different from it, comprises the steps of: —selecting (S406), from the stored image parts (bitmap[r]) including the first region (display_zone), a stored image part (bitmap[k]) with a second resolution (k) that is the maximum among the resolutions of said parts, and less than the first resolution (R); —obtaining (S84, SE86) from the selected image part (bitmap[k]) at least one region included in the second region (final_zone) and including the first region (display_zone); —displaying (S88) the region obtained in said window. A corresponding method of displaying an image at plural resolutions is also proposed. Corresponding devices are also provided.
US07974494B2

Image control involves receiving source images defined with respect to respective source coordinate systems from source image generators also respectively associated with source IDs. The source images are composed to generate a composite image defined with respect to a composed coordinate system, and the composed image is sent to a viewer which displays the composed image and outputs an HID signal which indicates information defined with respect to the composed coordinate system. A layout manager stores source IDs respectively associated with layout information including position and size of at least one of the source images. An image composer composes the source images according to the layout information. An analyzer analyzes the HID signal for editing layout information stored in the layout manager, and determines a source ID a source image according to the layout information. The HID signal defined with respect to the composed coordinate system is converted to an HID signal defined with respect to the source coordinate system corresponding to the determined source image. An operator then sends the converted HID signal to the source image generator associated with the determined source ID.
US07974493B2

Processes and apparatus for personalizing video through partial image replacement are disclosed. Personalization may include partial or full replacement of the image of an actor, an object or both. Personalization may also include insertion or replacement of an object, and full or partial replacement of the background and/or sound track. A video preparation process may be used to create a library of personalization-ready videos.
US07974490B2

Disclosed are an apparatus and method to improve clarity of images, which can prevent the degradation of the clarity of a display unit caused by deterioration of a contrast characteristic. The apparatus includes: an artifact reducing unit determining a representative color of one of the images and moving a color of an edge as the determined representative color; a filter extracting a high frequency component of the image; and a sharpness enhancement unit improving the clarity of the image having the color of the edge moved and the filtered high frequency component.
US07974488B2

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment, a method of designing a basis selection for matching pursuits is described.
US07974479B2

An encoding apparatus encodes a picture by inserting an intra-refresh area into a portion of the picture periodically based on an intra-refresh period. An encoding-status monitoring unit monitors an encoding status of the picture. A refresh-area control unit changes at least one of the intra-refresh area and the intra-refresh period based on the encoding status monitored by the encoding-status monitoring unit.
US07974478B2

Prediction-based compression engines are spoon-fed with sequentially efficiently compressible (SEC) streams of input data that make it possible for the compression engines to more efficiently compress or otherwise compact the incoming data than would be possible with streams of input data accepted on a TV-raster scan basis. Various techniques are disclosed for intentionally forming SEC input data streams. Among these are the tight packing of alike files or fragments into concatenation suitcases and the decomposition of files into substantially predictably consistent (SPC) fragments or segments that are routed to different suitcases according to their type. In a graphics-directed embodiment, image frames are partitioned into segment areas that are internally SPC and multidirectional walks (i.e., U-turning walks) are defined in the segment areas where these defined walks are traced during compression and also during decompression. A variety of pre-compression data transformation methods are disclosed for causing apparently random data sequences to appear more compressibly alike to each other. The methods are usable in systems that permit substantially longer times for data compaction operations than for data decompaction operations.
US07974470B2

Provided are an image processing method and apparatus capable of improving the result of segmenting an image and discriminatively determining the extent of processing the image. In the method, the extent of segmentation of the image is calculated; the result of segmentation is compensated for and the extent of processing the image is determined, based on the calculated extent of segmentation; and each region of the image is discriminatively processed according to the determined extent of processing. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the precision of the result of segmentation and continuously control the extent of discriminative processing around a complex image object.
US07974457B2

A method of testing a mask pattern, includes applying optical proximity-effect compensation to a first pattern to be tested and to be formed onto a mask layer, to thereby form a mask pattern of the mask layer, dividing the first pattern into a plurality of areas in accordance with a second pattern to be formed onto another mask layer, determining sampling points on an edge of the first pattern, determining a test standard for each of the areas, simulating a resist pattern formed on a resist by exposing the resist to a light through the mask pattern, and checking whether a dimensional gap between the first pattern and the resist pattern at each of the sampling points is within a test standard associated with an area to which each of the sampling points belongs, wherein test standards for first and second areas among the areas are different from each other.
US07974454B1

Systems and methods are provided for capture control of video data from a capsule camera system having an on-board storage or wireless transmission. The capsule camera system moves through the GI tract under the action of peristalsis and records images of the intestinal walls. For some periods of time, the capsule camera system may move very slowly and there are little differences in the image data between different frames. These frames can be designated for discard to conserve storage space or conserve power. A capsule control processing unit is incorporated to evaluate motion metric based on image data associated with a current frame and a previous frame. A decision is made based on a profile of the motion metric to select an operation mode from a group comprising Capture Mode and Conservation Mode. The capsule camera system is then operated according to the selected operation mode.
US07974453B2

A method for obtaining an image of tooth tissue directs incident light toward a tooth (20), wherein the incident light excites a fluorescent emission from the tooth tissue. Fluorescence image data (50) is obtained from the fluorescent emission. Back-scattered reflectance image data (52) is obtained from back-scattered light from the tooth tissue. The fluorescence and back-scattered reflectance image data are combined to form an enhanced image (64) of the tooth tissue for caries detection.
US07974447B2

An image synthesizing device for synthesizing a second image of an object in a predetermined illumination condition from a first image of the object includes an illumination condition estimation section for estimating an illumination condition from a luminance value of the first image, and a normal information estimation section estimates normal information containing a normal direction of the object, with regard to a predetermined pixel in the first image. An error component information estimation section estimates information of an error component in the predetermined illumination condition, an image synthesizing section synthesizes the second image of the object in the predetermined illumination condition, and the normal information estimation section estimates normal information of a predetermined pixel from information of a plurality of the pixels in the first image.
US07974442B2

A vision system for a vehicle that identifies and classifies objects (targets) located proximate a vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array that produces imagery that is processed to generate depth maps of the scene proximate a vehicle. The depth maps are processed and compared to pre-rendered templates of target objects that could appear proximate the vehicle. A target list is produced by matching the pre-rendered templates to the depth map imagery. The system processes the target list to produce target size and classification estimates. The target is then tracked as it moves near a vehicle and the target position, classification and velocity are determined. This information can be used in a number of ways. For example, the target information may be displayed to the driver, the information may be used for an obstacle avoidance system that adjusts the trajectory or other parameters of the vehicle to safely avoid the obstacle. The orientation and/or configuration of the vehicle may be adapted to mitigate damage resulting from an imminent collision, or the driver may be warned of an impending collision.
US07974438B2

Methods and systems for spatial data encoding and decoding are described. A tile may be designated within a source frame. The tile may be divided into at least one bit area. A particular message bit value of a message may be accessed. A statistical property calculation may be performed on a pixel variable value of available pixels within the tile. A pixel variable value of pixels in the particular bit area of a target frame may be shifted to encode a particular message bit. A particular pixel variable value of a particular pixel of the plurality of pixels may be shifted by a shift value. The shift value may be in accordance with the statistical property calculation, the particular message bit value, and a particular modulation pattern value of the plurality of modulation pattern values for the particular pixel within the particular bit area.
US07974433B2

A suspension member for a diaphragm, the suspension member comprising an inner portion being adapted to be attached to a substantially stiff piston part, a outer portion arranged on or integrated with a substantially stiff support member so as to mechanically stabilize the suspension member, and a flexible member connecting the inner and outer portions. The present invention further relates to an electro-acoustic transducer, preferably a miniature electro-acoustic transducer, applying such suspension member.
US07974426B2

Disclosed is an IC chip type hearing aid module for use in a mobile communication terminal having a hearing aid circuit including: a first section having a resistor R1 and an inductor L1 which are connected in series on a first output line Receiver_P between the mobile communication terminal and an ear speaker; a second section having a resistor R4 and an inductor L2 which are connected in series on a second output line Receiver_N between the mobile communication terminal and the ear speaker; a third section having a resistor R2 and a capacitor C2 which are connected in series between an input terminal of the first section and an output terminal of the second section; and a fourth section having a resistor R3 and a capacitor C3 which are connected in series between an input terminal of the second section and an output terminal of the first section.
US07974417B2

A multi-channel audio system including first combining circuitry, for combining a first spectral band of a first plurality channels to provide a first bass audio signal stream; second combining circuitry, for combining the first spectral band of a second plurality channels to provide a second bass audio signal stream; and third combining circuitry, for combining a second spectral band, the second spectral band including lower frequencies than the first spectral band, of the first plurality of channels and the second plurality of channels to provide a third bass audio signal stream.
US07974410B2

A cryptographic key split combiner, which includes a number of key split generators for generating cryptographic key splits and a key split randomizer for randomizing the cryptographic key splits to produce a cryptographic key, and a process for forming cryptographic keys. Each of the key split generators generates key splits from seed data. The key split generators may include a random split generator for generating a random key split based on reference data. Other key split generators may include a token split generator for generating a token key split based on label data, a console split generator for generating a console key split based on maintenance data, and a biometric split generator for generating a biometric key split based on biometric data. All splits may further be based on static data, which may be updated, for example by modifying a prime number divisor of the static data. The label data may be read from a storage medium, and may include user authorization data. The resulting cryptographic key may be, for example, a stream of symbols, at least one symbol block, or a key matrix.
US07974409B2

In one embodiment, cryptographic transformation of a message is performed by first performing a table initiation phase. This may be accomplished by creating a permutation of an order of powers and then performing a table initiation phase using a part of a key and the permuted order of powers to populate a data structure.
US07974405B2

In an input process, a circuit and an input bit to the circuit are inputted to a plurality of computers. Firstly, one computer performs calculation and transmits the calculation result to another computer of the computers. Next, the another computer which has received the calculation result performs the next calculation. Thus, calculation is performed by one computer after another. When all the computers have performed calculation once, the last computer which has performed calculation transmits the calculation result to the first computer which has performed calculation. After this, calculation is performed by one computer after another and the calculation result is transmitted to the next computer, thereby repeating the calculation of each cycle. Thus, it is possible to realize calculation of a value of a given function by using a device including a plurality of computers, with a simpler configuration.
US07974403B2

The present invention discloses a method for a called party to provide indication information for a calling party. The method includes the steps of: presetting the indication information to be provided to the calling party at the called party; before the called party answers the call in the connection procedure between the calling party and the called party, the network side obtaining the preset indication information from the called party and sending the indication information to the calling party. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a system for a called party to provide the indication information to a calling party. The present invention makes it possible that the called party flexibly selects the indication information to be provided to the calling party and the problem that only the indication information in the indication information database can be provided is avoided.
US07974401B1

A system and method for providing data communication between an information system, such as a LAN, and a communication system, such as a PBX operating under control of an automatic call routing system, is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment, data as to a particular LAN user's schedule, as reflected in an electronic calendar application, is used to properly route calls via the automatic call routing system. Alternative embodiments providing for the scheduling of events in the electronic calendar as well as the dissemination of information through the communication system are also disclosed.
US07974400B1

A “parental control” (“PC”) telephone subscriber feature on a telephone system. An authorized subscriber, such as a parent, may enter a feature code which initiates the PC feature. To deactivate the feature, the subscriber enters the code and is prompted for an authorization code, such as a personal identification number (“PIN”). If the authorization code entered matches the authorization code on file for the subscriber, the PC feature is deactivated. If no match is found in the subscriber database for the PIN, the feature is not deactivated.
US07974395B2

An apparatus and method are disclosed that enables detecting the spoofing of a telephone number. To validate the identity of a calling terminal, some techniques in the prior art rely on exchanging data that only the legitimate calling system and the called system know about. In contrast, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention validates the identity of the calling terminal by assessing characteristics other than the calling terminal's telephone number, such as the telephone type and the signaling protocol. By using characteristics other than telephone number to validate the identity, the data-processing system of the illustrative embodiment makes it more difficult to spoof a legitimate telephone's number.
US07974382B2

There is provided a radiographic imaging system including: a radiographic imaging device including a generating section that captures a radiographic image expressed by irradiated radiation and generates image information expressing the captured radiographic image, and a first communication section that transmits, plural times and by wireless communication and even during a response wait time period, imaging start instructing information that instructs starting of imaging when preparations for capturing a radiographic image by the generating section have been completed; and a control device having a second communication section that can communicate by wireless communication with the first communication section, and a control section that controls a radiation irradiating section such that radiation is irradiated with respect to the radiographic imaging device in a case in which the second communication section receives any of the imaging start instructing information that are transmitted plural times from the first communication section.
US07974381B2

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments, a mobile imaging system includes one or more fuel cells. Some embodiments include further electric power sources, such as battery and/or an external AC power source.
US07974364B2

A technique for Doppler frequency estimation and adaptation in a MediaFLO™ (Forward Link Only) receiver system includes receiving Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the receiver, dividing a Doppler frequency range into N ranges corresponding to N interpolation filters; determining a correlation between two OFDM symbols separated by time; estimating a Doppler frequency by the correlation of OFDM symbols; determining a ratio of the correlation of OFDM symbols; comparing the determined ratio of the correlation of OFDM symbols with a look up table of α stored at a receiver to determine a corresponding Doppler frequency; mapping α ranges stored at the look up table to suitable interpolation filters; estimating an interpolation filter from the mapped α ranges mapped against determined α ratio; adapting Time Domain Interpolation (TDI) to the selected interpolation filter; and synchronizing receiver to the TDI filter.
US07974362B2

A method and apparatus for generating a permutation for reverse link hopping is provided, comprising initializing permutation constants, determining a value for p such that i<2p wherein i is a value of a first counter, initializing a second counter j to ‘0’, setting x to i+1 wherein x is index of elements of an array A, clocking a Pseudo-noise (PN) register n times to generate a pseudorandom number, setting x to p Least Significant Bits (LSB) of the pseudorandom number, incrementing j by 1, determining if j is equal to 3 or x is less than or equal to i, determining if x is greater than i, setting x equal to x−i, swapping the ith and xth element in the array A, decrementing counter i by 1, and mapping a set of hop-ports to a set of sub-carriers based upon the generated hop-permutation.
US07974354B2

An adaptation apparatus for adapting an input signal, the input signal being digital in the frequency domain and having a peak-to-average-power-ratio in the time domain. The adaptation apparatus has an evaluation unit for evaluating the input signal and for providing an evaluation signal based on an optimization criterion. The adaptation apparatus further has a summing unit for adding the evaluation signal to the input signal in the frequency domain and for providing an output signal in the frequency domain having a lower peak-to-average-power-ratio in the time domain than the signal in the time domain.
US07974349B2

An optimum perturbation apparatus and method in a multi-antenna, multi-user communication system are provided. In the optimum perturbation method, upon receipt of modulation symbols, channel responses are decomposed into eigenvalues and eigenvectors by Single Value Decompositin (SVD) and a distortion value of the modulation symbols is estimated using the eigenvectors and the eigenvalues to minimize noise and interference power. The modulation symbols are precoded by combining the modulation symbols with the estimated distortion value.
US07974348B2

A two-wire serial handshaking communication interface and a method thereof is provided for a transmission of a data bit representative between a first transmitting component and a second transmitting component, wherein the first transmitting component includes a first input/output unit and a second input/output unit and the second transmitting component has a third input/output unit and a fourth input/output unit, wherein the first input/output unit and the second input/output unit transmit a first signal through a first transmitting line electrically connected therebetween and the third input/output unit and the fourth input/output unit transmit a second signal transmitted through a second transmitting line electrically connected therebetween without strict constraint on communication timing.
US07974342B2

A motion-compensated image signal interpolation unit (200) for generating an interpolated image being located at a first predetermined temporal distance (a) from the first image and being located at a second predetermined temporal distance (1−a) from the second image is disclosed. The interpolation unit (200) comprises: motion estimation means (202) for furnishing a first and a second motion vector relating to the first and second image; furnishing means (204, 206) for furnishing a first group of samples on basis of values of pixels of the first image and the first motion vector and for furnishing a second group of samples on basis of values of pixels of the second image and the second motion vector, and filtering means (212) for ordered statistical filtering of the samples of the first and the second group to produce a first value of a first pixel of the interpolated image (102), whereby a first quotient is substantially equal to a second quotient, the first quotient being determined by a first spatial distance (x1) between a first one of the samples of the first group and a second one of the samples of the first group and the first predetermined temporal distance (α), the second quotient being determined by a second spatial distance (x2) between a first one of the samples of the second group and a second one of the samples of the second group and the second predetermined temporal distance (1−α).
US07974326B2

Provided are a hybrid laser diode for single mode operation, and a method for manufacturing the hybrid laser diode. The hybrid laser diode includes a silicon layer, an active pattern disposed on the silicon layer, and a bonding layer disposed between the silicon layer and the active pattern. Here, the bonding layer includes diffraction patterns constituting a Bragg grating.
US07974324B2

A surface-emitting laser device includes: a substrate; a low refractive index layer with a refractive index nL and disposed on the substrate; a light emitting layered structure with a refractive index nH, where nH>nL, the light emitting layered structure being formed on the low refractive index layer and having first and second semiconductor layers and a multi-quantum well (MQW) disposed between the first and second semiconductor layers and capable of generating photons having a wavelength λ0; and a two-dimensional photonic crystal (2DPC) formed in the light emitting layered structure and having optical nanostructures arranged into a periodic pattern with a lattice constant a. The nanostructures extend from the first semiconductor layer through the MQW. The 2DPC has a normalized frequency, which is defined as a/λ0, ranging from 0.25 to 0.70.
US07974319B2

High power optical pulses generating methods and laser oscillators are provided. A light generating module generates seed optical pulses having predetermined optical characteristics. A spectrum tailoring module is then used to tailor the spectral profile of the optical pulses. The spectral tailoring module includes a phase modulator which imposes a time-dependent phase variation on the optical pulses. The activation of the phase modulator is synchronized with the passage of the optical pulse therethough, thereby efficiently reducing the RF power necessary to operate the device.
US07974318B2

The present invention relates in particular to the field of lasers and in particular to a laser source having a neodymium-doped crystal (2; 23) or fiber and pumpable by pumping means (3; 25) and a non-linear Raman effect converter stimulated in methane (4; 32), characterized in that the crystal (2; 23) or fiber pumped by said pumping means (3; 25) is able to emit a laser radiation at a wavelength between 1.31 and 1.36 μm and in that the Raman converter (4; 32) is able to convert the radiation generated by the crystal (2; 23) or by the fiber into at least one second radiation (7; 36) with a wavelength between 2 and 2.3 μm.
US07974314B2

Systems and methods are described herein that cause data from asynchronous data sources to be provided with a timestamp that corresponds to a common time base. A trigger board can be used to control synchronized data sources, and can generate timestamps when data is collected by the synchronized data sources. Unsynchronized data sources can generate data independent of the trigger board. System timestamps are generated each time data from the synchronized data source and the unsynchronized data source is received. Values of the system timestamp can be modified, and can be replaced by timestamps that correspond to the time base used by the trigger board.
US07974313B2

A system and method for intermediating an audio/video (A/V) stream between a data network and an IEEE 1394 network are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, an A/V stream of an IP network is provided to a device connected to the IEEE 1394 network in real time, or the A/V stream of the IP network is once stored and then is provided to the device connected to the IEEE 1394 network when a viewer desires to view the A/V stream. The A/V stream can be provided to the viewer irrespective of the format parser, codec, transmission protocol, and transmission control protocol, required for the transrecorder's reception of the A/V stream from the media server or for the transrecorder's transmission of the A/V stream to the display device. Also, diverse A/V streams provided from the server of the data network can be stored, and then can be provided to the viewer through the display device whenever the display device connected to the IEEE 1394 network requests the A/V stream.
US07974311B2

The present invention relates to a method for configuring addresses in a packet switched data communication system. The method comprises providing a logical network with at least two network elements, a network element comprising at least one sub-element. The method further comprises configuring a temporary address for an interface of a sub-element, retrieving an identifier of the network element and defining an address for the interface of the sub-element by including the identifier of the network element to the temporary address.
US07974309B2

In an ATM exchange, a cell transmission control section transmits an ATM cell to a transmission path of an ATM network. A traffic monitor monitors traffic of the cell transmissions. A statistical process section performs a temporal statistical process on the result of the traffic monitoring using a clock and a memory. A CAC produces an instruction for traffic control over a transmission terminal based on the result of the statistical process. A UPC controls traffic of a transmission path from the transmission terminal in accordance with the instruction.
US07974308B2

A system and method are provided for implementing CESOP inexpensively yet effectively implemented across an MPLS or an IP network. A Zarlink chip provides CESOP functionality, providing a TDM pseudowire by converting TDM streams into Ethernet packets. These Ethernet packets can be processed by a Marvell chip, which has the ability to perform QoS functions on the packets. The Marvell chip converts the Ethernet packets into MPLS or IP packets for transmission over a packet network. Use of a single virtual circuit label, invisible to the packet network for routing purposes, within the Ethernet packet allows Marvell chips at each end of the emulated circuit to tie traffic to a particular customer and to thereby apply appropriate QoS constraints.
US07974305B2

Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. For data-only switches (i.e. non-PoE), a midspan device is connected between the data-only switch and the PD devices so as to inject the DC power for the PD devices. The midspan device includes a combination data and management port that communicates both high speed data packets and management packets with the data-only switch. The combination data/management port obviates the need for a dedicated management port on both the midspan and the data-only switch. This eliminates the need to use an extra port on the data switch thus making better port utilization at the data switch as well as lowing the cost of the midspan.
US07974295B2

The invention provides a method and system for routing a message or a set of messages or a session from a first equipment connected or registered to a first network, to a second equipment connected or registered to a second network. The first network includes a network entity which checks requirements of the message or set of messages or session, and decides on the routing depending on the check result. The checked requirements may include media requirements of the message or set of messages or requested session. The checked requirements can also include QoS requirements of the message or set of messages or requested session.
US07974294B2

A system and method for feature context transfer store all currently “active” feature contexts locally at an Access Router (AR), and store all “inactive” feature contexts centrally in a main database. The main database can be accessed by all the ARs within the same administrative domain. When a new microflow becomes active, its active feature contexts are brought from the main database and loaded into the local directory, thus replacing any inactive feature contexts that are not needed at the time.
US07974292B1

A method and apparatus for providing a method to enable subscribers of broadband access services, such as Digital Subscriber Loop based or Cable based broadband access services, to dynamically reconfigure their access arrangements as a function of the application they invoke are disclosed. Subscribers that subscribe to a basic amount of bandwidth can dynamically increase their bandwidth allocation when they invoke a voice or video application by simply requesting the application. The present invention provides a method for broadband service providers to dynamically adjust access bandwidth allocation for subscribers by detecting signaling messages, such as application request setup messages and disconnect messages.
US07974288B2

Data traffic is scheduled by, in a first scheduler, selecting a source of traffic from a plurality of sources of traffic, each source being associated with a second scheduler, in a second scheduler associated with the selected source of traffic, selecting a type of traffic from a plurality of types of traffic within the source selected by the first scheduler, and transmitting data of the selected type and source. Identifying and creating tunnels between endpoints in a network for optimum data traffic method and apparatus.
US07974287B2

A method for processing an audio signal, comprising the steps of extracting an ancillary signal for generating the audio signal, an extension signal included in the ancillary signal, and header identification information indicating whether a header is included in the ancillary signal from a received bit stream, reading length information of the extension signal from the header if the header is included in the ancillary signal according to the header identification information, skipping decoding of the extension signal or not using a result of the decoding based on the length information, and generating the audio signal using the ancillary signal. Accordingly, in case of processing the audio signal by the present invention, it is able to reduce a corresponding load of operation to enable efficient processing and enhance a sound quality.
US07974281B2

The present invention relates to a multiplexer, a multiplexing method, a program, and a recording medium, whereby TS packets encoded with different encoding methods can be multiplexed. In the event of multiplexing each TS packet of a BS audio TS 173 wherein a BS audio ES 171 encoded with a first encoder is subjected to TS packetizing, and each TS packet of an HQ audio TS 183 wherein an HQ audio ES 181 encoded with a second encoder is subjected to TS packetizing, a control unit assumes a first virtual decoder capable of decoding a BS audio ES alone, and a second virtual decoder capable of decoding an HQ audio ES alone, and determines TS packets to be multiplexed based on an elementary buffer of each virtual decoder, a data transfer rate for the elementary buffer, and multiplexing constraints for random access. The present invention can be applied to a multiplexer configured to multiplex TS packets.
US07974272B2

A methods and apparatus for remote management of switching network nodes in a stack via in-band messaging are presented. Switching nodes in the stack default to reserved switching node identifiers and stacking ports default to a blocking state upon startup, restart, and reset. Each command frame received via a blocking state is forwarded to a command engine at each switching node and is acknowledged with the current switching node identifier. Each acknowledgement frame bearing the reserved network node identifier triggers configuration of the acknowledging switching node. Switching nodes and the management processor track interrupt state vectors regarding events. An interrupt acknowledgement process is employed to track raised interrupts. Configuration of switching node is performed via command frames transmitted by the management processor and destined to a command engine associated with the switching node. Services provided by the management processor are requested via control frames destined to the switching node to which the management processor is attached and destined to the management port thereof. The advantages are derived from engineered switching node deployments wherein an appropriate number of management processors, less than the number of switching nodes in the stack, are employed to provide services to corresponding switching nodes in the stack, based on processing, control, and configuration bandwidth requirements. The in-band configuration and control of the switching nodes in the stack reduce deployment, configuration, management, and maintenance overheads.
US07974254B2

Embodiments are directed to transmitting L1 pre-signaling information with predetermined modulation and code rate such that L1 pre-signaling information can be received without preliminary knowledge on the network. L1 pre-signaling information makes it possible to receive the L1 signaling information, data link layer information, and notification data that may have configurable code rates and modulation. Therefore, L1 pre-signaling information can be thought of as signaling metadata (i.e., information about other signaling information). L1 signaling is divided into pre-signaling and signaling parts. The pre-signaling part includes parameters used for receiving the L1 signaling information. L1 pre-signaling signaling enables the receiver to receive the signaling itself (L1 signaling and data link layer information) by informing the receiver about the type of modulation, coding, and the like, used to transmit the L1 signaling, data link layer, and notification information.
US07974250B2

A power saving apparatus and a method in a wireless communication system are provided. An Access Point (AP) buffers transmission frames for sleep-mode stations in a sleep-mode buffer. Upon wakeup from a sleep mode, a station sends a first control information frame indicating wakeup to the access point. The access point sends a second control information frame including a requested transmission length in response to the first control information frame to the station. The station generates a third control information frame, aggregates the third control information frame and user data frames to a first protocol data unit, and sends it to the AP. Then the AP generates a fourth control information frame, aggregates the fourth control information frame and buffered frames to a second protocol data unit, and sends it to the station.
US07974247B2

For transmitting transmission data generated by a transmission data generator of a communication terminal device, a packet unit determining unit [17] determines a packet unit for a lowest data communication rate for the transmission of the transmission data, among packet units (packet sizes) that can be recognized by a destination communication terminal device and that can be transmitted from the communication terminal device. A packet generator [18] packetizes the transmission data according to the packet unit determined by the packet unit determining unit [17], and transmits the packetized transmission data to the destination communication terminal device.
US07974244B2

A method and system for reducing the overall noise floor in a wireless communication system, subsystem or network are disclosed, which reduces the output gain levels of specific uplink antenna transmitters during non-signal time periods (e.g., rest mode) when no communication signals are being conveyed between the mobile unit(s) and base station involved. The output gain level of each such uplink antenna's transmitter is decreased by a predetermined amount, which reduces the noise contribution of that uplink antenna, but also maintains the gain at a high enough level so that a signal can still pass from a mobile unit to the base station via that link, for example, during a call initiation attempt.
US07974238B2

Communications between a central station and plural nodes is managed at the central station. The central station has an answer channel, a number of data channels, and a data channel manager. A node transmits a channel request, which is received by the answer channel. The answer channel queries the data channel manager, which determines if a data channel is available. If so, then the answer channel passes the node's request to the open data channel, which then communicates with the node. The answer channel is freed to handle channel requests from other nodes. The node is unaware of the passing off as the node does not change the address for the central station. A data channel is freed to communicate with other nodes by either receiving a disconnect message from the node or by timing out the connection.
US07974227B1

A relay terminal for relaying communication signals from originator user terminals to destination user terminals stores relay-authorization-and-priority data for a plurality of user terminals having respective identification codes; detects the identification codes in communication signals sent from a plurality of originator terminals; processes the detected identification codes in combination with the stored data to determine if immediate relaying of the received communication signals to respective identified destination terminals is authorized; and relays the received communication signals immediately to only those of the identified destination terminals to which immediate relaying is so authorized. Directional-position data associated with a given originator terminal derived by processing portions of a signal received from such originator terminal is processed to form a beam path for communications with the given originator terminal.
US07974226B2

Wireless communication techniques are described in which control and data are separated. In an implementation, a method is described which includes sending data packets on a first wireless channel and sending control data relating to the data packets on a second wireless channel having a data rate that is lower than a data rate of the first wireless channel.
US07974222B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide link-local IPv4 addressing across multiple interfaces of a network-node. During operation, the network-node broadcasts an address resolution protocol (ARP) request packet on multiple interfaces which asks for the hardware address of a network node whose link-local IPv4 address is Y. In response, the network-node receives an ARP-reply packet on an interface from a target network-node. If Y is present in the ARP cache and is associated with a different interface, the source network-node chooses a winner interface, and updates the ARP cache so that Y is associated with the winner interface. The network-node sends one or more contention-resolution packets on the loser interface to cause a loser network-node to choose another link-local IPv4 address for itself.
US07974219B2

A system, and a corresponding method, implemented on a suitable computing device, provides for troubleshooting a network using path topology. The system includes a network node manager that generates and displays a path topology. The path topology a most probable path between two end point elements in the network. The most probable path includes one or more network elements disposed between the two end point elements, and the path topology includes identities of each of the network elements. The system also includes a health report generator, coupled to the network node manager, that receives identities of each of the network elements, determines summary performance information for each of the network elements, and displays the summary performance information.
US07974210B2

A multi-signal analyzer (1) includes an AD converter (11) for simultaneously receiving a plurality of time series signals representing physical and chemical phenomena and subjecting the signals to AD conversion, a delay time calculation unit (19) for calculating the delay time between arbitrary two signals x(1) and y(1) input to the AD converter (11), a time axis adjustment unit (39) for advancing or delaying the time axis of one of the arbitrary two signals according to the delay time calculated by the delay time calculation unit (19) to thereby make the two signals to have the same time axis, and a data analyzer (41) for performing analysis such as determining a mutual correlation coefficient for the two signals made to have the same time axis.
US07974206B2

A method is provided for establishing a secured connection and to corresponding SFC equipment, CFM equipment, and terminal requiring a computer software program. More specifically, a method is provided for transmitting a multimedia flow from or to a terminal, that includes: a step of establishing a signalling between the terminal and a signalling flow control equipment; and a step of implementing, between the terminal and a multimedia flow control equipment, a mechanism for crossing an address translation equipment. The method further includes a step of checking that the terminal requiring execution of the implementation step, is the same terminal as the one involved in execution of the signalling establishment step.
US07974200B2

Real-time data (e.g. video) is streamed over packet networks (e.g. the Internet). Streamed video is provided without the start-up delay by transmitting data from a video streamer to the video viewer more rapidly than the video viewer consumes the data and using the excess data to build a buffer at the video viewer. When a suitable sized buffer is built the transmission rate of data to the buffer may be reduced. In order to deliver the best quality material for the available bandwidth, the supply of video data may be switched to a higher bit-rate source when the reservoir is filled. Fluctuations in network throughput may be accommodated during the transmission of data on a fine scale by adjusting the transmission rate of the data and on a coarse scale by switching between data streams encoded at different bit-rates. Fluctuations in network throughput are determined by counting the number of missing packets at the video viewer which information may then be fed back to the video streamer to adjust the flow of data accordingly.
US07974197B2

The present invention provides a method implemented in a mobile unit configured to communicate with at least one base station over an uplink. The method includes receiving, at the mobile unit and from the base station, a first attribute indicative of a traffic-to-pilot power ratio and a second attribute indicative of a resource provision limit. The first attribute is formed based on a priority weight associated with best effort communication with the mobile unit. The second attribute is formed based on a maximum throughput associated with best effort communication with the mobile unit. The method also includes modifying an uplink transmission power based upon the first attribute and information indicative of congestion at the base station.
US07974191B2

A method, apparatus and system for the synchronized combining of packet data in a network includes sorting data packets received during a predetermined time period into groups according to for which communications device of the network the received data packets are intended. The data packets in each of the groups intended for the respective communications devices are respectively time aligned and orthogonally combined. The respectively combined data packets intended for each of the specific communications devices are subsequently transmitted to the intended device using a single header and in a substantially compressed format.
US07974188B2

A repeater for sending and receiving a routing message for changing routing information determines whether a routing message received from a first adjacent repeater which is disposed adjacent to the repeater is to be sent or not. If it is judged that the routing message is not to be sent, then the repeater generates a pseudo-routing message and sends the generated pseudo-routing message, instead of the routing message received from the first adjacent repeater, to a second adjacent repeater which is disposed adjacent to the repeater.
US07974187B2

In a data transmission system having a plurality of transmitters connected in a ring configuration, a band monitoring unit in each of the plurality of transmitters monitors the bandwidths of a first and a second transmission path between one of the transmitters that comprise the ring and a first and a second transmitter on both sides of said transmitter, respectively. A protection execution unit executes protection processing by setting up a bypass path for each of the first and second transmission paths. Further, when the bandwidth of the first or second transmission path acquired by the band monitoring unit decreases below a threshold, and only when any one of the transmitters comprising the ring and the other transmitters is not executing protection processing, the protection execution unit executes protection processing for the first or second transmission path which is determined to have a bandwidth smaller than the threshold.
US07974175B2

An information storage medium and a recording/reproducing apparatus and method are provided with the ability to extend at least one middle area of an information storage medium comprising two or more recording layers so as to ensure optimal data recording/reproduction. The information storage medium comprises a plurality of recording layers, each including a user data area for recording user data and at least one middle area used by a recording/reproducing apparatus that records/reproduces data on the information storage medium to move among two recording layers, wherein the at least one middle area is extended when the information storage medium is finalized. As a result, when an information storage medium that contains an OPC area for obtaining optimum recording conditions (such as recording power) in an outer circumference thereof is finalized, and if a middle area of the disk is not large enough, the middle area can flexibly be extended.
US07974172B2

An optical-pickup apparatus comprising: a laser-light source; a diffraction grating including first-and-second regions of periodic structures different in phase from each other and a third region whose periodic structure is different in phase from the first-and-second regions; an objective lens focusing main-and-sub-luminous fluxes generated by the diffraction grating on the same optical-disc track; and a photodetector to receive reflected light of the main-and-sub-luminous fluxes from an optical disc and output a detection signal for generating main-and-sub-push-pull signals, a relationship between an incident light width in the objective lens corresponding to the third region and pupil diameters of the objective lens corresponding to first-and-second wavelengths of laser lights being adjusted so that a ratio of minimum value to maximum value of a differential-push-pull-signal is at substantially 50% or more and a ratio of sub-push-pull-signal level to main-push-pull-signal level is at substantially 15% or more, in both cases of the laser lights.
US07974165B2

The effect of detection errors when detecting if a disc recording medium is in a disc drive is eliminated. A control unit 17 detects if an optical disc 11 was supplied to an optical disc drive 13 based on the operation of the transportation unit 16, causes the optical disc drive 13 to detect if an optical disc 11 is inside the disc drive, and compares the results of these detection operations. If the results do not match, the control unit 17 causes the optical disc drive 13 to repeat the operation discharging and loading the optical disc 11, and causes the optical disc drive 13 to again detect if an optical disc 11 is present after the discharge and loading operation. The control unit 17 then determines if the new detection result from the optical disc drive 13 and the detection result related to supplying the optical disc 11 to the optical disc drive 13 match, and based on the result of this evaluation detects an optical disc drive 13 operating error.
US07974154B2

A technique includes operating a seismic vibrator, including driving the seismic vibrator at different frequencies and driving forces. The technique includes monitoring a parameter affected by the operation of the seismic vibrator during the frequency sweep and based at least in part on the monitored parameter, determining a maximum driving force profile for the seismic vibrator.
US07974145B2

A semiconductor memory device is capable of transferring address signals at high speed and improving the operation reliability even though an input rate of an address signal increases, and thus a degradation of an operation speed caused by applying a bus inversion scheme can be prevented and power consumption can be reduced. The semiconductor memory device includes a bus inversion decoding block configured to determine whether a plurality of address signals are inverted or not by decoding an indication control signal, and an address buffer block configured to receive two address signals per one cycle of an external clock, align the received address signals for parallel processing, and transfer the address signals or inverted address signals according to an output of the bus inversion decoding block.
US07974131B2

A nonvolatile memory wherein remaining lifetimes of memory cells can be accurately determined is provided, the nonvolatile memory includes: plural memory cell groups, assigned with respective addresses, arranged for respective words and used for storing one word of data; plural dummy cell groups also assigned the respective addresses and having different ranks of rewriting lifetimes; a writing circuit which, when writing data into a memory cell group having a given address, also writes the data into a dummy cell group having the same address at the same time; a lifetime recognizing circuit which recognizes an estimated number of past writing times by determining whether each dummy cell group can be successfully accessed; and a control section which controls operations of the memory cell groups and the dummy cell groups in response to an externally given command.
US07974129B2

A method and apparatus that provides the ability to control programming pulses having different widths and/or voltages in a flash memory device. The widths and/or voltage levels of programming pulses are set to achieve programming of all memory cells of an array using a minimum number of programming pulses.
US07974125B2

A flash memory device includes multiple memory blocks, a decoder configured to select at least one of the memory blocks in response to block select signals, a controller configured to generate the block select signals in response to a block address and to generate a flag signal when the block address corresponds to a bad block, and an output buffer configured to output fixed data in response to the flag signal indicating that the block address corresponds to the bad block. When the block address corresponds to a bad block, the controller generates the block select signals to cause the decoder to interrupt selection of a memory block corresponding to the block address.
US07974121B2

Apparatus and method for write current compensation in a non-volatile memory cell, such as but not limited to spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) or resistive random access memory (RRAM). In accordance with some embodiments, a non-volatile memory cell has a resistive sense element (RSE) coupled to a switching device, the RSE having a hard programming direction and an easy programming direction opposite the hard programming direction. A voltage boosting circuit includes a capacitor which adds charge to a nominal non-zero voltage supplied by a voltage source to a node to generate a temporarily boosted voltage. The boosted voltage is applied to the switching device when the RSE is programmed in the hard programming direction.
US07974120B2

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a spin device includes an intermediate semiconductor region arranged between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is adapted to provide a current having a first degree of spin polarization to the intermediate semiconductor region, and wherein the second terminal is adapted to output the current having a second degree of spin polarization. The spin device further includes a spin selective scattering structure abutting the intermediate semiconductor region, the spin selective scattering structure being adapted such that the first degree of spin polarization is altered to be the second degree, wherein the spin selective scattering structure comprises a control electrode being electrically insulated from the intermediate semiconductor region, and wherein the control electrode is adapted to apply an electrical field perpendicular to a direction of the current through the intermediate semiconductor region to control a magnitude of the current.
US07974118B2

A resistance variable memory device includes a memory cell array, a sense amplifier circuit, and a column selection circuit. The memory cell array includes a plurality of block units and a plurality of word line drivers, where each of the block units is connected between adjacent word line drivers and includes a plurality of memory blocks. The sense amplifier circuit includes a plurality of sense amplifier units, where each of the sense amplifier units provides a read current to a corresponding block unit and includes a plurality of sense amplifiers. The column selection circuit is connected between the memory cell array and the sense amplifier circuit and selects at least one of the plurality of memory blocks in response to a column selection signal to apply the read current from the sense amplifier circuit to the selected memory block.
US07974117B2

A non-volatile memory cell with a programmable unipolar switching element, and a method of programming the memory element are disclosed. In some embodiments, the memory cell comprises a programmable bipolar resistive sense memory element connected in series with a programmable unipolar resistive sense switching element. The memory element is programmed to a selected resistance state by application of a selected write current in a selected direction through the cell, wherein a first resistance level is programmed by passage of a write current in a first direction and wherein a second resistance level is programmed by passage of a write current in an opposing second direction. The switching element is programmed to a selected resistance level to facilitate access to the selected resistance state of the memory element.
US07974115B2

A switching device disposed in a substrate is turned on and a program current is applied to a fuse electrically connected to a switching device, thereby cutting the fuse. The fuse includes a first electrode electrically connected to the switching device, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and a chalcogenide pattern disposed between the first and second electrodes.
US07974111B2

It is an object to provide a DC/DC converter that can stabilize power supply potential in use. It is another object to provide a semiconductor device in which circuit operation is stabilized. In addition to a power supply that supplies potential to be reference potential of boosting in a DC/DC converter, a power supply for charging a capacitor in the DC/DC converter is provided. Accordingly, loads to the power supply that supplies the reference potential of boosting can be reduced. Further, as power for charging the capacitor in the DC/DC converter, power supplied from not an antenna but a secondary battery is used. More specifically, a secondary battery is used as a power supply that supplies power to a buffer circuit or an inverter circuit. Thus, power supplied from the antenna can be stabilized. In other words, operation of a logic circuit and an analog circuit can be stabilized.
US07974108B2

A synchronous rectifying circuit is provided for power converter. An integrated synchronous rectifier has a rectifying terminal, a ground terminal a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The rectifying terminal is coupled to secondary side of a transformer. The ground terminal coupled to output of the power converter. A power transistor is connected between the rectifying terminal and the ground terminal. The first input terminal and the second input terminal are coupled to receive a pulse signal for turning on/off the power transistor. A pulse-signal generation circuit includes an input terminal coupled to receive the switching signal for switching the transformer of the power converter. A first output terminal and a second output terminal of the pulse-signal generation circuit generate the pulse signal. An isolation device is coupled between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and the first output terminal and the second output terminal.
US07974107B2

A hybrid constant current control system that uses both pulse width modulation (PWM) and pulse frequency modulation (PFM) control. When transitioning from constant voltage mode to constant current mode the present invention can continue to control using PWM. Thereafter, when the voltage has dropped, the present invention smoothly transitions to PFM mode. The point of transition is based upon the switching frequency and the lowest rated voltage of operation. The system and method avoids very short (narrow) Ton times which ensures accurate constant current (CC) control with bipolar junction transistor (BJT) devices. The present invention also avoids acoustic noise because the switching frequency is maintained at a high enough level to avoid such acoustic noise even when the energy transferred through the transformer is still substantial and the output voltage is not too low. In addition the output current limit is insensitive to variation in the inductance-input voltage ratio, and is minimized against leakage inductance.
US07974105B2

An equipment cabinet (2) includes an equipment rack (3) for mounting equipment (20), and includes organizational elements for organizing cables within the cabinet. The cables may be organized to reduce impeding airflow to or from the equipment, and/or to reduce unwanted bending of the cables themselves. The organizational elements may include one or more of: a trunk cable (40) including a furcation plug (45) and universal clip (47); a furcation bracket—either vertical (60) or horizontal (80); a termination panel (100); a trunk cable manager (140, 200); and/or an accessory bracket (180). The organizational elements may be used in various combinations with one another, and may be provided in a kit.
US07974103B2

A signal transfer member for a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus includes a power line for receiving power from an external source and for driving a semiconductor chip disposed on the transfer member or the display apparatus. The power line is bent so as to incorporate a serpentine structure, which enables the length of the power line to be easily adjusted and results in the line being longer than a power line formed with a relatively straight structure. Accordingly, the length of the power line can be adjusted to take into account the respective impedances of the chip and the external source so as to suppress electromagnetic waves in the power line. This prevents the creation of noise, distortion of signals, damage to the semiconductor chip, and disconnection of the input interconnection thereof that are caused by the electromagnetic waves, so that product yields are thereby improved.
US07974095B2

A power source apparatus includes a power source module which is formed of a plurality of power source elements, a case which houses the power source module and a cooling liquid, a fan which is placed in the case in a state in which the fan is immersed in the cooling liquid together with the power source module, the fan forming a laminar flow of the cooling liquid, the laminar flow having a width at least substantially the same as a length of the power source element in a length direction of the power source element.
US07974094B2

An outdoor equipment cabinet includes a housing with an equipment compartment therein. An intake air vent and an exit air vent are formed in the housing. A fan is mounted within the housing for pulling air into the intake air vent, moving an air stream through the equipment compartment, and pushing air out of the exit air vent. A membrane is disposed adjacent the intake air vent. The membrane allows air to pass therethrough, but resists the passage of water and contaminants therethrough. In some embodiments, a baffling plate is disposed to direct the air stream within the equipment compartment, and/or the fan speed is controlled by a temperature sensor, and/or a clogging of the membrane is monitored and reported, and/or the intake air vent is located in a first door and the exit air vent is located in a second door of the cabinet.
US07974092B2

An computer enclosure includes a chassis having a bottom wall and a rear wall perpendicular to the bottom wall, a cover coupled to the rear wall of the chassis, two securing posts configured to extend through securing holes of the rear wall protruding from the cover, and a securing member pivotally attached to the rear wall of the chassis and capable of being rotated about a pivot axis. The securing member includes two opposite extending blocking ends for respectively engaging with the two securing posts of the cover, in which one blocking end is connected to a resilient member to provide an elastic force for urging the securing member to engage with the securing posts.
US07974089B2

A fixing mechanism for fixing a storage device to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a bracket. The fixing mechanism includes two pairs of latching members extending upward from the bracket, a limiting member having a pair of resilient limiting portions, and two pairs of fixing members fixing the limiting member to the storage device. The two pairs of fixing members engage the corresponding latching members. The pair of the resilient limiting portions resists the corresponding latching members to secure the two pairs of the fixing members. The storage device is detached from the bracket depending on the resilient deformation of the resilient limiting portions.
US07974086B2

An attachment unit for an information storage device includes a casing that houses the information storage device and a fixed base on which the casing is detachably mounted. The casing includes a casing body, a pair of rotation supporting shaft portions, a pair of first engagement portions, and a latch portion. The fixed base includes a substantially L-shaped groove, a pair of second engagement portions, and a latch fitting portion. In a state where the casing is mounted on the fixed base, (i) the first engagement portions are in partial contact with the second engagement portions in the first direction, (ii) the casing body is sandwiched in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and (iii) the rotation supporting shaft portions and the latch portion are in partial contact with the grooves and the latch fitting portion, respectively, in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction.
US07974077B2

A solid electrolytic capacitor includes a capacitor element, an anode lead frame, a cathode lead frame, and a mold resin portion. The anode lead frame includes an anode terminal portion and a rising portion. The rising portion is formed integral with the anode terminal portion, and extends from the anode terminal portion through the mold resin portion toward the anode portion, and is connected to the anode portion. At the rising portion, a catching recess and a holding portion are formed and, in addition, a first slit is formed downward from the catching recess. Thus, a solid electrolytic capacitor allowing highly accurate and reliable attachment of the capacitor element to the lead frame without using any additional member is provided.
US07974076B2

A desalination system and method of desalinating liquids are provided. The desalination system includes a supercapacitor desalination unit. A first liquid source to be desalinated is provided to the supercapacitor desalination unit while the system is in a charging mode of operation. A second liquid source comprising saturated or supersaturated liquid is provided to the supercapacitor desalination unit when the system is in a discharging mode of operation.
US07974075B2

A method for manufacturing an electrode of a supercapacitor is provided. First, a poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) fabric is provided. The PAN fabric includes a plurality of PAN fibers each having a diameter of about 50-500 nm. Then, the PAN fabric undergoes a heat treatment so that the PAN fibers are carbonized to form a carbon fiber textile. The carbon fiber fabric includes a plurality of carbon fibers each having a diameter of about 50-500 nm. The surface of each carbon fiber is nano-porous having a plurality of nano pores of about 1-50 nm in diameter. The total surface area of the nano pores account for about 85-95% of the total surface area of the carbon fibers. The carbon fiber fabric is then cut to acquire the electrode of the supercapacitor.
US07974074B2

The invention relates to a coin-type electric double-layered capacitor, including activated carbon electrode layers, an electrolytic solution, and a separator between a metal-made top vessel and a metal-made bottom vessel, and obtained by caulking and sealing the top vessel and the bottom vessel with a gasket and a sealing agent, wherein the edges of the top and bottom vessels overlap each other by 0.1 to 0.5 mm. Preferably, the injection amount of the electrolytic solution is in a range of 0.1 to 10% of the void volume in the electrode.
US07974058B2

A group protection module for a switchgear arrangement is provided in order to protect a group of load feeders, each having a contactor for connecting or disconnecting a respective load. The group protection module has a circuit breaker for providing short-circuit protection, said circuit breaker being connected to a supply-side input and to a load-side output of the group protection module for connection to a power supply system and for connecting the group of load feeders. The group protection module has a safety evaluation unit via which the circuit breaker can be tripped if a status signal detectable by the respective load feeders indicates that one of the contactors of the load feeders can no longer be de-energized. The group protection module is implemented as a constructional unit.
US07974049B2

An integrated circuit radio transceiver and method therefor includes a linear regulator an output transistor for producing a current into an output node of the regulator wherein an amplification block is operable to produce a bias signal to a gate terminal of the output transistor to operably bias the output transistor to produce the current into the output node of the regulator. A current steering amplification block is operably disposed to steer current in/out of the gate of the output transistor (depending on device type) based upon the current being conducted through the output node of the regulator exceeding a specified threshold. The current steering amplification block further includes a current sinking element operably disposed to sink a specified amount of current to define the specified threshold.
US07974045B2

Micro-actuator assembly including micro-actuator mount coupled to micro-actuator bridge to provide merged footprint with slider and micro-actuator bridge gap. Flexure finger including micro-actuator assembly for coupling to slider. Head gimbal assembly including flexure finger coupled to the slider. A head stack assembly including at least one of the head gimbal assemblies coupled to a head stack. Hard disk drive including head stack assembly. The invention includes manufacturing the micro-actuator assembly, the flexure finger, the head gimbal assembly, the head stack assembly, and the hard disk drive, as well as these items as products of the invention's manufacturing processes.
US07974041B2

The base improves manufacturing efficiency and yield and has an advantage in cost. The base includes a panel having a through-hole, a motor holder, having a cylindrical shape that protrudes from a first face of the panel in a thickness direction of the panel, integrally formed on the panel corresponding to the through-hole, the motor holder holds a motor fitted to an inner circumferential surface of the motor holder through adhesives, and the motor holder is provided with at least one depression pressure-formed on the inner circumferential surface thereof, thereby eliminating cutting processing, facilitating accuracy control, suppressing nonconformity such as corrosion because no base material is exposed, requiring no measures against burs and the like, improving production capacity and yield, and resulting in cost advantages, too.
US07974040B2

A pass-through mechanism that couples a first linear tape library string to a second linear tape library string is maintained. A first robotic assembly associated with the first linear tape library string places a tape from the first linear tape library string into the pass-through mechanism. The pass-through mechanism moves the tape to a position where the tape can be removed by a second robotic assembly associated with the second linear tape library string. The second robotic assembly removes the tape from the pass-through mechanism and places the tape into the second linear tape library string.
US07974039B1

A disk drive to reduce head instability during disk drive manufacturing is disclosed. The disk drive comprises: a disk; a dynamic flying height (DFH) read/write head; a flying height actuator to control the spacing between the DFH read/write head and the disk; and a controller. The controller controls operations in the disk drive including applying a sloped increasing power between a first voltage and a second voltage to move the DFH read/write head towards the disk.
US07974035B2

Timing recovery optimization using disk clock. A novel means is presented to perform and provide control of the sampling frequency of a signal that is read from a disk within a hard disk drive (HDD). Two separate, yet somewhat cooperating control loops are employed to provide feedback control of the sampling frequency of the signal that is read from disk. A timing recovery loop and a disk clock loop operate in conjunction with one another according to some desired manner (which can be predetermined or adaptive) to ensure that the sampling of the signal is performed to a very accurate degree. In one implementation, the timing recovery loop governs the sampling rate until the disk clock loop has locked, from which time either the disk clock loop govern the sampling or some combination of the signals provided from the two loops govern the sampling.
US07974021B2

A lens tube includes a standard member, a lens, a guide, and a pushing member. The standard member has a standard surface via which the standard member is to be mounted to a camera main body. The lens retainer retains at least one lens and is connected to the standard member movably along an optical axis of the at least one lens. The guide is provided facing the lens retainer in a radial direction of the at least one lens to guide the lens retainer along the optical axis. The pushing member pushes the lens retainer and the guide in opposite directions.
US07974015B2

A center lens for collecting light in a center range and left/right lenses for collecting light in left/right ranges are supported in one plane to form center and left/right unit images. A microprocessor combines the unit images into a wide-angle image. The left/right optical lenses are placed on left-right direction line parallel to the wide-angle direction, while the center lens is placed distant from the left/right lenses above the direction line. Prisms are placed in front of the left/right lenses, and a toroidal lens to vertically modify the light path for light convergence onto each lens is placed in front of the prisms. The toroidal lens has a vertically curved surface having an axis coinciding with the direction line, and a horizontally cured surface having an axis coinciding with a vertical line passing through the center lens. This device can obtain a wide-angle image with a vertically large picture angle.
US07974013B2

An optical lens component comprises a fixed diaphragm, a lens group and a filter. The lens group comprises a first, a second and a third lens which is coaxial and arranged successively from object to image. The fixed diaphragm is located on the front of the first lens and the filter is located on the back of the third lens. The first lens comprises a first surface and a second surface; the second lens comprises a third surface and a fourth surface; and the third lens comprises a fifth surface and a sixth surface. The above six surfaces are all aspheric surfaces.
US07974012B2

A zoom lens system has a front lens group and a rear lens group along the optical axis and in order from the object side. The rear lens group has a first lens unit having a positive refracting power, a second lens unit having a negative refracting power, and a third lens unit having a positive refracting power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a space between the front lens group and the first lens unit varies, a space between the first lens unit and the second lens unit increases, and a space between the second lens unit and the third lens unit decreases. At least a part of the second lens unit is movable so as to have a component in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
US07974005B2

A screen for use in image presentations comprises an array of transmissive elongated prisms. The screen is capable of delivering incident light, having an incident angle within a specific incident angle range, to the viewing area, while preventing ambient light, having an incident angle within another angle range, from being directed to the viewing area. According to one embodiment, in operation, the screen, an image source, and the viewing area are positioned such that the light from the image source is directed to the viewing area.
US07974000B2

Provided are an optical shutter including charged particles, and a display apparatus using the optical shutter. The optical shutter may block or transmit light by changing the position of the charged particle according to a direction an electrical field is applied. Also, a new type of display apparatus may be realized by using the optical shutter as a pixel of the display apparatus. The charged particles react very quickly to the change of the electrical field, and thus, a display apparatus having high operational speed may be realized.
US07973999B2

In accordance with particular embodiments, a system for displaying modulated light includes a spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of micromirrors having a pixel pitch less than 17 micrometers. The system also includes an intermediate voltage generator operable to generate a negative voltage and a positive voltage. The system further includes at least two level shifters coupled to the intermediate voltage generator. The system additionally includes a reset driver coupled to the at least two level shifters and to at least a subset of the plurality of micromirrors. The reset driver is operable to drive the subset of the micromirrors. The spatial light modulator, the intermediate voltage generator, the at least two level shifters, and the reset driver are all incorporated on a common substrate.
US07973982B2

An assembly for transferring information to and/or from flexible sheet media in a highly advantageous curved configuration is disclosed. The sheet material includes a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces. The assembly includes support means for supporting the sheet the curved configuration across its width, having the first surface inwardly oriented with respect to the curved configuration. Thereafter, moving means moves the flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a read/write path generally parallel to the sheet material length and transverse to the direction of curvature. A read/write arrangement is provided which is configured for reading and/or writing information across the width of the first surface of the sheet as the sheet is moved along the path in the curved configuration. In one feature, means is provided for rotationally moving the read/write arrangement in a predetermined way in the housing such that the read/write arrangement is in a confronting relationship with the first, inwardly oriented surface and cooperates with the movement provided by the sheet material moving means so as to cause the read/write arrangement to sequentially read information from and/or write information to the inwardly oriented, first surface of the sheet as the read/write arrangement traverses the width of the flexible sheet material while the latter is on the read/write path in the curved configuration. In another feature, a read and/or write operation may be performed on the second, outwardly oriented surface of the sheet material.
US07973980B2

A document discarding system includes: a document discarding device that discards a document; an image reading device that is used by a client requesting to discard the document; and a document managing device that can communicate with the document discarding device and the image reading device.
US07973979B2

Provided are methods and systems for centralizing an application process.
US07973976B2

A dither matrix generator includes: a main-cluster generator that generates at least one main-cluster in a matrix, the matrix including a plurality of cells, the main cluster area including a predetermined number of cells; a sparest searcher that searches a sparest area in the matrix, the sparest area being the area other than the area of main-cluster; a sub-cluster generator that generates at least one sub-cluster area, the sub-cluster area including a smaller number of cells than that of the main-cluster; a dither value allocator that allocates dither values to the plurality of cells of the matrix, the cells in the main-clusters having smaller dither values than those in the sub-cluster areas, the cells in the sub-cluster areas having smaller dither values than those in the areas other than the main-cluster and the sub-cluster areas.
US07973970B2

The present invention eliminates undesirable image defects caused during the preparation of pages for printing and folding, known as the bottling process. This is achieved by analyzing image characteristics, sorting out the image according to its characteristics, where necessary vectoring and editing the vectored characteristics, and finally completing the file conversion from a raster image to a Page Description Language (PDL) image. A first embodiment of the invention divides an image into small segments. A second embodiment of the invention enlarges existing image segments. A third embodiment of the invention enlarges existing image segments and sorts image segments according to their color attribute of transparency. A fourth embodiment of the invention divides a part of an image segment to small segments.
US07973969B2

The invention provides a printing apparatus that includes: a printing section; a display unit; a touch-sensitive panel that is overlaid on the display unit; a display controlling section; a three-primary-color correcting section that sets a corrected set of values that is recognized by the user as the apparent red, green, and blue base colors on the basis of a comparison made between the position of each of the red, green, and blue display cells that make up the red, green, and blue cell block and a touch position detected by the touch-sensitive panel, respectively; and a print controlling section that controls the printing section to print true red, green, and blue base colors as a color sample that is used when the three-primary-color correcting section performs correction.
US07973963B2

An image forming apparatus in which a control program can be loaded, the control program providing a service for image forming processing, said apparatus comprising: a memory unit configured to store (i) an operating system, (ii) an interpreter which provides an execution environment to execute the control program, runs on the operating system, and interprets the control program, (iii) a driver program for controlling image forming processing, and (iv) a function program, wherein the driver program operates a hardware resource unit which includes at least one of a printing unit and an image pickup unit, and wherein the function program (a) serves as an API (Application Programming Interface), (b) is defined between the control program and the driver program, and (c) is used by the control program.
US07973960B2

A document processing system is disclosed that is capable of processing both fixed-format and unfixed-format hand written paper documents. The document processing system includes an encoding unit that encodes a sheet ID for identifying a hand written first document on a sheet to generate a coded sheet ID; a decoding unit that decodes the coded sheet ID; a document-sheet ID association unit that associates the sheet ID with a document ID assigned to a computerized second document; a printing unit that acquires the sheet ID and prints the coded sheet ID on the first document; a sheet ID management unit that manages the sheet ID; an information acquisition unit that acquires the sheet ID decoded by the decoding unit, and hand-written data from the first document on which the coded sheet ID is printed; and a process-sheet ID association unit that associates the sheet ID with a process ID of a process for processing the hand-written data acquired by the information acquisition unit.
US07973958B2

An image forming apparatus for forming images by outputting plural image data in an order corresponding to an input order of plural input data is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes a data receiving part for receiving the input data, a priority determining part for determining priority of outputting the input data, a PDL process part having plural PDL interpretation parts including at least first and second PDL interpretation parts for performing a PDL process on the input data, and a PDL control part for controlling each of the plural PDL interpretation parts, wherein when a subsequent input data is determined to have a priority higher than that of a prior input data in a case where the first PDL interpretation part is performing a first PDL process on the prior input data, the PDL control part is configured to stop the first PDL process and cause the second PDL interpretation part to perform a second PDL process on the subsequent input data.
US07973956B2

A high speed printing method and apparatus are provided, in which provided print data is rendered and a rendered result in response to a print request of the print data is transmitted, and an image of the rendered result is formed, wherein the rendering of the provided print data is performed by a host, and the forming of the image of the rendered result is performed by an image forming device connected to the host. Accordingly, a host performs pre-rendering before a print request is input, and when the print request is input, an image forming device receives the rendered result from the host and prints the rendered result. Thus, the image forming device can perform a printing job at a high speed regardless of the amount of print data.
US07973946B2

A system and method for parsing data formatted in a plurality of encoding schemes at a printer is provided. The method comprises receiving data from at least one host computer at the printer, wherein at least a portion of the data is encoded in a plurality of encoding schemes. The method also includes determining a parser state of the data based on a plurality of characters and/or at least one printer control command associated with the plurality of encoding schemes.
US07973942B2

There is provided an optical displacement detection mechanism in which, even if a measurement object changes, a detection sensitivity and a ratio of a noise are adjustable without depending on optical characteristics such as reflectivity, or a shape and mechanical characteristics of a measurement object, an influence of a thermal deformation of the measurement object by an irradiated light to the measurement object can be made small, and a measurement accuracy can be ensured under optimum conditions. In an optical displacement detection mechanism comprising a light source irradiating a light to a cantilever becoming the measurement object, a light source drive circuit driving the light source, a photodetector receiving the light after irradiated to the cantilever from the light source to thereby detect an intensity of the light, and an amplifier amplifying a detection signal of the photodetector at a predetermined amplification rate, there is made such that, by providing a light intensity regulator and an amplification rate regulator, an irradiated light intensity to the cantilever and an amplification rate of the photodetector can be made variable.
US07973931B2

A method for determining the position of an edge bead removal line of a disk-like object having an edge area and an alignment mark on the edge area is disclosed, wherein the edge area including the edge bead removal line is imaged on a line-by-line basis, an intensity profile I of the imaged edge area including the edge bead removal line is obtained with a camera on a line-by-line basis, and the edge area and the alignment mark are detected, wherein the local intensity maxima I′max of the intensity profile I are plotted as points in a diagram, segment sets are formed in the diagram, the segment sets are fitted in ellipses, and a quality criterion qges is determined for each ellipse.
US07973928B2

The spectroscopic instrument includes a plurality of first lenses arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally; an aperture opening provided near a focal plane of each of the plurality of first lenses; a spectroscopic unit that spectrally distribute the light that has passed through the aperture opening; and a light receiving unit that receives the light spectrally distributed by the spectroscopic unit. The image producing device includes: the spectroscopic instrument; an imaging unit that captures an image formed by an imaging optical system; and an image processing unit that acquires a lighting condition from a result of spectroscopy by the spectroscopic instrument and performs color conversion processing depending on the lighting condition on an image captured by the imaging unit.
US07973919B2

A method for inspecting a region, including irradiating the region via an optical system with a pump beam at a pump wavelength. A probe beam at a probe wavelength irradiates the region so as to generate returning probe beam radiation from the region. The beams are scanned across the region at a scan rate. A detector receives the returning probe radiation, and forms an image of the region that corresponds to a resolution better than pump and probe Abbe limits of the optical system. Roles of the pump and probe beams may be alternated, and a modulation frequency of the pump beam may be changed, to produce more information. Information extracted from the probe signal can also differentiate between different materials on the region.
US07973918B2

A pattern inspection apparatus includes a pulsed light source configured to emit pulsed light; a stage configured to mount thereon an inspection target object with a pattern formed thereon; a time delay integration (TDI) sensor configured to detect, a plurality of times with a time delay, each pixel value of an optical image of the inspection target object, wherein the optical image is acquired by emitting the pulsed light onto the inspection target object, and to integrate a detected each pixel value for each pixel of the optical image; a light quantity sensor configured to detect a light quantity of the pulsed light after emitting the pulsed light onto the inspection target object; a light quantity measurement circuit configured to input the light quantity detected by the light quantity sensor, and to measure a light quantity of each pulse while being synchronized with a period of the pulsed light; a correction unit configured to input the light quantity of each pulse and an integrated pixel value output from the TDI sensor, and to correct the integrated pixel value output from the TDI sensor, for each pixel of the optical image, using a total light quantity of the light quantity of corresponding each pulse; and an inspection unit configured to inspect whether there is a defect of the pattern, using the integrated pixel value corrected.
US07973911B2

Provided is an object measuring device capable of avoiding unnecessary scanning of an object that is unlikely to be an obstacle. By detecting a reflected light of a laser light emitted to an entire emission region, objects, other than a road surface, existing within the emission region are identified. When the objects other than the road surface are identified, a spread angle of the laser light, which is required for measuring the identified objects with a necessary accuracy, is determined. When the spread angle is determined, the laser light is emitted, at the determined spread angle, to the objects other than the road surface, and thereby the respective objects are measured.
US07973906B2

An exposure apparatus has a projection optical system configured to project a pattern of a reticle onto a substrate, and exposes the substrate to light via the reticle and the projection optical system with a space between the projection optical system and the substrate filled with liquid. The apparatus includes a supply nozzle configured to supply liquid to the space, a supply path configured to supply the liquid to the supply nozzle, a bypass which branches from the supply path, and a supply control valve configured to change a flow rate of the liquid supplied from the supply path to the supply nozzle and a flow rate of the liquid supplied from the supply path to the bypass.
US07973905B2

A passivation layer is formed by coating a flowable insulating material on the substrate where a thin film transistor and a storage capacitor electrode, and a pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer. A portion of the passivation layer is etched using the pixel electrode as a mask to make a groove on the thin film transistor, and then a black matrix is formed by filling an organic black photoresist in the groove. To increase the storage capacitance, a portion of the passivation layer is removed or to form a metal pattern on the storage capacitor electrode. A flowable insulating material is used as a gate insulating layer to planarize the substrate. In the case of the etch stopper type thin film transistor, a photo definable material is used as the etch stopper layer to reduce the parasitic capacitance between the gate electrode and the drain electrode.
US07973903B2

An exemplary liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate parallel to each other to define a gap therebetween, a sealant disposed around the gap to provide an accommodating space, a liquid crystal layer disposed in the accommodating space, a plurality of signal lines disposed on at least one of the first and second substrates, and a plurality of protrusions at a peripheral side of the liquid crystal layer. The protrusions are configured to narrow the gap thereat. A part of each signal line is disposed between the sealant and the corresponding one of the first and second substrates, and each of the protrusions is arranged between two respective signal lines. A related method for manufacturing a liquid crystal panel is also provided.
US07973898B2

An array substrate includes a base substrate, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of pixel portions and a gate driving section. The base substrate includes a display area, a boundary area surrounding the display area and a light-blocking area surrounding the boundary area. The gate lines extend in a first direction on the base substrate. The data lines extend in a second direction crossing the first direction on the base substrate. The pixel portions are disposed in the display area and electrically connected to the gate and data lines. The gate driving section is electrically connected to the gate lines. A portion of the gate driving section overlaps the boundary area. The gate driving section overlaps the boundary area.
US07973896B2

An array substrate for an LCD device and a manufacturing method thereof. The array substrate includes: a gate line, a gate electrode, a gate pad, and a pixel electrode formed on the substrate; a gate insulation layer formed on the substrate to expose the gate line and the pixel electrode; a source electrode connected to a data line crossing the gate line, a drain electrode facing the source electrode with a channel interposed, a data pad formed at one end of the data line, and a capacitor electrode overlapping portions of the pixel electrode and the gate line; a semiconductor layer constituting the channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode; first, second, third, and fourth contact holes formed in the gate pad, the data pad, the capacitor electrode, and the drain electrode, respectively; and first through fourth contact electrodes formed in the first through fourth contact holes, respectively.
US07973891B2

An exemplary liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate assembly, a second substrate assembly parallel to the first substrate assembly, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly. The second substrate assembly includes a transparent substrate and a reflective layer provided on a surface of the transparent substrate facing the first substrate assembly. The liquid crystal panel includes a display region and a non-display region. The reflective layer is positioned corresponding to the non-display region.
US07973887B2

The main object of the present invention is to provide a color filter for a transflective type color liquid crystal display which is easily produced and capable of displaying the same color tone with both of a reflecting light and a transmitting light, and shows light scattering in a reflective light region. In order to attain the above mentioned object, the present invention provides a color filter for transflective type color liquid crystal display comprising a transparent substrate and a reflective light coloring layer and a transmissive light coloring layer formed on the transparent substrate, wherein, a convex-concave is formed on a surface of a liquid crystal layer side of the reflective light coloring layer, and an average thickness of the reflective light coloring layer is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the transmissive light coloring layer, and a refractive index difference between the reflective light coloring layer and a layer in contact with the surface of the convex-concave formed side of the reflective light coloring layer, is 0.1 or more. Further, a main object of the present invention is to provide a color filter for transflective type liquid crystal display comprising a transparent membrane pattern region obtained by laminating: a transparent substrate; a transparent membrane pattern layer comprising a transparent membrane formed in a pattern on the transparent substrate; and a coloring layer formed so as to cover the transparent membrane pattern layer.
US07973882B2

There is provided a liquid-crystal-layer 15 in which an electrical field is applied in a direction parallel to a first substrate. Respective absorption axes of the first substrate provided with a first polarizing-plate 12 on a light-input side and a second substrate provided with a second polarizing-plate 11 on a light-output side are perpendicular. An optical axis of the liquid-crystal-molecule is parallel to the output polarizing-plate 11 and the absorption axis of the input polarizing-plate 12. A matrix-drive-electrode group is positioned on a side of the liquid-crystal-layer 15 of the first or second substrate. The input and output polarizing-plate are composed of a polarizing layer and a supporting-substrate material. The supporting-substrate material is present on the liquid-crystal-layer side of the polarizing layer. The supporting-substrate material of one of the input or output polarizing-plate is birefringent, and the Nz coefficient being 4 or more. The other supporting-substrate material is optically isotropic.
US07973879B2

A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a reflection sheet, at least one lamp arranged over the reflection sheet, a diffuser plate over the at least one lamp, the diffuser plate including a base plate of a transparent material, a diffusion layer at a first surface of the base plate facing the at least one lamp, and a light concentrating layer at a second surface of the base plate opposite to the first surface and formed of a same material as the base plate, and optical sheets over the diffuser plate.
US07973872B2

A backlight unit that minimizes damage to an optical sheet due to external impacts, and a liquid crystal display employing the backlight unit are disclosed. The backlight unit comprises a light source unit comprising a plurality of light sources; a bottom cover that receives the light source unit and comprises a first protrusion; support sides fastened to both opened shorter sides of the bottom cover to support the light source unit and comprising a second protrusion; and an optical sheet unit disposed on the light source unit and comprising a first long hole in which the first protrusion is inserted and a second long hole in which the second protrusion is inserted, wherein the first and second long holes have a dumbbell shape in which the diameter of a curved portion is larger than the width of a linear portion through which the first and second protrusions pass.
US07973871B2

The present invention provides an active matrix substrate of comprising on the substrate: a plurality of scanning signal lines and data signal lines; a thin film transistor provided at an intersecting point of the signal lines and comprising a gate electrode connected to the scanning signal line, a source electrode connected to the data signal line; and a pixel electrode electrically connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor, wherein the active matrix substrate comprises a structure having an at least partly multilinear data signal line and an interconnection electrode for correction.
US07973868B2

An active matrix substrate for a reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus has an image display region 10 including a plurality of pixels 1 each having a reflection electrode 4a and a switching element 2, a black display region 11 including a plurality of pixels for providing only a black display each having a reflection electrode 4b, a wiring layer 111 between the switching elements 2 and the reflection electrodes, a light shielding layer 113 between the wiring layer 111 and the layer forming the reflection electrodes, a through hole 112a between the wiring layer 111 and the light shielding layer 113 in the image display region 10 for electrically connecting the reflection electrode 4a to the switching element 2, and a through hole 112b between the wiring layer 111 and the light shielding layer 113 in the black display region 11 and electrically isolated from the switching element 2.
US07973867B2

A method for cleaning a hole in a layered structure having a planarized transparent organic surface comprises the step of exposing said hole to sputtered particles or plasma particles in the presence of a transparent protection layer which covers said planarized transparent organic surface, except within said hole, for protecting said planarized transparent organic surface from said particles.
US07973865B2

A thin film transistor (“TFT”) display plate, capable of reducing a load on a gate line, increasing an aperture ratio and preventing light leakage, includes an insulating substrate, a gate line formed on the insulating substrate, a storage electrode line spaced apart from the gate line and formed on an insulating substrate, a data line insulated from the gate line and the storage electrode line and intersecting the gate line, a pixel electrode formed for each pixel defined by the gate line and the data line, a thin film transistor (“TFT”) connected to the gate line and the data line to apply a voltage to the pixel electrode, and a storage electrode formed on the same layer as the data line and connected to the storage electrode line to form one terminal of a storage capacitor along with the pixel electrode as the other terminal of the storage capacitor.
US07973863B2

Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display apparatus, including: a liquid crystal panel having a display region for displaying an image and having a plurality of pixels disposed in the region; and a pair of first and second polarizing plates provided in an opposing relationship to each other through the display region; the liquid crystal panel including a first substrate, a second substrate opposed in a spaced relationship to the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by and between the first and second substrates and oriented.
US07973862B2

A television capable of performing a reminder function is disclosed. The television includes a reminder sound displaying unit and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the reminder sound displaying unit. The processor is responsible for determining whether a reminder time is reached or not. After the reminder time is reached, the processor controls the reminder sound displaying unit to generate a reminder sound.
US07973860B2

This invention relates to an apparatus for processing an input image including M input pixels. Each of the M input pixels respectively has an input gray scale. The apparatus includes a gain generating module, a contrast enhancing module, and a Gamma adjusting module. The gain generating module generates a contrast gain and a minimum input gray scale in accordance with the input gray scales of the M input pixels. The contrast enhancing module adjusts the input gray scales in accordance with the contrast gain and the minimum input gray scale, to generate an intermediate image. The intermediate image includes M intermediate pixels, and each of the M intermediate pixels respectively has an intermediate gray scale. The Gamma adjusting module adjusts the intermediate gray scales lower than a first threshold in accordance with the contrast gain and outputs the adjusted intermediate image as an output image.
US07973855B2

An image shake correction apparatus and method for reducing frictional loss when elements vibrate or slide by reducing a distance from a center of an image pickup device stage to a virtual line connecting a portion, to which a driving force generator applies a driving force, and a guide portion. A CCD image sensor converts light irradiated on a photographing surface into electric signals, a slider and a CCD base support the CCD image sensor and move the CCD image sensor with respect to the photographing surface, and piezoelectric actuator assemblies drive the slider and the CCD base, such that the virtual line connects a portion, to which the driving force of the driving force generator is applied, to the guide portion that extends along the photographing surface of the CCD image sensor.
US07973850B2

An image processing apparatus includes a discriminating unit that discriminates a color component originating in an image structure in an image captured through an optical system from a color component attributable to a chromatic aberration of the optical system, and a correction unit that corrects the color component attributable to the chromatic aberration of the optical system based upon discrimination results provided by the discriminating unit.
US07973847B2

A pixel circuit includes a pixel-capture device having a pixel node and operable to convert light intensity into a pixel signal at the pixel node, the pixel signal representing a captured pixel. A row node carries a row signal that is operable to both (a) enable passage of the pixel signal from the pixel node to a column node during a readout phase of the captured pixel, and (b) set the pixel node to a predetermined signal level during a reset phase of the captured pixel. The reset phase and the readout phase are configured to occur during different time intervals. A reset node is included for carrying a reset signal that is operable together with the row signal to (a) enable passage from the pixel node to the column node during the readout phase, and (b) set the pixel node to predetermined signal level during the reset phase.
US07973846B2

An image capture method in a digital image sensor implements a continuous sampling technique with a massively parallel thermometer-code analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) technique to generate pixel data having an intrinsic to an ultra-high dynamic range. In one embodiment, the method includes, after an initial exposure period, sampling pixel intensity values at the pixel elements of an image sensor at multiple sampling intervals within a snapshot of a scene; providing an analog reference voltage corresponding to a decrementing digital count value; and comparing the pixel intensity values to the analog reference voltage at each of the multiple sampling intervals. If the pixel intensity value of a first pixel element is less than the analog reference voltage at a first exposure time, an output signal having a first value is generated and the digital count value is recorded as pixel data associated with the first pixel element.
US07973841B2

A photo sensor exhibiting low noise, low smear, low dark current, high dynamic range and global shutter functionality consists either of a pinned (or buried) photodiode or a photo-sensitive charge-coupled device, each with associated transfer gate, a sub-linear element, a shutter transistor, a reset circuit and a read-out circuit. Using two output paths global shutter and high speed operation are possible for the linear and the sub-linear output of the sensor. Because of its compact size, the photo sensor can be employed in one- and two-dimensional image sensors, fabricated with industry-standard CMOS and CCD technologies.
US07973838B2

An active pixel masking system for automatic glare suppression uses a variably transmissive screen such as an LCD in front of a lens. A measurement by an image sensor of oversaturated pixels from one or more extremely bright lights is used to generate corresponding opaque pixels in the variably transmissive screen, thereby preventing the excess light from entering the lens, and thereby clarifying the appearance of any objects near to the bright light. A continuous reading of a motion picture image is used to move the location and area of the opaque pixels in response to the motion and area of the light.
US07973832B2

An image pickup apparatus having a plurality of setting items related to an image pickup condition, the image pickup apparatus including: a setting unit adapted to set respective setting information of the plurality of setting items; a storage unit; a specification mean adapted to specify a registration target item to set a registration target from among the plurality of setting items in accordance with an instruction operation of a user; a registration control unit adapted to register the setting information set by the setting unit regarding the registration target item in the storage unit as a registration image pickup condition; and a generation unit adapted to call the registration image pickup condition from the storage unit in accordance with a call operation of the user to generate a new image pickup condition which reflects the registration image pickup condition.
US07973828B2

A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject.
US07973821B2

A method for controlling a masking block in a monitoring camera. The method adjusts the masking block to precisely hide an image of a subject with its position and size changed when a zoom magnification is changed under a state where the masking block is set. In addition, the method adjusts a masking block to precisely hide a changed image of a subject when the monitoring camera is rotated to change the position of the image of the subject. In addition, the method measures and corrects a distance between a center axis of a CCD and an optical axis of a lens if the two axes are not coincident with each other. In addition, the method corrects an offset occurring due to an incorrect coupling between the monitor camera and a pan/tilter. Furthermore, a method for setting a masking block when a remotely uncontrollable monitoring camera is used is disclosed.
US07973811B2

An object of the present invention is to lessen a user's feeling that something is wrong when a user watches a display device configured by rectangular pixels. In a display device of the present invention includes a display portion on which a plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix, the display portion has areas configured by rectangular pixels and areas configured by square pixels.
US07973800B2

A system and method for generating a representation of a color modification to be applied to segments on a digital nonlinear editing system, where each segment is a component of a media composition, and represents a section of a digital media. An indication of a modification to be applied to a color attribute of a segment is received, and the source from which the segment originates is identified. The indication of the color modification is then stored, and, as a result, the color modification is applied to other segments that originate from the identified source. Source color modification is applied to a section of a digital media on a digital nonlinear editing system. a media segment represents the section of a digital media. The segment is a component of a media composition, and originates from a source data structure. The source data structure also represents the section of the digital media. The section is received, and the first source data structure from which the segment originates is identified. It is determined whether the first source data structure includes a color modification attribute, where the color modification attribute defines a color modification to be applied to sections of the digital media represented by segments that originate from the source data structure. If the source data structure includes the color modification attribute, the color modification is applied to the section of media.
US07973792B2

A method for an image forming device, an electronic medium, and an image processing program, which enables external output of image data and font data for the image data with ease. The image forming device includes an input unit, a font data memory unit, a font data read-and-write control unit, a font control unit, and an output unit. The input unit inputs image data. The font data memory unit stores font data by associating it with a character code. The font data read-and-write control unit controls read-and-write operation on the font data of the font data memory unit. The font control unit acquires the font data to be used for the image data and controls conversion of the acquired font data according to an image forming mode. The output unit controls external output of the image data from the image control unit and the converted font data to be used to for the image data.
US07973791B2

An apparatus generates, by introducing a concept called “virtual viewpoint model”, a CG image for use with a 3-D display through single rendering operation from a single viewpoint without adoption of a process for performing CG rendering operation from a plurality of viewpoints as in the case of a related-art technique and iterating CG rendering while the viewpoint is being changed.
US07973790B2

A method of generating a computer image wherein secondary raytrace vectors are calculated for the image after the image is rendered using rasterization. The secondary raytrace vectors are based on virtual camera angles that are stored during the rasterization process. The raytrace vectors can be calculated using the same processor as the rasterization, thereby providing greater consistency in the image. A metaprogrammed shader can also be applied to the generated image, wherein the shader uses the same processor as the raytrace and rasterization steps. The metaprogrammed shader allows the shader algorithm to be segmented for streamlined processing by the processor.
US07973785B2

In a control board and a display apparatus, the control board includes a timing controller, and first and second connectors. The timing controller receives a first external image control signal having one of a first and a second frequency, and selectively receives a second external image control signal having the first frequency when the first external image control signal has the first frequency. The timing controller selects one of the first and second frequencies based on the first and second external image control signals to output an image driving signal. The first connector connects the timing controller to an external video system to transfer the first external image control signal to the timing controller. The second connector connects the timing controller to the external video system to transfer the second external image control signal to the timing controller. Thus, the control board is commonly used in the first and second frequencies.
US07973779B2

The detection of ambient light on an optical touch-sensitive device is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises capturing an image of at least a portion of a display screen with a camera located within the display device, and determined if ambient light in the image is at an acceptable level for display screen operation. Then, a visual representation is displayed representing whether the ambient light level is acceptable for display screen operation.
US07973778B2

The simulation of touch pressure on a touch-sensitive display is disclosed. In one disclosed embodiment, a touch pressure is simulated on a touch-sensitive display by detecting inputs corresponding to each of an untouched display and two or more measures of touch pressure, and displaying images on the display corresponding to the untouched display and each measure of touch pressure. In this manner, a user may be provided with a richer visual response to a touch-sensitive display input.
US07973771B2

A touch sensor is provided that includes an array of discrete electrodes disposed over a touch sensitive area, the electrodes being elongated in a first direction and having a variable width measured in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. A touch location can be determined by simultaneously applying an electrical signal to a plurality of positions on the touch sensor, the touch location along the first direction being determined by comparing a capacitive coupling between the touch implement and the plurality of positions in the touch sensor, and the touch location along the second direction being determined by comparing a resistive coupling between the touch implement and the plurality of positions in the touch sensor.
US07973765B2

A handheld wireless communication device configured to send and receive text messages. The device is hand cradleable with a body configured to be held in one hand by an operator during text entry. A display is located on a front face of the body and upon which information is displayed to the operator during text entry. A key field is also located on the front face of the body and that includes a plurality of alphanumeric input keys and menu keys. A trackball navigation tool is located on the front face of the body. The alphanumeric input keys include several alphabetic keys with letters arranged in a traditional (QWERTY), but non-ITU Standard E.161 telephone letter layout. A microprocessor is provided that receives operator commands from the keys and the trackball navigation tool and which affects corresponding changes to the display based on user input.
US07973751B2

A display panel has a high pixel and a low pixel that are formed in a pixel area. A driving section receives a first image signal from an external device, outputs a second image signal to the high pixel using gamma data that corresponds to a high pixel gamma curve, and outputs a third image signal to the low pixel using gamma data that corresponds to a Sow pixel gamma curve. A driving section outputs the third image signal to the low pixel using the same gamma data for RGB data that correspond to a low gradation of the low pixel gamma curve.
US07973743B2

A light emitting display device including data lines, signal lines, pixel circuits, a data driver, and a precharger. Each pixel circuit includes a first switch, a transistor, a capacitor, and a light emitting element. The precharger supplies a precharge current of X times a data current to a corresponding data line in response to a control signal. When the first switch transmits the data current provided from the corresponding data line in response to a first level scan signal while the corresponding data line is precharged, a voltage corresponding to the data current is charged in the capacitor. A current corresponding to the charged voltage is supplied to the light emitting element through the transistor in response to a second level scan signal, and the light emitting element emits light.
US07973741B2

When a discharge start voltage takes a normal value under the normal temperature, priming discharge starts at a time t1. In this case, at a time t3 that is later than the time t1 by a predetermined time t, a sustain driver control signal Ssud2 is raised to put a sustain electrode into the floating state to stop the priming discharge. When the discharge start voltage takes a higher value than usual under the high temperature, the priming discharge starts at a time t2. In this case, at a time t4 that is later than the time t2 by the predetermined time t, the sustain driver control signal Ssud2 is lowered to put the sustain electrode into the floating state to stop the priming discharge. With such a configuration, provided is a plasma display device capable of implementing excellent and stable display quality while maintaining constant, even if a discharge start voltage varies, the charge state in display cells after a priming period, and a drive method for such a plasma display device.
US07973732B2

Antennas suitable for wideband transmission and reception are disclosed that are useful in environments susceptible to vibration and impact motion such as for example vehicles of various types, e.g., automobiles, trains, etc. The apparatus can include a bicone antenna including two cone-shaped elements. The physical shape of at least one of the two cone-shaped elements may be at least partially defined by one or more pleats (e.g., a series) that extend about a portion of the cone. An antenna can further includes a mast for supporting the bicone as well as a second antenna section including a fractalized dipole. The fractalized dipole can be configured as a conformal circuit board conforming to the shape of the mast and can include self-similar portions or extensions. The antenna may also include a counterpoise to balance the electrically conductive conformal portion. The counterpoise may be defined substantially by a repetitive tooth-like pattern.
US07973723B2

An electronic device and an antenna module thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a plurality of electronic elements and the antenna module. The antenna module includes a radiating body and a grounding body. The grounding body covers the electronic elements for being a shielding casing. A radio frequency resonance is formed between the radiating body and the grounding body.
US07973721B2

Embodiments of the invention generally provide a mechanically integrated cable mesh antenna system. One embodiment of a wireless access device for a network includes a housing having at least one rib, beam forming electronics supported by the housing, and at least one antenna for providing subscribers of the network with a connection to the network, where the antenna is formed on the rib.
US07973718B2

An antenna system comprises a first antenna element mutually coupled with a second antenna element, the mutual coupling between the first and second antenna elements causing a first current in the second antenna element, and a coupling element disposed at least partially between the first and second antenna elements, wherein the coupling element is mutually coupled to each of the first and second antenna elements, and wherein the coupling element is configured to induce a second current in the second antenna element that at least partially cancels the first current.
US07973712B2

A slice set for a specific period of time is acquired from a storage area of a memory which is a ring buffer while changing the read position, and the signal strength total value of each slice set is calculated. The signal strengths of the slices included in the maximum strength slice set and the signal strengths of the slices preceding or subsequent to the maximum strength slice set are calculated, and the final signal read position is determined based on a read offset of the maximum strength slice. A GPS satellite signal is acquired and tracked based on the slice read from the determined signal read position, and a specific positioning process is performed.
US07973710B2

A method for adjusting a measurement cycle in a satellite signal receiver is described. The method includes adjusting a measurement cycle in a satellite signal receiver by computing a position state comprising at least one of a velocity and a heading of the satellite signal receiver, detecting a change in the position state, and automatically adjusting a frequency of the measurement cycle in response to the change in the position state.
US07973707B2

A method for determining that a GPS receiver is located within a predetermined geofence volume. An embodiment of the invention includes the steps of receiving global positioning system signals from a plurality of GPS satellites; calculating a solution set of possible receiver positions from the global positioning signals; determining whether any portion of the solution set of receiver positions is within the geofence volume; and determining that the receiver is outside the geofence volume if no portion of the solution set of receiver positions is within the geofence volume. The concept of exclusion space is introduced and used in methods for determining the probability that a receiver is within a geofence volume.
US07973702B2

An apparatus a transmitter section, a receiver section, and a processing module. The transmitter section transmits a plurality of high carrier frequency beamformed signals in a loop manner until a desired number of signals has been transmitted. The receiver section receives the plurality of high carrier frequency beamformed signals and determines reception properties of the plurality of high carrier frequency beamformed signals. The processing module determines at least one of: reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through based on the reception properties. The processing module then distinguishes an animate entity from an inanimate entity based on the at least one of the reflection, absorption, refraction, and pass through. The processing module then determines position of the animate entity within a given physical area.
US07973690B1

A gamma voltage generation circuit is provided. An offset voltage generator generates a first offset voltage by dividing a voltage difference between a first input voltage and a second input voltage based on a first code. A first voltage shifting circuit of a voltage level shifter shifts down a first reference voltage by the first offset voltage to output a first level-shifted voltage. A second voltage shifting circuit of the voltage level shifter shifts down a second reference voltage by the first offset voltage to output a second level-shifted voltage. Each of resistors of a resistor string outputs one of the gamma voltages. A first end and a second end of the resistor string are respectively coupled to a first output terminal and a second output terminal of the voltage level shifter.
US07973689B2

Examples of a system and method for sigma-delta analog-to-digital conversion of an electrical input signal are disclosed. A bandpass-filtered signal based on an electrical input signal and an analog feedback signal may be provided. A multi-bit digital representation of the bandpass-filtered signal may be provided. An analog representation of the multi-bit digital representation may be provided. A return-to-zero (RTZ) carving operation may be performed on the analog representation to obtain the analog feedback signal.
US07973685B1

Methods, and other embodiments associated with signal filtering are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes an analog-to-digital converter that generates a first digital component and a second digital component from an analog signal. A filter filters the first digital component and the second digital component to substantially align the phase of the first digital component and the phase of the second digital component.
US07973681B2

A gating logic receives a non-return-to-zero (NRZ) input signal and couples the NRZ input signal as an NRZ output signal when operating in a NRZ mode of operation and converts the NRZ input signal to a return-to-zero (RZ) output signal when operating in a RZ mode of operation. A circuit coupled to the gating logic receives a clock signal and couples the clock signal to the gating logic to convert the NRZ input signal to the RZ output signal in the RZ mode of operation. In the NRZ mode of operation, the circuit decouples the clock signal and places a predetermined signal state at the gating logic to pass through the NRZ input signal as the NRZ output signal. The circuit receives a select signal to select between the NRZ and RZ modes of operation and the NRZ and RZ modes are obtained by controlling the clock signal to the gating logic.
US07973678B2

A control for a system in a building. The control includes a tracking device, a controller, and a programmer. The tracking device is configured to travel with a vehicle and to determine where the tracking device is located. The controller is configured to be located in the building, to communicate with the tracking device, to communicate with the system in the building, to determine an event that should be executed based on information received from the tracking device and a programmed event trigger. The programmed event trigger includes a programmed location for the tracking device. The controller generates a command for the system in the building to execute the determined event. The programmer is configured to communicate with a user interface. The user interface includes an interactive map and one or more geographical boundary tools for creating one or more event triggers on the map. A user uses the user interface to program the event triggers.
US07973676B2

A method for controlling the movement of vehicles including removing a portable transmitter assembly and a portable receiving assembly from a vehicle, disposing the portable receiving assembly contiguous to an area where at least one vehicle travels, and illuminating at least one indicator on the portable receiving assembly with the portable transmitter assembly for controlling the movement of vehicles. An assembly for controlling the movement of vehicles includes a computer-readable medium.
US07973672B2

A system for notifying and/or warning of fallen or downed insulated conductor generally includes a distribution system for distributing a utility, such as power, and a sensor system for sensing whether the distribution system is properly operating. The warning system can include a support structure; an arm carried by the support structure and extending outwardly therefrom; a distribution system providing a utility via at least one wire, the wire held aloft from a below surface via the arm; a communication cable transmitting a signal; a disruption assembly carrying the communication cable and in communication with the support structure. The disruption assembly is loaded with the potential of disrupting the signal transmitted by the communication cable; and a sensor system is adapted to monitor the distribution system based on the signal transmitted by the communication cable.
US07973662B2

A package for at least two objects includes RFID bridge antennas, having RF antenna elements, for wirelessly communicating data between a tag associated with each object and a reader. An electromagnetic carrier signal transmitted by the reader antenna is received by one of the RF antenna elements and retransmitted to the tag antenna by the other RF antenna element, increasing the distance over which the tag can communicate with the reader. Where the tag is attached to a packaged object, the RFID bridge antenna may be included in the package to allow wireless data communication between the tag and a reader. The reader may also be located external to the package. For example, one of the RF antenna elements may be attached to a label on the package, allowing data stored in the tag to be extracted by the external reader.
US07973655B2

A system is provided for tracking a mobile device by enabling a user to remotely monitor the external surrounding environment of the mobile device. Initially, a mobile device is configured to selectively report on the device's surrounding environment based on one or more reporting events. Upon an occurrence of a reporting event, the mobile device generates a report by capturing at least one sensory datum related to its external surrounding environment. At least one locating datum is included in the report which can provide at least an approximate geographic location of the mobile device at the time the report is generated. Once the report is generated, the mobile device selectively sends the report to a tracking assist server, which makes the report remotely accessible to the user. Accordingly, when a mobile device is missing, a user can review one or more reports accessible on the server to determine whether the mobile device is stolen. Additionally, the at least one sensory datum provided in the one or more reports can be used to assist the user or others in identifying persons and/or objects in the surrounding environment of the mobile device, which may lead to the identification of the thief and/or recovery of the mobile device.
US07973650B2

The motor vehicle tire pressure monitoring system includes a computer to receive input data including at least one tire pressure and transmit a warning to a driver of the vehicle in the event of an abnormal pressure in the tire. The system also includes a recording unit designed to record the input data from the monitoring system in the event that the warning is transmitted to the driver. The data recorded in this recording unit is accessible for diagnosis.
US07973635B2

A multilayer printed circuit board (“PCB”) coil that simulates a coil formed from litz wire. The PCB includes a plurality of alternating conductor and insulating layers interconnected to cooperatively form the coil. Each conductor layer includes a trace that follows the desired coil shape and is divided into a plurality of discrete conductor segments. The segments are electrically connected across layers to provide a plurality of current flow paths (or filaments) that undulate between the layers in a regular, repeating pattern. The coil may be configured so that each filament spends a substantially equal amount of time in proximity to the paired coil and therefore contributes substantially equally to the self or mutual inductance of the coil. Each conductor layer may include a plurality of associated traces and intralayer connector that interconnected so that each filament undulates not only upwardly/downwardly, but also inwardly/outwardly in a regular, repeating pattern.
US07973629B2

A new method and structure is provided for the creation of a semiconductor inductor. Under the first embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor substrate is provided with a scribe line in a passive surface region and active circuits surrounding the passive region. At least one bond pad is created on the passive surface of the substrate close to and on each side of the scribe line. A layer of insulation is deposited, a layer of dielectric is deposited over the layer of insulation, at least one bond pad is provided on the surface of the layer of dielectric on each side of the scribe line. At least one inductor is created on each side of the scribe line on the surface of the layer of dielectric. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric. The substrate is attached to a glass panel by interfacing the surface of the layer of passivation with the glass panel. The substrate is sawed from the backside of the substrate in alignment with the scribe line. The silicon that remains in place in the passive surface of the substrate underneath the scribe lines is removed by etching, the glass panel is separated along the scribe line. Under the second embodiment of the invention, the inductor is created on the surface of a thick layer of polymer that is deposited over the layer of passivation.
US07973619B2

An electro-magnetic bandgap structure is disclosed. The electro-magnetic bandgap structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of conductive plates bridge-connected with one another on a same plane, whereas the each of the conductive plates includes an internal patch; a first ring patch be electrically separated from the internal patch and surrounding the internal patch; and a second ring patch surrounding the first ring patch and electrically connected with the first ring patch through a portion.
US07973614B2

An apparatus and method for reducing stray magnetic fields include a decoupling circuit includes a balun that comprises a transmission line. The transmission line includes a first spiral positioned substantially parallel to a first plane, the first spiral emanating from a inner portion of the first spiral in a first spiral direction. The transmission line also includes a second spiral positioned substantially parallel to the first plane, the second spiral emanating from a inner portion of the second spiral in the first spiral direction, wherein the inner portion of the first spiral is electrically coupled to the inner portion of the second spiral, and wherein the transmission line comprises a signal line and a ground line. The balun further comprises a first capacitor electrically coupled to the transmission line.
US07973613B2

A microwave rotary joint comprises a mode converter for converting microwave signals of a TE01 circular symmetric mode, and the mode converter comprises: two circular waveguides, one end of each of the waveguides has a circular input/output port; and two power dividing structures, each of the power dividing structure has an input/output port and four connecting ports, the four connecting ports are separated and surround each of the circular waveguides and connected to the inside of each of the circular waveguides, the two circular waveguides are integrated as one member through rotating a bearing.
US07973607B1

A technique involves the use of an electronic device having a real-time clock (RTC) circuit. In particular, the technique involves obtaining an RTC value from the RTC circuit. The RTC value is based on a previous time value and being arranged to represent current time. The technique further involves generating an adjustment factor arranged to adjust for imperfection in an oscillator of the RTC circuit, and providing a new time value based on the RTC value and the adjustment factor. The new time value represents current time at least as accurately as the RTC value.
US07973601B2

An apparatus for compensating a distortion characteristic of an amplifier includes an update unit configured to store a distortion compensation coefficient, configured to calculate the coefficient based on a signal before input to the amplifier and a feedback signal, and configured to update the stored coefficient to the calculated coefficient; a distortion compensation unit configured to perform distortion compensation processing of the signal before input to the amplifier by using the updated coefficient; a delay unit configured to delay the signal before input to the amplifier by a set delay time, to output the delayed signal to the distortion compensation coefficient update unit; and a delay controller configured to control the set delay time based on a phase of a complex number having a power component of the signal before input to the amplifier as a real part, and a power component of the feedback signal as an imaginary part.
US07973599B2

An amplification control device for controlling a variable-gain amplifier the amplification factor of which is controlled based on an analog control signal, and which amplifies an analog input signal and outputs an analog output signal, includes component acquisition means that transforms, by the discrete Fourier transform, a digital output signal converted from the analog output signal into digital form by an A/D converter, thereby acquiring a desired frequency component of the digital output signal, differentiating means that acquires a difference between the electric power of the frequency component acquired by the component acquisition means and a target value of the electric power of the frequency component, and digital control signal output means that outputs a digital control signal, based on the difference acquired by the differentiating means, for controlling the amplification factor of the variable-gain amplifier, in which the analog control signal is obtained by converting the digital control signal into analog form by the D/A converter.
US07973596B2

Low-noise, low-power, low drift offset correction in operational and instrumentation amplifiers and amplifiers using the same are disclosed. The amplifiers disclosed use different combinations of chopping and auto-zero techniques. Also disclosed are amplifiers using on-off switches to affect the chopping and auto-zeroing, with unique circuits for driving the switches on the differential input to provide boot-strapped switch controls. Other features are disclosed.
US07973586B2

A sampling mixer includes TAs (transconductance amplifiers), an in-phase mixer section connected to the TA and the TA, an opposite-phase mixer section connected in parallel with the in-phase mixer section, and a signal generator for generating a control signal for the in-phase mixer section and the opposite-phase mixer section respectively. The IIR filter using signals that underwent a current conversion by using the different transconductances is constructed, so that the filter characteristic can be designed by a weighting of the transconductance in addition to a capacitance ratio. As a result, the wide-band filter characteristic and the band-pass filter characteristic can be obtained, and deterioration of the receiving sensitivity can be suppressed by designing the filter characteristic suitable for the radio communication system.
US07973575B2

A programmable frequency divider, which is a core module of a frequency synthesizer using a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) for generating very high frequencies, includes a divided clock generator dividing a frequency of an input clock signal Fin by a first divide ratio (N+1) or a second divide ratio N according to a divide ratio control signal MC to generate a plurality of divided clock signals Dout; a counting unit counting the number CNT of the plurality of divided clock signals Dout, by performing swallow mode counting and program mode counting sequentially on the plurality of divided clock signal Dout; a control signal generator generating the divide ratio control signal MC, using the number CNT of the plurality of divided clock signal Dout, a count S by the swallow mode counting and a count P by the program mode counting, the count P corresponding to a maximum of the number CNT, feeding the divide ratio control signal MC back to the divided clock generator, and generating a reset control signal RST for resetting the counting unit.
US07973573B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit having a plurality of ultrasound pulsers corresponding to a plurality of respective channels, and integrally formed on a small area. The ultrasound pulsers each include a MOSFET gate drive circuit in which an input voltage pulse is converted into a current pulse, and the current pulse is converted again into a voltage pulse on the basis of a high potential side voltage +HV, and a low potential side voltage −HV, applied to a transducer drive circuit, and in which a voltage level shift in the input voltage pulse is attained, and a voltage pulse swing is generated by the MOSFET gate drive circuit on the basis of the high potential side voltage +HV, and the low potential side voltage −HV. The MOSFET gate drive circuit is DC-coupled with the transducer drive circuit.
US07973568B2

A peak detector for implementation in a monolithic integrated circuit includes one or more Miller capacitors and one or more transistors for selectively setting large RC time constant values only with components included in the integrated circuit's die. Neither resistors nor capacitors located outside the integrated circuit are used for setting a selected value of a time constant. Some embodiments of the invention include diodes for compensation of amplifier leakage current in the peak detector, thereby increasing a maximum value of a time constant that can be implemented in an integrated circuit. A peak detector in accord with an embodiment of the invention may optionally be configured for either single-ended or differential operation.
US07973567B2

Power over Ethernet (PoE) communication systems provide power and data communications over the same communications link, where a power source device (PSE) provides DC power (for example, 48 volts DC) to a powered device (PD). The DC power is transmitted simultaneously over the same communications medium with the high speed data from one node to the other node. The PSE typically includes a controller that controls the DC power provided to the PD at the second node of the communications link. The PSE controller measures the voltage, current, and temperature of the outgoing and incoming DC supply lines to characterize the power requirements of the PD. The PSE controller includes a resistorless switch to measure the current. The resistorless switch includes a sense transistor and a current mirror to allowing the PSE controller to calculate the current based upon a replica current.
US07973563B2

A buffer device coupled to at least one input/output port of an integrated circuit has a plurality of control inputs configured to receive configuration programming information. The at least one input/output circuit is capable of: (a) being configured in a directional sense of communication by the configuration programming information, (b) being configured as an input circuit which can be further configured to provide input logic switching level thresholds according to the configuration programming information, and (c) being configured as at least one output circuit which can be further configured to provide an output drive strength according to the configuration programming information.
US07973560B2

A level shifter includes a first level shift circuit that converts a signal level of a first pulse signal into an amplitude level of a power supply voltage, and a second level shift circuit that converts a signal level of the second pulse signal into an amplitude level. Each of the first and second level shift circuits includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type having a gate receiving the first and second pulse signals respectively, a source connected to a ground, and a drain that outputs a level shifted pulse signal, and a second transistor of a second conductivity type having a gate connected to the first transistor gate, a drain connected to the first transistor drain, and a source connected to the power supply via a connected transistor group, the connected transistor group includes at least one of the second conductivity type transistors.
US07973555B1

A semiconductor device includes a field-programmable gate array (“FPGA”) die (202) having a frame address bus (604), a frame data bus (608), and a second integrated circuit (“IC”) die (204) attached to the FPGA die. An inter-chip frame address bus (605) couples at least low order frame address bits of a frame address of a frame between the FPGA die and the second IC die. The inter-chip frame address bus includes a first plurality of contacts (614) formed between the FPGA die and the second IC die. An inter-chip frame data bus couples frame data of the frame between the FPGA die and the second IC die. The inter-chip frame data bus includes a second plurality of contacts (616) formed between the FPGA die and the second IC die.
US07973552B2

An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate; a first node; a second node; and a first plurality of resistors, each in a first plurality of resistor units. Each of the first plurality of resistor units includes a first end connected to the first node, and a second end connected to the second node. The integrated circuit further includes a second plurality of resistors, each in a second plurality of resistor units. Each of the second plurality of resistor units includes a first end connected to the first node, and a second end connected to the second node. The first plurality of resistors is formed of a first material. The second plurality of resistors is formed of a second material different from the first material. The integrated circuit further includes a switch in one of the first and the second plurality of resistor units and serially connected to a resistor.
US07973548B2

A semiconductor test equipment with concentric pogo towers is disclosed, which comprises a base, a tester head, an outer pogo tower, and an inner pogo tower. The inner pogo tower is concentrically received in the outer pogo tower, and a connecting slot of the inner pogo tower is correspondingly engaged with a connecting pin of the outer pogo tower. The outer pogo tower is fixed to the load board together with the inner pogo tower, whereby a plurality of outer pogo pins of the outer pogo tower and a plurality of inner pogo pins of the inner pogo tower are electrically connected to the load board respectively. Therefore, the present invention is capable of expanding the test specifications, but also to change rapidly from different test specifications through replacing a different probe card but without to modify any other hardware.
US07973546B2

A method for testing a plurality of electronic devices formed on a large area substrate is described. In one embodiment, the method includes transferring a substrate on an end effector relative to a testing platform having a plurality of testing columns coupled thereto, the substrate having a plurality of electronic devices located thereon, and moving the substrate in a single directional axis relative to an optical axis of each of the plurality of testing columns, the single directional axis being substantially orthogonal to the optical axis to define a test area on the substrate, wherein the test area is configured to cover an entire length or an entire width of the substrate such that the testing columns are capable of testing the entire substrate as the substrate is moved through the test area.
US07973545B2

A method of time resolved radiation assisted device alteration testing of a semiconductor circuit which includes performing spatially resolved radiation assisted circuit testing on the semiconductor circuit while applying a test pattern to determine a pass-fail modulation location, asynchronously scanning the semiconductor circuit with radiation while repeatedly applying the test pattern and providing pass-fail results, combining corresponding pass-fail results provided during the asynchronously scanning to determine a shifted pass-fail modulation indication, determining time shift information between the pass-fail modulation location and the shifted pass-fail modulation indication, and identifying at least one of the test vectors based on the time shift information. The radiation may be a continuous wave laser beam. The time shift information may be determined by scanning an image, incorporating graphics into the image indicating the pass-fail modulation location and the shifted pass-fail modulation indication, and measuring a pixel shift on the scanned image.
US07973544B2

The invention, in one aspect, provides a semiconductor device (100), including transistors (105), dielectric layers (115, 120) located over the transistors (105), interconnects (122) formed within the dielectric layers (115, 120), and a test structure (130) located adjacent a hot-spot (125) of the semiconductor device (100) and configured to monitor a real-time operational parameter of at least one of the transistors (105) or interconnects (122).
US07973541B2

Techniques for estimating resistance and capacitance of metal interconnects are described. An apparatus may include an interconnect, a set of pads, a set of isolation circuits, and a test circuit. The set of pads may be coupled to the interconnect and used for simultaneously applying a current through the interconnect and measuring a voltage across the interconnect. The current and voltage may be used to estimate the resistance of the interconnect. The test circuit may charge and discharge the interconnect to estimate the capacitance of the interconnect. The isolation circuits may isolate the pads from the interconnect when the test circuit charges and discharges the interconnect. The apparatus may further include another interconnect, another set of pads, and another set of isolation circuits that may be coupled in a mirror manner. Resistance and/or capacitance mismatch between the two interconnects may be accurately estimated.
US07973538B2

An apparatus includes power circuitry and hazard detection circuitry connectable to a multi-conductor cable. The power circuitry transfers electrical power from a power-sourcing equipment (PSE) to a powered device (PD) over the multi-conductor cable. The hazard detection circuitry senses an electrical characteristic of the multi-conductor cable and generates a detection signal indicating whether a potentially hazardous abnormal operating condition exists in the multi-conductor cable based on the sensed electrical characteristic. Examples include short-circuit detection circuitry which detects a hazard-producing short-circuit connection between sets of conductors that can cause a “stacking” or additive combining of PSE output voltages, and hot-cable detection circuitry detecting the presence of full operating voltage on the cable under abnormal conditions.
US07973537B2

A control system for an electrical power system includes an electrical corrective device, a voltage measuring device coupled to each phase of the electric power system, a current measuring device connected between each phase of the electric power system and the electrical corrective device, and a protective device connected to outputs of the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device. The protective device includes a controller configured to detect an imbalance using the measured voltages and currents output from the voltage measuring device and the current measuring device without using or independently of other recent voltage or current measurements for other points in the electrical corrective device and independently of a neutral-ground measurement at the electrical corrective device.
US07973535B2

A ground fault detection device includes a sense coil including a primary winding and a secondary winding to detect current in a line conductor and a neutral conductor. It also includes a capacitor in parallel with the secondary winding and a virtual inductor to form a resonance circuit having a signal proportional to the current and being indicative of a ground fault condition.
US07973533B2

A switching and fault detection circuit comprises two controllable switches capable of coupling a power source to a load. A controller can control the switches and test them for faults, and a voltage sensor can read the output voltage going to the load. Dual-redundant switches and fault detection circuitry can provide correct operation if one should fail. Control and feedback logic can determine if each of the solid-state switches is operating correctly during the power-on and power-off cycles and can also check for a fail-open condition during normal operations. If it is determined that a solid switch has failed open or closed, a fault can be generated.
US07973529B2

A sensor magnet holder is mounted on a motor shaft, and a sensor magnet is provided relative to a magnetic induction sensor on the non-moving side for obtaining a signal indicative of a rotational position of the motor shaft. The sensor magnet holder integrally forms a cylindrical portion, a flange portion of a terminal end of the cylindrical portion having a large diameter, a magnet rear end holding portion of the other terminal end of the cylindrical portion and a plurality of snap fit board portions. A shaft press fit portion is formed on an internal diameter of the flange portion. The plural snap fit board portions extend from the cylindrical portion in an axial direction of the motor shaft. A magnet front end holding portion is formed at an extending tip over an outer diameter surface of each of the snap fit board portions. Each of the flexible snap fit board portions snuggly contacts the inner flat surface of the sensor magnet while the sensor magnet is held between said magnet rear end holding portion and said magnet front end holding portion.
US07973522B2

A DC/DC converter capable of controlling an output signal using a broadband signal input is provided. By employing the above DC/DC converter as a power supply, a highly efficient power amplifier can be configured. The above DC/DC converter includes two class-C amplifiers, a rectifier circuit connected between each output of the two class-C amplifiers, and an oscillator of a predetermined frequency signal. The predetermined frequency signal output from the oscillator is input to each of the two class-C amplifiers, and by controlling the phase difference of the predetermined frequency signal input to the two class-C amplifiers, the magnitude of a direct current voltage output from the rectifier circuit is made variable.
US07973513B2

A device is provided that includes a battery, a positive node and a negative node and logic configured to send a first signal through the positive node into a charging surface; send a second signal through the negative node into the charging surface; receive current from the charging surface in response to the first and second signals; and charging the battery with the received current from the charging surface.
US07973509B2

A pulse distribution unit notifies a mode control/instruction unit of an output start signal. The mode control/instruction unit outputs a mode setting signal, a speed command signal, and a compensation pulse to an axis control unit. In a position control mode, the mode control/instruction unit continues outputting the speed command signal to the axis control unit until the mode control/instruction unit receives the output start signal from the pulse distribution unit, and stops, up receiving the output start signal, outputting the speed command signal. The compensation pulse is output to the axis control unit to cancel the difference between a spindle position and the position control start reference position of the spindle. The axis control unit adds the compensation pulse to the position command signal of the spindle output from the pulse distribution unit and outputs the result to a servo control unit.
US07973505B2

When an electric vehicle outputs a torque instruction, firstly, a request torque is acquired and a judged whether the acquired request torque is positive or negative (S10) Regardless of the sign of the request torque, it is judged whether the eco-switch is ON (S12, S14) If the request torque has a positive sign and the eco-switch is OFF, a map A is selected (S20). If the eco-switch is ON, a map B which limits the maximum torque to a low value for the map A is selected (S22). If the request torque has a negative sign, a map C is selected regardless of the eco-switch ON/OFF state and the maximum torque is not limited (S24).
US07973504B2

A method for improving a failure mode diagnostic of an electric power steering system by overcoming a motor electric lock condition due to position sensor signal corruption or other motor faults. If certain conditions are met, the method determines that the motor is in an electric lock condition, and then reduces a torque current command to the motor so that it is able to be rotated by a vehicle hand-wheel. Once the motor is able to be rotated, then the method determines whether certain conditions have been met to determine whether the position sensor is malfunctioning.
US07973498B2

An illumination control system includes lighting apparatuses connected to a communications line and a number of functional units of plural kinds functioning to detect information from ambient environments of the lighting apparatuses. Each lighting apparatus includes a lamp, an illumination circuit, a communication unit, a control unit, and a unit attaching part to which the functional unit is detachably attached. Each lighting apparatus belongs to one or more of plural groups corresponding to the functional units, the groups being operated based on information detected by the respective functional units. A functional unit having a detecting function corresponding to an operation of each group is attached to each unit attaching part of at least one lighting apparatus of each group, and each communication unit of the at least one lighting apparatus sends the control signal including information detected by the corresponding functional unit to another lighting apparatus in the same group.
US07973494B2

Electronic ballasts and buck-boost DC-DC converters therefor are presented with a buck converter with two switching devices connected with two capacitances and two diodes to limit the individual switching device voltages to around half the converter DC input voltage or less.
US07973492B2

A power supply of a plasma display device includes a power source unit configured to convert a direct current source into an alternating current source, a transformer including a primary side winding electrically coupled to the power source unit and a secondary side winding having a first winding and a second winding, a sustain power supply electrically coupled to the first winding of the secondary side of the transformer, the sustain power supply configured to output a first voltage to a first voltage output terminal, and an address power supply electrically coupled to the second winding of the secondary side and serially connected to the sustain power supply, the address power supply configured to output a second voltage to a second voltage output terminal.
US07973487B2

A power supply circuit is proposed for supplying current to a pair of white LEDs connected in series. The circuit comprises a DC-DC power converter, with a charge pump coupled to the output of the DC-DC power converter. A super capacitor is coupled to the charge pump to be charged to a voltage on top of the converter output in a first mode of operation. The super capacitor is discharged through the pair of LEDs during a second mode of operation. A control stage is provided for switching between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation.
US07973473B2

A flat panel OLED device including a transparent deformable substrate having first and second sides and defining a predetermined illumination region and a non-illumination region; a moisture-sensitive OLED disposed over the first side of the transparent substrate within the illumination region and means for applying electrical signals to the OLED which causes the OLED to produce light and heat; a protective layer disposed over the OLED; a flexible encapsulating foil disposed over the protective layer, but not attached thereto, and which dissipates the heat and sealingly connected to the substrate in the non-illumination region; and a rigid chassis structure operatively associated with the transparent deformable substrate for providing rigidity to the transparent deformable substrate.
US07973472B2

A display device includes a substrate having a display area; an adhesion layer formed on the substrate surface; a plurality of chiplets adhered to the substrate and distributed within the display area, each chiplet having one or more connection pads, wherein each chiplet has more than four sides; a plurality of pixels formed over the adhesion layer in the display area, each pixel having a bottom electrode electrically connected to a connection pad of one chiplet, one or more layers of light-emitting material formed over the bottom electrode, and a top electrode formed over the one or more layers of light-emitting material; and a cover located over the top electrode and adhered to the substrate.
US07973469B2

In an organic EL element, at the interface between a first electrode and a light-emitting layer, a diffraction grating with grating constants a, b, and c is provided in the form of surface irregularities on the first electrode. The grating constants are determined such that, when the effective refractive index as light experiences in the organic EL element is n, with respect to the periods d01, d10, and d1−1 defining the periodicity of the diffraction grating, n×d01 corresponds to a red region and n×d10 and n×d1−1 correspond to a blue to green region.
US07973459B2

A spark plug having a particular firing end configuration that satisfies numerous dimensional ranges for improved performance. The spark plug generally includes a shell, an insulator, and center and ground electrodes, with the electrodes each having a copper core for improved thermal conductivity and a noble metal insert for improved erosion and corrosion resistance. The noble metal insert for the center electrode is preferably in the form of a cylindrical Ir-based tip, which is received within a complimentary recess formed in the center electrode. The noble metal insert for the ground electrode is in the form of a flat Pt-based pad attached to a surface of the ground electrode. Various dimensional ranges are provided for the various components of the spark plug assembly, both individually and in combination with other dimensions.
US07973454B1

A vacuum hermetic organic packaging carrier and a sensor device package are provided. The organic packaging carrier includes an organic substrate, a conductive circuit layer, and an inorganic hermetic insulation film. The organic substrate has a first surface. The conductive circuit layer is located on the first surface and exposes a portion of the first surface. The inorganic hermetic insulation film at least covers the exposed first surface to achieve an effect of completely hermetically sealing the organic packaging carrier.
US07973439B2

Provided is an inverter-integrated electric compressor capable of reducing the size of an inverter accommodating section by modularizing a power circuit board and a control board and further reducing the size of an inverter device, as well as an accommodating section thereof, by improving the positional structure with respect to other electrical components. An inverter-integrated electric compressor including an inverter accommodating section provided on a periphery of a housing accommodating an inverter device includes an inverter module constructed by integrally modularizing a power circuit board and a control board, wherein attachment legs provided on both edges of at least one side surface of the inverter module protrude outward from a module main body, and the inverter module accommodates the inverter accommodating section with the attachment legs positioned in spaces at both ends of a glass-insulated terminal.
US07973433B2

A power switch apparatus includes a substrate; a semiconductor die mounted on the substrate and including power electronics circuitry for a high power, alternating current motor application; and gate drive circuitry mounted on the substrate and electrically coupled to the power electronics circuitry on the semiconductor die.
US07973425B2

A power strip device includes a power plug, a master power outlet, multiple slave power outlets and a control circuit. The control circuit includes an inductor, a reed switch and a switching circuit. Under the control of the control circuit, the power strip device allows the slave power outlets to be automatically turned on or off simultaneous with the master power outlet being turned on or off.
US07973407B2

Three-dimensional stacked substrate arrangements with reliable bonding and inter-substrate protection.
US07973405B2

An integrated circuit for driving a semiconductor device, which is adaptable for demands, such as a higher output (larger current), a higher voltage, and a smaller loss, and has a small size, is produced at a low cost, and has high reliability. A power converter including such an integrated circuit is also provided. Circuit elements constituting a drive section of an upper arm drive circuit 212, a level shift circuit 20 including a current sensing circuit 210, a drive section of a lower arm drive circuit 222, and a drive signal processing circuit 224 are integrated and built in one high withstand voltage IC chip 200. Circuit elements constituting a final output stage buffer section 213 of the upper arm drive circuit 212 are built in a vertical p-channel MOS-FET chip 213p and a vertical n-channel MOS-FET chip 213n. Circuit elements constituting a final output stage buffer section 223 of the lower arm drive circuit 222 are built in a vertical p-channel MOS-FET chip 223p and a vertical n-channel MOS-FET chip 223n. Thus, a driver IC 2 is fabricated.
US07973402B2

A method for creating an improved signal light is disclosed. For example, the improved signal light includes a housing, one or more first type of light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting a light energy having a first dominant wavelength deployed in the housing, one or more second type of LEDs emitting a light energy having a second dominant wavelength deployed in the housing, a filter and a mixer. The filter may filter the light energy of the one or more second type of LEDs such that only a third dominant wavelength passes from the one or more second type of LEDs. The mixer may mix the light energy having the first dominant wavelength and the filtered light energy having the third dominant wavelength to form a light energy having a desired fourth dominant wavelength.
US07973401B2

A chip package comprises a first chip having a first side and a second side, wherein said first chip comprises a first pad, a first trace, a second pad and a first passivation layer at said first side thereof, an opening in said first passivation layer exposing said first pad, said first trace being over said first passivation layer, said first trace connecting said first pad to said second pad; a second chip having a first side and a second side, wherein said second chip comprises a first pad at said first side thereof, wherein said second side of said second chip is joined with said second side of side first chip; a substrate joined with said first side of said first chip or with said first side of said second chip; a first wirebonding wire connecting said second pad of said first chip and said substrate; and a second wirebonding wire connecting said first pad of said second chip and said substrate.
US07973394B2

A semiconductor including a selectively plated lead frame is disclosed. The lead frame contains a die pad and a plurality of lead fingers, where each lead finger is formed with a bonding pad on the center portion of the lead finger by selective plating. The surface area of the lead finger material is increased so the adhesion to molding material is improved. The edges of the lead finger tips are half etched to further increase the surface area of lead finger material. A method of manufacturing the lead frame is also provided.
US07973386B1

In a bipolar device an intrinsic Zener like diode is formed for controlling the triggering voltage and leakage current, the Zener-like diode being formed between the n-collector and the p-base, wherein the collector implant and base diffusion overlap at least partially.
US07973375B2

The spin transistor in accordance with the present invention comprises a magnetoresistive element having a fixed layer, a free layer, and a semiconductor layer provided between the fixed layer and free layer; a source electrode layer electrically connected to one end face in a laminating direction of the magnetoresistive element; a drain electrode layer electrically connected to the other end face in the laminating direction of the magnetoresistive element; and a gate electrode layer laterally adjacent to the semiconductor layer through a gate insulating layer provided on a side face of the semiconductor layer.
US07973374B2

Embodiments relate to a semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same. According to embodiments, a semiconductor device may include a metal film spaced from a semiconductor substrate at a predetermined interval and in which a plurality of etching holes are formed. A bottom metal pattern disposed on and/or over a space between the semiconductor substrate and metal film and top metal pattern formed on and/or over the bottom metal pattern may be provided. A pillar may be formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate and may support one side of a low surface of the bottom metal pattern. A pad may be formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate, and an air layer corresponding to the bottom metal pattern may be inserted therein. According to embodiments, a pyro-electric switch transistor using a bi-metal with different coefficients of thermal expansion may be provided.
US07973373B2

A microminiature moving device has disposed on a single-crystal silicon substrate movable elements such as a movable rod and a movable comb electrode that are displaceable in parallel to the substrate surface and stationary parts that are fixedly secured to the single -crystal silicon substrate with an insulating layer sandwiched between. Depressions are formed in the surface regions of the single-crystal silicon substrate where no stationary parts are present and the movable parts are positioned above the depressions. The depressions form gaps large enough to prevent foreign bodies from causing shorts and malfunctioning of the movable parts.
US07973368B2

Provided are a semiconductor device with a T-gate electrode capable of improving stability and a high frequency characteristic of the semiconductor device by reducing source resistance, parasitic capacitance, and gate resistance and a method of fabricating the same. In the semiconductor device, in order to form source and drain electrodes and the T-gate electrode on a substrate, first and second protective layers constructed with silicon oxide layers or silicon nitride layers are formed on sides of a supporting part under a head part of the T-gate electrode, and the second protective layer constructed with a silicon oxide layer or silicon nitride layer is formed on sides of the source and drain electrodes. Accordingly, it is possible to protect an activated region of the semiconductor device and reduce gate-drain parasitic capacitance and gate-source parasitic capacitance.
US07973365B2

The invention relates to a high-frequency integrated circuit requiring ESD protection for a circuit node. One or more metallic layer is deposited within the integrated circuit and patterned to form a transmission line. The metallic layers are generally already present in the integrated circuit for signal routing. The transmission line is coupled between the circuit node and a terminal of an ESD protection device, with a transmission line return conductor coupled to a high-frequency ground. The transmission line is formed with an electrical length that transforms the impedance of the ESD protection device substantially into an open circuit at the circuit node at an operational frequency of the integrated circuit. The other terminal of the ESD protection device is coupled to the high-frequency ground.
US07973359B2

A semiconductor device with a charge carrier compensation structure. In one embodiment, the semiconductor device has a central cell field with a gate and source structure. At least one bond contact area is electrically coupled to the gate structure or the source structure. A capacitance-increasing field plate is electrically coupled to at least one of the near-surface bond contact areas.
US07973354B2

A gate pattern is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate, a lower conductive pattern, an upper conductive pattern, and a sidewall conductive patter. The lower conductive pattern is on the substrate. The insulating pattern is on the lower conductive pattern. The upper conductive pattern is on the insulating pattern opposite to the lower conductive pattern. The sidewall conductive pattern is on at least a portion of sidewalls of the upper conductive pattern and the lower conductive pattern. The sidewall conductive pattern electrically connects the upper conductive pattern and the lower conductive pattern. An upper edge portion of the lower conductive pattern may be recessed relative to a lower edge portion of the lower conductive pattern to define a ledge thereon. The sidewall conductive pattern may be directly on the ledge and sidewall of the recessed upper edge portion of the lower conductive pattern.
US07973351B2

A stack includes a crystalline MgO layer, crystalline Heusler alloy layer, and amorphous Heusler alloy layer. The crystalline Heusler alloy layer is provided on the MgO layer. The amorphous Heusler alloy layer is provided on the crystalline Heusler alloy layer.
US07973340B2

Cells are formed on a substrate. First and second cell power wiring lines extend in a first direction on the substrate. First and second intermediate layer power wiring lines are formed on the first and second cell power lines. First upper layer power wiring lines are formed on the first and second intermediate layer power lines. The first upper layer power wiring lines extend in a second direction crossing the first direction at right angles. First contact members are formed between the first cell power lines and the first upper layer power lines. Second contact members are formed between the second cell power lines and the first upper layer power lines. The second contact members are arranged at positions shifted from a straight line which passes through the first contact members in the first direction and a straight line which passes through the first contact members in the second direction.
US07973320B2

An organic semiconductor light-emitting device having the form of a field-effect transistor and a display using this device is provided. In the device, electrons and holes can be transported. The device comprises an organic semiconductor light-emitting layer capable of emitting light by recombination of holes and electrons, a hole injection electrode for injecting holes into the organic semiconductor light-emitting layer, an electron injection electrode for injecting electrons into the organic semiconductor light-emitting layer, and a gate electrode so disposed as to be opposed to the organic semiconductor light-emitting layer between the electrodes. When a control voltage is applied to the gate electrode, the carrier distribution in the organic semiconductor light-emitting layer is controlled. Thus, the light emission can be turned on/off and the emission intensity can be modulated.
US07973317B2

A method for fabricating an array substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided. A semiconductor layer and a transparent lower electrode formed on a substrate is provided and covered by a first dielectric layer serving as a gate dielectric layer and a capacitor dielectric layer. A gate electrode and an upper electrode comprising a transparent electrode portion and a metal electrode portion are formed on the first dielectric layer and covered by a second dielectric layer. A source/drain electrode, a planarization layer, and a pixel electrode are sequentially formed on the second dielectric layer, in which the source/drain electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer through the first and second dielectric layers and the pixel electrode is electrically connected to the source/drain electrode through the planarization layer. An array substrate for an LCD is also disclosed.
US07973316B2

An object is to provide a semiconductor device which is not easily broken even if stressed externally and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device. A semiconductor device includes an element layer including a transistor in which a channel is formed in a semiconductor layer and insulating layers which are formed as an upper layer and a lower layer of the transistor respectively, and a plurality of projecting members provided at intervals of from 2 to 200 μm on a surface of the element layer. The longitudinal elastic modulus of the material for forming the plurality of projecting members is lower than that of the materials of the insulating layers.
US07973307B2

An organic photosensitive optoelectronic device, having a donor-acceptor heterojunction of a donor-like material and an acceptor-like material and methods of making such devices is provided. At least one of the donor-like material and the acceptor-like material includes a subphthalocyanine, a subporphyrin, and/or a subporphyrazine compound; and/or the device optionally has at least one of a blocking layer or a charge transport layer, where the blocking layer and/or the charge transport layer includes a subphthalocyanine, a subporphyrin, and/or a subporphyrazine compound.
US07973293B2

A method comprises supplying a dopant gas in an arc chamber of an ion source. A dilutant is supplied to dilute the dopant gas. The dilutant comprises about 98.5 wt. % xenon and about 1.5 wt. % hydrogen. An ion beam is generated from the diluted dopant gas using the ion source.
US07973292B2

A neutralizer 1 includes: a power supply circuit 11; an output controlling circuit 12 configured to convert a DC voltage generated by the power supply circuit 11 to a high-frequency voltage with frequency equal to or higher than an audible frequency, and thus to output the resultant high-frequency voltage alternately to two output lines at regular intervals; a transforming circuit 13 configured to raise the high-frequency voltage; a discharger 20 including 2n (n is an integer equal to one or more) discharge needles configured to output positive ions in response to application of a positive polarity voltage, and to output negative ions in response to application of a negative polarity voltage, the discharge needles being disposed while being divided into first and second groups each including n discharge needles; a polarity reversing circuit 14 configured to convert the high-frequency high voltage outputted from the transforming circuit 13, to two rectangular-wave DC high voltages with different polarities during a certain period, and to output the two DC high voltages respectively to the first and second groups in the discharger 20 while reversing the polarities of the two DC high voltages at regular intervals; and an air blower configured to blow air from a windward side of the discharger 20.
US07973290B2

The present invention involves a beam energy identification system, comprising an accelerated ion beam, wherein the accelerated ion beam is scanned in a fast scan axis within a beam scanner, wherein the beam scanner is utilized to deflect the accelerated ion beam into narrow faraday cups downstream of the scanner, wherein a difference in scanner voltage or current to position the beam into the Faraday cups is utilized to calculated the energy of ion beam.
US07973289B2

According to the invention, the image contrast in electron optics can be improved without causing aberrations that are no longer tolerable by using, for production and correction of the at least one anamorphic image, quadrupole fields before and after this image whose extent in the direction of the optical axis is equal to at least twice their focal length, and wherein at least one of the axial rays, by an appropriate choice of the magnification M of the intermediate image, enters the quadrupole field before the at least one anamorphic image at a slope 1/M such that a length of the anamorphic image is achieved at which any aberrations caused are still within a tolerable range. The invention also relates to devices for implementing this method.
US07973283B2

A method for regulating sample surface charge has been proposed in this invention. The processes of applying a charged particle beam to a first area and applying a flood energized beam gun with gaseous molecules to a second area are executed in the method when the sample is in both continuous and Leap & Scan movements. The second area is located at a predetermined distance from the first area behind or ahead of the first area being scanned with respect to the movement of the sample. Thus, the surface of the sample may be regulated.
US07973273B2

The present invention relates to a light barrier for the monitoring of a light path having a base assembly of a first transmitter emitting a light signal and a first receiver generating an output signal for a control. In accordance with the invention, the light barrier has an active reflector assembly having a second receiver for the reception of the light signal emitted by the first transmitter and a second transmitter for the transmission of a feedback signal in dependence on the received light signal.
US07973268B2

An induction heating cooking device has an inverter including a resonant circuit, and a heating output control part. The resonant circuit has a resonant capacitor and a heating coil that is magnetically coupled to a load. The inverter has first and second switching elements. The heating output control part performs control by inverting the rate values of the driving periods of the first and second switching elements. The driving of the inverter is thus controlled so that substantially the same heating output is obtained to average the losses of the first and second switching elements.
US07973265B2

An integrated optical device is disclosed comprising a substrate, optical waveguide, and compound optical resonator having a temperature sensor, at least two coupled optical resonators, and a heater localized to each optical resonator. An optical input signal is coupled to one of the resonators making up the compound resonator to form an optical output signal. The center wavelength and shape of the output signal is optimized with a feedback loop using the temperature sensor to control the power dissipated in at least one of the localized heaters. The power dissipated in the remaining resonator heaters is set according to a predetermined function having as an input variable the power dissipated in the resonant heater under control of the said feedback loop.
US07973259B2

A sorting system is provided for electronic components such as LED devices which includes a testing station for testing and determining a characteristic of each electronic component. A first tray has a plurality of receptacles for receiving tested electronic components and a second tray has more receptacles than the first tray for receiving tested electronic components. Electronic components comprising tested characteristics that occur with greater frequency are loaded into the receptacles of the first tray and electronic components comprising tested characteristics that occur with lower frequency are loaded into the receptacles of the second tray.
US07973255B2

A switch useful for, inter alia, a touch type keyboard or keypad which may be used for a personal computer or the like in a substantially waterproof form while being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
US07973254B2

The invention discloses a key structure including a keycap, a base plate, and a support member. The keycap includes a slide part; the base plate includes an engagement part; the support member includes a first end and a second end for engaging the keycap and the base plate. The first end slides on the slide part, and the second end is engaged to the engagement part. Therein, the second end thereon defines a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first and second directions are substantially parallel to the base plate. The engagement part restrains the second end from sliding along the first direction. The second end includes two block parts. The block parts are deposited on two sides of the engagement part for restraining the second end from sliding along the second direction.
US07973241B2

A pressure restraining enclosure for cables can include, for example, a first cable including a conductor and an oil-containing layer surrounding the conductor, and a second cable having a conductor. A splice can connect the conductor of the first cable with the conductor of the second cable. A pressure restraining sleeve can overly the splice and the conductors of the first and second cables. Several fasteners can be applied to several locations on the pressure restraining sleeve to tighten the pressure restraining sleeve around the splice and portions of the first and second cable. Embodiments of the pressure restraining enclosure can be used in the form of a sleeve on a single core cable, or alternatively as a body and a separate sleeve on multiple core cables such as three-core cables.
US07973228B2

A guitar strap 10 includes an adjuster 13 by which the length of a second belt section 17 is adjusted. The adjuster 13 includes a base 31, a lever 32 manipulated to adjust the length of the second belt section 17, and a torsion spring 38 urging the lever 32 to pivot in a first direction. The second belt section 17 is clamped by the base 31 and the lever 32 due to urging force of the torsion spring 38. The second belt section 17 is released from a state clamped by the base 31 and the lever 32 by pivoting the lever 32 in a second direction, which is different from the first direction, against the urging force of the torsion spring 38.
US07973224B2

A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘FUSION’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 42 cm to 48 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, dark green color foliage, measuring about 30 cm to 35 cm in length and about 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm in width; superior floral bract production; bracts have a unique dark purple color which distinguishes this cultivar from typical Guzmania; round, compound inflorescence, measuring about 30 cm in height and about 18 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.
US07973202B2

The present invention aims to reduce an amount of by-products generated in a reaction step for obtaining fluorine-containing olefin, and thereby to obtain fluorine-containing olefin as a target substance with a higher selectivity than that in the conventional method.In a reaction step for generating fluorine-containing olefin by a dehydrohalogenation reaction from fluorine-containing halogenated propane expressed by a general formula CF3CH(2-n)XnCH(3-m)Xm (wherein n=0, 1 or 2; m=1, 2 or 3; and n+m≦3; and X is selected from F, Cl and Br, independently), fluorochromium oxide having a fluorine content not less than 30% by weight is used as a catalyst.
US07973195B2

An unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt is produced by a process that includes reacting methyl chloride in a first vessel with a stoichiometric excess of an unsaturated tertiary amine in the presence of water to form a reaction mixture that includes the unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt and residual unsaturated tertiary amine. The reaction mixture is transferred to a second vessel and phase separated to yield a first fraction in which the unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt is concentrated, and a second fraction in which the residual unsaturated tertiary amine is concentrated. At least a portion of the second fraction is recycled from the second vessel to the first vessel for use in the reaction with methyl chloride. The process, which is preferably operated continuously, allows the use of reduced reaction pressures compared to processes utilizing a stoichiometric excess of methyl chloride, and it also reduces or eliminates the problems associated with recycling methyl chloride and removing methyl chloride from the unsaturated quaternary ammonium salt product.
US07973191B2

The invention relates to general syntheses of (6H)-dibenz[c,e] [1,2]-oxaphosphorins which are substituted with nitrogen compounds on the phosphorus atom and comprising commercially available 6H-dibenz[c,e] [1,2]-oxaphosphorin-6-oxides. These nitrogen-containing (6H)-dibenz[c,e] [1,2]-oxaphosphorins can be used as reactive starting substances for further syntheses or as flameproofing agents or as stabilisers.
US07973190B2

A polycyclic fused ring type π-conjugated organic material (VIIa, VIIb, VIIc, VIId) is obtained in the following manner. That is, as shown in Scheme 1 below, a starting material (I) is dimetalated with an organometallic base. The starting material (I) thus dimetalated is trapped with an organosilicon reagent (i: (1) n-BuLi or t-BuLi; (2) HMe2SiCl). As a result, an intermediate is obtained. Thereafter, the intermediate is allowed to react with a metal reductant. This causes an intramolecular reductive cyclization reaction to proceed. As a result, a dianion intermediate is produced. The dianion intermediate is trapped with an electrophile (ii: (1) LiNaph, THF, rt, 5 min; (2) electrophile or NH4Cl) In this way, the polycyclic fused ring type π-conjugated organic material is obtained. The polycyclic fused ring type π-conjugated organic material, an intermediate therefor, a method for producing the polycyclic fused ring type π-conjugated organic material, and a method for producing the intermediate make it possible to provide a polycyclic fused ring type π-conjugated organic material having excellent light-emitting and charge-transporting properties.
US07973183B2

The present invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of an olefin oxide wherein an olefin is reacted with a hydroperoxidein the presence of a catalyst, and wherein the reaction which is carried out in at least three reactors operated in parallel is controlled by specifically adjusting the catalyst loads in the reactors.
US07973175B2

The invention related to a novel process, novel process steps and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, especially renin inhibitors, such as Aliskiren. Inter alia, the invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a compound of the formula III, wherein R, R1, and R′ are as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof, and a compound of formula IV wherein R, R1, R2 and R′ are as defined in the specification, and processes of manufacturing these.
US07973172B2

The present invention provides: an organic compound increasing an open circuit voltage, and showing high photoelectric conversion efficiency; a semiconductor film electrode employing the organic compound as a dye; a photoelectric conversion element employing the semiconductor film electrode; and a photoelectrochemical solar cell employing the photoelectric conversion element. The organic compound is represented by the following general formula: wherein A is a carbazole ring; L1 is an electron transfer linking group having at least one heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of a thiophene ring, a furan ring, a pyrrole ring, and a condensed heterocyclic ring formed from any combinations of these rings; R is a substituent group bound to at least one electron transfer linking group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and an aryl group; X is at least one electron withdrawing group selected from the group consisting of a cyano group, a carboxylic acid group, an ester group, an amide group, a trifluoromethyl group, a pentafluoroethyl group, a sulfonate group, and a trifluoromethanesulfonate group; M is a hydrogen atom or a salt-forming cation; and n is an integer of 1 to 12.
US07973167B2

A novel luminescent metal complex comprises a composition of [(PtII)2(AuI)2(MI)2(L)8] where MI denotes AgI or CuI, and L denotes a structure represented by the formula (1)
US07973166B2

The crystalline Polymorph B of N-(2-aminophenyl)-4-[N-(pyridine-3-yl)methoxy-carbonyaminomethyl]benzamide (MS-275) of formula I is described, as well as the process for the production of said compound, and its use as a medicament for the treatment of selected diseases.
US07973162B2

The present invention relates to modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US07973158B2

This invention relates to a novel synthesis for the preparation of benzoxazine components from phenolic components, aldehyde components, and amine components in a solvent other than toluene.
US07973151B2

Modified, furin resistant human TSLP polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding the modified human TSLP polypeptides are provided. Pharmaceutical compositions, B and T cell activation agents, assays and methods of use are also described.
US07973150B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for producing fusion proteins with reduced immunogenicity. Fusion proteins of the invention include a junction region having an amino acid change that reduces the ability of a junctional epitope to bind to MHC Class II, thereby reducing its interaction with a T-cell receptor. Methods of the invention involve analyzing, changing, or modifying one or more amino acids in the junction region of a fusion protein in order to identify a T-cell epitope and reduce its ability to interact with a T cell receptor. Compositions and methods of the invention are useful in therapy.
US07973148B2

Methods and constructs for genetic manipulation of one or more of shrimp, shellfish, mollusks, and fish are disclosed. The nucleic acid construct includes a promoter and an internal ribosome entry site of an insect picomavirus, such as a cricket paralysis-like picomavirus. One or more open reading frames can be operably associated with one or both of the promoter and the internal ribosome entry site, and one or more proteins or protein subunits can be expressed upon introduction of the construct into a host cell, such as into a shrimp. Method for producing immortalized crustacean cell lines using enhancer elements derived from shrimp and/or shrimp viruses are also described.
US07973144B2

It has been required to refold an inactive protein into an active protein with high efficacy. This problem can be solved by the method for producing a protein including a step of providing a porous body supporting an inactive protein in its mesopores, a step of applying a denaturant to the porous body supporting the inactive protein, and a step of changing the inactive protein to an active protein by removing the denaturant from the porous body.
US07973140B2

Antibodies directed to the antigen Ang-2 and uses of such antibodies are described. In particular, fully human monoclonal antibodies directed to the antigen Ang-2. Nucleotide sequences encoding, and amino acid sequences comprising, heavy and light chain immunoglobulin molecules, particularly sequences corresponding to contiguous heavy and light chain sequences spanning the framework regions and/or complementarity determining regions (CDR's), specifically from FR1 through FR4 or CDR1 through CDR3. Hybridomas or other cell lines expressing such immunoglobulin molecules and monoclonal antibodies.
US07973139B2

The present invention relates to antibodies and related molecules that specifically bind to the Nogo receptor (NogoR). Such antibodies have uses, for example, in the treatment of spinal cord injury, brain trauma, paralysis, degenerative nervous system diseases, and stroke. The invention also relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding anti-NogoR antibodies, vectors and host cells containing these nucleic acids, and methods for producing the same.
US07973128B2

The present invention pertains to the field of anti-cancer vaccines. More particularly, the invention concerns an optimized polypeptide, which comprises three cryptic tumor peptides with enhanced immunogenicity and comprises the amino acids sequence YLQVNSLQTVYLEYRQVPVYLEEITGYL (SEQ ID NO. 2), for use in an anti-cancer vaccine. Nucleic acids encoding such a polypeptide, as well as complexes and dendritic cells engineered with this polypeptide or a nucleic acid encoding it, are also part of the invention.
US07973126B2

Polymers including at least one structural unit derived from a compound of formula I or including at least one pendant group of formula II may be used in optoelectronic devices wherein R1, R3, R4 and R6 are independently hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, oxaalkyl, alkylaryl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted alkyl; substituted alkoxy, substituted oxaalkyl, substituted alkylaryl, substituted aryl, substituted arylalkyl, or substituted heteroaryl; R1a is hydrogen or alkyl; R2 is alkylene, substituted alkylene, oxaalkylene, CO, or CO2; R2a is alkylene; R5 is independently at each occurrence hydrogen, alkyl, alkylaryl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, carboxy, substituted alkyl; substituted alkylaryl, substituted aryl, substituted arylalkyl, or substituted alkoxy, X is halo, triflate, —B(OR1a)2, or  located at the 2, 5- or 2, 7-positions; and L is derived from phenylpyridine, tolylpyridine, benzothienylpyridine, phenylisoquinoline, dibenzoquinozaline, fluorenylpyridine, ketopyrrole, 2-(1-naphthyl)benzoxazole)), 2-phenylbenzoxazole, 2-phenylbenzothiazole, coumarin, thienylpyridine, phenylpyridine, benzothienylpyridine, 3-methoxy-2-phenylpyridine, thienylpyridine, phenylimine, vinylpyridine, pyridylnaphthalene, pyridylpyrrole, pyridylimidazole, phenylindole, derivatives thereof or combinations thereof.
US07973120B2

Organosilicon compounds containing at least one silicon-bonded radical of the formula (E1)xZ—Y—C(O)—CR4═C(CH2R4)—NR2—R1— are prepared by reacting the analogous ketoester or tautomer thereof with an amino functional organosilicon compound.
US07973117B2

A continuous production process, for producing an (meth)acrylic ester (co)polymer comprises the step of continuously feeding an organoaluminum compound-containing polymerization initiator solution and an (meth)acrylic ester into a reactor to continuously obtain a living polymer-containing polymer reaction liquid. The {[molar quantity of methacrylic ester or acrylic ester]/([molar quantity of organoaluminum compound]−[molar quantity of polymerization initiator])} fed into the reactor is regulated to be 15 to 80, and the content of the (meth)acrylic ester in the total feed amount of a polymerization initiator solution and an (meth)acrylic ester fed into the reactor is regulated to not more than 5% by mass.
US07973115B2

The present invention discloses the use of rotoxane ligands to prepare catalyst systems suitable for the oligomerization or polymerization of ethylene and alpha-olefins.
US07973114B2

Monocyclopentadienyl complexes in which the cyclopentadienyl system bears at least one unsubstituted, substituted or fused, heteroaromatic ring system bound via a specific bridge, a catalyst system comprising at least one of the monocyclopentadienyl complexes, the use of the catalyst system for the polymerization or copolymerization of olefins and a process for preparing polyolefins by polymerization or copolymerization of olefins in the presence of the catalyst system and polymers obtainable in this way.
US07973112B2

A method for preparing a spray dried catalyst and a low viscosity, low foam spray dried catalyst system for olefin polymerization are provided. In one aspect, the method includes preparing a catalyst system including one or more components selected from metallocenes, non-metallocenes, and activators, adding mineral oil to the catalyst system to form a slurry, and adding one or more liquid alkanes having three or more carbon atoms to the slurry in an amount sufficient to reduce foaming and viscosity of the slurry. In one aspect, the catalyst system includes one or more catalysts selected from metallocenes, non-metallocenes, and a combination thereof, wherein the catalyst system is spray dried. The system further includes mineral oil to form a slurry including a catalyst system, and one or more liquid alkanes having three or more carbon atoms in an amount sufficient to reduce foaming and viscosity of the slurry.
US07973111B2

Disclosed is a method to safely terminate a runaway reaction within a reaction vessel, comprising: sensing an increase in pressure in the reaction vessel, opening a barrier blocking a flow path into the reactor, wherein the barrier opening is achieved via a mechanical response to the sensed increase in pressure, and injecting a kill agent into the reaction vessel via the opened flow path, thereby terminating the reaction. Also disclosed is a system for performing the method. The system functions without an external electrical source and is therefore compliant with ASME standards.
US07973106B2

A sound damping material for use in a sound damping laminate having one or more rigid layers, such as those used in the automotive industry. The sound damping material is preferably a viscoelastic material that damps or otherwise inhibits the transmission of vibrational or acoustical energy through the laminate, and also acts as an adhesive for bonding the rigid layers together. In its cured form, the sound damping material layer can include an acrylate-based polymer matrix, and one or more of the following components: a precipitated phase, a viscous phase, and miscellaneous constituents. The acrylate-based polymer matrix is the reaction product of at least one acrylate-based monomer, such as isobornyl acrylate.
US07973101B2

Disclosed is a resin composition excellent in impact resistance, tensile properties and processability such as draw down property, which is produced by using a plant-derived biodegradable polymer produced by actively fixing carbon dioxide present in the earth. A resin composition comprising (A) a specific biodegradable (3-hydroxyalkanoate) copolymer, (B) a graft copolymer and (C) an acrylic processing modifier, the graft copolymer (B) and the acrylic processing modifier (C) being contained in the composition in amounts of 0.1 to 100 parts by weight and 0.1 to 30 parts by weight, respectively, based on 100 parts by weight of the biodegradable (3-hydroxyalkanoate) copolymer (A).
US07973096B2

A polymerizable composition, comprising a first component comprising a cationic nanoparticle comprising a covalently bonded ammonium group, and a second component comprising an anionic polyether compound is described. Either the first component further comprises an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable group, the second component further comprises an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable anion, or both. A method of making an article comprising applying the polymerizable composition to a surface of an article is also described.
US07973094B2

A metal nanoparticle supported on or dispersed in a polymer is irradiated with photons from a laser source to address the nanoparticles. The polymer is transmissive to the photons and addressed nanoparticles transform the energy of the photon to heat which is transferred to a material in the vicinity of the nanoparticle. The locally heated material undergoes a physical or chemical transformation upon heating. The transformed material can be a material in the proximity of the metal nanoparticle supported polymer or metal nanoparticle/polymer composite. In this manner thermally induced physical or chemical transformations can be carried out in very small volumes of material without significant heating to the bulk of the material.
US07973093B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a foamed rubber member which has low hardness and excellent durability. The foamed rubber member of the invention, produced through an impregnation treatment of a foamed elastic body with a treatment liquid containing an isocyanate compound and an organic solvent, the foamed elastic body being produced by foaming a base rubber, exhibits a compression set smaller than that of the foamed elastic body before undergoing the impregnation treatment, and exhibits a percent increase in stress, with respect to the stress of the foamed elastic body before undergoing the impregnation treatment, of 50% or less.
US07973086B1

Disclosed is a process for converting synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbon mixtures useful in the production of fuels and petrochemicals. The synthesis gas is contacted with at least two layers of synthesis gas conversion catalyst and at least two layers of acidic hydrocracking catalyst in an alternating layer arrangement within a single reactor tube wherein each synthesis gas conversion catalyst layer is followed by a layer of hydrocracking catalyst. The process is conducted within a single reactor at an essentially common reactor temperature and an essentially common reactor pressure. The process provides a high yield of naphtha range liquid hydrocarbons and a low yield of C21+ normal paraffins.
US07973083B2

A pesticidally active combination comprising an HPPD-inhibiting herbicide in the form of an agrochemically acceptable salt and an insecticide is disclosed, provided that the HPPD inhibiting herbicide is not a compound of formula (A) wherein Ra is C1-2 alkyl or chloro; Rb is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; and Rc is C1-4 alkyl is disclosed.
US07973081B2

Composition containing quaternary ammonium compounds in which the nitrogen atom is substituted by at least one alkyl group having at least 12 carbon atoms, the composition including at least 20% in weight by weight of the total composition, of ammonium halides in which the nitrogen atom is substituted by at least one alkyl group having at least 14 carbon atoms and more than 5%, preferably more than 7% in weight by weight of the total composition, of ammonium halides in which the nitrogen atom is substituted by at least one alkyl group having at least 16 carbon atoms. Ophthalmic oil-in-water emulsions containing such compositions, the ophthalmic emulsions being useful for eye care or for the treatment of eye conditions are also disclosed.
US07973079B2

Compounds that reduce serum retinol levels are used to treat ophthalmic conditions associated with the overproduction of waste products that accumulate during the course of the visual cycle. We describe methods, compounds, and compositions to treat, for example, the macular degenerations and dystrophies or to alleviate symptoms associated with such ophthalmic conditions.
US07973076B2

The present invention provides compositions having, as active ingredients, a stilbene derivative and a platinum coordination compound which is highly efficacious and highly safe for treating tumors, particularly for the treatment of solid or malignant tumors and thus methods of cancer and tumor treatment using the composition are also provided.
US07973073B2

Described herein is a compound of Formula I, which is the metformin salt of the naturally occurring endogenous biological compound, (R)-(+) α lipoic acid, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound of Formula I, and methods of treatment of diabetes or diabetic complications with the compound of Formula I.
US07973063B2

Novel biaromatic compounds having the following structural formula (I): are formulated into pharmaceutical compositions suited for administration in human or veterinary medicine, in particular in dermatology as well as in the fields of cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases and/or diseases related to the metabolism of lipids, or, alternatively, into cosmetic compositions.
US07973062B2

Compounds of the thiazolidinedione family are provided and shown to be effective androgen receptor ablative agents that can be used in methods of treating or preventing cancer or precancer, including prostate cancer. Also provided are methods of treating or preventing cancer by administering a therapeutically effective amount of one of the androgen receptor ablative agents to a subject in need of such treatment.
US07973058B2

Iontophoretic patches for the delivery of anti-migraine compounds and methods of using the patches are described.
US07973055B2

The invention provides crystalline forms of biphenyl-2-ylcarbamic acid 1-[2-({3-[2-(4-hydroxybenzylamino)ethylcarbamoyl]benzoyl}methylamino)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl ester, and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates thereof. The crystalline form can be a freebase (Form I or II), a salt such as a hemiedisylate salt or a heminapadisylate salt, or a solvate of a salt such as a heminapadisylate methanolate or a heminapadisylate ethanolate. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these crystalline compounds or prepared using these compounds; processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline compounds; and methods of using these compounds to treat a pulmonary disorder.
US07973054B2

A method provides for the use of glycosidase inhibitors selected from compounds of general formula (1), wherein R1 represents a CH3 group, or CH2OH, R2 represents H or an alkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms, or R1 and R2 together form a group having formula (II), with carbon in position (a) and nitrogen of formula (I) mentioned above, for the preparation of a medicament used to treat mucovisidosis. A corresponding product is also described.
US07973047B2

The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of Beta-secretase enzyme activity and for the treatment of Beta-secretase mediated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related conditions. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I wherein A, B, W, R3, R4, R5, i and j are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of Formula I, methods of use for these compounds, including treatment of AD and related diseases, by administering the compound(s) of Formula I, or compositions including them, to a subject. The invention also comprises further embodiments of Formulas II and III, intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the invention.
US07973043B2

The present invention relates to a new method of treatment for persons meeting diagnoses for major depressive disorder, or other unipolar (non-bipolar, non-psychotic and non-treatment resistant) depression. The method comprises administering a combination of two categories of drugs, antipsychotics or dopamine system stabilizers, in combination with a newer antidepressant such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, as initial treatment or as soon as possible. The method targets the prevention of suicide, and provides other benefits including preventing disease progression development of tolerance toward the antidepressants. Another aspect of the invention relates to using the method for alleviating cognitive distortion and related functional impairment or health risks, and/or using the method for smoking cessation or nicotine withdrawal.
US07973041B2

The present invention provides compounds of the formula: its enantiomers, diastereomers, racemic mixtures thereof, prodrugs, crystalline forms, non-crystalline forms, amorphous forms thereof, solvates thereof, metabolites thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, wherein the ring A substituent groups are fully defined in the following disclosure. The compounds of formula are inhibitors of metalloproteases such as matrix metalloproteases and sheddases, and are useful in treating diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, neoplastic diseases, allergies and all those diseases wherein inhibition of MMPs is desirable.
US07973035B2

The invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein Z, X, J, R2 and W are set forth in the specification, as well as solvates, hydrates, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, especially c-fms kinase. Methods of treating autoimmune diseases; and diseases with an inflammatory component; treating metastasis from ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, hairy cell leukemia; and treating pain, including skeletal pain caused by tumor metastasis or osteoarthritis, or visceral, inflammatory, and neurogenic pain; as well as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other diseases in which bone resorption mediates morbidity including rheumatoid arthritis, and other forms of inflammatory arthritis, osteoarthritis, prosthesis failure, osteolytic sarcoma, myeloma, and tumor metastasis to bone with the compounds of Formula I, are also provided.
US07973032B2

This invention relates to staurosporine derivatives are effective when used in combination with ionizing radiation for the delay of progression or treatment of a proliferative disease, especially a disease associated with a PAX/FKHR translocation including a PAX3/FKHR translocation and a PAX7/FKHR translocation, more especially a solid tumor disease such as a Sarcoma, most especially an Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.
US07973022B2

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions that are a solution of a salt formed between a fluoroquinolone and a carboxylic acid, a cyclodextrin, and a pharmaceutically acceptable organic solvent and to methods of treating a condition in an animal by administering to an animal in need thereof the pharmaceutical composition of the invention.
US07973018B2

The HIV-1 accessory gene vpr encodes a conserved 96-amino acid protein that is necessary and sufficient for the HIV-1-induced block of cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Expression of vpr in CD4+ lymphocytes results in G2 arrest, followed by apoptosis. ATR, as a cellular factor that mediates Vpr-induced cell cycle arrest, is required for activation of the Breast Cancer-Associated Protein-1 (BRCA1). In addition, the Growth Arrest and DNA Damage protein (GADD45) is upregulated by Vpr in an ATR-dependent manner. Posttranscriptional silencing of either ATR or GADD45 leads to nearly complete suppression of the pro-apoptotic and/or cell cycle arrest effect of Vpr.
US07973008B2

The invention provides a method of reducing the damage done by reactive oxygen species (ROS) in an animal. The invention also provides a method of reducing the concentration of a metal in an animal. These methods comprise administering to the animal an effective amount of a metal-binding compound as further described in the application. The invention further provides a method of reducing the damage done by ROS to a cell, a tissue or an organ that has been removed from an animal. This method comprising contacting the cell, tissue or organ with a solution or medium containing an effective amount of a metal-binding compound of the invention. The invention further provides novel metal-binding compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the metal-binding compounds, and kits comprising a container holding a metal-binding compound of the invention.
US07972997B2

A process for making a coated substrate that includes treating a proppant with a coating agent, wherein the coating agent comprises at least one of monomeric alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acids, alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid polymers, and combinations thereof, reacting the treated proppant to form a polymer coated proppant, and recovering the polymer coated proppant is disclosed.
US07972996B2

Phosphate esters useful for gelling hydrocarbons in combination with a metal source are disclosed along with methods of preparation of the phosphate esters. Fouling in oil refinery towers has been attributed due to distillation of impurities present in phosphate esters used to gel hydrocarbons for oil well fracturing. The improved method of preparation of the phosphate ester results in a product that substantially reduces or eliminates volatile phosphorus, which is phosphorus impurities that distill up to 250° C., and increases the high temperature viscosity of the hydrocarbon gels formed using the phosphate esters.
US07972990B2

In a process for recording into a rewritable recording medium of a non-contact type, when adjacent lines or adjacent overlapping lines are drawn by scanning the medium having a reversible heat sensitive color developing layer on a substrate with laser light and a second line 2 is drawn after a first line 1 is drawn, the time between the start of drawing 1 and the end of drawing 2 and/or the width of the overlapped portion r is controlled as the means for suppressing discoloration of the recorded lines by interference between heat remaining after 1 has been drawn and heat generated while 2 is drawn. When characters, bar codes, solid images or figures are drawn into a rewritable recording medium of the non-contact type by scanning with laser light, excellent readability and visibility of the bar codes can be obtained in recording a plurality of line elements.
US07972989B2

A catalyst for converting methanol to light olefins and the process for making and using the catalyst are disclosed and claimed. SAPO-34 is a specific catalyst that benefits from its preparation in accordance with this invention. A seed material is used in making the catalyst that has a higher content of the EL metal than is found in the principal part of the catalyst. The molecular sieve has predominantly a roughly rectangular parallelepiped morphology crystal structure with a lower fault density and a better selectivity for light olefins.
US07972984B2

A mat for reducing the disturbance of particulate matter by wind, has a first layer of coarse mesh material, and a second layer of coarse mesh material. The first layer is held in a substantially fixed position relative to the second layer. The mat is particularly suitable for use as a helicopter landing mat, in conditions where dust, sand, snow, water or other particles or liquids might otherwise cause a disturbance resulting in loss of visibility, damage or wear to parts of the helicopter, and injury or damage to nearby people or equipment.
US07972978B2

Embodiments of the invention provide methods for forming a hafnium material on a substrate within a processing chamber. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes exposing the substrate within the processing chamber to a first oxidizing gas during a pretreatment process, exposing the substrate sequentially to a second oxidizing gas and a deposition gas during an atomic layer deposition (ALD) cycle, wherein the second oxidizing gas contains water and the deposition gas contains a hafnium amino compound, and repeating the ALD cycle to form a hafnium-containing layer having a thickness within a range from about 5 Å to about 300 Å. In one example, the first oxidizing gas contains an O3/O2 mixture having an ozone concentration within a range from about 5 atomic percent to about 30 atomic percent.
US07972976B1

Porous dielectric layers are produced by introducing pores in pre-formed composite dielectric layers. The pores may be produced after the barrier material, the metal or other conductive material is deposited to form a metallization layer. In this manner, the conductive material is provided with a relatively smooth continuous surface on which to deposit.
US07972970B2

An etching process for selectively etching exposed metal surfaces of a substrate and forming a conductive capping layer over the metal surfaces is described. In some embodiments, the etching process involves oxidation of the exposed metal to form a metal oxide that is subsequently removed from the surface of the substrate. The exposed metal may be oxidized by using solutions containing oxidizing agents such as peroxides or by using oxidizing gases such as those containing oxygen or ozone. The metal oxide produced is then removed using suitable metal oxide etching agents such as glycine. The oxidation and etching may occur in the same solution. In other embodiments, the exposed metal is directly etched without forming a metal oxide. Suitable direct metal etching agents include any number of acidic solutions. The process allows for controlled oxidation and/or etching with reduced pitting. After the metal regions are etched and recessed in the substrate surface, a conductive capping layer is formed using electroless deposition over the recessed exposed metal regions.
US07972966B2

The present invention in one embodiment provides an etch method that includes providing a structure including a tungsten (W) portion and a titanium nitride (TiN) portion; applying a first etch feed gas of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) and oxygen (O2), in which the ratio of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) to oxygen (O2) ranges from 1:3.5 to 1:4.5; and applying a second etch feed gas of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), helium (He) and chlorine (Cl2), in which the ratio of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) to chlorine (Cl2) ranges from 1:5 to 2:5 and the ratio of helium (He) to nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and chlorine (Cl2) ranges from 1:3 to 1:1.
US07972959B2

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to methods of forming features on a substrate using a self-aligned double patterning (SADP) process. A conformal layer of non-sacrificial material is formed over features of sacrificial structural material patterned near the optical resolution of a photolithography system using a high-resolution photomask. An anisotropic etch of the non-sacrificial layer leaves non-sacrificial ribs above a substrate. A gapfill layer deposited thereon may be etched or polished back to form alternating fill and non-sacrificial features. No hard mask is needed to form the non-sacrificial ribs, reducing the number of processing steps involved.
US07972943B2

A cap film is formed over semiconductor films formed over an insulating substrate; the semiconductor films are irradiated with a laser beam which is capable of completely melting the semiconductor film in a film-thickness direction to completely melt the semiconductor film. By controlling the laser beam, a crystalline semiconductor films are formed over the substrate, in each of which orientations of crystal planes are controlled. In addition, an n-channel thin film transistor is formed using a crystalline region in which crystal planes are oriented along {001} and a p-channel thin film transistor is formed using a crystalline region in which crystal planes are oriented along {211} or {101}.
US07972939B2

A method for minimizing or avoiding contamination of a receiving handle wafer during transfer of a thin layer from a donor wafer. This method includes providing a donor wafer and a receiving handle wafer, each having a first surface prepared for bonding and a second surface, with the donor wafer providing a layer of material to be transferred to the receiving handle wafer. Next, at least one of the first surfaces is treated to provide increased bonding energy when the first surfaces are bonded together; the surfaces are then bonded together to form an intermediate multilayer structure; and a portion of the donor wafer is removed to transfer the thin layer to the receiving handle wafer and form the semiconductor structure. This method avoids or minimizes contamination of the second surface of the receiving handle wafer by treating only the first surface of the donor wafer prior to bonding by exposure to a plasma, and by conducting any thermal treatments after plasma activation at a temperature of 300° C. to 500° C. in order to avoid diffusion of impurities into the transfer layer.
US07972931B2

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing thin-film transistors using nanoparticles and thin film transistors manufactured by the method. A hydrophilic buffer layers are deposited on the substrates to facilitate formation of nanoparticle films. Sintered nanoparticles are used as an active layer and dielectric materials of high dielectric coefficient are also used as a gate dielectric layer to form a top gate electrode on the gate dielectric layer, thereby enabling low-voltage operation and low-temperature fabrication.
US07972925B2

The present invention relates to a flash memory device and a fabrication method thereof. A trench may be formed within a junction region between word lines by etching a semiconductor substrate between not only a word line and a select line, but also between adjacent word lines. Accordingly, the occurrence of a program disturbance phenomenon can be prevented as the injection of hot carriers into a program-inhibited cell is minimized in a program operation.
US07972914B2

A FinFET semiconductor device has an active region formed of a semiconductor substrate and projecting from a surface of the substrate. A fin having a first projection and a second projection composed of the active region are arranged in parallel and at each side of a central trench formed in a central portion of the active region. Upper surfaces and side surfaces of the first projection and the second projection comprise a channel region. A channel ion implantation layer is provided at a bottom of the central trench and at a lower portion of the fin. A gate oxide layer is provided on the fin. A gate electrode is provided on the gate oxide layer. A source region and a drain region are provided in the active region at sides of the gate electrode. A method of forming such a device is also provided.
US07972911B1

The method for forming first and second metal-based materials comprises providing a substrate comprising an area made from a first semi-conductor material and an area made from a second semi-conductor material comprising germanium separated by a pattern made from dielectric material, depositing a metal layer and performing a first heat treatment in an atmosphere comprising a quantity of oxygen comprised between 0.01% and 5%. The metal layer reacts with the first semi-conductor material and the second semi-conductor material comprising germanium to respectively form the first metal-based material and the second metal-based material containing germanium.
US07972906B2

A clip structure and semiconductor die package. The clip structure includes a first portion and a second portion, with a connecting structure located between the first and second portion. The clip structure is substantially planar. The semiconductor die package includes a semiconductor die located between a leadframe structure and a clip structure. Slots are formed within the molding material covering portions of the semiconductor die package. The slots are located between a first portion and the second portion of the clip structure, and the slot overlap with the semiconductor die.
US07972902B2

Conductive lines are formed on a wafer containing multiple circuits. The conductive lines are isolated from the circuits formed within the wafer. Chips are mounted on the wafer and have their chip pads connected to the conductive lines of the wafer. The wafer may then be protected with a packaging resin and singulated.
US07972895B2

A memory device described herein includes a bit line having a top surface and a plurality of vias. The device includes a plurality of first electrodes each having top surfaces coplanar with the top surface of the bit line, the first electrodes extending through corresponding vias in the bit line. An insulating member is within each via and has an annular shape with a thickness between the corresponding first electrode and a portion of the bit line acting as a second electrode. A layer of memory material extends across the insulating members to contact the top surfaces of the bit line and the first electrodes.
US07972889B2

Example embodiments may provide a camera module including a high-resolution lens member and/or an image sensor chip that may be integrally formed, and a method of fabricating a camera module. Example embodiment camera modules may include a semiconductor package including an image sensor chip. A transparent substrate may include an upper plate portion and/or a supporting portion defined by a cavity under the upper plate portion, and the supporting portion may be attached on the semiconductor package. The upper plate portion may be spaced from the semiconductor package by the supporting portion. A lens member may be attached to the upper plate portion of the transparent substrate. A stop member may be formed on a top side of the transparent substrate and may expose a portion of the lens member.
US07972888B1

A method for manufacturing a MEMS sensor and its thin film and cantilever beam includes steps of etching a top surface of a single-crystal silicon wafer in combination of a deposition process, an outer epitaxial growth process, a wet etching process and a back etching process in order to form a pressure-sensitive single-crystal silicon film, a cantilever beam, a mass block, a front chamber, a back chamber and trenches connecting the front and the back chambers. The single-crystal silicon film is prevented from etching so that the thickness thereof can be well controlled. The method of the present invention can be used to replace the traditional method which forms the back chamber and the pressure-sensitive single-crystal silicon film from the bottom surface of the silicon wafer.
US07972883B2

In a method of manufacturing a photoelectric device, a transparent conductive layer is formed on a substrate, and the transparent conductive layer is partially etched using an etching solution including hydrofluoric acid. Thus, a transparent electrode having a concavo-convex pattern on its surface is formed. When the transparent conductive layer is partially etched, a haze of the transparent electrode may be controlled by adjusting an etching time of the transparent conductive layer. Also, since the etching solution is sprayed to the transparent conductive layer to etch the transparent conductive layer, the concavo-convex pattern on the surface of the transparent electrode may be easily formed even though the size of the substrate increases.
US07972876B2

The invention discloses a zinc-oxide-based semiconductor light-emitting device and the fabrication thereof. The method according to the invention, first, is to prepare a substrate. Next, by an atomic-layer-deposition-based process, a ZnO-based multi-layer structure is formed on or over the substrate where the ZnO-based multi-layer structure includes a light-emitting region.
US07972875B2

Provided are optical devices and systems fabricated, at least in part, via printing-based assembly and integration of device components. In specific embodiments the present invention provides light emitting systems, light collecting systems, light sensing systems and photovoltaic systems comprising printable semiconductor elements, including large area, high performance macroelectronic devices. Optical systems of the present invention comprise semiconductor elements assembled, organized and/or integrated with other device components via printing techniques that exhibit performance characteristics and functionality comparable to single crystalline semiconductor based devices fabricated using conventional high temperature processing methods. Optical systems of the present invention have device geometries and configurations, such as form factors, component densities, and component positions, accessed by printing that provide a range of useful device functionalities. Optical systems of the present invention include devices and device arrays exhibiting a range of useful physical and mechanical properties including flexibility, shapeability, conformability and stretchablity.
US07972874B2

Semiconductor process evaluation methods perform multiple scans of a test semiconductor substrate (e.g., test wafer) using ion beams under different ion implanting conditions. Parameters of the test semiconductor substrate that was scanned using the ion beams under different ion implanting conditions are then measured to conduct the semiconductor process evaluation.
US07972870B2

This invention relates to regulation of cell signaling, cell growth, and more particularly to the regulation of cancer or inflammatory cell growth and/or activation. The invention provides methods of inhibiting interactions between MUC1 and a heat shock factor, method of inhibiting interactions between transcription factors and the MUC1 promoter, and methods of inhibiting MUC1 expression. The invention also provides screening methods for identifying compounds that inhibit the aforementioned interactions. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the identified compounds can be useful in treating cancers and inflammatory conditions.
US07972869B2

A method and system for collecting airborne particles and hydrating the collected particles for analysis. The airborne particles, which may be biological contaminants, are collected from a container containing one or more mailpieces. In the collection stage, a dry filter collection assembly is connected to the container and air is drawn out of the container through a dry filter. A hydration solution is then injected into the collection assembly to hydrate the collected particles. Part of the hydration solution containing the collected particles is caused to move out of the collection assembly to a test cartridge for further testing.
US07972861B2

Methods and devices for performing in situ hematocrit adjustments during glucose testing using glucose-monitoring products and using those adjusted values to estimate the hematocrit value of blood samples to reduce or eliminate the assay bias caused by the different hematocrit levels of blood samples. One method involves measuring the glucose value, Glum, of the blood sample; measuring the resistance of the blood sample (Rcell) using a biosensor reagent; measuring the resistance of plasma (Rplasma) using the biosensor reagent; determining the calculated resistance of red blood cells, RRBC, of the blood sample according to the relationship RRBC=Rcell−Rplasma; calculating the percent hematocrit, % Hctc, of the blood sample; determining whether to adjust the glucose value, Glum, to an adjusted glucose value, Gluadj; and using the percent hematocrit, % Hctc, and either the glucose value, Glum, or the adjusted glucose value, Gluadj, to adjust for any bias of the biosensor reagent.
US07972854B2

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for targeted cleavage of a genomic sequence, targeted alteration of a genomic sequence, and targeted recombination between a genomic region and an exogenous polynucleotide homologous to the genomic region.
US07972851B2

The present invention relates to a chimeric regulatory sequence with liver cell specificity. The chimeric regulatory sequence includes a proximal regulatory sequence and a distal enhancer 5′ flanking region of human α-fetoprotein (AFP) gene. The chimeric regulatory sequence is useful in purified specific lineages, such as liver cells, from other cell lineages.
US07972841B2

The present invention relates to an exposure device for living cell cultures, the device having a medium chamber common to a plurality of cell culture chambers and medium directing means. The medium chamber, cell culture chambers and the medium directing means may be arranged so as to provide substantially contemporaneous medium exchange at the cell culture chambers.
US07972831B2

The inventors have identified polypeptides having lipase activity in anaerobic thermophilic bacteria. Accordingly, the invention provides a process for hydrolyzing an ester bond in a substrate, which comprises treating the substrate with a particular lipase (a polypeptide having lipase activity). The invention also provides a lipase for use in the process and a polynucleotide encoding the lipase.
US07972823B2

Coryneform bacterium is modified so that an activity of acetyl-CoA hydrolase is decreased, and succinic acid is produced by using the bacterium.
US07972820B2

Methods for isothermal amplification of nucleic acids by the means of a solid support are disclosed. These methods are useful for applications needing high throughput, in particular nucleic acid sequencing.
US07972818B2

Disclosed herein are two methods for rapid multiplex analysis to determine the presence and identity of target DNA sequences within a DNA sample. Both methods use reporting DNA sequences, e.g., modified conventional Taqman® probes, to combine multiplex PCR amplification with microsphere-based hybridization using flow cytometry means of detection. Real-time PCR detection can also be incorporated. The first method uses a cyanine dye, such as, Cy3™, as the reporter linked to the 5′ end of a reporting DNA sequence. The second method positions a reporter dye, e.g., FAM™ on the 3′ end of the reporting DNA sequence and a quencher dye, e.g., TAMRA™, on the 5′ end.
US07972808B2

The present invention describes a protein hydrolysate which is rich in tripeptides whereby the tripeptides are rich in proline at one end of the peptide.
US07972784B2

The present invention relates to a method for the quantification of methylated cytosines in DNA. In the first step of the invention unmethylated cytosines in the DNA to be analysed are chemically converted into uracil while 5-methylcytosines remain unchanged. In a second step the converted DNA is amplified methylation specifically in a real time PCR using a methylation specific probe. Finally the amount of uniformly methylated DNA is calculated by combining criteria derived from the shape of the real time curve and from the signal intensity. The method is preferably used for diagnosis and/or prognosis of adverse events for individuals, for distinguishing cell types and tissues, or for investigating cell differentiation.
US07972783B2

Provided herein are methods to discover and use single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) for determining the genotype of a horned/polled ruminant subject. The present invention further provides specific nucleic acid sequences, SNPs, and SNP patterns that can be used for determining the genotype of a horned/polled ruminant subject.
US07972777B1

Use of the ssrA gene or tmRNA, an RNA transcript of the ssrA gene, or fragments thereof as target regions in a nucleic acid probe assay for the detection and identification of prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic organisms is described. Nucleotide sequence alignment of tmRNA sequences from various organisms can be used to identify regions of homology and non-homology within the sequences which in turn can be used to design both genus specific and species specific oligonucleotide probes. These newly identified regions of homology and non-homology provide the basis of identifying and detecting organisms at the molecular level. Oligonucleotide probes identified in this way can be used to detect tmRNA in samples thereby giving an indication of the viability of non-viral organisms present in various sample types.